A Review of the D23 Expo "Mayhem, Mischief, and Monkeys: The Magic of Mystic Manor" presentation

From the 2013 D23 Expo Schedule: “Mayhem, Mischief, and Monkeys: The Magic of Mystic Manor: Featuring an innovative ride system, a mysterious music box, and a mischievous monkey named Albert, Mystic Manor is an inventive new attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland that takes guests on a highly immersive adventure filled with surprises, special effects, and theatrical wonders. Imagineers Joe Lanzisero and Mark Schirmer pull back the curtain on this amazing new Disney attraction.

While attending the 2013 D23 Expo panel on The Magic of Mystic Manor we were told that the Chinese culture is big on taking photos and is a "counting culture" so they want a lot for their money, which is why the expansion at Hong Kong Disney has a lot of small add-ons that give visitors a lot to do, adding 25% to the park itself but has a bunch of built in photo ops as well. After this brief explanation of WHY Mystic Manor and the area it sits in in the park were created the way they were, the fun started be because we then went behind the scenes of the ride with the Imagineers.

The main story of Mystic Manor is about adventure and exploring, but the ride is also a story of redemption and reminds us we are all responsible for our actions. Lord Henry Mystic, the owner of the manor, is a part of the society from Hong Kong Disney’s background story but is “totally British” and is a well-traveled individual. Riders meet Lord Henry and Albert the monkey in the ride’s pre-show, they learn how they met and have become close, and learn about an enchanted music box. The manor itself is a world-class manor with a collection of art and antiques. But the main artifact, the ride’s focus is an enchanted music box that brings items The Imagineers noted that rides with Movies like Pirates of the Caribbean have built in connection triggers, whereas rides without movies need trigger moments to be created so that riders connect with the story behind the ride. Since Mystic Manor lacks a movie to help “pre-explain it” the queue you walk through tells the travels of Henry and Albert giving riders those needed trigger moments that make riders connect with and understand the characters in the ride.  The Explorer and Adventurer Club members shown in the queue drawings by Chris Turner even resemble key Imagineers that helped design and create the ride, and it also has art and artifacts collected by Lord Henry. It was also noted that the Fez concept seen throughout the Manor is “kind of borrowed from the Adventurers Club” we were told.
           The ride’s trackless system has 200 plus RFID tags in floor in the floor to direct the carts and trigger effects of the ride. When the ride starts, it has four vehicles riding through the story and as you ride on the number of cars changes depending on where in the story the rider is. The vehicles can do a complete 360, and also start, stop, and slow down to work with the story. It was noted that when it comes to ride vehicles either they aren’t a part of the ride’s story, and are just used to move the rider like in the Haunted Mansion, or they play a part OF the story like in the Indiana Jones ride. The way the Mystic Manor vehicles are designed they are a part of the story and they will always hit the main story part on time.
        Each room in the ride shows a different collection of Sir Henry’s artifact collection. The ride starts with Albert opening the enchanted music box and releases the magic dust inside it causing items to come to life throughout the manor as the dust travels through the building with the riders, some of the items that come to life are cute, and some are scary. As the dust enlivens the artifacts the riders travel through the story, and all is cute and fun until the turning point in the story, which is also the responsibility connection in the solarium.  It was noted that the size scale in the rooms is important. The cars start to go from four in a group to one car on it’s own. The goal the Imagineers had was to never let people know what type of projection is being used. Ride is dimensional and environmental and real all at the same time. The Imagineers worked hard to combine the different types of projections used and blend them so they seem real not fake and forced.

           The first room is the Acquisitions and Cataloguing Room where Albert releases the dust, and starts the ride. The next room is the Music Room where the magic music dust dances around the cars and touches instruments causing them to play music and come to life. Next comes the Mediterranean Antiquities Room, where a Hercules vase and Medusa painting come to life. In the Solarium Room the plants come to life and is where things go from cute to scary. The Slavic-Nordic Chamber is where the ride even gives the riders a chance to be locked in a room with a Norse god, even the temperature drops to stimulate the effect of the situation.  The Arms & Armor room is full of weapons and armor as well as cannons. At one point you are feet from a cannon that locks in on the cars and fires at you, after the blast you go by Trader Sam or singing armor depending on the car you are in.  As riders enter the Egyptian Antiquities room two cars come back together and a Mummy comes to life and bugs come to life, then as room goes dark wind and water make it feel like its real. In the Tribal Arts room there is a 28 foot tall lava spewing Tiki  that is an homage to the Tiki Room.  The Tiki sends riders spinning with lasers and then the gods attack the riders with dart guns.  The Imagineers felt that the Chinese Salon is one of the more impressive rooms in the ride. This room is also a example of how the Imagineers are given a bit more freedom than most Disney employees. The original concept for the room wouldn’t give the right effect emotionally for the ride’s finale they felt so the Imagineers were able to go and present a new ending that better connected with the rider even though it meant scrapping all the work they had started on already. The ending of the ride combines animated props, video and special effects that include a Monkey King that is “almost conducting music dust” throughout the room. A Panda from one painting on the wall in the Chinese Salon even travels across the room to another painting as the room’s wall blows out allowing Albert to close the box and trap the dust, and at this point all 4 cars are back together, and you are back in first room which is actually an identical replica of the Acquisitions and Cataloguing Room, the only change is the music box.

          The Imagineers then explain that they work with some amazing people, and are lucky to have amazing technology to help them do things like carrying color from concept drawings to the actual building, which can be hard.  Albert himself returns to the old dark ride roots but thanks to 3D printers his face can help tell the story, the only time Albert isn’t seen as a physical animatronic character is in the final scene where he is a computer graphic to allow him to move with the story. Lord Henry is a foam sculpture. The ride itself is very compact and the computer layout system used gave the Imagineers a location and exact time for cars. The layout was given to Danny Elfman to use while composing the ride’s music.  The Imagineers then mentioned that the 2011 D23 Expo talk about the park expansion and the Mystic Manor ride concept happened to have Elfman’s manager in attendance, and he talked to Elfman who approached the Imagineers about creating the music for the ride. Elfman was engaged with the creation of the ride for 2.5 years and visited the site several time to ensure the music was working right with the ride, he would even sit on floor to make sure the sounds and the ride came together properly.

           Having sat through this presentation I have to say I would love to go to Disney’s Hong Kong park and experience Mystic Manor myself in person.