Additional scaffolding covered in green scrim has been added to the façade of The Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom for work on the exterior. This comes after Disney filed multiple permits for the mansion, installed some scaffolding in the graveyard, and cleared the front lawn of shrubbery.
The Haunted Mansion Facade Construction
The new scaffolding is at the left back of the mansion, sitting on part of the cleared lawn. At least for now, the scaffolding doesn’t block the façade from view when entering the queue.
In the foreground, you can see dirt and damage on the mansion’s patio railing that was previously hidden by the shrubs. Though some of it matches the mansion’s decrepit theming, it may be fixed up during this construction work.
The new scaffolding is connected to the scaffolding in the graveyard, creating an archway over the final covered part of the queue. It will eventually be covered by themed scrim so it “blends in” with its surroundings more.
The scaffolding is for construction of a slight expansion to the mansion’s façade on the left side, behind the graveyard. Trees were removed from a nearby backstage area, potentially related to this work.
There are more construction walls and scrim throughout the queue. It was already mostly enclosed by construction walls to block views of the former Rivers of America, which is being transformed into the Cars-themed Piston Peak National Park.
With the addition of Piston Peak, the area around The Haunted Mansion will change, necessitating updates to the ride’s façade and graveyard. Disney has promised the project was designed with sightlines in mind. A new walkway will also be added between the mansion and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, where part of the river used to be.
In the concept art above, the walkway is on the right. Though The Haunted Mansion is not in the concept art, it would be just out of view in the right corner. The building cut off at the bottom of the art is the former Liberty Square Riverboat landing, which will be re-themed.
The riverboat landing is also in the Piston Peak “fun map.” The Haunted Mansion would be near the bottom center of this artwork.
In addition to permits for The Haunted Mansion, Imagineering filed a permit for construction at the former Mike Fink Keel Boats landing, which has acted as an extended queue for the ride. The permit contracted a theming company, although it’s still possible the landing will be demolished. It’s not included in any of the above artwork.
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