This is a must read for any Disney fan! I spent the entire book feeling amazed at all of the things the Haunted Mansion almost became, and I thought it was really neat that a lot of the ideas that were mentioned over the years are still referenced in today's ride. I also was interested at how often 20th Century Fox was brought up in this. After reading about the long history between the two companies, I think it makes total sense as to why Disney would purchase Fox!

Non-fiction isn’t my usual genre. But this topic is so near and dear to my heart. I think I’d move into the haunted mansion if I could. I love it that much. This book taught me a lot about the haunted mansion’s cofounders and origins. I will have a new respect for it the next time I visit. Any hard core haunted mansion fan needs to read this book.

Reading this book made me put the OTHER Disney park on my Bucket List. Not the one in Florida.... been there, done that. Twice! The one in California. I gotta go ride the Haunted House in Ca!!!! I can't believe that Walt Disney died before these opened. How sad. It sounds like he was 100% vested in the whole concept. Very good read for fans of Disney!

I’ve been debating for a while on whether or not I wanted to read this. I like to see the behind the scenes and see the process of how things are made and all that. And being a Disney lover and haunted mansion lover, at that, I decided to give it a whirl. It was a very interesting read, to see how it all came together and all of the people and minds it took to create the Haunted Mansion ride. And it was especially fun to read about how they brought the Nightmare Before Christmas to the Haunted M...

Perfect for the crazily avid Disney fan, this book focuses on the Haunted Mansion attraction at the Disney Parks. Author Jeff Baham takes the reader through the attraction’s development, from its original walk-through design to its current “Doom Buggy” approach. The book chronicles the lengthy creative process and the fevered debate over whether the Mansion should be a funny or scary experience. Most focus is on the original Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. It’s really a mini textbook. The trivia

Fun read and thoroughly researched. A few stories are repeated throughout the book, and the narrative jumps around in time unnecessarily and sometimes confusingly, but if you are picking up a book about the Haunted Mansion, this is probably what you’re looking for.I grew up a fan of the Disney World version of the Haunted Mansion, and this book is very Disneyland-centric, but it basically needs to be, since that came first. I was initially a little bummed by the Disneyland-centricity, given my s...

When I was in college one particular professor was my role model. He was knowledgeable, but also allowed himself to have some fun. He could communicate clearly with little confusion. He spoke about facts and let rumors and off-hand stories be heard but clearly noted for what they were. I think this is why I have come to respect Jeff Baham for his work on the Haunted Mansion. He knows the gossip around the attraction, but he also labels it for what it is. And his own quest to find more truth abo

3.5 starsIt was interesting enough, but I hated the way it was written. The forward was written up in a way that reminded me of the Disney Parks series that highlights the park and attractions (the one you can usually catch on the Travel Channel on occasion). That was the most interesting part of the entire book if I'm being honest. Of course, that part was written by someone else. The rest of the book does a lot of jumping around an you'll get a ton of "More on that later" or "We'll get back to...

Foolish mortals, read this book and enjoy the happy haunts!This book shares the history of the Haunted Mansion, from concept to current. Little known details, back stories, and information from persons inside and outside of of Disney are found throughout the pages. Additionally, photos of art, storyboards, and the venue itself add to the thoroughness of these pages.Even the notes, links and bibliography share important connections to investigate long after completing the reading.5 stars and 2 th...

I loved reading this book. Not only was the book a learning experience for me But the book was fun! I love Disneyland and one of my favorite rides is The Haunted Mansion. It was so much fun reading about the construction of the ride and the different ideas that molded the ride itself. I will have to pay more attention to the ride when next I go to Disneyland. So many creative minds were hired by Walt Disney himself especially before “money” entered he equation. I love this..

Fascinating and meticulously researched, this is the go-to book for those interested in Disney history, specifically that of the Haunted Mansion, as well as Disneyland in general. Author pulled from multiple sources to make sense of the remarkably complicated and confusing history of the mansion, the development of which spanned across 2 decades. I especially loved reading this one while in line for rides at Disneyland and WDW, as it added to the immediacy of the subject matter. I look forward t...

Descriptive and historical, less exegetical, but a great and quick read about my favorite Disney attraction.

The Haunted Mansion is one of my favorite rides at Disneyland. I've loved it since I was a little kid. It's just such a fun, spooky, awesome experience that it's a must every time I visit the Happiest Place on Earth. It's just gets even better when A Nightmare Before Christmas overlay is completed during the holiday season. In 2019, I attended Mouse-Con in Concord, CA where Jeff Baham was participating in a panel all about the Haunted Mansion. He was also selling and signing his book which, of c...

I loved this book. It was just an enjoyable read. It wasn't just the wonderful in depth information but that it was written by someone who was passionate about the Haunted Mansion. Jeff Baham wrote in such an easygoing conversational tone that you felt he was just telling you stories right in the room with you. You can feel his love in his writing. This book has spurred my interest for The Haunted Mansion even more and look forwarding to visit his website to learn even more!

What an absolute joy to read. I have to admit that I had some reservations about having one of my favorite rides secrets revealed and potentially spoiling the magic, but it was fascinating to read about the evolution of story ideas and about the weaving of tone and atmosphere that makes the Haunted Mansion such a timeless and magnificent piece of Disneyland. I am glad this was recommended to me by other fans of the ride and I reiterate their endorsement of this delightful book.

I'm a Disney fan - not hard core but a fan, especially of Disney World. The Haunted Mansion is one of my favorite attractions so I thought this book would provide some insights and behind the scenes info I wasn't previously aware of. I rate this a 3 but would have given it a 3.5 if that was an option, having found the 1st half of the book a 3 and the 2nd half a 4. The first half felt like I was at a reunion with a bunch of folks I didn't know, listening to old stories that were funny and relevan...

I enjoy listening to author Jeff Baham on the podcast "Mousetalgia" so I already knew he was the expert on all things Haunted Mansion. There is something here for every enthusiast of Disneyland or Mansion history, including a detailed diagram on the patent for the "Doombuggies" omnimover system. My favorite part was the virtual walkthrough of the attraction noting different bits of trivia along the way.I found this a very enjoyable read that will enhance my experience of one of my already favori...

When I discovered this book, it drew me in for the obvious reasons. The Haunted Mansion is arguably my favorite ride at Disneyland, and I am always curious to learn more about any and all Disney-related trivia. This book started off strong in describing the history of the Haunted Mansion's first twinklings in Walt's eye and its birth several years after his passing. Each and every chapter here was filled with historical facts and testimony from the various players in the development and early ye...

If you love Disney's Haunted Mansion, this is for you. Otherwise your mileage may vary.Great information on the ride and the people who designed it, as well as how some of the main illusions were done.

Wonderful!Detailed historical information that any fan of the haunted mansion would love to read about! Definitely recommended reading for anyone with some extra time in their doom buggy. But, beware of hitchhiking ghosts!