Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary at D23 2019 – Hidden Secrets & Muppet Surprises!

Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion opened August 9, 1969, over fifty years ago, becoming an instant Disney Classic.  To celebrate the Mansions 50th anniversary, D23 Expo 2019 hosted a special panel “Haunted Mansion: Celebrating 50 Years”.   The session took guests on a deep dive into the history and legacy of the Mansion. According to the Event Guide. “Celebrate the rich history of Disney’s famed home of 999 happy haunts, joined by a procession of bodies you will die to meet”.

Hosted by Disney Imagineering’s Kevin Lively

The panel was hosted by Walt Disney Imagineering Story Editor Kevin Lively, who served as the Ghost Host for the hour-long event. The session opened with a tribute video featuring Disney Imagineers discussing how the Haunted Mansion inspired their work.

A Look at Haunted Mansion’s Creation and Influence

Panel discussions covered the illusions behind the attraction, offering insight into Marc Davis and X. Atencio’s contributions. Fans were treated to a special reading of an early Haunted Mansion script, originally written by X. Atencio in July 1958. His granddaughter, Kelsey McCullough, read the role of the Medium, alongside Sally Slater (the tightrope walker from the ride) and a very special guest—Uncle Deadly from The Muppets, playing the Ghost Host.

The Skippers’ Tour of The Haunted Mansion

Both Kevin Lively and Imagineer Chris Merrick shared their personal connections to the Mansion. Having started their Disney careers as Jungle Cruise Skippers, they created a unique Skippers’ Tour of the Haunted Mansion, blending humor with behind-the-scenes secrets.

Honoring a Legacy of Grim Grinning Ghosts

Jillian, another panelist, discussed the impact of Xavier “X” Atencio, who wrote Grim Grinning Ghosts and shaped much of the Mansion’s eerie yet playful storytelling. The Disney Archives provided a look at early drafts, showing how the script evolved into the version fans know today.

A Hauntingly Fun Panel

This D23 Expo panel blended history, storytelling, and entertainment, paying tribute to the Haunted Mansion’s famed 999 Happy Haunts. With Imagineers, rare archival material, and a surprise Muppet appearance, it was an unforgettable event for Disney and Haunted Mansion fans alike.

Looking for more Muppets content?  Check out:  The Muppets at Walt Disney World 1990, The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson (1990). Lady Gaga and the Muppets. Muppet Family Christmas, and Great Moments in American history with The Muppets

Check out these other videos from the D23 Expo Archives Stage.  60 Years of the Jungle Cruise.  Great Moments with Walt Disney.  Digging Deeper Disney History.  Making Walls Talk. A conversation with Bill Farmer. Kevin Rafferty. Star Wars Music. Disneyland 1959. Haunted Mansion at 50, Disney and Pixar did That?. Legacy of Disney Products, Disney Park Maps, Marc Davis goes to WED, Legends of Imagineering, Voices of the Parks or 50 Years of Pirates! and a Kiss Goodnight with Richard Sherman

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