Brian's Walt Disney World CP Adventure

The Hatbox Ghost in the ride, shortly before it’s removal.

What is the Hatbox Ghost, you ask? How can you be a Disney Fan and not who theHatbox Ghost is? Well for starters, let me tell you the history of this famous resident of The Haunted Mansion. The Hatbox Ghost is a character that appeared originally in The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland but was removed shortly after the attraction’s debut. Located formerly in the ride’s attic scene, the figure is described as “an elderly ghost in a cloak and top hat, leaning on a cane with a wavering hand and clutching a hatbox in the other.” The idea behind The Hatbox Ghost was for his head to vanish from atop his shoulders and reappear alternately inside his hatbox, in time with an adjacent bride figure’s beating heart. According to Imagineer Chris Merritt in an interview with DoomBuggies.com, the effect was never completely successful due to the illusion’s close proximity to the ride vehicles:

“The gag was based purely on lighting. The ghost’s head was illuminated by black lighting. A light inside the hatbox he held would rhythmically illuminate and hide the head in the hatbox, while, in tandem, the actual head on the ghost’s shoulders would be hidden by extinguishing the black lighting.”

The Hatbox Ghost was installed inside The Haunted Mansion and in place for cast member (park employee) previews on the nights of August 7 and 8, 1969.^] Almost immediately, it became apparent that the effect had failed, as ambient light in the attraction’s attic scene prevented the specter’s face from disappearing fully, despite the turning off of its designated spotlight. Although The Hatbox Ghost was removed before the ride’s public opening on August 9, 1969, a number of attraction visitors claim to have seen the figure in place during the weeks following, suggesting that attempts were made to remedy technical problems before permanent de-installation. A photo of the figure in situ is featured on the Doombuggies.com website. And on the DVD, “Disneyland Resort: Imagineering the Magic,” Senior Vice President of Creative Development at Walt Disney Imagineering Tony Baxter displays an attraction maintenance slip that lists the original Hatbox Ghost.

The Original Model for the Hatbox Ghost

Will we ever see this Happy Haunt return to the mansion once again? Nobody knows, but a Raven told me that he maybe reappearing in the new Haunted Mansion movie Directed by Guillermo Del Toro.

The Hatbox Ghost, as seen on the cover for “The Song and Story of the Haunted Mansion

The Hatbox Ghost with Famed Imagineer and Special Effects Master, Yale Gracey