During a recent visit to Magic Kingdom, we caught the Haunted Mansion’s cupola rising above the scrim. Views from Frontierland revealed that the dome looks significantly different than it did when the project first began. The onion dome that crowns the mansion has gone from a sun-faded orange to a darker bronze, and the bat weathervane above it has changed along with it. The roof replacement is part of the larger exterior refurbishment which hides most of the facade behind a printed wrap. Here’s what’s changed up top.
Haunted Mansion Cupola Dome and Weathervane Get a Bronze Refinish
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- The cupola dome traded faded orange for a darker bronze metallic finish.
- The bat weathervane was refinished to match.
- The stonework below the dome appears cleaned to a brighter, more uniform tone.
Haunted Mansion Roofline Refresh Revealed
The most obvious change is the onion dome itself. In our February photos, the dome wore a faded terracotta orange. Its surface looked chalky and patchy, with visible paint loss across the top. By late June, that same dome had turned a darker, richer bronze. A clean metallic tone has replaced the weathered look, refreshing the dome’s existing character rather than redesigning it. Here’s a before/after.
The bat weathervane crowning the cupola was refinished to match. Back in February, it was a pale, oxidized gray. Now it sits as a darker silhouette against the sky. The directional spire and scrollwork beneath it carry the same darker tone. It looks like Imagineers are really digging in and giving the Haunted Mansion a full facade refresh.
Below the dome, the cupola’s columns and arched openings appear to have received a fresh coat of paint. Meanwhile, scaffolding and a pulley wheel surround the cupola in the June photos, pointing to active work on the structure. The dome and weathervane sit above the scrim line, so they stay visible even as scrim covers the lower facade.
The wider shot below shows roof underlayment, or a moisture barrier, consistent with a complete roof refinishing. Work will likely continue for weeks or months. Our hope is that the Haunted Mansion will be revealed before the Halloween season, but Disney has not announced a refurbishment timeline. The Haunted Mansion attraction has remained open during the facade refurbishment.
Keep Reading
- The new details on the refurbishment for the scope of the project beyond the roofline.
- When the scrims first expanded to the front facade, for how the work spread across the building.
- The early signs a facade refresh was coming, for where this project started.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!