Former Disney Imagineer Jim Shull is once again calling out Disney’s declining standards—this time over a major design failure at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion gift shop, Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond. Taking to X, Shull didn’t hold back after the shop was forced to close just six weeks after opening due to flooding from a mere half-inch of rain.
When WDI can’t issue civil engineering plans to prevent water flowing into a brand new retail shop then nervous times are ahead for bigger projects. #DisneylandHauntedMansion pic.twitter.com/pQxdx84lNE
— Jim Shull (@JimShull) February 4, 2025
“When WDI can’t issue civil engineering plans to prevent water flowing into a brand new retail shop then nervous times are ahead for bigger projects,” Shull posted, alongside a damning photo of the store barricaded with sandbags out in front.
He followed up with an even more scathing assessment.
The failure to build the #HauntedMansion shop correctly (this is first year engineering stuff) means the fix is a big old trench drain in front of the doors. When you can’t get this civil engineering 101 correct, hire new people. pic.twitter.com/yguvcgdGwr
— Jim Shull (@JimShull) February 4, 2025
“The failure to build the #HauntedMansion shop correctly (this is first year engineering stuff) means the fix is a big old trench drain in front of the doors,” he wrote. “When you can’t get this civil engineering 101 correct, hire new people.”
That’s a brutal critique—but it’s not undeserved.
Just a little over a month after opening its doors on December 23, Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond has already become a symbol of modern Disney’s cut-rate approach to theme park design. A light rainstorm in Anaheim dropped just half an inch of water, yet it was enough to cause significant flooding inside the shop, forcing Disneyland to shut it down and stack sandbags in front of the entrance like it was bracing for a hurricane.
To fix the mess, Disney has now begun emergency construction to redo the concrete on the east side of the building, hoping to improve drainage.
“Crews at Disneyland will begin replacing concrete on the east side of Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond starting Feb. 3 to improve drainage in the area,” reported theme park social media journalist Scott Gustin. “Work will last a month. The shop is expected to remain open but some exterior props/theming may be removed until work is done.”
A screenshot showing the exterior of the Haunted Mansion gift shop and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland – YouTube, Best Life and Beyond
It’s an embarrassing situation—how does a brand-new structure supposedly designed by the once legendary Disney imagineering department fail this badly after only six weeks?
Even before the flooding fiasco, fans weren’t thrilled with Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond. Instead of an intricately themed Haunted Mansion-inspired store that would blend seamlessly into New Orleans Square, Disney gave guests a generic metal shack that looked more like a Home Depot garden center than a Disney attraction.
Fans immediately roasted the design, but Disney ignored the backlash—until things got worse.
Shortly after opening, Disney was caught using AI-generated artwork in the store’s decorations instead of hiring real artists. After public outcry, Disney was forced to quietly remove the AI piece while stating that proper hand-painted artwork was supposedly on the way.
Disney Imagineering “Creative” Director Kim Irvine, who oversaw the project, dismissed fan concerns when asked about the AI controversy:
“How they can find one thing out of all this cool stuff…” Irvine told the LA Times, appearing frustrated.
Disney imagineering’s Kim Irvine at the Haunted Mansion – YouTube, Los Angeles Times
She then admitted Disney used AI art as a temporary shortcut instead of investing in original artwork from the start.
With each new project, Disney Imagineering seems to be proving Jim Shull right—the company no longer prioritizes storytelling, immersion, or quality. It’s all about maximizing profits while minimizing effort.
A half-inch of rain flooding a brand-new store is embarrassing enough, but when combined with AI art replacing real artwork, a cheap, prefabricated metal building instead of an immersive structure, and rushed construction leading to massive drainage problems, it paints a bleak picture of what Disney fans can expect from future projects.
And this isn’t just about a gift shop. If Disney can’t even design a simple retail store properly, how can guests trust them with massive projects like new park expansions?
What do you think of the Haunted Mansion gift shop flooding? Is this another sign of Disney’s declining standards? Sound off in the comments, and keep it here on That Park Place for all the news that should be fun!
