August 09: Overnight With the Grim Grinning Ghosts

On this day in 2009, the Sutton family (Tim and Cyndi along with their two daughters Jessica & Stephanie) from Santa Clarita, California spent the night inside Disneyland's Haunted Mansion attraction.

A 95.5 KLOS radio station promotion for the Haunted Mansion’s 40th anniversary, daughters Jessica, 12, and Stephanie, 10, received the most votes among kids in a talent contest for singing "Happy Birthday" ... with a dog singing in the background!

The family moved into the Haunted Mansion at midnight after Disneyland closed on Sunday (August 9) and left at 6 a.m. the following morning. They stayed in a suite set up in an elevator at the entrance of the attraction. Each Sutton was given a key to return (in the afterlife of course) as a memento of their unique experience.

"My favorite part was somewhere around 4am, the Disney Demons let out a very loud sound effect and the girls all jumped!" -Tim Sutton

Click HERE for more Haunted Mansion & August 09 Disney history.