Hatbox Ghost Returns to Disneyland

In an April 10th, 2015 press release Disney Parks Blog announced that a long-lost member of the 999 happy haunts at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion would be reappearing this spring – the Hatbox Ghost!

The “Hatbox Ghost” was an original member of the Haunted Mansion’s grim grinning ghosts when the attraction opened in 1969. Appearing in the attic scene near the Bride, he was dressed in a cloak and top hat and held a hatbox in his hand. As the Bride’s heart beat, the Hatbox Ghost’s head would disappear from his shoulders and reappear in the hatbox.

The Hatbox Ghost was removed shortly after the mansion’s opening due to issues with the effect. The illusion of his head changing locations relied solely on lighting effects, and because of its proximity to the Doom Buggies, guests could see the two locations of the head even when one was supposed to have disappeared.

With advancements in technology, Disney is now ready to give this ghost a second chance at (after)life in May 2015. There have not yet been pictures released of the new figure or details on whether the effect will be practical or digital in nature.

All fans can do is speculate while we count down the days until the Hatbox Ghost’s reappearance!

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WDW Haunted Mansion Interactive Queue

Even for an avid horror fan like myself, one cannot help but love the magic of the “Happiest Place on Earth”, Walt Disney World. Every inch of the Florida resort is designed to make guests feel like they are transported to a fantasy world filled with castles, mythical creatures, movie magic, and a few playful spooks.

In addition to the fantastic animatronics and illusions, this attraction has a myriad of little devilish details for those who care to pay attention (for example, I love the woodwork that looks like monstrous little faces in the Doom Buggy loading area). A horror fan could spend hours taking in all that this attraction has to offer – and do not even get me started on the rich backstories and legends that have arisen about the specific ghosts, as we would be here all night. For this article, we are going to look at the playful Haunted Mansion interactive queue that was added in 2011.

Disney has devised a new way to encourage families to interact with one another while furthering the theming of the ride – a ghoulish new graveyard with plenty of games and surprises to keep guests entertained for their 15-20 minute wait (pro tip – if the line is longer than that, come back later in the day).

The first area contains five busts of a peculiar family whose members all met with unfortunate demises. Guests must read the accompanying plaques to guess who murdered who.

From there guests walk through the graveyard and can play around crypts of some of The Haunted Mansion’s more memorable denizens. A composer’s crypt (though I suppose he mostly decomposes now) has a musical wall where ghostly instruments play a rendition of “Grim Grinning Ghosts”. Guests can touch the various etchings on the tomb and whichever instrument is touched will carry on the tune.

Among a few unconventional instruments, guests can also see the one-eyed cat, an early concept for an evil resident of the mansion. Although the cat was cut from the final ride, it is now part of the outer graveyard – and part of the ghostly musical revue.

Around the next bend in the line is the crypt of poet Prudence Pock. Residing inside the crypt is a glowing book where Prudence’s poetry continues to proliferate. Guests are welcome to shout out the missing rhymes to help Prudence finish her work.

One of my personal favorites among the new additions is the grave of Captain Culpepper Clyne.

Here floats Captain Culpepper Clyne. Allergic to dirt so he’s pickled in brine. He braved the sea and all her wrath but drowned on land while taking a bath

Occasionally guests will hear the sea captain gag and water will spray from the grave – a much welcome way to cool down in the Florida heat. One cannot help but love the details on this piece, especially the creepy staring fish.

Of course, there is also a slew of the classic morbidly amusing gravestones that have remained from the original queue.

Also preserved is the original gravestone for Madame Leota. This was the only animated gravestone in the original queue set-up. Once every minute or so, the eyes on the bust will change to ghostly eyeballs and look back and forth at the crowd for a few seconds. If you are not paying close attention, you can miss it completely, and with the quickness of the line, you rarely get to see it occur more than once while waiting. It is hilarious to watch unknowing guests comment that they thought they saw the gravestone move, while the rest of their party assures them that it is just a normal stone.

New technology and creative minds ensure that Walt Disney World – and all Disney theme parks – will forever be changing and becoming more immersive. The Haunted Mansion interactive queue is a perfect introduction for the creepy fun that lies ahead.