Bat Stanchions

The Bat Stanchions are decorations featured in the Haunted Mansion at the Disney Parks.
==Background==
The bat stanchions are sculpted figures placed onto metal poles in the queue area of Haunted Mansion. Each sculpture has an extremely detailed design to make it have a greater resemblance to a bat. The Magic Kingdom version of the attraction features three variants of the bat sculptures: one with a folded right wing with a left wing open, one with a folded left wing with a right wing open, and one with both wings open. While it is unknown what purpose they have other than giving the attraction a scary theme, it is likely that they are designed to guard the windows to prevent guests from escaping.
===Development===
According to Jason Surrell's book The Haunted Mansion: From The Magic Kingdom to the Movies, the bat stanchion with both wings open was touched by millions of people all over the world since the opening of the Liberty Square version of Haunted Mansion since 1971. It was also said that if the bat stanchions to be replaced, they would be likely left as a piece of Disney history. Prior to being developed as batlike creatures, concept art shows that they were originally designed to resemble avian-like creatures, likely ravens or parrots. 
==Appearances==
===The Haunted Mansion===
In the Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland versions of the attraction, the bat sculptures are placed into the queue area where they are encountered after the guests exit the Stretching Room and into the queue area to board on their Doom Buggies. 
In the Disneyland version of the attraction, the bat stanchions were integrated in the Portrait Corridor area where they were placed behind the windows used as a means of attempting to keep guests away from escaping the window, showing that they are doing this as method to prevent guests from escaping easily. As of 2015 in time of Disneyland's 60th anniversary since the reintegration of the Hatbox Ghost, the balcony area which would come to hold a spirit had a window where an additional bat stanchion was seen on the other side.
==Other Appearances==
===Haunted Mansion (2023)===
Three bat stanchions were displayed as one of the gate holders guarding the basement in Crump Manor in the 2023 reboot adaptation of the 2003 film. Just as Ben Matthias, Father Kent, and Travis pass through the stanchions to find the secrets about the Hatbox Ghost, they find a hidden basement where only Travis can fit to help Ben and Kent find out more about the Hatbox Ghost.
==References==
==External links==
*Bat Stanchions on Haunted Mansion Wiki.
Category:Objects
Category:The Haunted Mansion
Category:Bats