Daily Photo Tour - A Carriage Approaches

It may not be a Doom Buggy, but this hearse always finds a way to set the tone for your journey into the mansion... and beyond.

Daily Photo Tour - A Place to Rest Your Hand in Peace

Look alive. That's what the artist who crafted these bats that adorn the stanchions of the Haunted Mansion must have had in mind. I'll admit that they are still a cause for concern as a place to rest my hand. I love them. Speaking of bats, Bats Day is this weekend and I hear they are celebrating 15 years of spooky trips to Disneyland. Congratulations and run amuck!

Daily Photo Tour - A Foreboding Air

The cadaverous palette of the Haunted Mansion goes further than one might realize in setting the stage for what's to come inside its doors. The air of foreboding can be felt across the Rivers of America, just as soon as the unsettling structure comes into sight.

Daily Photo Tour - Lovely Little Leota

Lovely Little Leota bids you farewell as you make your exit from the Haunted Mansion, beckoning you to "Make final arrangements now!" and "Be sure to bring your death certificate". As humorous as these comments may be, the way this glowing little spectre delivers them is enough to send a shiver down your spine and raise a few hairs. That's the truly great thing about the Haunted Mansion; it strikes a balance between fright and fun. What fun the three of us had, the night I took this picture. We enjoyed the gracious hospitality of a few Haunted Mansion cast members who allowed us the additional time needed to capture some of our favorite scenes. It's people like them that make visits to Disneyland truly magical and people like us hurry back!

Daily Photo Tour - Mourning Maiden in the Garden

This is just one of the many statues hidden among the gardens of the Haunted Mansion. Their faces, although familiar, convey a sense of mystery that can never be solved. A story can easily be told, but is never to be true. It changes with each person. That is the beauty in these works of art, they convey infinite story and emotion.

Daily Photo Tour - The Portrait Hallway

The Haunted Mansion's hallway of changing portraits is one of the classic chilling details of a spooky story shrouded in mystery. The first time you walk by them you aren't quite sure whether to believe your eyes or to seek comfort in denial. You can't help but look. Curiosity tends to get the better of you. Just try not to lag behind.

Daily Photo Tour - Welcome Foolish Mortals

We made sure to spend some time at the Haunted Mansion on Saturday, our last day to see it before closing for the holiday overlay. In typical fashion, we lingered back from the crowds (despite ghostly warnings about lagging behind), hoping to capture a few shots before being carried into the moldering sanctum of the spirit world. What transpired was a uniquely memorable night filled with surprises and uncanny graciousness on the part of our hosts. The Haunted Mansion Cast Members certainly set a new bar for our experiences at Disneyland and we could not be more grateful. Intentional ambiguity aside, step right in to the foyer. There's always room for one more.

Like You've Never Seen Before

I hope you'll forgive the cheesy heading but we have some news we feel is worth sharing. Starting tomorrow, we will be sharing all of our images in their full resolution, which means they'll be roughly three times bigger than what you're used to seeing. We felt for a long time that offering what our gallery defines as "X3" in size would suffice for most people to display on their computer backgrounds and screen savers. With a growing request for higher resolution pictures from folks who visit often and the growing availability of things like Retina displays, it seems only right to continue full steam in our goal of sharing a bit of Disney magic every day by making our original images available to accommodate. We still ask that no one print our images as we are not licensed by Disney to offer these images for sale and we want to avoid any potential copyright issues. The pictures will still remain watermark free. You are still welcome to use them as a computer background, on a blog or any digital way that blows your socks down, with the exception of derivative works. We simply ask that you give us credit and link back to our web site. We hope this news excites you as much as it does us. Get ready to see our pictures like you've never seen them before!

Daily Photo Tour - No Turning Back Now

It seems like it's been too long since I've worked on a picture of the Haunted Mansion. Rectifying that problem tonight was a lot of fun. Every picture is different and it's rare that the flow of one is ever similar to another but I can say that I took my time on this image more than I usually do. Partly it was fun. Partly it was having inspiration and drive to go after what I wanted this picture to be. This angle is one that I was rather happy to find. I've loved this stone structure with its warmly lit wooden door and for a long time, wanted to share it here in some way. I always get a sort of lighthouse feeling from it. Maybe it's the stone in particular, but this rustic treasure, on the backside of the Harbor Galley, sits next to the Rivers of America and New Orleans Square, a port city. In my own imagination, I see this structure oceanside with cold, tempestuous waves thrashing against it, trying to tear it down. To have a dreary feeling like that pairs so well with the Haunted Mansion. Its ship weathervane plays into my notion nicely, as do some of the backstories to the mansion, where the owner was a drowned, murderous sea captain. I hope you enjoy tonight's picture, with its hot and cold running chills. Remember, there's no turning back now!

Daily Photo Tour - Just Plain Scary

The Haunted Mansion is just one of those things in life that you can't explain to someone. It is an epic all in its own rank. From the entrance, through the queue, and upon boarding the attraction, a story is told in a way that allows the audience to be absorbed into a world that re-incarnates their childhood fears. The Haunted Mansion isn't frightening, it isn't even terrifying, that would be too easy. But, instead it hits upon that point of being just plain scary. It strikes that chord in all of us that makes us wonder about the unexplained. I honestly get a little freaked out everytime I ride The Haunted Mansion. I wish I could explain that.

Daily Photo Tour - The House of the Setting Sun

There is a house in New Orleans Square they call The Haunted Mansion and while it's already home to 999 happy haunts, it's also one of the best reasons to make Disneyland a haunt of your own. You know what they say, "There's always room for one more." Just don't forget to bring your death certificate!

Daily Photo Tour - An Evening at the Haunted Mansion

Even though the Haunted Mansion in this state is not a part of Halloween Time at Disneyland, Halloween would not be complete without giving it a well deserved nod. This home for happy haunts is one of the first things I think of this time of year and I find myself wishing I could ride it in spite of my love for the Haunted Mansion Holiday festivities. I took this shot right at the end of this past winter at twilight. The clouds in the sky reminded me of an aurora in their ethereal shapes and lofty proximity, catching those last bits of light from the dying day. I was delighted, to say the least, that these clouds had decided to materialize over the Haunted Mansion.

Daily Photo Tour - Admiring the Frosty Peaks

It's always interesting to see how the characters around Disneyland play out throughout the park. I caught a glimpse of Jack Skellington while creeping through the Haunted Mansion Holiday queue this Halloween season. At first he seemed to be very interested in a little something, and then I looked up and saw The Matterhorn. It's almost as if he was admiring the frosty peaks.

Daily Photo Tour - Haunted Holiday Decorations

When the decorations go up around Haunted Mansion, it seems to get ten times more crowded in New Orleans Square. But, I don't mind it. It wouldn't be the usual holiday season if hoards of people weren't waiting in the queue inches away from each other complaining and whining. Oh wait, that's not complaining and whining, that must be their anticipation to ride Haunted Mansion Holiday! Either way, holiday attitudes and all, the decorations are awesome, and couldn't be anymore detailed. The Imagineer's at Disney always add just the right amount of decorations to give the Mansion an authentic Halloween touch!

Daily Photo Tour - Grandeur of a Southern Night

I'm always drawn to this fountain whenever we find ourselves in this part of Disneyland. The silken, flowing water entreats you to sit for a moment and relish in the grandeur of New Orleans Square. The Haunted Mansion creates a perfect backdrop, standing stately in Southern charm that manages to delay for a moment the frightening, foreboding tone it obliges. It comes as no surprise when your mind whisks you away to a place where happy haunts harmonize. And when the night is through and it is time to leave, all you can think is to hurry back.

Daily Photo Tour - Whenever Candlelights Flicker

The details of Disneyland are what really makes it extraordinary. I think it's the secret to Disneyland's ability to immerse guests and it inspires me. I love trying to notice something new each time we're at the Park because I'm convinced no matter how hard I look or how many times I go, there will always be something unique to discover. I get a lot of enjoyment from taking pictures of these details as well, because the looks we get from passersby are wonderfully entertaining. Kevin was once taking a picture of a light in the exit to Indiana Jones, which drew some looks, but it also prompted a girl to shout "It's just a light!" There's something rewarding to noticing the details - a richer experience. How would you get chills from ghostly inhabitants if you didn't stop to observe the staccato flickering of candlelights or listen for the gently piercing creak of old, neglected hinges? So here is my offering to you today, just a light. Is the air deathly still?

Daily Photo Tour - Lady Through the Thicket

I really enjoy the diversity you can find at Disneyland. This shot is of a simple enough subject, the Haunted Mansion FastPass queue, but it's easy to feel like you've stumbled onto a statue hidden in a Savannah woodland. There are so many worlds within worlds at the park, it's an adventure discovering what's next! I know black & white is not what we typically offer, but it seemed to fit this one rather well. Hope you enjoy!

Daily Photo Tour - There's Always My Way

"Is this haunted room actually stretching? Or is it your imagination, hmm?" What suspense and build to having the pants scared off of you with a hanging body illuminated by lightning storming overhead. I love trying to get pictures inside the Haunted Mansion. It's such an amazing ride and getting halfway decent shots is such a challenge. Maybe that's what the ghost host should say, "I offer you this chilling challenge - to take a good picture!" Of course, there's always my way.

Daily Photo Tour - Find a Way In

Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion. I am your host and I offer you this chilling challenge: to FIND a way IN! (Muahahahaha!) Of course there's always my way... through the gate.

Daily Photo Tour - Creepy Old Crypts

I don't know if you've noticed, but there are several prominent ghosts who have retired here. Looks kind of empty huh? Don't worry, there's actually 999 happy haunts in this mansion. And of course, room for one more. As you round the corner, you'll come to the carriage that will carry you into the moldering sanctum of the spirit world. Oh and no flash pictures please! The spirits are frightfully sensitive to bright lights. Whew, good thing I didn't use a flash on this one. The three of us were so lucky one night to come across a cast member that allowed us a few minutes to set up and take some pictures. It was late, very creepy, very empty, and very spooky. Honestly, I have never experienced the Haunted Mansion quite like I did that very night.

Daily Photo Tour - It's Not Polite to Stare

I guess no one ever told these two that it's not polite to stare. It's not your imagination; once you make it out of the haunted room that is actually stretching, it's all they do. They don't care if you move left, right, up or down. It's one of those little touches that slowly chips away at your comfort in the Haunted Mansion so that by the end you are questioning whether one of those hitchhiking ghosts will actually follow you home!