Disney teases the Hatbox Ghost materializing later this year at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion

Apr 21, 2023 in "Haunted Mansion"

Posted: Friday April 21, 2023 2:15pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

As part of Disney's Halfway to Halloween week, the Disney Parks TikTok has teased the Hatbox Ghost, which remains on target to materialize at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion in 2023.

@disneyparks The legendary Hatbox Ghost will be materializing this year at Walt Disney World ??? #Disney #DisneyParks #HalfwaytoHalloween #Halloween #HauntedMansion #HatboxGhost ? original sound - Disney Parks

Announced at the D23 Expo, the Hatbox Ghost character will be added to the Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion with a debut set for 2023.

The addition of the Hatbox Ghost to Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion comes after years of speculation, and its return to the Disneyland Haunted Mansion in 2015.

Disney did not say if the Haunted Mansion will be closing to add the new Hatbox Ghost scene.

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ScuttleApr 24, 2023

Thunder Mountain can lend the HM theirs.

HMFApr 24, 2023

Here's another one. And another This is the earliest flash photo of the original bride known. And here is the Bride as she looked right before the 07 refurb.

zipadee999Apr 24, 2023

Cool picture. I love seeing shots like this of the pre-2007 attic. They’re pretty hard to find

HMFApr 23, 2023

Yes, Prior to 2007 There were bats on strings in the WDW Attic.

HMFApr 23, 2023

Animaniac93-98Apr 23, 2023

Tokyo's HM has bats in the attic, just rubber things on strings, but a nice effect none the less. Did WDW ever have them?

JustInTimeApr 23, 2023

Thank you!! This is fantastic

yensidtlaw1969Apr 23, 2023

Well, before Constance the very first Attic Bride at Disneyland (Who was simply called "Beating Heart") was tucked away in the corner on the left side of the ride track, right by the bend where the Doombuggies make that hard right turn - today that spot is basically between the 2nd and 3rd Husband Portraits you see in the Attic (Frank and Reginald). This photo is from Disney World's Attic, not Disneyland's, but you can imagine the first Bride would have been basically right in front of that Tapestry: After The Hatbox Ghost was removed from the ride the Bride was moved to his spot by the exit so that the Attic still had some sort of finale element to it. But she was on the Right side of the track, not the Left where Constance is now. The Bride jumped from the right side of the track to the left in 2006 when Constance was added because they didn't want to close the ride for her install, so the Old Bride stayed in her spot on the right while they somewhat secretly installed the one on the Left. Here's a Blueprint of the Attic with all the new/old Bride and Hatbox Ghost spots marked out. The new Hatbox Ghost's placement is just out of frame on the bottom, since they moved him onto the balcony overlooking the Graveyard instead of putting him back where he started: Mind you, all this is Disneyland-centric - at Walt Disney World the Bride was always at the end of the Attic on the right side until 2007 when Constance was added, and she's always been in the same spot as DL's Constance at the end of the Attic on the left side of the track. Meanwhile, The Hatbox Ghost has never been installed at Walt Disney World . . . yet!

JustInTimeApr 23, 2023

Where was Constance originally?

aladdin2007Apr 22, 2023

Oddly I love it with the mossy hanging trees around it, and yet also love it without the trees, the house looks so huge and forboding on the hill. Both looks suit it well in its own way. I still wish they would bring back the howling dog sound outside, heaven forbid we have too many original classic details in place.

Animaniac93-98Apr 22, 2023

Tree growth has also impacted the appearance of size over time, depending upon which trees have been planted, pruned or removed.

peter11435Apr 22, 2023

There is an effect in the conservatory windows at WDW too. But it’s not the same effect

wdisney9000Apr 22, 2023

Never realized how much the canopy affects the perspective. Night and day difference.

FigmentJediApr 22, 2023

Hatbox Ghost was also intended for Florida. They built two of everything after all. It's even speculated that the Florida Hatty was the one that showed up in that Osmonds special holding a paint palette in the behind the scenes footage.