The Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom has spent recent months behind scaffolding and scrims, leaving guests to wonder what the finished facade would look like. Now most of that covering is gone, and the building’s refreshed color scheme is on full display. The update pulls the mansion closer to how it appeared on opening day in 1971. Here is a breakdown of what has changed and what still needs to wrap up.
Scaffolding and Scrims Come Down
The most noticeable change is that the scaffolding and most of the scrims have been removed from the facade. For the first time in a while, guests can see the full building without the layers of construction material that had hidden it.
That reveal is what makes this update easy to spot. With the covering gone, the new paint and finishes are visible from the queue and the surrounding area, giving park visitors a clear view of the completed work.
A Color Scheme Rooted in 1971
The refreshed palette is the heart of this refurbishment, and it draws on the mansion’s earliest look. The bricks are now a darker reddish-brown, a shift that gives the walls a deeper tone than before.
The trim has also changed. It moved from its previous beige to gray, which pairs with the darker brick for a more grounded appearance. Together, these two changes set the tone for the rest of the exterior updates.
Roofing, Cupola, and Chimney Details
Up top, several features received attention. The cupola dome now carries a green finish, matching the color it had back in 1971. The rest of the roofing is finished in black, which frames the green dome and the brick below.
The chimneys were refreshed as well, now featuring ashy black detailing that adds texture to the roofline. The bat weathervane, a small but recognizable piece of the facade, remains in place through the update.
Greenhouse and Ironwork Touches
The greenhouse area also saw changes to its metalwork. The wrought iron framing appears to be a darker green, tying it in with the updated finishes elsewhere on the building.
Not everything is finished in this section, though. Some of the trim below the greenhouse has not been fully painted yet and still shows the pale color of primer. That leftover primer is a sign the work is close to done but not entirely complete.
What Still Needs to Wrap Up
A few loose ends remain around the mansion. Gray tarps are still in place along the facade’s perimeter wall, so parts of the ground level are not fully open to view yet.
The landscaping also needs to return. Shrubbery and trees in front of the building were removed to make room for the scaffolding, and those plantings still need to be put back. Once the greenery returns and the tarps come down, the exterior should read as fully finished.
Final Thoughts
The Haunted Mansion’s updated facade brings the attraction’s exterior back in line with its 1971 origins, from the green cupola dome to the darker brick and gray trim. A handful of tasks remain, including unpainted trim, tarps along the perimeter wall, and landscaping that needs replanting. If you have a trip planned, it is worth taking a moment to view the refreshed building and compare it to how it looked before the work began.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
It’s still missing the original Rose Garden out front. That was amazing it seemed like they were always blooming. (full disclosure I worked there in the late 70s and so I remember them VERY well)
I get it though, they can’t do the special events things for Halloween with the roses there