Summary
The Haunted Mansion attraction atDisneylandPark in Anaheim, California, is expected to reopen later this year following a months-long closure for construction. However, the announcement of the reopening was combined with confirmation that guests will need to utilize theDisneylandvirtual queue system in order to ride.
The Haunted Mansion is one of Disney’s most iconic rides, with a version of the attraction found at every Disney park. The popular attraction inspiredtwo live-action Haunted Mansion movies, although both were met with mixed reviews. In January, Disneyland announced it would be closing its Haunted Mansion in order to work on extending the ride’s queue lines and to build an expanded outdoor area. The expansion will also consist of a new merchandise location and “enhanced theming” throughout the area. Although the park has yet to confirm when the construction will be finished, they did announce that the Haunted Mansion will be reopening later this year, just in time for fall.
The version of the attraction at Disneyland undergoes a holiday makeover each year from August to January, with the ride’s classic scenes and characters updated to include familiar faces from Tim Burton’sThe Nightmare Before Christmas.Haunted Mansion Holiday is a special event, with many guests visiting specifically during that time to experience the transformed attraction. TheDisney Parks Blogrecently announced that guests will “be able to socialize with Sandy Claws again soon, just in time for the fall season!” This year, Halloween at Disneyland will run from August 23 to October 31, so it’s likely that August 23 will also serve as the reopening date of the Haunted Mansion.
Haunted Mansion To Reopen With Virtual Queue
In addition to confirming the reopening, the blog also stated that Haunted Mansion Holiday will only be available to guests via Disneyland’s virtual queue system, with visitors unable to wait in a standby line. The virtual queue system was rolled out in 2019 with the opening of the popular attraction Star Wars:Rise of the Resistanceat Galaxy’s Edge at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and has become a somewhat polarizing addition to the Disney parks. Although guests can skip an hours-long wait in line, registering for a virtual queue requires guests to use their phones up to twice a day, once at 7 AM. and occasionally at 1 PM. Once all virtual queue spots have been filled, there are no other chances for guests to ride that attraction that day.
Although summertime at Disney parks can be crowded and busy - especially with theparks running discounts and specialsto entice guests to visit during summer break - the fall and winter holiday seasons are truly magnificent. However, it does mean more people visiting, with popular attractions riddled with longer lines and bigger crowds. While it makes sense thatDisneylandwill reopen Haunted Mansion Holiday via the virtual queue system, given that its standby queue is undergoing construction, it does run the risk that some guests visiting during that time frame will be unable to experience the attraction at all. At this time, it’s unclear if the construction will be finished by the time the Haunted Mansion reverts to its normal state in February or whether the virtual queue system will remain indefinitely.
