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

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Haunted Mansion Hatbox Ghost at Walt Disney World

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.

Watch on TikTok

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.

Haunted Mansion Hatbox Ghost at Walt Disney World

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.

The Haunted Mansion at Disney World

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

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Tuvalu25 days ago

It worked today.

Rteetz26 days ago

It did during the day yesterday. I rode and got stopped there for a few minutes.

ZachPL26 days ago

Not working as of lasts nights after hours

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.