The Haunted Mansion is a classic dark ride that has become a staple of Disney theme parks all around the world. It is a classic and is a firm fan favorite which is why so many people were incredibly excited about the film adaptation in 2003.
While the movie wasn’t a hit, there were certainly many good elements to it. Eddie Murphy brought his usual comedic self to the film and while the plot wasn’t exactly the same as the ride that came before it, there’s no doubt there were major inspirations taken from it.
There are some obvious nods to the classic dark ride that many people picked up on, however, there are also a few more subtle moments that only a few noticed. Within this list, we will reveal 10 ways the movie took inspiration from the ride directly.
Madame Leota
One of the most obvious ways that the movie takes inspiration from the ride is with the character, Madame Leota. This is one of the most famous scenes from within the ride as fans are taken around her floating head as she brings out the ghosts for the second half of the ride.
Of course, any film based on this movie absolutely had to have this character in some form. Madame Leota was brought into the film, and she was kept in her traditional sense by having her remain within the glass ball, which kept fans incredibly happy.
End Credits
Speaking of Madame Leota, she plays a role in another way that the film takes inspiration from the ride. This is one that many people miss though as it actually happens right at the end of the credit roll, with many people having already stopped watching by this point.
However, for those prepared to stick it out, you will hear a “special” message from Madame Leota herself to bring an end to the movie officially. For those who know the ride well, you will notice that it sounds very familiar to the departing message you get on the ride as well. Hurry back.
The Gracey Family
The Gracey family that haunts the Haunted Mansion isn’t just a random name that has been thrown out by people for the sake of the movie. This was done as a way to pay homage to one of the original Imagineers who helped design the Disneyland version of the ride.
This was a smart way of paying homage to someone who played such a key part in Haunted Mansion actually being created. A ghostly Gracey isn’t named in the ride narration, although this is the name that has been associated with the “Ghost Host” by many fans.
Location
The location of the mansion itself within the movie might not seem like a big deal to most people, but for those who are big fans of the ride, it was a subtle nod that they had clearly taken inspiration from the attraction. The location of the mansion within the movie is the bayou of Louisiana.
This makes sense because the Haunted Mansion attraction at the original Disneyland theme park in New Orleans Square. Keeping the location in the same area for the movie wasn’t essential in any way, but it was clearly done to stay true to the attraction itself.
Horse Carriage
The ghostly carriage that is involved in the movie is a cool aspect and it gives an excellent visual during that scene, but this was also a moment that was inspired by the ride itself. While there aren’t any carriages inside the ride, there is one that can be seen outside.
There is a ghostly carriage that is used as a prop outside of the ride and works as a photo opportunity for guests. It’s something that is clearly a memorable part of the whole ride experience, and therefore adding it to the movie was a great choice.
The Hanging
You might think that a character being hanged is a little over the top and too extreme for a Disney ride for that scene to possibly be inspired by the ride itself. However, that simply isn’t the case, as this event is actually in the versions of the attraction.
It is a moment that actually takes before you even get on the ride with this being one of the scariest moments. However, because it plays such a big part of the attraction, it certainly made sense to have it included in the movie as well.
Hidden Mickeys
Anyone who is a major fan of the Disney theme parks will know that Hidden Mickeys are a big deal. Major enthusiasts will spend hours searching for the unique ways that Disney Imagineers sneak the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head into different locations.
Many of them can be found within rides themselves, including the Haunted Mansion. Interestingly, the movie decided to give a nod to fans in this regard as there are several Hidden Mickeys that can be found within the movie for those who have keen eyes.
Iconic Lines
Something that the movie did really well was bringing in some of the classic lines that the ride is well-known for. The classic dark ride is packed with quotable phrases that many major Walt Disney World fans are capable of using at any time, so bringing them into the movie was a great way of linking them.
There are several lines that are used throughout the film that get used in the narration of the ride itself, with the classic opening words of “Welcome, foolish mortals,” “There’s always my way,” and “Final arrangements have been made,” all making the cut of the film.
Singing Busts
Another aspect of the ride that was brought into the movie was the singing busts, which comes from the upbeat half of the ride. When you get into the cemetery of the attraction, these classic busts can be seen singing the song from the ride that everyone knows so well.
So, of course, they had to be involved in the movie as well, and thankfully they were. This is one aspect of the movie that was spot on with this scene being one of the highlights of the entire movie. Interestingly, the people who sang within this film were actually the Dapper Dans who perform at the Disney resorts.
Happy Anniversary
There’s something that many people won’t have known about this moment when two new homeowners begin singing “Happy Anniversary!” to Jim and Sara. This might just seem like a totally random thing that couldn’t be inspired by anything but it actually took inspiration from a Disneyland advert.
It came from a radio advertisement that was celebrating the anniversary of the theme park that pays homage to the Haunted Mansion ride itself. Jim reacts annoyed at the singing and this is also a reference to that as listeners didn’t enjoy the original advert either, which was pulled.
