With the debut of the Haunted Mansion Parlor on the Disney Treasure, the classic Disney Parks attraction has received some official expanded lore from Walt Disney Imagineering. But, is the Parlor actually physically connected to the original ride at Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom? We discovered a certain similarity that just might link the two further…
The Haunted Mansion Parlor aboard the Disney Treasure is the first of its kind – a bar and lounge themed to a drawing room from the Haunted Mansion. The Parlor’s backstory follows The Mariner, and is officially a ship’s parlor. The Mariner is based on art by Marc Davis, a character who’s already part of the attraction. You’ll find his portrait hanging in the loading area at the Magic Kingdom, and now another portrait is located inside the Parlor itself.
There are many references to the iconic attraction inside the Treasure’s Parlor, like Madame Leota and the Hitchhiking Ghosts. However, what’s really interesting is that back on land, for years, Haunted Mansion fans have wondered what lies beyond a certain curtained doorframe, located between the dueling paintings on the upper left side of the Ballroom Scene…
The entrance to the Haunted Mansion Parlor looks the same as this draped doorframe from the Ballroom Scene. Many have wondered where this archway leads, but the “coincidental” design just might imply the Parlor is the answer. Despite the Parlor officially being part of an old vessel, the mysterious magic of the Mansion we know and love could mean they are still somehow connected.
The drapery is pulled back, inviting you in…
Disney has opened up this curtain a few times before, Disneyland-side at least. “What lies beyond that archway?” was a common question from guests, before WDI decided to implement something for the west coast’s Haunted Mansion. The first time we’ve ever seen this room being utilized was for Haunted Mansion Holiday. Zero is floating around a Christmas tree-shaped stack of floating books, and the nook beyond the doorway was fashioned into a small library for the occasion… which could still fit within the drawing room theme. As far as we can find, this nook has never really been used for anything else before.
While Disney hasn’t made any official confirmation, the doorframes are too similar to discount the sheer possibility of the Parlor lying just beyond the curtain in the Ballroom. What do you think?
Further, this story integration would also stand as a deeper tribute to Rolly Crump and his original ideas for the Mansion, and a “Museum of the Weird”. For more information on that, check out my article here:
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