A Spirited Development: Progress on the Hatbox Ghost in Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion

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Hatbox Ghost installation area curtain

Posted: Friday August 11, 2023 9:14am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Fans of the haunted Mansion may have been disappointed that the fabled Hatbox Ghost did not materialize following a three-and-a-half-day closure this week, but there are some positive signs this morning.

Hatbox Ghost installation area curtain

Near the Endless Hallway, the curtained-off area appears to have been expanded outwards, and there are signs of show lighting in operation behind the curtain.

Watch the video below for a look at the Hatbox Ghost area today. (YouTube 4K)

Disney remains tight-lipped on the Hatbox Ghost's debut, but signs are it is not far away. Disney's latest update on the hatbox Ghost was at the end of July, saying, "Later this year at the Walt Disney World Resort, one of our most iconic specters will set up residence in the Haunted Mansion of Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom Park"

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party begins tonight, officially marking the start of the fall and Halloween season at Walt Disney World.

Haunted Mansion Hatbox Ghost at Walt Disney World

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TouchdownMay 29, 2024

Do you want to know how it works? Because I’ve seen it not work properly at DL The head screen is very quickly lowered into the body and back up. I also believe the screen may constrict a little as well but I’m not sure on that. It’s hidden by the puff of smoke animation. The animation was not working properly one time I rode. Doesn’t really spoil the effect for me, just makes me appreciate it more

KittlesonaMay 29, 2024

I very much assumed this was how the heads work. Now I’m wondering why the effect isn’t more timed with the positioning of the doom buggies. The different practical effects of the mansion are fascinating!

yensidtlaw1969May 28, 2024

The only lenticular I can think of that featured inside one of the Mansions was this one from the wall that hid Disneyland's Hatbox Ghost install. Bats like the ones from the stanchions appeared to fly around inside the window as you rode by. Never quite understood what they were going for there, but it was a lenticular:

TeriofTerrorMay 28, 2024

I'll leave those to the Country Bears. 😉

MisterPenguinMay 28, 2024

Well, then, I stand corrected! Maybe it's the pearls....

RainbowFigmentumMay 28, 2024

In each of the photos with the husband, she gains a pearl to her necklace, as his head disappears.

MireilleMay 28, 2024

Is this a Liberace joke?

VicariousCorpseMay 28, 2024

It's actually a two layer scrim with lighting in front and behind. At 8:35 you can see the doom buggy stopped and the transformations continue looping. While Disney loves their lenticulars for promos and merchandise, they're even on the construction walls for the mansion at Disneyland, I don't think they've ever been used inside any mansion.

yensidtlaw1969May 28, 2024

The portraits aren't lenticular - if your Doombuggy gets stopped in the Attic the portraits will still continue changing. They're a modified version of the Changing Portrait Hall portraits.

MisterPenguinMay 28, 2024

The effect is positional. If you stayed still, there would be no transformations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenticular_printing

VicariousCorpseMay 28, 2024

The timing is independent of the doombuggies. They just switch back and forth between the two with equal amount of time. It's just coincidence and timing of your riding.

HMFMay 27, 2024

Most likely, No.

KittlesonaMay 27, 2024

Slightly off topic, but am I the only person who seeing the headless portraits in reverse? By that I mean, EVERY one of them I see the man headless first and then he “regains” his head as I continue to view it. Surely it’s meant to be seen the other way right? So that we know they all lost their heads? My fixation on that each time I ride takes me out of the malevolence of the attic each time.