12 frightfully fun facts about Disneyland’s 2019 Haunted Mansion Holiday

Not only does this year mark the Haunted Mansion’s 50th anniversary at Disneyland, but it also marks the 19th time Jack Skellington takes over the mansion and transforms it into the Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Each year, Jack dresses up as “Sandy Claws” as he and his ghost dog Zero bring a “Nightmare Before Christmas” twist to the mansion.

Here are a dozen frightfully fun things to know about the transformation.

1. The Eerie Exterior: More than 400 flickering candles create a ghostly glow on the façade of the Haunted Mansion. Each night, more than 100 jack-o-lanterns shine their ghoulish light.

2. The Haunted Elevator: Jack Skellington and his ghost dog Zero appear in a fully animated sequence on the ceiling of the “stretching” room, which transports guests into the depths of the mansion.

3. The Portrait Gallery: Zero makes a surprise appearance among the spooky, transforming portraits in the gallery corridor.

4. The Graveyard: The graveyard inside Haunted Mansion Holiday is covered with nearly 7,500 square feet of snow. More than 20 gallons of UV (ultra-violet) paint is used to enhance the snow’s eerie glow. Nearly 1,000 tiny, orange lights decorate the trees.

5. Graveyard Ice Angels:  The iconic Graveyard Ice Angels are designed with a jagged, ice-carved look. Their ethereal wings and snow-glow colors shine with a ghoulish luster each year.

6. Deck the Halls: Each season, thousands of feet of “Black Gnarly” garland is draped and hung inside and outside Haunted Mansion Holiday. Zero gathered more than 200 bones to use as décor, garland and presents.

7. “Come Out to Socialize”: More than two dozen additional animated figures “materialize” inside the mansion whenever Jack brings his Haunted Mansion Holiday around. From man-eating wreaths to vampire teddy bears, they wait all year to join in the holiday spirit.

8. Home Creepy Home: Creepy cobwebs are artistically kept (not swept!) year-round to make Jack Skellington and the 999 Happy Haunts feel right at home.

9. Seasonal Séance Room: Madame Leota’s “13 Days of Christmas” are featured in 13 spinning fortune cards that tell of the Christmas gifts which, as she proclaims, “My ghoul love gave to me…”

10. Kim Irvine, daughter of the original Madame Leota: For this seasonal attraction, Imagineer Kim Irvine gives a spirited performance as the Haunted Mansion’s favorite psychic, floating inside the Haunted Mansion’s Crystal Ball in the Séance Room. Her mother Leota Toombs, Disney Legend and long-time Imagineer, first gave life to the floating head.

11. Haunting Gingerbread Smells: The haunting scent of tasty gingerbread wafts throughout the Grand Hall, tempting Happy Haunts and guests alike.

12. ‘Hurry Back!’: A more “animated” Sally bids farewell to “Sandy Claws” Jack Skellington as he, and Haunted Mansion Holiday guests, depart from the Mansion.