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The unexpected

Image: Disney​​​

Hong Kong Disneyland's completely original land themed to "adventures," "supernatural elements," and "the unexpected" would turn out to be among the most unusual and enigmatic modern Imagineering concepts yet. As the park's transformation progressed, designers announced that Toy Story Land and Grizzly Gulch would be leading up to the opening of Mystic Point.

And spectacularly, Mystic Point would come equipped with the kind of unique, cutting-edge, spectacular E-Ticket anchor that Hong Kong Disneyland needed; a sensational evolution of the "Haunted Mansion" itself.

Image: Disney

There was just one problem. The "silly spooks" and "grim, grinning ghosts" who inhabited the Haunted Mansions around the globe didn't quite jive with traditional Chinese culture. For one, ghosts in Chinese legend and culture are traditionally malevolent and harmful. "Friendly" ghosts would only be understood through the cultural lens of the reverence and respect traditionally bestowed upon ancestors... a very personal belief in China.

That's why, as designers looked for fresh ways to reimagine the spirit of the Haunted Mansion, they stumbled upon three unexpected elements: a monkey, a music box, and the Museum of the Weird. 

Image: Disney

Adapting some of the supernatural artifacts and outright oddities imagined in Rolly Crump's "Museum of the Weird," designers developed a storyline whereby guests would tour through a mounting museum collection only to have a mischievious monkey pull an "Abu," opening an ancient music box and releasing its long-sealed magic.

Images: Disney

As the ride's development progressed, so did its core characters. Perhaps spurred by the stylized design of other original characters created just for theme parks, Albert the monkey and his enigmatic master became caricatured hosts inviting guests into the magic of Mystic Manor.

Ready to take a ride through the attraction some call Disney's best? It all begins in a remote rainforest in Oceania... 

Mystic Point

Image: Disney

Dateline: 1909.

Deep within the dense, uncharted rainforests of Papua New Guinea, you’ve stumbled across a most peculiar site: soaring, wrought iron gates marking off an elaborate, misty, eclectic Victorian estate seemingly plopped down in the jungle!

Lucky for you, the gates are swung open wide, ushering you into an oasis of wonder.

Image: Disney

The concept is simple: this exotic estate belongs to one Lord Henry Mystic, a well-meaning member of the secret club whose story connects Disney rides, lands, and even entire parks across the globe – S.E.A. – The Society of Explorers and Adventurers. Lord Mystic, we quickly gather, is a well-to-do British gentleman who’s made his way across the Earth collecting unique artifacts, antiquities, and wonders from the vast reaches of the ancient world, making friends along the way.

Image: Disney

Mystic Point features the unusual Garden of Wonders – a collection of oversized antiquities too large to fit inside Mystic’s private estate – that bamboozle, astound, and amaze with living illusions set among the steppes of the riverbank.

Of course, the icon of this mysterious land is the towering Mystic Manor estate, plopped on a hillside overhead. Imagineer Mark Schrimer explained the home’s eclectic architecture, noting that Lord Mystic “wanted a little bit of home in this tropical wilderness. He started with the essence of a Victorian manor but of course wanted to embellish it with all the different places that he’s been. So it’s this eclectic Victorian manor sitting in this cleared out jungle along the river.”

Image: Disney

And indeed, Mystic Manor is one of the most beautiful “mansions” in Disney’s entire playbook with ornately carved Victorian porches and spiral staircases, Norse steeples, arabesque domes, pagoda turrets, artisan colors, and iron gas lamps. Equal parts hypnotic and welcoming, the structure reads intentionally warm: Mystic is a philanthropic type, all too happy to welcome weary travelers into his home!

If the gigantic carvings and statues in the Garden of Wonders are any indication, Mystic’s collection must be a true marvel. And he’s absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to share what he’s collected.

Ready to step inside?

Read on…

 
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Comments

That would be interesting to learn about. Usually these articles are so thorough. Not that I didn't love this article. Would be interesting to learn about that. Any links to learn more? What is the Splash Pirate concept?

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