Imagineering has filed two more new construction permits for mystery project(s) at Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom, and started work around the grounds of the attraction. Here’s the latest, and our speculation as to why this is likely connected to Cars and Villains Land construction, recent changes at Disneyland’s ride, and more.
As quick recap, the first permit was filed in late December and listed Mecca Productions as the contractor for a project at Haunted Mansion, with the scope of the work listed as “Install set elements.” Mecca Productions describes itself as a full-service design, fabrication, and installation firm in Central Florida. The company has a portfolio of award-winning projects, including haunted houses and special events that have earned Mecca recognition as the country’s leading Halloween fabricator.
A second permit for Haunted Mansion was filed last week by Walt Disney Imagineering, tapping frequent partner MLC Theming as the contractor, with the scope of work as simply “General Construction.” Despite the vague description, MLC Theming is another creative collaborator, and WDI’s involvement further suggests something that isn’t simply routine maintenance or pavement work.
Most recently, a third permit was filed. This time, the address does not correspond with Haunted Mansion. Instead, it aligns with the long-defunct landing for the Mike Fink Keel Boats. This area consists of a few structures and was sometimes used for an overflow queue to Haunted Mansion. If memory serves me, this also used to be where FastPass distribution was located back in the paper days.
For those who are unfamiliar, I’m referring to this structure on the left:
As we previously discussed, there’s a reasonable probability that Haunted Mansion is going to need work around the exterior sometime in 2026 or 2027 to lay the groundwork for eventually connecting the attraction to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Piston Peak.
We already know there will be walkways between these areas. The unknown is whether Haunted Mansion will see any material changes, reworking the queue or anything else. In our view, these are not necessarily urgent projects, as the path connecting BTMRR and Haunted Mansion can’t open until Piston Peak construction progresses almost to completion (since it would cut off access to the project site).
In any case, the new Mike Fink Keel Boats landing construction permit almost assuredly pertains to this connecting path. For reference, here’s the original concept art released for Piston Peak:
I’d caution against putting too much reliance in this concept art, as it was an early release and there are definitely some inconsistencies. With that said, it’s more detailed than the exaggerated Fun Map (see below) that was released last year, which also leaves off the Haunted Mansion side of Piston Peak.
To orient yourself, Haunted Mansion is basically out of frame to the far lower right on the concept art above. The structure to the left in the middle of the frame is the Liberty Square Riverboat landing. We’ve received separate confirmation that this is staying, so the concept art and Fun Map are both probably accurate in that regard.
You’ll note a path to the right of the Liberty Square Riverboat, which is what connects Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to Haunted Mansion. This path will also connect Piston Peak (and the aforementioned attractions) to Villains Land. We’d expect something similar to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland with multiple entrances. Probably not one in Fantasyland, though. Just on these sides.
The challenge here is in trying to discern whether the Mike Fink Keel Boats landing survives the Piston Peak project or not. To my eye, there’s clearly enough space for the pathway to be routed between the two landings.
To my gut, that’s probably what will happen. This is an extremely low confidence prediction, but I suspect Disney already would’ve demolished the Mike Fink Keel Boats landing if it were going to be demolished.
Moreover, I think Imagineering has realized there’s a benefit in these landings to preserving sightlines and muffling sound. This would also explain the permit assigned to MLC Theming, which is more likely to be doing retheme and retrofit work as opposed to demolition.
As an added wildcard, Imagineers are often history geeks, and I’d suspect the project team would like to find a way for the Mike Fink Keel Boats to live, and by extension, a slice of the Rivers of America. Plus, eliminating the structure creates too much of an opening, and one that would need to be replaced by trees (which aren’t free or cheap).
The counter to that, of course, is that there are trees in that space in the concept art. But a lot of things are trees in concept art that don’t end up being actual trees. There are few things Disney loves more than “planting” fake forests.
Regardless, this only addresses the permit pertaining to the Mike Fink Keel Boats landing. That’s separate, albeit probably interrelated, to the two permits for Haunted Mansion itself. To further discuss those, we’re going to get an assist from aerial photo extraordinaire, bioreconstruct, who just shared new overhead views of Magic Kingdom:
As you can see, crews have cleared a significant number of trees out from right behind the Haunted Mansion outdoor interactive overflow queue.
Notably, this is separate from the land clearing that’s already been done behind the Haunted Mansion show building, where it’s presumed that another show building will be built for one of the marquee Villains Land attractions.
My immediate thought when seeing this is that Walt Disney World plans on expanding the extended queue back here. I still think that queue is the most plausible explanation for this, but the more I think about it, the more I wonder whether this is going to become the primary queue.
If Walt Disney World were to relocate the attraction entrance of Haunted Mansion, they could do so without actually moving the entrance “inside” the Mansion. They could get rid of the green canopy, shift the marquee over to the far left, and relocate the bulk of the queue back there.
With the green canopy gone and Haunted Mansion’s marquee moved to the left, the courtyard that currently exists in front of Haunted Mansion would open up, and the pathway connecting it to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad could be routed closer to where the green canopy is now.
At least in theory, the Mike Fink Keel Boats landing could be saved, as could the planter with the mature tree to its right. This would provide even more of a barrier between Liberty Square and Piston Peak.
There are other solutions along these lines that aren’t quite as extreme as relocating the Haunted Mansion marquee. It’s entirely possible that everything stays where it currently is, but with the addition of more extended queue.
Maybe Walt Disney World’s industrial engineers determined that Haunted Mansion is going to see more foot traffic and higher demand once this path opens, and it needs more queue to accommodate–especially since they don’t want the line spilling out into the new pathway connecting the lands.
That strikes me as completely plausible, too. We’re not too far removed from Disneyland addressing similar overflow queue woes by building its extended queue, and I could see Walt Disney World pulling a page from that playbook. This would also explain the involvement of Imagineering and creative collaborators–because the extended queue is going to grow in size and it’s going to be themed.
The scope of work being “install set elements” on the very first permit is ostensibly in conflict with this, suggesting the project involves show scenes inside the attraction. But it is worth pointing out that there are sets in the more liberal sense of the term outside the attraction.
There’s the whole interactive overflow queue that is now underutilized and arguably outdated, as well as the graveyards outside the entrance and exit, and more. The interactive queue has been controversial since its installation, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Imagineers want another crack at adjusting it.
Honestly, my hope is that this ends up being a continuation of that interactive queue, controversial as that might be to say. The alternative is a Disneyland-style extended queue. That’s the safer and, presumably, cheaper route. And while that queue is better than the line spilling out and causing congestion elsewhere, that extended queue is just fine. Not bad, not good–just fine.
At least the Magic Kingdom version has personality. And I could see Imagineers fine-tuning and improving this if given another chance at it. That’s what I’d prefer to see happen.
Ultimately, this is the boring explanation for these permits, but they’re more likely related to laying the groundwork for Piston Peak and Villains Land than anything substantive. If you’re looking for more exciting possibilities inside the attraction, see Haunted Mansion Mystery Project at Magic Kingdom. (Fair warning: now that we know a bit more about the scope of work, I’m even more skeptical this does not involve the inside of the ride.)
It’ll be interesting to see what’s announced for Haunted Mansion in the coming weeks or months. No refurbishment is currently scheduled, and if this is purely exterior work to expand or re-route the queue, one may not be necessary. Or at least, not until the final phase of the project when the entrance needs to shift or the queues merged (but even that could conceivably happen without a closure–this is fundamentally different than the Disneyland project).
It strikes us as unlikely that Magic Kingdom would take another iconic attraction offline before Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and/or Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin reopen. If Haunted Mansion is going to close for refurbishment in 2026 (and that’s still an “if” at this point), we strongly suspect it won’t happen until later in the year. There’s already a lot (arguably too much) happening in the first few months, and park management is cognizant of closures and their impact on the guest experience. We’ll keep you posted!
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Thoughts on potential changes Imagineering could make to the queue or entrance of Haunted Mansion? Think the Mike Fink Keel Boats landing will be removed or retained, but reimagined? Predictions about what this project actually entails? Agree or disagree with our speculation? Any questions? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Honestly I think this is the first time I’ve heard the name “Mike Fink Keel Boats”. My first visit to DL was in 1992, and then MK in 1993 — and after just Googling their history it looks like I must have seen them, but I have no memory of them. Tom, do you remember seeing/riding them as a kid? Any background or insights? I wonder whether fans were dismayed at their loss, or how much sentimental/nostalgic value they still hold for guests of a certain age.
I somehow don’t remember seeing or riding them! I do remember riding claustrophobic boats, but I’m 95% sure that was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. (And somehow, that’s pretty much the extent of my memory of riding that.)
Despite visiting annually, I have odd memory gaps. My parents definitely preferred EPCOT and MGM, though.
The more important question is, when will they add the “Muppets Haunted Mansion” / “Muppets Christmas Carol” combo overlay for the holiday season to counter the Nightmare Before Christmas at Disneyland? I know, probably never, but one can dream…
While I am obviously on board with this ambitious overlay(s) idea, I’d probably settle for a return of “The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History” at this point. Even that seems pretty unlikely, unfortunately!
I’d settle for that too! Do you think there is any chance they bring it back (or something close to it) for the 250th July 4th Celebration at WDW this summer? I’ll be visiting with my wife and two kiddos July 2 – 6th and would love to see some sort of a temporary reprisal or new Muppets presence in honor of the notable milestone celebration.
Actually, I think this would be a better fit for “The Muppets Present…Great Moments in American Horror Story”
Great opportunity for corporate synergy now that Disney owns that show along with all of the FX/Hulu IP. What could possi-blye go wrong?
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