Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary dinner show at Disneyland

The 40th anniversary of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was celebrated on 9/9/09. Guests attending the special event were treated to a dinner show featuring Constance the bride, George (her groom), the hitchhiking ghosts, Madame Leota, and plenty of other characters.
This is the full dinner show. See our other videos for the dinnertime panel discussion featuring Walt Disney Imagineers and Legends.
This was recorded in Anaheim, Calif. at Disney's California Adventure inside the former Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? - Play It theater.
Video shot/edited by Ricky Brigante.

[@retrodude9683]

This was five years ago but I still love watching this, and I still notice things. Like they actually had Lillian O'Malley in the wedding party and then the remix of Grim Grinning Ghosts in the march! And then Reverend BLOODMERE as in Bloodmere Manor one of the attractions concept names!

[@toysvilltvstudios7576]

The date made sense. 9/9/09 = 999 happy haunts! XD That's funny!

[@theMrRook]

Did anyone else catch the Reverend Bloodmere reference? Bloodmere Manor was going to be the original name of the attraction.

[@Horenramon]

Spencer Calderon i just did

[@Luck_ee-on8ks]

No where is it

[@andreapatane4204]

He sounds like John Cleese for some reason.

[@autumnlights2003]

@@Luck_ee-on8ks 3:12

[@Holobrine]

Notice the women leading the men, just like the real haunted mansion.

[@nessa1985]

That was amazing, thank you for uploading this! I hope to go to the 50th anniversary :D

[@chamonix97]

Me three!

[@benmartin9943]

If I could have my wedding like this, I so would

[@GoingCoconuts]

You still can your 10th wedding anniversary or the theme for your birthday. I do IAM old I make my own themes like Peppa pig goes to a haunted Hawaiian island. My yard it's spooky in the summer. Plus after a few drinks my guests go for a hidden treasure they must find . Like prizes to take home .You nahe fun. And throw in a jumper adults only party. It's a blast to jump no matter what is your age . You only live once Enjoy

[@daniellefregoe1467]

Is it weird that im watching this on Christmas Eve? XD

[@cottagecoreqtt7311]

Not at all

[@duskrush]

According to the comic, Leota is the reason spirits keep showing up there from all over, not just the ones who died in the mansion. Her death is what cursed the mansion. Constance likely lived there since all of her stuff is stored in the attic.

[@pumpkinpatch5]

How interesting to read this comment from 10 years ago and now find that the new film runs along this same concept. :)

[@mrbestohyeah]

@@pumpkinpatch5 yes

[@cadaverous6]

Ezra's actor has got that VOICE.

[@andreapatane4204]

So do Phineas and Gus.

[@ReccaWolf]

That wedding cake...can it be Death by Chocolate? ;)

[@pokeaust7800]

Lol I get the joke

[@Garlicsvids]

Poke Aust yaaaaaaaaaaay cake

[@reylaniea]

True!! Lol

[@DisneyDahling]

Fanficey, but a fun show anyway. I would love to attend the 50th anniversary event if there is one.

[@monicarichiez9772]

Yes, there's going to be one, i saw an ad saying that going to have the anniversary this September

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

It's Leota Tombs' daughter. So she's the real-life Little Leota playing her mother's role, as it were.

[@chandlerj333]

something probably ironic: the Bridal Chorus (here comes the bride) by Wagner was originally written for the opera "Lohegrin" AFTER the titular character's and his new wife's wedding. it was used as forshadowing because immediately after, Lohegrin goes and kills 5 people and left.

[@Heavenlyhounds96]

After seeing that she was neglected/left alone at a wedding ceremony by her so-called fiance, I NOW feel bad for Constance. :( The poor, beautiful woman.:(

[@andreapatane4204]

She does age through this dinner show. Please look at the blood and other debris all over her when she's out of the Doombuggy.

[@daiikxi]

She reason she was neglected at the wedding was because she had already killed him so everyone thought he forgot her.

[@littlerosyvillegas]

@@andreapatane4204 ]

[@quartodoluiz3844]

Go on... Married with her... 😏

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

Plus, I do believe Beating Heart's heartbeat can still be heard in the attic scene anyway, despite Constance replacing her.

[@TheAngstyWriter]

The actress playing Madame Leota is gorgeous!

[@memethyst]

THE DOOM BUGGY JUST TURNS AND CONSTANCE IS SITTING THERE LIKE "sup bitches"

[@autumnpeirson6976]

I love this, but I don't understand why Leota is dressed as a bride.

[@CherryRedBanshee]

Autumn Peirson Leota is actually dressed like that as a nod to the small bride figure at the end of the ride that says the "Hurry back" lines. This figure is often referred to by fans as "Little Leota" because she was voiced by the woman who played the face of Madame Leota (I think?).

[@autumnpeirson6976]

That's interesting! Thanks for the info! =)

[@dianes.6321]

Autumn Peirson I know right

[@dianes.6321]

Autumn Peirson. Leotard is a magical head in a ball so why is she wearing a dress

[@autumnpeirson6976]

Good point LOL

[@Savaemaz]

Personally, if I was there, I'll be all like "WOOOOOO LET'S POP DAT CHAMPAGNE!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lolz

[@alexmartin4772]

Savaemaz, if I was there, I'd be like, "WOOOOP, CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!! I get the first slice!!!!!!!!!!"

[@Darksde-vp1nk]

Same to both of you.

[@667mumble]

Disney always puts on the best shows!!!

[@allien.777]

2 more years until the 50 year anniversary

[@chamonix97]

OMG I am SO attending The 50th anniversary of The Disneyland Haunted Mansion! And I haven't even rode the original ride! I hope they do something extra special!

[@monicarichiez9772]

A couple of weeks ago i saw an ad for haunted mansion 50th anniversary that going be this September

[@emeraldcity5351]

I'm watching this 11 years later but I dont care I love this

[@emilysclone]

I liked the haunted mansion the way it was before they decided to make it about a black widow bride.

[@theethanator9000]

My personal opinion, but I enjoy the fact that they changed the bride into something more sinister. The ride didn't have a sad tone and a bride endlessly waiting for her lost husband is way too depressing to add to the general atmosphere. Also, I think female villains are really under used and should be used more often!

[@HansMaestroMusic]

Also, a long time worker once told me that it's possible that The Haunted Mansion was thought of to be the representation of "post piracy", for one of the members in the crew of the Pirates of the Caribbean. The bride to be would be left in the mansion while Gracey would go pirating, and he'd store all his treasures in the attic. When he came home and discovered that she'd found him out to be a pirate, he killed her in fear of being turned in. Don't know how possible it is to be a true storyline

[@Lenaray818]

The sound of people eating in the background

[@andreapatane4204]

It's too bad that I didn't attend this ghostly event. Did people 👗 up for it? What is wrong with these people? It's like they're stealing my 💡s for the sequel of my movie which is called "Adventures of Dead Love 2⃣". OMG! George is bald. It sucks that 🎩tie doesn't appear with the characters from The Stretching Room. 🎹 music rules! 👍🏻 if you hauntingly agree.

[@monicarichiez9772]

Who little harriet in the stretching room?

[@bigdawg1181]

Leota was giving me chills. That would have been so much fun to be there.

[@williampetersen9915]

I like how they had a doom buggy on stage.

[@andreapatane4204]

Hydraulics or something!

[@Jbunny1997]

My goals for my wedding!! It better be this lit lol 😆 I love the Haunted Mansion!!

[@ryancsgamer7286]

Yes she was the chick with the axe in the attic

[@2doot]

indeed. Her name is Constance, aka the "Black Widow" bride. Take a lucky guess why.

[@davidray3133]

RyanCSGamer Hatchet, not axe. Hence her last name, Hatchaway. It's not Axeway.

[@kc_9970]

Yandere Simulator (2014)

[@2doot]

Kendal Chicarelli omfg 😂

[@theethanator9000]

@@kc_9970 Lmao funny reference, but Constance murdered her husbands for money, not because they were interested in other women.

[@c-dawg98]

How Grimly Delightful!👻👍👻👍👻👍💀💀💀

[@Reposessor]

They need to have the hatbox ghost! :P

[@chamonix97]

Hopefully They'll have The Hatbox Ghost make an appearance for the 50th anniversary in 2019.

[@matthewsoares9880]

You're right.

[@theretronaut9558]

YES HITCHHIKER GHOSTS!

[@Horenramon]

now i need to beware of them.

[@andreapatane4204]

@@Horenramon Madame Leota mentioned that they're the gloomsmen.

[@amandapike2477]

I love this but I'm not a big fan of the black widow ax murderess version of the Bride. I feel like Disney changed her just so there would be no confusion or connection to Corpse Bride. It takes away some of the ambiance and some of her tragedy. An axe murderer doesn't quite feel right for the Gothic setting.

[@tsubaki4106]

Believe it or not, they somehow managed to fit two brides and two grooms into the attic! The first groom plays the Wedding March on the piano, accompanied by his betrothed's ethereal heartbeat. The second happy couple stand together at the far end of the room, just before the window. Neat, huh?

[@Firegen1]

That wasn't reason Constance came about. The beating heart bride was proving ineffective.

[@mousekuteerkhylert.n.p1228]

10:45 Grim Grinning Ghosts Come Out To Socialize!!!👻🎶

[@Gracieloo531]

I love the humor. I rode the haunted mansion ride at Walt Disney World and for some reason, prior to the ride I was very nervous...but I loved it! I had forgotten how great it was! I love the humor (:

[@goldenblue8991]

I heard that the ride REALLY is haunted!

[@clutterbug138]

It's not true

[@marigirl318]

Cool!

[@garrettcarter2959]

So that's why I can't get rid of this hitchhiker.

[@goldenblue8991]

Garrett Carter 😂lol

[@littlefudgers1792]

+Mario might be people throw down their ashes there

[@lwanco1018]

I wonder what their gonna do for 50yrs.

[@Ethan839]

The Reviewer reveal the story??? Just a thought.

[@Horenramon]

well i will be riding it at WDW this year it is this 50th now

[@AnnetteBond]

They’re charging $299/ticket for four hours of access to the West Side of the Disneyland park (from 11pm-3am), with only four rides open: Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Splash Mountain and Indiana Jones. No dinner or food of any kind.

[@shaydystheshadowqueen9584]

In terms of souvineers; a working small scale twisted clock, one ornament of the Hitchhiking Ghosts riding the Doom Buggy, another ornament of the candle holding gargoyles from the stretching room that lights up, and a pair of comfy well designed Stretching Portrait socks. Available at most Disney Stores

[@cosplaysbygus]

Covid stop them 🙄

[@alexandraalexfischer]

Huge fan of the haunted Mansion movie/ride

[@matthewsoares9880]

I'm a big fan of The Haunted Mansion ride and film, I'm also so excited for the live action remake of The Haunted Mansion made by Guillermo del Toro

[@MrCamel2humps]

Matthew Soares I don’t think the new film is happening

[@Christmasfan1000]

@@MrCamel2humpscap, the new movie exists

[@MrCamel2humps]

@@Christmasfan1000 my comment was from 4 years ago dumbass.

[@swarlock]

Great dinner show. Wish I'd been there.

[@loribennett5724]

and you can tell him a constant ringing of our undying vows

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

@angeloflifelight: Well, you see, there are two Georges. One is George Yancey aka The Hatbox Ghost & the other is our Ghost Host, George (Edward in the film) Gracey. Constance may be a black widow who kills her husbands by making them literally lose their heads over her, but she was not the original bride. She may have been pegged to wed The Hatbox Ghost--for obvious reasons--but Master Gracey hung himself out of grief for the death of the Beating Heart Bride, Emily (Elizabeth in the film).

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

@AugustsWorld: Actually, she is Leota Tombs' daughter. Leota Tombs herself was Madame Leota, so in a way, her daughter would a real-life Little Leota, as it were.

[@copperkiddo]

That was awsome. Man I wish I was there at the time, but my pass expired years ago. I'm a huge haunted mansion fan, this would have been a dream come true for me.

[@macmahon_matt]

Reenactment Plot: The Wedding of the newlyweds George Hightower and Constance Hatchaway takes place in the year of 1877 and the Four Groomsman and Bridal Party (representing Constance’s Previous Marriages), walk down the aisle and Constance arrives and the priest lets people sit down and informs the bride that her beloved George is missing (little did they know of Constance’s true form that she intended to kill him by beheading from a 🪓 hatchet). The priest says will continue the ceremony momentarily until they find George. On the night a human Leota Chants her prophecy as George was found dead in the underworld and a doom buggy appears in midair as it turns around is a somber Constance Hatchaway aka the bride and confesses that she did kill George as he comes back from the dead and do their vows in union as Leota presents the newlydeads George and Constance and they kiss and informs the guest to take a tour of the Mansion for their Wedding Cake as they sing the theme “grim, grinning ghosts” and Leota chants hurry back. At the Haunted Mansion, George and Constance at the second floor of the mansion goes and does their representing of their cake, cutting and introduction of Newlydeads. They hold the hatchet and topple the cake topper tradition on cutting the cake in saying that they will be haunting as they’re Newlydeads permanently and says that there are 997+ George and Constance makes it 999 of our happy haunts but there’s always room for one more to make 1000 and concludes by the KZbinr, walking in the mansion for the tour as the Newlydeads congratulate a couple.

[@babysinclairfan]

@TherealRNO Actually the Hatbox Ghost has a number of identities. Some people say that he's Cousin Huit.(from the tombstone that says "cousin Huit, we know ou didnt do it")

[@gahks]

This was better than the film! XD

[@iwakokrazy]

I WANT MY WEDDING HERE!

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

Technically, 1001 by now. Black Widow Bride Consance is NOT Beating Heart Bride "Emily" and there's still ol' Hatbox hiding somewhere, since the Del Toro movie remake is bringing him back.

[@cecilstone9679]

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL

[@MountSellout77]

Who's the person who voices the Ghost Host during this show? It's not Paul Frees because he passed away in 1986? And if anyone else knows who's the voice of the Ghost Host in The Haunted Mansion Holiday layover off the ride, please tell me if you can too (I have a feeling that it's the same person but, whatever) thanks!

[@hannahoreilly347]

The voice of the ghost host Corey Burton since they had to change the voice for the Nightmare before Christmas version.

[@briansheil9763]

Corey Burton? He's behind the voices of Spike, Brawn, Sunstreaker, and Shockwave from the original "Transformers" animated series.

[@MultiJames95]

The voice in this show is no other than Corey Burton.

[@princesskyrie]

MultiJames 95 Corey Burton does indeed do the Nightmare Before Christmas Ghost Host, but the voice in this show is Joe Leahy. He was also the Narrator on Freakazoid, and takes Ghost Host duties when Corey Burton's not available.

[@HorrorBoom]

OH, I'm DYING to go to that!

[@TheLaugher123]

Where was the Show at , inside the mansion ?

[@sudmalis100]

@SweetLilNibs yes, but i guess they wanted original names. master gracy might be george's lformal name. george gracy. also, maybe they wanted to leave the MR. gracy alone and not have his wife jump to speculations if she heard" the late mr. gracy and his beloved bride" idk

[@spacemountaineer91]

that was 16min of AWESOME!!!

[@metrometheus641]

later this year is the 50th Anniversary, cant wait! :D

[@WeCanCos]

This is amazing. I got chills. XD

[@CosplayCore]

Announcer: "We will continue with the dinner show... Once we've located the groom!" Me: ALRIGHT! TIME TO FESS UP, VICTOR! YOU KNOW YOU LOVE EMILY! -pulls Victor Van Dort out of nowhere- Victor: B-But... I-I don't even... Me: NO BUTTS! NOW, SAY YOUR VOWS. lol j/k xD

[@cedarsgirl]

Thank you soooo much for posting this!!!!!!!!!

[@westernskysboy124]

Maybe they did that because remember what the "Ghost Host," said, "Theres 999 happy haunts but there's room for a thousand? Any voulenters?"

[@disneydreamerdancer]

I love this but i don't understand why madam leota is dressed as a bride, you know, because i see the bride-like veil and a white long dress holding flowers on her hands (appanrently dead ones) so yeah, if i imagine madam leota i would see her in a dark gothic like gypsy costume.

[@208disneygirl]

Wait, they're remaking the movie???!!!! Awesome!!!!!! I hope they make it actually about the ghosts in the mansion this time instead of live people visiting a haunted mansion like that Eddie Murphy movie did.

[@tamkins1985]

Who is master Gracy now to the Mansion? Does his story still stand with his brides? Is Constant the 2ed own to the Mansion? You CAN'T take away master Gracey and his stories... I say keep the past stories as the stories but, also have another story built onto it?

[@AnnetteBond]

After missing out on every previous anniversary party, I finally bought tickets last week for the 50th Anniversary party at $299 each. I was under the impression that tickets included a dinner party like this, but after reading the fine print it looks like all we get for $300 is four hours in a small portion of the park from 11pm-3am, no food or show. Just curious, do you happen to remember how much Disney charged for tickets to the 2009 party, and did it include any time inside Disneyland Park?

[@attractionsmagazine]

Sorry, we don’t remember.

[@MsRoxas101x]

Do they stil do this? If so, where and when do you suppose it would occur? Thank you!!!

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

That was one of Beating Heart's stories. Constance is a psychotic black widow who really has no heart worth beating due to her muderous rampage, whereas Beating Heart (called Emily by unofficial CM stories and the majority of the fandom, called Bernadette in Epic Mickey 2, and called Prasilla in early concept drafts) was more of tragic soul with a melancholy history.

[@ParaPerception]

that was amazingly epic! i wish i was there.....

[@JAKECOT_CENTER]

For 50th hopefully Hattie will be the host

[@chamonix97]

A Hatbox Ghost face character would be a Haunted Mansion fans dream come true! :D I totally want to see The Hatbox Ghost have some form of involvement in the 50th anniversary now that he's back in the attic where he belongs!

[@cyriljackal]

They are 998 and 999... and room for one more.

[@BW92116]

This was to die for. I kept hoping a pop-up ghoul would appear.

[@alexhickman7847]

Correct me if I'm wrong but is that Susan Blakeslee that is playing Madame Leota/Little Leota?? She's awesome and I love her work ^_^

[@PrincessDreamActress]

Alex Hickman I believe you mean Susanne Blakeslee. Yes, Susanne Blakeslee voices Madame Leota in the Hanted Mansion holiday and in Disneyland Kinect. Eleanor Audley is Madame Leota in the ride and also Lady Tremaine and Maleficent (Blakeslee currently voices Lady Tremaine, Cruella DeVil, the Evil Queen and Maleficent among other characters in their corruptible mortal states--no pun intended!)

[@johnsmi213]

It's Tomasina who used to perform at the Tomorrowland stage.

[@johnsmi213]

@@PrincessDreamActress It's Tomasina who used to perform at the Tomorrowland stage.

[@PrincessDreamActress]

@@johnsmi213 You don't say.

[@CosplayCore]

Oh and... I forgot the bridal dress I'd wear. :P Something that looks like it was designed by Tim Burton.

[@tornadoe13]

actualy hatties name is still in debate. One story says he was just a runner for the local hat shop and the groom saw them alone in the attic and got the wrong idea and beheaded him

[@CosplayCore]

But I might drape the tables with black bows and skulls and little Halloween decorations. It would drive my grandma insane, but hey. It's my wedding. Not hers.

[@AugustsWorld]

Wow. Madam Leota out of her glass ball.

[@Yioa101]

Forget a honeymoon, I want a wedding in Disneyland!

[@magicman205]

The Haunted Mansion has always be considered to be more silly than scary. Disney can certainly pull of making a really scary attraction but that just isn't what Disney is about. I'm sure that if they changed the ride around and made it scarier, a lot of people would complain. I love The Haunted Mansion as it is right now.

[@rextony22]

what part in disneyland was that in?

[@WimblyFraggle]

Leota looks like Bridgett Mendler

[@hannarae4311]

@4:34 What is the name of the lady in the crystal ball again?

[@IshizuMarisol]

Madame Leota. ♥

[@hannarae4311]

***** Thank you! I knew it started it an L but it escaped me LOL!

[@whataboutantelabbit1419]

None other than Madame Leota :)

[@matthewsoares9880]

The name of the lady in the crystal ball is named Madame Leota.

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

The Madame is the seer in the crystal ball. Little Leota aka The Ghostess ("Hurry Back...") is supposedly her daughter.

[@mikedegnan7489]

Ok I have to clear up the storyline of the haunted mansion here for a second because they said something incorrect. George isn’t the master of the mansion. It’s the ghost host, it even said in an old script for the ride. The ghost hosts name is Edward Gracey and I strongly believe he is the hatbox ghost.

[@bananaman5419]

No

[@bananaman5419]

Okay so this is a lot to take in First of all, the Ghost Host is not Master Gracey. Imagineers who worked on the original ride have stated that the Master Gracey tombstone is nothing but a reference to Yale Gracey. The movie simply isn’t canon. Secondly, he is not the master of the mansion. The clothes his corpse wears indicate that he was a butler. He might have been in concept stories, but he certainly is not now. Lastly, the Hatbox Ghost is a completely different character. Different clothes, different voice. And the Ghost Host is still in the ballroom when you meet the Hatbox Ghost. Sorry if this came off as rude, but I get really peeved when people call the Ghost Host Master Gracey

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

That's NOT Constance. Little Leota is the one who says "Hurry Back".

[@DJTEVAdotCOM]

good musical translation of the ride but i wish there were more of special effects...hitchhiker ghosts looks good though.

[@batman96160]

was the cake real?

[@adriangarcia543]

What is show about?

[@CosplayCore]

I know The Corpse Bride isn't even a Disney movie, but everytime I go on the Haunted Mansion ride, when I see the bride, she always reminds me of Emily. xD

[@gilbertnapoles]

was the food any good??

[@CosplayCore]

The bride here looks really pretty, though. Kind of like Christine from The Phantom Of The Opera. :D And I like the groom's top hat. :3

[@208disneygirl]

I hope that's the true one, it sounds a lot more interesting than the previous ones you shared with me!!! Guess we'll never know the *true* story behind the Haunted Mansion, then......

[@HansMaestroMusic]

No Prob! I used to work Hollywood Attractions, mainly the Hyperion Theatre and Tower of Terror. If I recall correctly, FL's version may have had the bride jump out the attic window, or throw her ring out the window for you can see it embedded in the queue concrete. In CA, Gracey killed her, thinking she was cheating on him, then hung himself in the gallery out of regret and sadness. Leota put a curse on the entire household/guests, since she couldn't have him, no one could.

[@hummingbirdgirl07]

@populargal124 YOU'RE RIGHT

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

Yeah. But Constance Hatchaway-Hightower took over Beating Heart's spot, so what does that mean for all of the stories of the lonely Beating Heart bride when murderous psycho Connie took her place?

[@swarlock]

Yes! It has to be in WDW as well.

[@kenc6842]

I thought she jumped out of the window in the attic. Can't remember for sure though.

[@whataboutantelabbit1419]

I believe that was the Florida story? The California one is different.

[@4IcyHot]

dont know about u guys but I like the acting...

[@loribennett5724]

From Emily The Dead Corpses Bride sounds like my kind of deadly tying the knot

[@TheDISNEY365]

where was the dinner!?

[@MegaToren]

Great video, thanks for sharing it with us! Allthgouh, the camera guy should really learn how to hold a shot for a mininimum of 10 seconds before zooming or panning etc.

[@lindseyvangerpen6685]

Why was Madame Leota dressed as a bride?

[@descalante64]

that is the ghost hostess (little leota) at the end of the ride

[@greasedlightnin5918]

because she was going to Mary George because she loved him but leota killed gorge and she was going to Mary him once she was dead because in this she is until Constance is so upset she kills herself and Constance and George get married in the ghost world and then that is only the beginning look up the storyline

[@matthewsoares9880]

Because she is.