In this section I will keep notes of my observations, problems and discoveries, as I build the 3D models, as well as giving updates and news about what's going on here in the Haunted Dimensions.
Most entries are removed within a few weeks, but some of the more interesting items will remain archived.

August 24, 2008
Models by Josh
Josh sent in a photo of his completed Phantom Manor and New Orleans Square models.
You did a great job on your models, Josh! I hope you are showing them off!

August 24, 2008
A Beautiful Phantom Manor Scene
Rhodri, who was the first person to complete and submit a photo of the Phantom Manor Paper Model, sent another photo of his project. He added beautiful scenery and landscaping!
Wow, Rhodri, it is fantastic!

August 4, 2008
116 Years Ago Today
"Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
And when she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one."

While the number of "whacks" in this old saying are inaccurate, and Lizzie herself was actually AQUITTED of the crime, it does mark the grim anniversary of one of the most infamous, unsolved crimes in American history.
Click on Lizzie, below, to read about our night in the Lizzie Borden house.


The B&B has been beautifully restored since our last stay, and I hope to return some day.
Here is their website.
http://www.lizzie-borden.com/

July 31, 2008
More Magnificent Models
Matthew, from Gilbert, Arizona constructed the New Orleans Square model. Matthew tells me that this is only the second paper model he has ever built, but it looks like he's a pro.
Can you see Cinderella (from the Disney Parks Collectors pack) up on the second floor verandah?

Will, from Seattle, WA created this beautiful collection of Haunted Mansions. This is also Will's first experience with paper modeling, and despite a few small set-backs, such as runny glue and a collapsing shelf, the models look spectacular!


I also added a new link to the Papercraft section of my links page.
There are fun gamer models here!

July 23, 2008
A Big Winner!
Angela Smithson won top honors at the Ad ams County Fairfest 2008, with her gingerbread house entry using the Cookie Phantom Manor pattern!
She won "Best in Show" for the "Decorated Items" class in baking.
Angela also created a cemetery and mausoleum behind the house.
Congratualtions Angela! You did a wonderful job with your cookie creations, and I am thrilled that all of your hard was rewarded!

July 18, 2008
A 3D Haunted Mansion, That Never Was
Joe Cardello, the 3D artist behind many cool Disney recreations at his site Virtual Magic, has a fantastic idea for new 3D renderings! He is making 3D models of early Haunted Mansion concept art! His first completed model is based on concept art created by Disney legend, Sam McKim.
It is brilliant! I wish I had thought to do this!

Speaking of Haunted 3D models, Patrick sent me photos of the first Canadian Phantom Manor model.
It looks awesome, Patrick!

I also received a photo of Lisa Simpson's Cookie Phantom Manor.
Spectacular, Lisa!

The Universal Orlando, Halloween Horror Nights 18
Website is Now On the Air!

After many weeks of planning and pixel pushing, this year's Universal Orlando,
Halloween Horror Nights website has gone live!!!
Keep checking in on the site in the coming days and weeks and watch it unfold.
This will be my third year on Universal HHN team and I can tell you that it is going to be an amazing event!

A Phantom Manor in Turkey
Yusuf Gul, who lives in Turkey, sent me photos of his completed Phantom Manor model.
Excellent job, Yusuf!

Launch Over the Lagoon
This afternoon, at 5:02 PM the Space Shuttle Discovery launched on mission STS/124. I watched it from the lagoon at Universal Studios, Orlando. Even though it is more than 45 miles away,
it is always an amazing sight!
I was standing on the New York side of the lagoon, looking across to the pointy roof the "La Bamba" restaurant, the soundstage containing the "ET" ride (center), and The Hard Rock Hotel (far right).

Orlando Time
Sorry for the long delay since my last entry. I have been settling back into the routine of living and working in Florida again. I am back to work at Universal, helping the Halloween Horror Nights team to dream up another awesome event.
I had a chance to park-hop at Disney last weekend. The crowds at the Magic Kingdom were pretty large, and I walked out of 3 disorganized restaurants before giving up and deciding to eat off the property. That part was not very magical.
However, the mansion was as wonderful as ever, and Pirates looked great too!




I also found the spot where the well used to be. (See the January 12, 2007 post)


We were handed a "wait card" while in line for the mansion. We were asked to give it to the cast member at the doombuggie operations board. It is one way Disney determines the queue wait times.


I also went to Disney Studios and went on my number one themed thrill ride, Tower of Terror!

I'm sorry, but I think the giant Sorcerer's Apprentice hat, blocking the beautiful Chinese Theater centerpiece, is one the biggest design blunders I've seen in a long time! What were they thinking? The fact that all it houses is a pin trading post, makes it even more ridiculous.
Give us back our beautiful sight lines! Walt would have a fit!


Epcot was very nice. I finally saw the Spaceship Earth rennovations, and thought they were fantastic! Judi Dench is a favorite actor of mine, and her narration was very soothing (Although Walter Cronkite will always be my favorite). The interactive "movie" was a little silly, but my big dumb head pasted onto a retro styled animated character was pretty darned funny!


Even though I'll be at Universal for the next 5 months, we still played in the parks on Sunday. In particular I wanted to ride the new "The Simpsons Ride"! It's a very funny, wild ride, (although I found it slightly nauseating, probably due to my age). Something I was not at liberty to tell you earlier was that Universal Creative tapped me to create some graphics for this attraction, and it was terrific seeing my work installed!


It w as also exciting to see the steel rising behind Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure, as construction on the "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" is underway!




I'm looking forward to doing a lot more cool things while I'm here, so stay tuned!

Tim (on the left), who works at Universal, Hollywood, built a beautiful version on my Liberty Square haunted mansion model, complete with lights and sound effects
(I mentioned it in an earlier post March 14th).
Tim built it as a birthday present for his pal, Daniel Roebuck. You might recognize Daniel (on the right) from his many movie and TV appearances over the years. You can see all of his credits here.
Daniel writes about the model - "It’s just slightly smaller then the real thing so finding a place for it has been difficult. I finally decided to give it Grace’s room so I sent her to a CONVENT!"

Tim writes, "My superbly talented neighbor and friend (who does animatronic work for Disney theme parks) helped me coordinate the lights with a one-minute sound chip placed in the house.
Here’s the basic show sequence:

Wind blowing and lone dog howling heard
Loud thunderclap accompanied by mini strobe reflecting off the house
Haunted Mansion organ music begins and continues thru male voiceover
LEDs in the greenhouse pulsate to the voiceover, giving the impression
the disembodied voice is coming from ’something’ in the greenhouse!
Voiceover (deep male voice):
"Welcome foolish mortals to the Haunted Mansion. (chuckle) I am your host, your GHOST host. There’s no turning back now. AHH HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
-brief silence-
Heartbeat sound heard accompanied by the red LED pulsating in the tower windows
Female voice scream!
Soft female voice:
"Hurry back.......hurry baaaaack....."
End of show-"

Hey, Tim, I want MY mansion to that now! :)

Daniel and Tim are also HUGE fans of horror, and in particular, the classic Monsters of Universal. They are avid collectors of anything monster related, and their "Monster Rooms" are amazing!
After corresponding with Tim and Daniel for a while, they led me to a Universal Monster fan site "Universal Monster Army" which is great fun. There is even a section where members post photos of their "Monster Rooms" including Tim and Daniel. It is wonderful to see that somewhere the "classics" are still getting the attention they deserve!

Geisterhaus-Papiermodelle

It was very exciting to discover that Haunted Dimensions was linked on the German magazine web site, Der Spiegel-Online!
Haunted Dimensions is also mentioned in this week's Ehrensenf web TV show!
Show host, Mark Freuer, mentions Haunted Dimensions at around 2:30.
But do not blink! It only lasts about 10 seconds.
I really enjoy the international appeal of my projects!