Journey to the Center of the Earth at Neo Disneyland

Within the bowels of Mt. Prometheus in Discovery Island, is the star attraction of Neo Disneyland, Journey to the Center of the Earth. 

Visitors enter the queue from caverns within the volcano. 

While in line guests are guided past smoking fissures of lava, intricate reproductions of Victorian scientific labs and eventually to a bank of elevators designed to bring visitors even deeper in to the planets center.

 The walls are a mix of hardened magma and porous volcanic rock. Water drips from make shift duct work and electrical lines run through out the space, connecting the caged lights which illuminate your way. Some lava still glows a faint red, oozing down the rocky walls. 

A drilling machine can still be seen poking through a section of the caves ceiling allowing a hint of daylight to filter through. Another detailed diagram shows your position at the Earth's surface and your eventual goal at the base camp hundreds of feet below you. The scope of the Victorian age technology seen through out the attraction is typical of a lush movie set. It seems that the crew members are on tea break.

Along the way you pass by several beautiful pieces of artwork, Victorian age sketches of the various explored areas of the caverns. It is here that you get a glimpse of things to come, etchings of crystal mines, looming mushrooms as tall as trees and unearthly creatures. 

After winding through the queue, down a few flights of stairs and into an elevator, we reach the boarding station. 

This area is darker, more foreboding and physically hotter than on the surface, an amazing continuation of the queue. The electrical lines can still be seen strung from the ceiling - follow them and you will see them terminate into a giant generator, sparking and whirling as it powers the place. Fog pours from an opening at the far end of the queue as you continue, descending on ramps. Past some more machinery and then over rocky riverbeds you finally get a glimpse of the load area and the vehicles. 

Each car which will carry you on your adventure, seats six passengers in three rows of two. On the front is a large earth moving shovel, you'll also see that the wheels are guarded by steel plates and there is a safety cage surrounding the occupants. 

We start off cruising past the crystal caverns we had seen in the sketches. Glowing pods of giant crystal rods surround us. luminescent spires of pulsating color and light, the crystals are just the first of many exciting things to come. 

We now enter the mushroom forest. Here we pass giant mushrooms ranging in size from a few feet to 15 feet or so in height. In and among them are fantastical creatures of all sorts. Jumping spider-like bugs, bioluminescent butterflies, goblinoid little people,  prehistorical looking reptiles and birds, and iridescent living plants all make this their home.

Here, to the right we see an opening overlooking an underground sea. Silverly fishes can be seen swimming beneath the surface of the waters. Suddenly, a large sea serpent like creature emerges out of nowhere and bumps into our vehicle      

Out of control we bounce forward past a flowing river of lava. On our left is a huge ball of fire, and we can feel the heat. To the right side is a branch filled with giant egg-like sacks. The car turns to the right and we come upon a huge subterranean creature that calls the Center of the Earth its home. 20 feet or so tall he roars, rears back and lunges forward at us, molten rock bubbling around him. 

The cars take off like a bat out of hell.

We go flying up, twisting and turning along the way in near blackness. Light can be seen up ahead... there's a smoke filled opening and BOOM! We get blasted out of what seems like the top of the volcano.

 Suddenly the cars plunge back down and into total darkness. 

Finally we emerge at the unload station, back on safe ground. Again this area is just as fully themed as those before it. After disembarking from the vehicles, we descend a spiraling staircase which twists around a huge set of pipes until we exit the attraction back into the surface world.

Neo Disneyland's Haunted Mansion part 3

As the sounds of the ghostly party slowly fade into the distance, the Doom Buggies carry guests into the heart of any good haunted house: the Attic.

A musty, dusty realm filled to overflowing with hundreds of family heirlooms, artifacts, knickknacks, and curious, from Captain Blood's trips. One of the many objects that guests can spot is a treasure chest and a pirate flag with skull and crossbones. An eerie heartbeat fills the attic, along with a demented harpsichord version of the "Wedding March" getting louder and louder as we proceed through the rotting rafters of the attic.

Soundtrack: Haunted Mansion Attic Harpsichord 

A phantom pianist pounding away at its keys on a dusty-old harpsichord, playing the "Wedding March" in a melancholy manner. The light of a flickering candelabra revel his shadow, slanted across the walls.

 

On the left side, a wedding dress all stained in blood, next to a hatrack and portrait of a young woman in an elegant 19th century gown. A hangman's noose can be seen dangling in the rafters. 

Siting towards the exit of the attic, is the ghost of Blood's ill fated bride, Lavinia. he appears as a young woman, pale and glowing, with her bridal dress billowing in the wind. A glowing heart can seen within her chest. Which illuminates her ribcage. With each beat of the heart, she quickly ages and becomes a skeleton in a tattered wedding dress. 

As guest leave the mansion, the buggies will spin and fall backwards. Down into a grove a trees with claw like branches as if their trying to grab them. Our buggies land on the ground as we venture into the Mansion's grounds. A once thriving place once home to maintained grounds, living flowers and ornate statues, now becoming a playground for the dead. As specters, wraiths, ghouls, and apportions from different times periods come out fro a swinging wake. Here we are greeted by a rather cadaverous undertaker near the gates of the cemetery.

"Ah, ther you are. Welcome to our cemetery. Please, do feel free to look around and meet with some of our extended family members. They've been just dying to meet you."

Corpses begin to emerge from their tombs and coffins, while skeletal wraith like beings emerge from within a set of tombs and fly into the nights sky.

One of the ghost that guest will encounter is an old time rag time band play a jazzy version of Grim Grinning Ghosts.

 A troupe of skeletons and zombies dance to the sounds of macabre music makers. Accompanied with five marble busts, singing in a barbershop quintet. 

Soundtrack: Grim Grinning Ghosts from Phantom Manor 

A group of ghosts ride on turn of the century style bikes on top of a hill around a tombstone. 

Moving on, a group of childlike ghosts partake in activities in a small playground. Such as swinging on the swing sets or at the teeter-totter.

We then pass a couple of ghosts in Edwardian attire socializing with one another in a soiree, with a cup of tea or glass of champagne.

Guests stumble upon a coven of witches conjuring sprits from within the bonfire while they chant along to the song Grim Grinning Ghosts.

 Near the end of the graveyard, is a black horse draw hearse pulled by an invisible horse. Here guests will see Bloodmere, now with the face of a rotting corpse standing on a open coffin. 

"Leaving so soon my friends? I don't think so! You can't leave now, your souls belong to me now! Ha, ha, ha, ha. Once you enter my house, you're souls are mine forever." 

 Just when all hope seems lost, a shining vortex of light appears with a the entrance of a crypt. A skeleton in a tattered bridal dress floats midway, it is Lavinia and she seems to be pointing the way to safety.    

Soundtrack: Pointing Bride Instrumental 

A set of mirrors comes into view, within the reflection Captain Blood attempts to keep the guests from escaping. But then vanishes into thin air. His finale words that brings a chill down your spine. 

"You won't escape."

 Guests will then unload their doom buggies in an underground tunnel that was once used for smuggling and storing stolen goods.

On the way out, you may find some intresting details, such as barrels of grog and rum, ancient artifacts and skeletal remains of Captain Bloods victims.  

 Just before exiting, the spirit of Lavinia bids farewell and to hurry back. 

"Hurry back, hurry back. Be sure to bring your death certificate. We've been dying to have you."  

Emerging from the tomb and into the light of day, guests will find themselves at the family plot. The graves are marked with the names of many family relatives, ancestors and the many formal tenants of the house. A well stands in the center of the courtyard. If they look closely, the water seems to be tainted with blood from the victims. Towards the exit, stands a large crypt that inscribes. 

"Here lies the brides of the Captain Bloodmere."

Annabel 1824

Lenore 1826

Margaret 1828

Ligeia 1830

Berenice 1834

Willamina 1836

Lavinia 1838

Seven winsome wives.

Two fat, five thin.

Six of them were faithful till the end.

But the seventh bride did him in.  

Neo Disneyland's Haunted Manion part 2

Coming into view is a magnificent two story library, in which guests will board their doom buggies. Series of volumes and tomes line the walls while a latter swings back and forth as invisible hands pull books in and out of shelves, turning pages, writing down a feathered quill pin. On the opposite side, marble busts follow guests with their stern gaze.

Once guests board their doom buggies, Mr Bloodmere will assist to lower the safety bar.

"Please, allow me to lower the safety bar. Once on board, remain seated at all times in your carriage at all times, no flash pictures and watch your children please."

   While passing a griffon statue on the bannister, the buggies will asend guests to the second floor of the mansion. On the landing, they pass a portrait of a young woman in a bridal gown. 

"Lovely isn't she?"

One of the illusion that guests will  first see a long and expanding corridor. A spirit appears and disappears in the middle of the hallway right before their eyes. The spirt resembles the bride from the portrait, it appears that she is running from someone. 

     Coming up is a grand music salon, furnished with musical instruments, antique sitting furniture and caged raven cawing menacingly at the guests. A shadowy phantom can be seen on the rays of the moon from the large bay window, playing the piano, accompanied by a harpist and cellist. 

   Sound Track: Phantom Manor Music Room

Proceeding on, is a hallway with doors on both sides.  Screams and cries echo through out the halls, followed by maniacal laughter, unearthly growls and roars. A spirit pushes through the door and walls with a powerful force.

The buggies pass through a series of family photographs that adorn the walls, some of them are changing into corpses and ghouls as they proceed. 

At the end of the corridor, a large grandfather cloak rest in the corner. The hands spin out of control while chiming midnight. The wallpaper starts to blink with glowing green eyes. 

   

Soundtrack: Phantom Manor Seance Room

Coming into view is a circular seance room, heavy draper adorns the ceiling and arches with a griffon sconces. At the center of the room is a table with a woman's head inside a crystal ball, channeling the spirits of the house. 

"Spirits and specters on your proud stallions, escort the bride through the night. Bogies and beasties from All Hallows Eve, awaken the spirit with your tambourine. Phantoms and shadows, hear my call. Come one, come all to the ball. At the stroke of midnight, we'll dance until the morning light." 

All around the buggies, objects and insturments levitate in mid air. As a spirit start to materialize. 

"The spirits have felt your sympathetic vibrations and they are beginning to materialize. They are assembling a swinging wake in my honor. I'll see you a little later."

Soundtrack: Haunted Mansion/Phantom Manor Ballroom

A grand salon comes into view, ghostly guests disembark from a hearse carrying wedding presents, while an elderly woman sits and rocks next to the fireplace. The dining table is decorated with decayed flowers and a molding wedding cake with a group of ghosts disappear and reappear. 

     The Bride is seen standing half way at the stairs, looking at the celebration that never was. The figure of a man in pirate attire can be seen standing on the open window. His laughter rings through out the hall. Two drunken pirate ghosts are seen swinging on the grand chandelier. Couples in early 1800's dress attire float on the dance floor while waltzing, as an demented musician plays on a massive organ.       

The Haunted Mansion at Neo Disneyland

The attraction will be loosely based on both Ken Anderson's original concept and the Phantom Manor.  

Among the hustle and bustle of Victorian Square in Neo Disneyland, past The Black Cat Tavern, Leota's Spirit Parlor, Paul's Funeral Home, and Crump's Occult Book Shop and Curiosity Shop. Lies a rather decrepit gothic early 19th century manor house. Complete with widow's walk and weather vain in the shape of a ship on the copula. Guests will make their way through a wrought iron gate guarded by gargoyles that will follow them by turning their necks. Next is a grand courtyard with over grown vegetation and exotic plants. A cast member dressed as statue will come to life and interact with guests.

  Just before entering, guests will notice a few things that they've missed. Such as a wedding ring embedded in the cobblestone pavement and a silhouetted figure on the upper windows. A maid or butler character will open the front doors and escort guest to a short hallway and into the foyer.

Inside the foyer is decorated with portraits, including a portrait of a regal yet stern looking gentleman on top of marble fireplace. Once guests enter the foyer of the house, the lights of the chandelier will blink out as the fire place starts to light up unnatural green flames and portrait comes to life. 

"Welcome guests, do come and make room for everyone. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Master Bartholomew Bloodmeer and welcome to my humble home. For you may not believe it that was once a dream house for my future bride. I see your curious about what happened, come let show you." 

While as Mr Bloodmemre begins to narrate, the painting begin to animate by themselves. As he speaks, the room morphs from a bright ambiance into derelict state of disrepair.  

"Our story begins here in 1838, when I met the woman of my dream, Lavinia.  But fate had other plans for her instead. It was on the eve of the wedding that Lavinia discovered my secret in the attic. That I was the infamous pirate Captain Blood. However I managed to dispose of her and the rest of the wedding guests. But story doesn't end. After that ghastly nights, I became tormented with the vengeful spirits of my victims, until I decided to take my own life. So I advise you turn back now, or suffer our fate like us. "

  Suddenly, the lights blink out and lighting flashes as the ceiling becomes transparent to revel a man hanging from a makeshift noose on his neck on the rafters of the attic copula. As he kicks the chair and his body still twitches, just before his death. The lights then return back on and room returns normal.

"Oh, I'm sorry to frighten you. Come, their is much more to see, so move along and stay together."

Whit that, a bookcase opens to revile a hallway lined with portraits on each side of the hall. Some of theme will transform right before the guest's very own eyes, while others will follow them with a sinister glare.

"While passing through my personal collection of priceless works of art. You can not help but witness  yet another disquieting metamorphosis. But it's only a trick of the light."

    At the end of the hall, is a large portrait of Captain Blood and his wife. His menacing glare seems to follow guests as they proceed to the next room.

Ideas and thoughts for Howl o Scream

Williamsburg 

In England, Banburry is in a state of paranoia in a 17th century witch hunt. The scareactors will be wearing clothing from the late 17th century, carrying pitch forks and torches, the preacher, executioner and the accused while interacting with park guests to think they are witches.

In Scotland, Sawney Bean and clan of cannibals stock the misty moors, searching for fresh meat.      

One of the houses in Ireland will feature The Banshee, a spirit that haunts the ruins of Castle o Sullivan and the spirits of the family that haunt the crumbling halls that the Banshee claims.

France is converted into St Lucius's Cathedral, adored with gargoyles that come to life at nightfall. Along with demented monks, stilt walking demons, and possessed angelic statues. The house that will take place of Catacombs will be based on the classic story of Edgar Allen Poe's Murders in the Rue Mourge. In this version, an escaped lunitic called The Beast is running amouk in the streets of Paris.

The new house that will replace Bitten is The Barn, where canibalistic butchers, and scarecrows wait for new victims.

Italy will be divided into two sections. The house in Escape from Pompeii will have a mythical theme with the monsters and god of ancient Greece. A scare zone will be themed to a macabre masked ball.

Tampa 

In addition to some new houses that will replace Vampire Casino, Nevermore, Zombie Mortuary and The Basement, they will include an Egyptian mythology themed maze, cryptids such as Sasquatch, Mothman, Beast of Bray Road, Lizard Man, The Jersey Devil, and many more. Another new house called Cannibal Island, a dark humor haunted house where the island native are consuming tourists and missionaries through various means of disposals. The new scare will located in the entrance of the park titled The Root of All Evil. In which guests will encounter the icons and creatures of the past decade.

San Antonio 

The two houses will be given a themed. The Frightmare Forest will be given a twisted fairy tale theme, during the day kids and family will meet some the friendly creatures that inhabit this forest, But at night the stories and creatures will reveal their dark side as brave souls trek through this nightmarish wilderness. The Den of the Departed will have a wedding theme, in which the souls of the bride, groom and wedding gussets wait for a wedding that never came to be. One of the new houses will be set in a luxurious 1920's cruise ship, where the ghosts of passengers, and crew members stalk the decaying halls, rooms, and cabins of this once majestic ocean liner.