A Disney Insider look at ‘Muppets Haunted Mansion’ and ‘Drawn to Life’

The latest episode of “Disney Insider” is now streaming on Disney+, taking fans behind the scenes of the hit “Muppets Haunted Mansion” special and featuring sneak peeks at “Drawn to Life,” the highly anticipated new Cirque du Soleil show coming soon to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.

Whether you’re the Great Gonzo spending the night in a Haunted Mansion, or a trapeze artist telling the history of Disney Animation through your craft, there is always something happening at Disney Parks! Beginning today, Disney+ subscribers can take a deeper dive into what it takes to make the magic come alive through storytelling and artistry.

Earlier this month, “Muppets Haunted Mansion” made its world debut on Disney+. In this “Disney Insider” episode, Executive Producer Bill Barretta (also the performer behind some of your favorite Muppets, including Pepe the King Prawn) takes us into the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland park to meet up with the special’s production designer, Darcy Prevost. They discuss how “Muppets Haunted Mansion” drew inspiration from Haunted Mansion attractions at Disney Parks around the world, and how Darcy and her team brought distinctive Muppets flair to many of the attraction-inspired details. They even share some hidden “Easter egg” details that you may have missed! 

Kim Irvine, Executive Creative Director from Walt Disney Imagineering, is also interviewed in regard to her family legacy in the attraction, her cameo appearance in the special, and how the pairing of the Muppets and the Haunted Mansion is a fun combination for this original special.

While I’ve already streamed “Muppets Haunted Mansion” more times than I care to admit, seeing this inside look has me dying to watch it again. After all, even if you’ve streamed the special 999 times … there’s always room for a thousand. Any volunteers? 

Later this November, Disney Springs audiences of all ages can experience the animator’s world coming to life in breathtaking ways in Cirque du Soleil’s signature style. “Drawn to Life,” Cirque du Soleil’s 50^th production, celebrates Disney’s extraordinary legacy in the art of animation, from the earliest pencil sketches to the spellbinding spectacles of today.

The show tells the story of a determined girl who embarks on an inspiring quest filled with her childhood Disney memories, brought to life through innovative design and dazzling performances. We’ll follow her as she leaps into a whimsical world and discovers new possibilities that animate the story of her future. In this “Disney Insider” episode, learn the tricks it took to bring this awe-inspiring show to Walt Disney World during The World’s Most Magical Celebration.

Tickets are now available for “Drawn to Life” presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney at DisneySprings.com/Cirque. Performances begin Nov. 18, 2021.