It’s hard to imagine Disneyland without the Haunted Mansion — but for most of 2024, and possibly longer, that’s what guests to the park are going to find. After Jan. 21, the attraction is closing for renovations that will likely take months.

Normally, the ride shuts down for a few weeks every January to take down its annual “Nightmare Before Christmas”-themed Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay. This year, the ride is going to close for a significantly longer period of time — exactly how long isn’t clear yet — to undergo large-scale changes to the grounds outside the ride building. 

The ride queue itself is set to be completely overhauled, with additional theming and more interactive elements to keep guests entertained as they wait to board their Doom Buggy. A dedicated gift shop is also slated to be added near the exit of the ride.

“Local legend suggests the manor known today as the Haunted Mansion was first built by a prosperous sea captain,” the post said. “To this day, the mansion’s staff faithfully maintains the happy haunting grounds. The expanded queue will tie into these stories and more, including new gardens inspired by Master Gracey, Madame Leota and the one-eyed cat.”

Walt Disney World’s version of the Haunted Mansion opened in 1971, two years after Disneyland’s ride, and has additional scenes not present in Anaheim. The exterior is inspired by Dutch Gothic architecture, not New Orleans, and there are several interactive elements in the blissfully shaded ride queue, like instruments that play ghostly music and unconventional outdoor crypts. One nautical-inspired tomb features the half-concealed body of its resident, with the inscription: “Here floats Captain Culpepper Clyne, allergic to dirt so he’s pickled in brine. He braved the sea and all her wrath, but drowned on land while taking a bath.” Some — shall we say, colorful — sound effects emanate from inside. 

The ride’s gift shop, Memento Mori, stands just outside the exit. From Disney’s description of the planned changes to the West Coast version, it sounds like the grounds will be changed to more closely resemble their Orlando counterpart.

“Each of the gardens will feature unique elements ranging from a water fountain and gazebo to themed statuary and landscaping,” according to the blog. “In fact, guests will be able to see a new greenhouse where the groundskeepers for the Haunted Mansion grow their plants. The pet cemetery and horse-drawn funeral hearse will continue to reside on the attraction’s grounds.”

The renovation will be another major change to New Orleans Square, which is an area of the park that is being significantly updated. In 2022, Splash Mountain closed for good, and is being transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, themed to “The Princess and the Frog.” A corresponding restaurant, Tiana’s Palace, opened in September 2022 where the French Market used to be. 

While Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is expected to open in late 2024, it’s not clear when Haunted Mansion will reopen — and it seems as though Disneyland isn’t even quite clear on that yet. If the weather cooperates and construction goes smoothly, it’s possible the ride might reopen for Haunted Mansion Holiday in September. If, like last winter and spring, the weather is so terrible that it actually snows in Disneyland, the outdoor construction will likely take longer. Last year’s heinous weather significantly delayed the opening of the renovated Toontown, which has been plagued with persistent issues and had to make repairs to new parts of the land just months after they opened.

Without any clear idea of when they’ll get to experience it again, fans are anxious for one final ride. For several days leading up to the closure, Disneyland reservations for Magic Keys have been unavailable due to demand.