Thread: Nice find ... Disney Haunted Mansion book.

Tweet

There may have been a posting about this a long time ago ... but since I just discovered this book I thought I would share.

Last year while at Disneyland in California, I found a book called: Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kindom to the Movies. I found it in the gift shop and when I saw it I assumed it was all about the movies being made, etc. I opened to discover it was all about HOW the Pirates of the Caribbean RIDE was built, explaining the progression, and how everything was done, and even went into great detail about how the "story" came about. It was on sale, so I bought it ... and over the next week I read the whole thing and got so inspired to do a part of my "home haunt" in the "Pirate" theme ... see the YouTube link in my signature.

Here is the book for sale on Amzaon: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Caribbean-Kindom-Movies-Welcome/dp/B0014JUG9G/ref=pd_sim_b_1]Amazon.com: Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kindom to the Movies (Welcome Book): Jason Surrell: Books[/ame]

So here I am gearing up for Halloween 2010 and I was surfing the internet and what do I discover??? A similar book, by the same author even, about the HAUNTED MANSION.

The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
Amazon link: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Mansion-Kingdom-Movies-Updated/dp/1423118952/ref=pd_sim_b_1]Amazon.com: The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies -- Updated (9781423118954): Jason Surrell: Books[/ame]

So I ordered it and it came yesterday and spent a chunk of last night and most of today reading all the great detail about HOW it was built and some of the tricks. Now this book does not go into HUGE detail about how the "illusions" were created, but any savy haunter will "get" the hints as to how things were done.

Just about every home haunter I have ever met uses the "DISNEY HAUNTED MANSION" for inspirations or a "bar" as to what a GREAT haunted house should be.

Even if you want to just be able to read about some of the great details that were put into the whole show, how and why (making it fun & scary and not GORY so kids can enjoy it) ... then I strongly recommend this book.

I have already decided to expand my home haunt this year and set up a nice big cemetery in the front yard, surrounding the whole thing with a PVC cemetery fence that I read the "tutorial" on how to do right here on the Halloween Forum ... I know I don't have the $$$ bucks to spend that Disney does, but it is going to be a whole lotta fun making something inspired by one of the greatest ever made.

Thought I would share.

Enjoy.

For more Haunted Mansion fun, see the amazing fan site DoomBuggies.com.

There is a 3rd book in the series,"The Disney Mountains,Imagineering at its peak."
It is all about the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain and Expedition Everest.
I have all 3 books ,they are a great source of reference and ideas.

I certainly agree that both Magic Kingdom to the Movies books are absolutely worth getting. They also go into the different attractions around the world (which is great if you are a fan but have only been to one of the parks). And there's so much concept art! I picked up both books while working at Walt Disney World and they were constantly being read either by my roommates or their visiting friends. We were amateur specialists on the rides by the time we ended our program.

Wyatt Fur: I'll have to pick up a copy of the Mountains book! If it lives up to the first two it's worthy of an esteemed place in the bookshelf.

i have the Haunted Mansion book and its amazing. The concept art is beautiful. I didn't even know they had one of pirates of the Carribian. I'm going to have to order it. Thanks for posting about this.

i just picked up the Haunted Mansion book off Half.com for 75 cents. Thanks for the recommendations. Im really excited to get this !!!

I've also got this one which is a great curl up on the couch kind of book....ZR

DoomBuggies.com Presents the Secrets of Disney's Haunted Mansion by Jeff Baham in Entertainment

Howdy. The one that is .75 on half.com is the 2003 edition and I think it is missing the section about the disneyland and disney world 2007 upgrade (made a lot of projections digital). Don't know what else is different, but I am sure the 2003 edition is still a great steal at .75 cents.

Didn't know there was a thir book either will have to get that one.

The pirates of the caribbean one is my favorite as far as concept art and detials about how things were built. I am guessing they were vauge on the haunted mansion one to keep some of the mystery.

I am going to have to get those books.

Have it! Love it! Want the POTC book as well. :O)