Disneyland is making some changes to the area around its Haunted Mansion dark ride, adding a new gift shop and expanding the outdoor queue.
The updated queue will include new gardens inspired by Master Gracey, Madame Leota and the one-eyed cat. Each of the gardens will feature unique elements, such as a water fountain and themed statuary.
Additionally, the area will have a new greenhouse where the groundskeepers for the Haunted Mansion grow their plants.
The new Madame Leota-themed gift shop will be located in the Haunted Mansion’s carriage house. Accessibility in the ride and surrounding area will be improved, with a new elevator exit added for guests with disabilities.
Haunted Mansion gardens
Disneyland is also enhancing the plaza adjacent to the new Tiana’s Palace restaurant, opening on 7 September ahead of the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction next year.
The plaza will become an elegant park-style location where guests can “relax and enjoy the ambiance and live entertainment under the shade of new and historic trees”, Disney said in a blog post.
Tiana’s Palace is a new dining outlet to replace the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square. It is based on Tiana’s dream restaurant in The Princess and the Frog (2009).
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which is replacing Splash Mountain, takes riders on a musical adventure through the bayou with Tiana, Naveen and Louis.
New Tiana’s Palace plaza
“Tiana’s Bayou Adventure builds on the story of Princess Tiana, a character whose pride and perseverance reminds us of a universal truth: within us lies the potential to make our dreams come true,” said Carmen Smith, senior vice president of creative development at Walt Disney Imagineering.
Earlier this month, Disneyland debuted the new Finding Nemo and Finding Dory-themed elements at the Pixar Place Hotel, which will replace the resort’s Paradise Pier Hotel.
Construction on the new Haunted Mansion features and plaza will start in January 2024.
Images courtesy of Disney
