Memento Mori is a shop located in
Liberty Square at the
Magic Kingdom. Much of its merchandise and theme comes from
The Haunted Mansion. Its (possibly former) owner and operator seems to be
Madame Leota, judging by the constant references to her and psychic relics scattered through the shop, according to Steven Miller, the Merchandise and Communications manager of the park, Memento Mori was once Madame Leota's abode, with her many belongings still in the shop as well as a portrait of her. Memento Mori also introduced a new line of Haunted Mansion merchandise.
History[]
Prior to the existence of Memento Mori, Haunted Mansion merchandise had been sold in a merchandising kiosk outside the attraction themed to a Romani Caravan owned by Madame Leota, with the cart's design also taking inspiration from a Vardo designed for the unbuilt Museum of the Weird. This theme would inspire the new shop's Madame Leota theme.
On September 2014, Disney confirmed Yankee Trader would close in place of a new Haunted Mansion-themed store for a new wave of merchandise. Memento Mori opened on October 6, 2014 and replaced the Yankee Trader.
Details[]
For starters, the cast members here dress slightly different than the butlers and maids positioned at the Haunted Mansion. The most notable feature is the slightly brighter color scheme, and the tie being worn has a button resembling Madame Leota's tombstone outside The Haunted Mansion. Multiple paranormal occurrences take place inside the shop:
- A portrait of Madame Leota changes under an ultraviolet light, with eyes glowing in the background.
- "Bottled Spirits" are seen on higher shelves.
- A mirror where the apparition of Madame Leota materializes, accompanied by music, then vanishing after a few seconds.
- Some cast members seem to disregard the paranormal happenings and seem to only take attention to the bottled spirits. Asking about anything else will most likely give the response "I don't know what you're talking about." As if nothing happened.
There is a "Spirit Photography" booth in which guests get their picture taken, and have it modified to look like one of the photographs hung in the Haunted Mansion's corridor of doors, giving them a winking eye, coloring their skin blue, and giving them skeletal teeth.
Once Upon a Time[]
Memento Mori appears as a location featured in the ABC series Once Upon a Time, first appearing in the seventh season's episode "Secret Garden". A magical shop, often frequented by witches, it is occupied by Madame Leota and Gothel, who lure Robin there, to use for a sacrifice.
Trivia[]
- The phrase Memento Mori is Latin for "remember that you will die".
Gallery[]
Memento Mori in Once Upon a Time
