Last night we attended a spirited celebration for the world premiere of Disney's Haunted Mansion. It was held at the Disneyland Resort. The movie is full of heart, laughter, chills and thrills. There are a few jump scares and even some emotional moments where I cried. The film is loaded with Easter eggs from the ride, so pay attention if you dare! It’s a family friendly thriller and we all loved it. Carter is 11 and Kennedy is 9 and they were not scared at all. The movie has so many fun cameos and references to the ride. The new movie based on the attraction will give audiences something to scream about. Haunted Mansion is rated PG 13 and it is 2 hours and 2 minutes. See it in theaters July 28. Watch all the fun we had at the premiere here.
We were invited to ride the Haunted Mansion attraction in Disneyland's New Orleans Square before seeing the movie at the Hyperion Theater at Disney's California Adventure. We walked the red carpet, visited with Mickey and Minnie in their festive Haunted Mansion apparel, were greeted with popcorn, drinks, Mickey shaped rice Krispy treats and more.
Mickey and Minnie were the real stars on the red carpet!
The Bride
The Tightrope Girl
It was so much fun getting to go on the Haunted Mansion ride and see characters from the attraction. Afterward we were escorted on chartered buses to The Hyperion Theater in DCA to screen the movie. There was a pre-party with food, drinks, ice cream, candy, and so many photo ops, costumes from the movie and some ghostly characters to view. It was spooktacular.
This was a highlight for me. Sitting in an actual doom buggy with my family and having this memory forever.
We never say no to a Mickey shaped pretzel.
They had Mars Wrigley candy to enjoy during the movie.
Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, Disney's Haunted Mansion follows single mom Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and her 9-year-old son, Travis (Chase W. Dillon), after they move into a New Orleans mansion filled with long-buried secrets and several unpleasant ghosts. Hoping to cleanse the house of the evil within, Gabbie hires a scrappy team of paranormal experts to help. The movie takes you on a ride full of light scares mixed with plenty of humor throughout.
The attraction itself has 999 happy haunts, and it feels like the film has 999 talented actors. Featuring a large star-studded cast and directed by Justin Simien, the film features an all-star ensemble cast including LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny De Vito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon and Daniel Levy, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Jared Leto as The Hatbox Ghost. The film's producers are Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, with Nick Reynolds and Tom Peitzman serving as executive producers.
Owen Wilson plays Father Kent, who is a bit of a salesman and you aren't sure if you can believe everything he says, but he helps put together the team that battles the mansion full of ghosts. Owen Wilson just recently rode The Haunted Mansion for the first time ever.
Jamie Lee Curtis plays Madam Leota, who is the woman trapped in the crystal ball. She might be stuck in the ball, but her presence in the film transcends far beyond the glass sphere.
Tiffany Haddish plays Harriett, who is a medium learning to tap into her own powers. She learns to be confident through her interactions with Madam Leota where they form an unbreakable bond.
Rosario Dawson plays Gabbie, a single mother hoping to fulfil her life's dream of owning a bed and breakfast while raising her son, Travis, who has been having a difficult time fitting in at school and dealing with the loss of his father.
Lakeith Stanfield plays Ben, who has been mourning his loving wife who passed away. He is introduced to Gabbie and Travis, and plays an important role in helping them rid the mansion of evil spirits, while they help him find purpose in his life and hope for a better future.
Jared Leto plays the hatbox ghost and he is unrecognizable. His character is truly spooktacular.
There is such chemistry and energy with these characters that you can feel it through the big screen. They all connect to find a way out, but in the process find deeper layers to themselves. They all start out as individuals dealing with their own problems, insecurities, and troubles, but wind up coming together as a family by providing one another with exactly what they have been missing all along.
Don't miss Haunted Mansion in theaters July 28. Thank you Walt Disney Studios for inviting us to a magical night we never forget.
Kennedy's favorite snack at the parks are tater tots from Pym Kitchen. She had to have them immediately after watching the movie. After you see Haunted Mansion you will understand why.
Carter met Bob Gurr and we were so excited. He is a Disney legend and imagineer. He designed most, if not all, of the ride vehicles of the Disneyland attractions, including Autopia, The Haunted Mansion, The Disneyland Monorail, the Submarine Voyage and The Matterhorn Bobsleds. This is a moment we will never forget.
Don't forget to have a DIY Haunted Mansion movie night at home. Watch the tutorial here.
