Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Disneyland Haunted Mansion 2009 Album Review



With this year marking the 45th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, I thought I would review the latest Haunted Mansion CD released in 2009 in commemoration of the attractions 40th anniversary

With 7 tracks on the CD, it has a running time of about 49 minutes.

Track 1 - The Haunted Mansion
This is pretty much an immersive ride through of the attraction starting from Mansion Foyer, lasting all the way to the crypt when you see Little Leota

Track 2 - Ghostly Music Box
Included in this CD is a track that originated from Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris. At Disneyland Paris, this Ghostly music box melody could be heard coming from the gazebo out on the lawn of Phantom Manor.  At Disneyland in Anaheim, this track is only played in the queue during Haunted Mansion Holiday

Track 3 - Otherworldly Concerto
Buddy Baker and organist Gaylord Carter performed the Haunted Mansion's organ theme in many different ways to get just the right sound.  This track is a collection of those variations which include:
• Foyer's organ theme
• Portrait Gallery organ theme
• Loading area done in an organ theme which leads into the Ballroom organ
• Ballroom organ theme which is played several times over in different styles

Track 4 - A Swinging Wake
This is an instrumental (or karaoke) version of "Grim Grinning Ghosts"

Track 5 - The Graveyard Band
This band in the graveyard plays "Grim Grinning Ghosts"

Track 6 - 999 Happy Haunts
The famous "Grim Grinning Ghosts" sung by the singing busts. From there, we move to the rest of the graveyard (Ghosts having a tea party, a "wise old man" holding an ear trumpet trying to hear what the mummified mummy, an executioner, a prisoner, an operatic pari, and a decapitated knight) hearing their full version of the song.

Track 7 - Phantom Manor Suite
Disneyland Paris has a darker romantic tone to their Phantom Manor.  This track is an instrumental ride through of Phantom Manor without the Ghost Host narration. The musical arrangement was composed by John Debney.

For being a small album in commemoration of the iconic Disneyland attraction 40th anniversary, this is still a great CD for anyone who enjoys Disneyland's The Haunted Mansion. Especially since it includes two tracks (2 and 7) from Disneyland Paris's Phantom Manor

A favorite track of mine is track 4 "A Swinging Wake".  I like to just put that on repeat and just imagine being on the ride, in the doom buggie, exiting out of the attic scene and "falling" down to the graveyard.

Another favorite track is track 6 "999 Happy Haunts" because you get to hear the individual characters sets singing along to "Grim Grinning Ghost" in the graveyard.  When you are on the attraction, you are in the graveyard for only a couple of minutes.  And as you travel past all the singing ghosts, it can be a bit difficult to hear how they are singing along to "Grim Grinning Ghost" since you only see them for a short time.

For an album that's almost an hour long and under $10, how can one pass up on this?



or download from iTunes


Saturday, July 26, 2014

Checking Out The Disneyland Resort On This Beautiful Saturday

Welcome to this weeks Disneyland Resort pictorial.  As you can see, this is a Saturday edition as I was out of town for the day on Friday and couldn't make it back to Anaheim in time for a trip to the Disneyland Resort.

Since New Orleans Square's and the reopening of Club 33 refurbishment, I wanted to see what the area looked like at night.  So I went to Disneyland on Thursday night to get some shots


 July 24, 2014 -
Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33
Heading past the old entrance to Club 33, looking up at the original bridge.
We can see they drew the curtains ... so you can't see inside ??

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33
The glass here reminds me of ice cubes

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33
Looking up at the old and new bridge to Club 33
The old bridge is still exposed to those on the ground.

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33
One can see curtains drawn on the opposite windows

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33
Near the new entrance to Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33
Looking towards the old entrance to Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Skip ahead a couple of days to...

July 26, 2014 -
Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Main Street U.S.A.
Stepping inside Disneyland first for the day

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Main Street U.S.A.
The temporary entrance to the "Wish Lounge" can be found in here

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Main Street U.S.A.

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33
Making my way over to New Orleans Square once again

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33
These barriers look so out of place in the French Quarter. I wonder if Disney plans to dress this up a bit.

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33
Some added decoration on the second floor balcony

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33
Yeah, you might need a drink after seeing all the alterations to New Orleans Square

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Popcorn
Oooo Scary!

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion
Just think, this year marks the 45th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion
In here, it's always a party

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion
He's a little bummed because he won't be able to play "Happy Birthday" on the piano since the song is copyrighted

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion
You know.. I never noticed the cake topper had the grooms head cut off as well

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion


Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square, Club 33
Looking at this window, it's obviously not centered.
I thought maybe it wasn't centered because Disney wanted a specific view to be seen from that window

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square
So I stood where I would think the view would be on ground level.
I think if the window was shifted over to the right (which would make it centered), the view would probably be better.
I don't know how my theory stands out as I am not a member of Club 33 and will probably never venture up there

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, New Orleans Square

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Legends of Frontierland
Some more props for the Legends of Frontierland game

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Legends of Frontierland

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Legends of Frontierland

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Legends of Frontierland

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Legends of Frontierland

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Legends of Frontierland

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Legends of Frontierland

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Legends of Frontierland
When I saw this, I thought it read "Mac and Cheese"

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Legends of Frontierland

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Legends of Frontierland

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Legends of Frontierland
Yellow for Rainbow Ridge and Orange for Frontierland

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Speaking of Rainbow Ridge...
Over at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad....

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Big Thunder Ranch, Music of Nashville
Looking at the campside, it is very suttle

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Big Thunder Ranch, Music of Nashville

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Big Thunder Ranch, Music of Nashville

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Big Thunder Ranch, Music of Nashville

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Big Thunder Ranch, Music of Nashville

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Big Thunder Ranch, Music of Nashville
It wasn't open yet. And I know that the first performance wasn't to take place until sometime after 2 p.m.
I wasn't about to hang out in the Park until then.

Years ago Disney California Adventure did a promotion to try and raise attendance over there with "Rockin' By The Bay"
Maybe Disneyland can do the same back here with "Rockin' By The Hay"

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Fantasyland, Bird

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Peter Pan, Rooftop, Space Mountain

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Space Mountain, Exit

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Space Mountain, Exit

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Space Mountain, Exit
Most of the wall received some texture to it except for this square section

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Refurbishment, Refurbish, Refurb
Work continues over at Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Refurbishment, Refurbish, Refurb

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Refurbishment, Refurbish, Refurb

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Refurbishment, Refurbish, Refurb

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Refurbishment, Refurbish, Refurb

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Adventureland

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Adventureland, Tarzan Treehouse, New Orleans Square, Rooftop

Inside Disneyana,
The Ink and Paint dept received some new art on the wall

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Disneyana, Ink and Paint

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Disneyana, Ink and Paint

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Disneyana, Ink and Paint

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Disneyana, Ink and Paint

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Disneyana, Ink and Paint

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Disneyana, Ink and Paint

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Disneyana, Ink and Paint

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Disneyana, Ink and Paint

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Disneyana, Ink and Paint

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Disneyana, Ink and Paint

Disneyland Resort, Disneyland, Exit
Leaving Disneyland


Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure
Heading into Disney California Adventure

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Buena Vista Street
Passing through Buena Vista Street

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Cars Land, Luigi's Flying Tires
Over into Cars Land

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Cars Land, Luigi's Flying Tires
And to Luigi's Flying Tires

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Cars Land, Luigi's Flying Tires
The Park has been opened for almost two hours and there isn't much of any kind of line or demand for the attraction

How much longer will this attraction last?
Does Walt Disney Imagineering have an alternative for this attraction, if they decide to remove the flying tire aspect?

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Cars Land, Luigi's Flying Tires

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Cars Land, Luigi's Flying Tires
There is just too much effort used to just step inside these tires from ground level.
I don't know what they were thinking with that
The tire itself gives off the impression that it's a hard enough surface to step on.
Little do people know that there is nothing underneath for support.
So Guests can easily miss their step

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Cars Land, Luigi's Flying Tires
Ugh...Mom! Why did you drag me on this boring ride?

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Cars Land, Luigi's Flying Tires
They are laughing cause they haven't moved from that spot since the ride began and they are making little progress "flying" across

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Cars Land, Luigi's Flying Tires

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Cars Land, Radiator Springs Racers
You know, I was thinking...
If Disney California Adventure decides to ditch the "Cars" theme, they could easily just rename Radiator Springs Racers to California Racein'
... But then it sounds like you are saying "California Raisin"

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Buena Vista Street, Clarabelle's Ice Cream, Pins
Inside Clarabelle's

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Buena Vista Street, Clarabelle's Ice Cream, Pins
That's right... with the ice cream store not open just yet, why not pin trade
But where's the Cast Member to interact with you?
Probably getting the ice cream store ready lol

Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure, Buena Vista Street, California Story
Want to take the California Story tour? One will pay over a hundred bucks on top of admission (if you paid)

Time to leave and walk through Downtown Disney

Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney, Duncan, Yo-Yo
For some time, Duncan has had a kiosk here

Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney, Duncan, Yo-Yo

Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney, Duncan, Yo-Yo

Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney, Duncan, Yo-Yo

Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney, Duncan, Yo-Yo

Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney, Duncan, Yo-Yo



That will conclude today's pictorial
Thanks for stopping by and checking it out

Feel free to leave a comment

Until Next Time...