Script changes to Haunted Mansion

[blackcauldron85]

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/ ... scary.aspx

Reportedly in response to guest complaints about goofy but ghoulish lines like "Drag your wretched bodies to the dead center of the room," the Imagineers will soon be revamping the script for the Haunted Mansion. Deliberately changing lines that Disney cast members on both coasts have said for almost 40 years now in favor of less objectional material.

This upsets me. I'm not sure how much will be changed (the article says that the Ghost Host's dialogue will not be changed), but quotes like "Move to the dead center of the room" are part of the fun of the Haunted Mansion!

[AwallaceUNC]

Reportedly in response to guest complaints about goofy but ghoulish lines like "Drag your wretched bodies to the dead center of the room," the Imagineers will soon be revamping the script for the Haunted Mansion. Deliberately changing lines that Disney cast members on both coasts have said for almost 40 years now in favor of less objectional material.]

I have a very hard time believing this. If it turns out to be true, it will be both disappointing and absurd.

-Aaron

[Mr. Toad]

I wouldn't get too excited about something posted by the likes of Jim Hill. He has a very poor track record for accuracy.

[Prudence]

I was there twice last week; they changed it. Now the workers simply say things along the lines of, "Please move to the center of the room, away from the walls. Back away from the walls, people."

[Vermin Friends]

I was there twice last week; they changed it. Now the workers simply say things along the lines of, "Please move to the center of the room, away from the walls. Back away from the walls, people."

I wouldn't call that changing it, I'd say that they got rid of it completely, if you're serious. lol

That is pretty disappointing. By the way, may I ask why you might think Jim Hill is unreliable? I read almost everything from him, and so far it's looking pretty true...?

[blackcauldron85]

I was there twice last week; they changed it. Now the workers simply say things along the lines of, "Please move to the center of the room, away from the walls. Back away from the walls, people."

That sucks. Ugh, that's just not fun! Thanks for confirming it, though, Prudence.

[AwallaceUNC]

I was there twice last week; they changed it. Now the workers simply say things along the lines of, "Please move to the center of the room, away from the walls. Back away from the walls, people."

It was never a hard and fast rule that cast members would always use these lines, though. I've been there many times where the cast members didn't go through the whole "dead center of the room" routine. So it could just be that the CMs hosting the attraction at the time you rode it chose not to use them.

-Aaron

[Braveheartdvd]

I have not been to Disneyland or DisneyWorld since I was a teenager. I remember most of the ride and really liked the lines they seem to be taking out. I'm hoping to take my family to DisneyWorld in the next few years. I hope they don't change the ride too much, I want my kids to see what I saw years ago.

[I Love Bambi]

How pointless. What happened? Is the word "dead" considered offensive now?

[Poody]

I was there twice last week; they changed it. Now the workers simply say things along the lines of, "Please move to the center of the room, away from the walls. Back away from the walls, people."

That's about how it went the last few times I've went to Disneyland.

[Prudence]

How pointless. What happened? Is the word "dead" considered offensive now?

I was thinking more along the lines of "wretched bodies" being considered offensive.

Braveheart, a lot of the attractions have changed in only ten years, not just Haunted Masnion.

[drthlandry]

Went through the ride 3 times last week in Orlando and every time they used "Dead Center of the Room".

[Kram Nebuer]

How pointless. What happened? Is the word "dead" considered offensive now?

I was thinking more along the lines of "wretched bodies" being considered offensive.

Yeah, I think that bit is more worrisome to some people. Isn't "dead center" a common saying? If people found that offensive, they better start rallying to change the English language or add that to the list of curse words...

[I Love Bambi]

People are waaaaaaay too over-reactive these days... There isn't anything rightfully offensive about "wretched bodies" as long as a real swear word wasn't included, IMSO (in my strong opinion). Sadly, it seems that I'm one of the very few who feels that way.

[Owlzindabarn]

I have been on the ride in Anaheim well over 100 times in the past 38 years. I have never once heard them say "wretched bodies." Come on, now. Are you all telling me that that's what they said?? Was that just in Orlando, because they sure never said it regularly in Anaheim if I never heard it. I've made 70 trips to that park. They did say "dead center," but not every time. Depended on how much in character the cast member was feeling at the moment. Sometimes they just gave a generic warning. I'm going there later this month, I will turn on my camcorder and tape that portion of the ride to double-check what the heck they say. I'm sure it won't be "wretched bodies," and I'm sure I never heard it in the first place.

[Zoobie]

I agree with Owlzindabarn. I, too, have been to Disneyland easily over 100 times in the past 42 years and have never once heard them say "wretched bodies" ~ only "dead center" depending on the cast member.

[SpaceAce]

Last time I went to the Magic Kingdom(like 2 years ago) I went on the ride twice. Both times they said "Move your wretched bodies away from my walls, and to the dead center of the room."

[Daisy Duck]

I was at the Magic Kingdom yesterday. The cast member said "dead center of the room", but never said "wretched bodies". Seems I do remember hearing that latter phrase used at previous visits to the parks, though.

[Big Disney Fan]

I was at the Magic Kingdom yesterday. The cast member said "dead center of the room", but never said "wretched bodies". Seems I do remember hearing that latter phrase used at previous visits to the parks, though.

I do remember them sometimes saying "wretched bodies", but even if they do change that part of that script, that won't matter to me. But if they altered the Ghost Host's dialog in any way (which is thankfully what they said they would not do ('course with Disney, you never know)), then that would upset me. Like that last time I was at DL, in early August, there is a curious omission of his dialog between his "hot-and-cold-running chills" line to his line of the happy haunts receiving "your sympathetic vibrations" as you enter the ballroom.

In between these two scenes, the Ghost Host's lines included the ones that went "All our ghosts have been dying to meet you..." and "Perhaps Madam Leota can establish contact..." and all that. Of course, in the Conservatory, where you heard his former line, its curious removal has allowed another line of dialog with the corpse's body trying to get out of the coffin (if that's what it is) where the body says, "Let me out of here!" repeatedly is still retained.