The Seance Room serves as a curtain between the acts, according to Baxter. Here, Madame Leota issues incantations inside her crystal ball to rouse the spirits. In Act 2, the ghosts emerge to cavort in the Grand Hall and scare you silly in the Attic. The Hall scene, with its huge banquet table and waltzing ghosts is among the Haunted Mansion's highlights. In the Attic, we meet the bride, a remnant from one of the attraction's early storylines. With her glowing, loudly beating heart, she provides quite a scare.
In Act 3, the Doom Buggies "fall" out the Attic window and into the Graveyard. This is where the spirits go bonkers and things turn silly. Ghosts pop up everywhere, the music kicks in full force, and those wonderful singing busts harmonize for a rousing rendition of "Grim Grinning Ghosts." Marc Davis, Imagineer extraordinaire and one of Disney's "Nine Old Men" of animation, pushed for a tamer Haunted Mansion, and his lighter touch prevails throughout the ride and particularly in the Graveyard scene.
The Finale
The finale takes place in the Crypt where one of the hitchhiking ghosts hops into the Doom Buggy with the guests, and the tiny ghoul implores everyone to "Hurry Back." And foolish mortals that we are, we follow her advice.
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