Chocolate and peanut butter. French fries and mayonnaise. The Haunted Mansion and The Nightmare Before Christmas. At first glance, it would appear that some things shouldn't go together; the small list above offered as evidence.

Shouldn't.

But- despite our expectations- they do go together. They go together quite well, in fact.

I love Disney's Haunted Mansion and all of its variations: the rides, the merchandise, the mythology, the fan base-pretty much anything to do with Master Gracey's Manor. I also love Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (from hereon referred to as NBC). But put the two together? No. N-N-N-OOOO! They both have their own (very different) appeal. Separate but equal.

Thank God Disney never asked me my opinion, because put them together they did, and the results are wonderful. This is not a minor refurbishment, no stick-a-Jack-Skellington-puppet-in-the-corner-and-call-it-new; this is a major overhaul and could in many rights be considered a new ride (albeit in some very familiar territory).

When Disney first officially unveiled the ride October 3, 2001, they did it up in typical Disney style, complete with a live show comprising some of the talent that created the original NBC, including the film's director, Henry Selick. Conspicuously not present were Tim Burton and Danny Elfman who had been scheduled to appear but bowed out at the last minute without explanation (at least none that we were given). This didn't sit well with the fans who were there; Cynthia Harris was booed by the audience when she announced their absence (boos which turned to laughter). Burton and Elfman did have brief video interviews prepared, so their decision to not appear couldn't have been too unexpected.

Disney had two packages available for attendance that night: a low-priced ticket that got you into the show and a ride-through only. A higher-priced ticket ($200) got you the show, dinner in the Blue Bayou with Disney artists Elisabete Gomes and Eric Robison (both of whom created some of the special merchandise that was available at the special event), plus a ride-through that was a little different from the one enjoyed by the lower-priced ticket holders earlier in the evening. These slight differences will be noted in this article.

Important note: if you have not ridden on the Haunted Mansion / NBC refurbishment and want to be surprised (which I highly suggest), then read no further. What follows is a detailed description of the ride- through. That having been said, let's step into the shadows of our favorite dark ride and see what we can see.

Haunted Mansion Exterior and Grounds

The scale of changes is evident right from the start: the solemn twin brick columns and wrought iron archway you walk under when first entering the grounds now boast a left column that has a large Jack in a Santa suit sitting atop a pumpkin and holding a spinning snowflake. The arch is covered with garland, and a large stylized bat (the same one that Jack uses for a bow tie) rests above a sign that reads "Haunted Mansion Holiday." The right column has a small "Pumpkin Man" (a snowman made from three pumpkins stacked atop each other instead of the traditional three balls of snow) standing on an evergreen chandelier. Both columns have the Haunted Mansion Plaque set in the open mouth of a wreath with eyes and fangs.

The hearse to the right of the walkway is covered and filled with Jack O' Lanterns wearing Santa hats.

Then we come to the Haunted Mansion itself: the once stately, reserved manor is now ablaze with hundreds of candles and grinning, glowing Jack O' Lanterns on all railings, gables and rooftops. Above the left wing sits Jack's sleigh, a converted coffin laden with gifts and a long scrolling list that has spilled out and rolled down the side of the manse. Above the center porch is a large backlit clock with the months of the year in place of hours and below that, a sign counting down the days to Christmas. The windows on the ground level porch are wreathed in evergreen garland.

The Foyer

There aren't too many changes from the traditional Haunted Mansion here; the walls near the ceiling are draped with evergreen garland and skulls and crossbones. The ride narration (here, as well as the rest of the ride) is from a completely new script, and was recorded by Corey Burton, in a pitch-perfect homage to original Ghost Host Paul Frees.

"T'was a long time ago, longer now than it seems,
In a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams.
For the story that you are about to be told
Began with the holiday worlds of old.
I know you're curious to see what's inside…
It's what happens when two holidays collide."

Stretching Gallery

The four stretching portraits from the original Haunted Mansion have been replaced by placid, stained-glass holiday scenes with captions below them. They are:

1. A view of the Mansion ("T'was the Nightmare before Christmas")
2. Tree with presents ("Not a creature was peaceful");
3. Fireplace with stockings ("The stockings were hung by the chimney with care"); and
4. A boy and a girl in bed with toys behind them ("The children were resting all snug in their beds.")

After the cast member requests that the patrons "drag thy wretched corpses to the dead center of the chamber," there is a sound of shattering glass and all the lights go out. Black lights snap on and the stained glass images break horizontally across the middle with a crash, revealing florescent NBC themed portraits beneath that display more of each portrait as the room stretches. The paintings become:

1. Zero pulling Jack's sleigh;
2. Scary toys;
3. Jack in his Santa suit with ghosts rising up behind him; and
4. A long, coiled snake.

The Ghost Host continues:

"It's time for our holiday tale to begin-
There's no turning back now; please, come all the way in
Our holiday tale, is a tale that's quite charming,
But during this season, it's sometimes alarming.
So relax and reflect, feel free to take pause,
While we tell you the tale about dear Sandy Claws.
T'was the nightmare before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was peaceful, not even a mouse;
The stockings, all hung by the chimney with care,
When opened that morning would cause such a scare!
The children nestled all snug in their beds,
Would have nightmares of monsters and skeleton heads…"

When the narration reaches the end, projected skulls rise up along the wall and with screams, laughter and a loud crash of thunder, the ceiling disappears revealing a huge grinning Jack face wearing a Santa hat, his eyes, nose and mouth backlit and flashing in opposition to the front lighting showing the face itself. After a few seconds of darkness, the patrons move out of the gallery into the corridor beyond.

The Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay was unique in that it wasn't created by Walt Disney Imagineering, which is the outfit that creates the theme parks and attractions for the Walt Disney Company. Rather, it was developed in-house at Disneyland, and the animatronics, major props and scenery were all created by Garner Holt Productions, a Los Angeles company that specializes in design for theme parks and family entertainment centers.

Changing Portrait Corridor

The five changing portraits also differ from the original Haunted Mansion. They are:

1. Airborne Santa and reindeer becomes Jack and skeleton deer;
2. Jack in a Santa suit holding a gift while standing in winter becomes Jack in his black suit holding a pumpkin in autumn;
3. Snowman in winter becomes Pumpkin Man in autumn;
4. The Mansion in moonlight in autumn becomes the decorated Mansion in moonlight in winter; and
5. Sally holding a tiny Christmas tree and smiling becomes Sally holding the burned remains of the tree and frowning.

The Ghost Host weighs in:

"Now hurry along, as they say, "Look alive,"
This is one holiday you will want to survive.
Jack Skellington came here from Halloween Town,
You'll notice his handiwork scattered around.
This year he's decided to play "Sandy Claws,"
But when Halloween creates Christmas you might see some flaws.
And now a dark carriage will take you away,
Sit back, rest in peace in your black Christmas sleigh.
Your sleigh will accommodate one or two or more-
We hope you're prepared for what Jack has in store."

Between the paintings hang dead wreaths with skulls and crossbones on them. At the end of the corridor, the staring busts are the same, but a skull and crossbones wreath now sits between them. Below the wreath hangs a sign that reads "Free Sleigh Rides" and points to the loading area.

Loading Area

When you are seated in your Doom Buggy and are heading into the ride, the wall to your right (which usually has the abstract, misty light projections) now sports a huge picture of Jack in his Santa suit holding up a large banner that changes from reading "Merry Christmas" to "Scary Christmas." The banner is held on the left by the Mayor (whose face changes from happy to scared when the sign changes) and on the right by Lock, Shock, and Barrel.

"Don't pull down the bar; it will float down with ease… and remember, no flash photography, please," reminds the Ghost Host.

At the end of the loading area when you enter the ride, you pass between two columns of gifts wrapped in spooky wrapping paper that are connected by an arch of ribbon. The Ghost Host narrates:

"Yes, down through the chimney Jack flew like a bat,
Clutching his magical "Sandy Claws" sack.
He ripped open the sack and, in moments it seems,
Created a Christmas you have in bad dreams…"

Endless Hallway

A barking Zero floats in place of the candelabrum, and between Zero and your Doom Buggy floats a large bone wrapped in black ribbon and bearing a large tag with "Zero" written on it. There is a big pile of bones on the steps at the foot of the corridor and above the door is a wreath, also made of bones. Says the Ghost Host:

"More rapid than vultures, the Mansion was changed,
All was soon covered, adorned and deranged.
And what to your wondering eyes disappears,
Is Jack's little friend Zero-the ghost dog reindeer!"

Corridor of Doors

Your Doom Buggy passes down the hall and under a large evergreen vine with red chomping flowers that have faces and gaping maws in the center of the blooms. The faces are animatronics; their eyes move and their mouths sing "la-la-la's" to the tune of "Deck the Halls."

The Conservatory coffin is still there with its hapless contents still trying to escape, only now the casket has been wrapped twice with a large red ribbon and sports a coffin-shaped tag that reads "Do not open 'til Christmas." Atop the coffin is a stylized, cartoonish bat in place of the familiar raven (which is replaced by this bat throughout the entire ride.)

The Ghost Host joins in:

"Nothing here was forgotten, it all looks so pleasant,
A coffin, Jack says, makes a fine Christmas present!
A man-eating plant makes a wonderful wreath…
As long as you don't get caught in its teeth.
Jack's holiday vision was unlike no other,
So ring out the bells; there's more cheer to uncover!"

The garland vines drape down the hallway, eventually becoming a giant wreath with dagger-like teeth that you pass under while it grabs the chandeliers above you with long, clawed vine arms. As you pass the grandfather clock, there are some added evergreen garlands and several wrapped gifts next to the clock itself.

Séance Room

The floating musical instruments are replaced by floating NBC-themed Tarot cards, and Madame Leota is reciting a ghostly new version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" while a creepy arrangement of "Carol of the Bells" plays in the background:

"On the thirteenth day of Christmas, my ghoul love gave to me: thirteen rings of power, embracing strength that never ends…
Twelve signs of the Zodiac, that rule the future and trancend…
Eleven candles floating, their scent of mystery in the air…
Ten telling tea leaves, that swirled with secrets yet to share.

"On the ninth day of Christmas, my ghoul love gave to me:
Nine magic crystals, that sparkled with a force that is pure…
Eight balls of knowledge, that answer with a truth that is sure…
Seven pearls of wisdom, to keep my love bewitched to me…
Six mystic mirrors, reflecting futures yet to be.

"On the fifth day of Christmas, my ghoul love gave to me:
Five lucky charms, to understand the right from wrong…
Four wheels of fortune, to spin their rich and golden song…
Three life lines, extending help to those in need…
Two passion potions, that love and romance may succeed…
On the first day of Christmas, my ghoul love gave to me:
A star! A brilliant star for my fortune card tree!"

The Grand Ballroom

As patrons leave Madame Leota's circle, the Ghost Host returns:

"With some treats and some games, you can make a scene merry,
Why, even a gingerbread house could be scary.
All at once, happy haunts did materialize,
Like a nightmarish painting by Currier & Ives."

The Haunted Mansion Holiday refurbishment offers big changes here. The mantelpiece above the fireplace has Christmas lights, garland and glowing Jack O' Lanterns on it. The ghosts who float in through the open doorway by the hearse at the back are now carrying presents, and the hearse itself is filled with pumpkins and gifts.

Zero floats above the main dining table, which now hosts a strange, cake-like thing with what appear to be arms and fangs. To the immediate left of the main dining table is an enormous Christmas tree that reaches almost to the ceiling. My first thought was that here was an evergreen version of Ray Bradbury's Halloween Tree; the huge, spindly Christmas tree is covered with glowing Jack O' Lanterns, candles and ornaments.

The Ballroom Dancers and Ghostly Organist are the same, but the organ itself is decorated with two Jack O' Lanterns, one on either side of the manuals. Strings of lights and garland are draped all along the banister at the rear of the ballroom.

The Attic

The first thing you see upon entering the attic is a large list of names (which I understand contains the names of some of the designers who created the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay) that rises from the floor between some pieces of attic junk and leads back into the room and out of sight.

The attic has been cleaned of most of the old familiar junk, and it's now filled with creepy gifts and presents, from some of which leap a giant stylized skull and a giant cat's head. Claims the Ghost Host: "A bag full of toys Jack had slung on his back… they were strange and bizarre-and on the attack!"

Running the length of the attic and behind the stacks of presents is the long, giant snake from the film NBC. Its body is bulging with swallowed gifts, and it eventually rises to form an arch that you pass under to get to the graveyard. The snake's head is where the Ghostly Bride normally stands. From the snake's mouth winds the rest of the name list we first saw when we entered the attic.

The night of the attraction's unveiling, there were four additional name lists containing the names of the two hundred of us who purchased the more expensive tickets. These lists are not part of the normal overlay, and were taken down at the conclusion of the night.

The Graveyard

As the patrons exit the attic and look out through the strings of lights placed in the dead trees below, they see a giant snow hill that rises to a curled top. This hill is filled with glowing Jack O' Lanterns, their candles blinking in time to the updated version of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" that plays through this part of the ride. As the Doom Buggies spin around to descend backwards into the graveyard, the Ghost Host joins in:

"'Sandy Claws' worked his magic, both outside and in,
But one final touch made his bony face grin.
'Now what better gift on my friends to bestow,
Than a graveyard that's covered in ghostly white snow!'"

The Doom Buggy backs down through dead trees decorated with candy canes and small hanging skeletons and winds past a large Jack in his Santa suit standing next to a barking Zero, both of which are by the entry gate of the graveyard where the Caretaker and his dog would normally stand. Santa Jack is an animatronic, moving and waving, issuing holiday greetings and asking if you've been good this year. (As he did in the film, Chris Sarandon provided the voice of Jack for the ride.)

The first crypt inside the gates is wrapped in a large ribbon. Snow covers everything and the graves and mausoleums are decorated with bright bows and ribbons. The ghosts themselves don't appear to have been changed, with the exception of the five Singing Busts which have been replaced by five Singing Jack O' Lanterns which sit at the base of the giant snow pile. The Singing Lanterns are very effective, looking more life-like (in a somewhat twisted way) than the busts they've temporarily replaced. Over the updated version of "Grim Grinning Ghosts," they sing a familiar tune in countermelody:

"We wish you a scary Christmas,
We wish you a scary Christmas,
We wish you a scary Christmas, and a haunted new year! Boo!"

After the Singing Lanterns, you pass underneath two huge snow angels with Jack O' Lantern heads that stand on either side of the pathway. The rest of the graveyard inhabitants join in singing the updated tune:

"Fa la la la la, fa la la la la la!
What's this? What's this? What's this?
Jolly dear old Sandy Claws,
While the graveyard sleeps,
Down the chimney dark and damp,
With your sack you'll creep,
Happy haunts materialize,
For a swinging wake,
Glowing pumpkins harmonize,
Joyful screams you'll make!
"Fa la la la la, fa la la la la la!
What's this? What's this? What's this?
Garlands made of iron chains,
Candles glowing white,
Spiders make cool ornaments,
For our tree of light!
Creepy Crypts look awful nice,
Tied up in a bow,
Now our graveyard's pure and white,
In the ghostly snow!
…Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize!"

The Hitchhiking Ghosts

The Hitchhiking Ghosts are gone (although if you look closely at the background of this scene, you might see them off in the distance.) They've been replaced by a cut-out of Lock, Shock and Barrel peering through the bars of a round cage set behind a pile of scary toys beneath a banner that reads "We wish you a scary Christmas." The borders of the display are covered with snowflakes made from spider webs. Explains the Ghost Host:

"As Jack sprang in his sleigh, three hitchhikers he spied,
They said, "Sandy Claws, may we please have a ride?"
But Jack waved good-bye, for he just could not stay,
He had much to deliver before Christmas Day!"

The Ghosts in the Mirrors

The frames of the mirrors are wrapped in wreaths and ribbons and each carries the caption "A ghostly gift for you" at the top. The Hitchhiking Ghosts have been replaced with a Skull, a Jack O' Lantern and a Cat-the same creepy presents that were in the toy display that you passed in the attic. The Ghost Host offers the Mansion's guests his final thoughts with these words:

"May Jack's "ghostly presents" now follow you home,
And stay in your hearts-where'er you may roam.
For now you know what happens when holidays meet,
You might get a trick… or a holiday treat!"

Unloading Area and "Little Leota"

The crypt beside the Unloading Area is decorated for the holiday overlay with a few pumpkins and Jack O' Lanterns sitting in some of the niches. "Little Leota" has been replaced by a tiny Sally who sits atop a round gift box staring up at a full moon, extolling each patron to "Hurry back… hurry back… be sure to bring your Sandy Claws sack! I'll be waiting to open my Christmas present… Hurry back… hurry back…" On the gift box is a small tag that reads "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good fright." Every few minutes, a silhouette of Sandy Claws and his sleigh crosses the backlit moon.

All in all, Disney has done an incredible job in putting this attraction together. If you're not a NBC fan, then the changes may not impress you too much. If you are a fan, then you should enjoy the new features greatly. Some fans might feel that some of the NBC characters were somewhat overlooked (it might be nice if Lock, Shock and Barrel had more of a presence, or if Oogy Boogy popped up somewhere.) Still, these are minor quibbles, none of which impact the quality of the ride.

According to many reports, the success of the October 3, 2001 special event honoring the opening of the holiday overlay was beyond Disneyland's expectations-so much so that the refurbishment may become an annual event. Disney is hosting another such special event October 3, 2002, and tickets were already sold out as of our press deadline in July. Four different packages were available: "J" for $2250 (which includes a dinner the night before the event in the Haunted Mansion itself and was limited to thirty guests); "A" for $569; "C" for $200 and "K" for $69. "J" sold out within twenty minutes; "A" almost as fast; "C" within hours and "K" within the first day. Disney also set aside two pairs of "J" tickets to be auctioned to the highest bidder.

This year, the refurbished Haunted Mansion will be open from October 4 through the first week of January, 2003. If you can get to Disneyland to see it, I heartily suggest you do so.

1. Halloween and Christmas
2. The Haunted Mansion and The Nightmare Before Christmas

Who knew? This is one head-on collision I can live with.

Scott Bruffey is a free-lance writer obssessed with the Haunted Mansion to the point of dysfunctionality. He resides in Washington, DC where he spends most of his time drawing crude figures of Madame Leota from the neck down. He can be reached at bocult@sprynet.com.