Though the Haunted Mansion‘s happy haunts don’t fully materialize until Madame Leota summons them, you’ll still see some strange things before boarding your doom buggy. As you walk the long library hallway toward those buggies, keep your eyes peeled for a mysterious portrait.

 Source: Disney Parks Blog

This is Miss April, a lovely young woman wearing an elaborate pink dress. But watch carefully as you pass her…

Miss April - December

Suddenly, she’s Miss December, and looking quite different.

Miss April - December Source: Disney Parks Blog

This aging portrait was based on a design by Imagineer Marc Davis. Originally, she was within the portrait gallery in the previous hall, but she disappeared in 2005. Miss April – December re-emerged on her own wall in 2021, closely watching curious riders as they hop into their doom buggies.

| 9 Comments

9 Comments on Miss April – December

  1. Sorry for “starting” a new thread, but I was unable to reply to your latest reply.

    I just wanted to thank you again for everything (both for today’s interactions and for the last few times that we “interfaced” via email). You are so kind and helpful.

    Have you ever thought of working in customer service at Disney, too? Because you basically do their job already, but without all the “perks” (in fact, I think you actually OUTDO them).

    Anyways, thanks again a whole bunch. And if I actually make it to September of 2029, perhaps we might “cross paths” inside the park and then I could buy you a soda and a popcorn for your efforts.

    Reply

    • No problem at all Ron! I’m glad I can help. And haha – I don’t know if I have the patience to do customer service as a full time job 🙂 I hope our paths cross as well, and that you get well soon.

      Reply

      • Thanks for the “well-wishes”, but like I said before, my condition is “terminal”…

        Anyways, I called “Disneyland customer service” today and they told me that the ONLY way to buy a single day ticket with cash (and definitely get the “park reservation” included with it) is to go directly to the ticket booth outside the park gate (but you can only do that within 21 days from the day you wanted to go)…

        So unless “things change” between now and 2029, all of your help was probably for nothing because I seriously doubt that the park would still be available on such short notice in the middle of July (so “crossing paths” is most likely not going to happen)…I still appreciate the time and effort you spent on me, regardless (at least I can “imagine” being there when I click on those video links you posted)…

        Reply

  2. You may or may not remember me, but I am the guy who grew up in California but who had to move to Florida about 15 years ago, and I had contacted you directly by email regarding the whereabouts of the “Miss April-December” painting after it had been removed from the hallway inside the Haunted Mansion leading from the “stretching room exit” to the “doom buggy loading zone” (I believe that happened in the winter of 2004).

    Anyways, I have been unable to get another email account after all those issues with my yahoo account, so that is why I am just posting here with my request (I just found out that the painting has “returned” to my “all-time-favorite” ride, but apparently, it is located in a different area of the ride and its “changing effects” have been “updated”).

    I recently found out that I have an inoperable hernia in my abdomen and that I probably only have about 3 more years to live. Because of some major financial setbacks last year, I am not going to be able to get back to California until at least 2029 (and that is if I even manage to “beat the odds” and still be alive by then).

    So, with all of that in mind, what I want to ask you is this: the next time that you visit the Haunted Mansion and you have some sort of video recording device on your person (like my little Sony Cybershot digital camera that can both take stll photos and record brief video clips, as well), could you please record a “decent” video of the painting going through all its “changes” and post a link to watch it right here on your website (there was this one video clip posted over on YouTube – it supposedly came directly from the “official” Disney blog – that showed some of the “updates” to the Haunted Mansion over the last decade, but the footage showing “Miss April-December” was very quick in duration (maybe like 5 seconds) and it was very “shaky” and “fuzzy”)?

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply

      • Thank you for responding so quickly and for such an honest and heartwarming answer, as well as providing those links (none of those videos came up in my previous search, by the way, and they were all so much better than the video clip that I had seen, so many thanks for that).

        Could I at least ask you one more “favor” since you stated that you probably cannot really get a good video recording because of the “line movement” near where the portrait is now located?

        The next time you go there, could you please ask to speak with someone in “upper management” (directly at the Haunted Mansion, if at all possible) and get the answers to these 4 questions regarding the “Miss April-December” painting for me (unless you know the answers yourself, that is):

        (1) Is that specific painting still “completely visible” in its “totally original fashion” during the entire “Nightmare Before Christmas seasonal overlay” timeframe?

        (2) If the answer to question #1 is “yes”, are its “changing effects” at least somewhat similar to those during the spring and/or summer months?

        (3) If someone in line at the ride were to ask an employee in a “very nice way” if they could “stand in place” somewhere near that specific painting just for a minute or two in order to watch it “do its thing”, would they allow it?

        (4) Is that specific painting going to still be there “on full display” at least until October of 2029?

        Also, I have three more questions that are “totally unrelated” to the Haunted Mansion ride:

        (1) Is the “Alice in Wonderland” ride usually scheduled to be open during the entire month of September (unless something unexpected happens, of course)?

        (2) If I actually make it to 2029 and do get past the front gates, will the castle be in its “normal state” or will it be in some sort of “celebration state” (like it is right now, as well as like it was during both the 50th and 60th anniversaries)?

        (3) Since I do not have a credit card, an email address, or a cellphone, how would I go about getting a “park reservation” and a ticket just for a one day visit at Disneyland (especially during one of the “busier” times of the year)?

        Again, thank you for all of your time. I really appreciate it.

        Reply

        • Hi Ron! I do fortunately have answers to most of your questions below:

          Haunted Mansion:
          1. Yes, she is there during the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay.
          2. Yes, her special effects are unchanged.
          3. I don’t think you’d need to ask anyone – just let the other people in line pass you and I think it would be ok!
          4. There are no plans to remove her from display.

          General:
          1. Alice’s refurbishment schedule doesn’t follow a consistent pattern – so there’s no way to predict when it will be down for refurbishment.
          2. 2029 isn’t a significant anniversary year for Disneyland, so unless the Disney company decides to do some kind of event, it should be in it’s normal state.
          3. You get a park reservation alongside your ticket purchase, so those are no longer separate steps. I don’t know of any way to acquire a ticket without a credit card, email, or phone number – you would probably need to contact Disneyland customer service for that information.

          Reply

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