49 Weird (but true) Disney Haunted Mansion Ride Secrets and Facts You Must Know (2024)

Today we’re taking a mysterious journey through the creepy and fun Disney Haunted Mansion ride secrets!

Disney’sHaunted Mansionis one of the topattractions among ThemeParkHipsters, so much so that there is a large fandomthat encompasses fan fiction, meetups, collectibles, comics, andnumerouspop culture mentions around the world!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MYDISCLOSUREFOR MORE INFO. Which means if you click on certain links, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

The Haunted Mansion at Disney Parks

I’ve always enjoyed the ride, but I could never quite ride it alone (no surprise there).

I know you’re probably thinking that I may be a bit weird because it’s just a Disney ride that is nowhere near the haunting frightsof Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.

However, Ialways feel something very eerie and spooky about the attraction that makes my skin crawl all the while keeping the quirky, imaginative spirit of Disney.

This dark ride puts guests in theDoom Buggieswho are given a haunted tour of the mansion by the famous Ghost Host (voiced by Paul Frees).

ORDER NOW to secure your Orlando theme park ticket reservation in the parks! GET MY TICKETS.

My First Experience on the Disney World Haunted Mansion Ride

I can still remember my first time on this ride in the mid-1990s and how the Ghost Hostand the spooky greeters with their dragging, dreary voices would always give me the creeps.

And let’s not forget the parlor scene that stretches notonly the room, but also your imagination with a visual trick that is prettyimpressive and still a classic staple of the attraction.

Once you think you’ve survived thespine-tingling touryou gain some famous guests on yourDoom Buggie, the Hitchhiking Ghosts…

…and from what I’ve observed these guys areHaunted Mansionrock stars and fan-favorites!

Get your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Tickets TODAY!

49 Strange Disney Haunted Mansion Facts and Secrets to Know for Your Next Trip

Now lets get to the good stuff, the fun secrets of this Disney dark ride!

In this article I’m going to focus on the Disneyland and Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion attractions.

I was able to find some of the weirdest and most mysterious facts surrounding this legendary Disney attraction.

Enjoy and hopefully you won’t be added to the 999 happyhaunts!

1. This attraction can be found all over the world:

• New Orleans Square at Disneyland (California)
• Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom (Florida)
• Frontierland at Disneyland Paris (Phantom Manor)
• Mystic Point at Hong Kong Disneyland (Mystic Manor)
• Fantasyland at Disneyland Tokyo

Ready to plan your theme park trip? Watch the best vacation planning tips on YouTube. Get started here!

2. The Real “1000^th” Ghost

A doctor and medical lawyer, Cary Sharp, donated $37,400 for a charity event held at Disneyland to become the “1000th” ghost!

…a man “forever buried in his work.”

WATCH: 13 Beginner Tips for Going to Disney World This Year!

3. Who’s Buried in the Tombstones?

Many of the names on the tombstones are from real who wereconnected to the Disney brand.

Do you recognize any of the name on the Haunted Mansion tombstones? Let us know in the comments section below.

4. The Legendary Bride

Be sure to look for the iconic grim bride with the bright red heart. Her name is Constance Hatchaway.

5. Hatbox Tales

The Hatbox Ghost was originally apart of the attraction at Disneyland. However, the “HatBox” trick never lived up to the title, so it was axed.

Over the years, the loyal followers still kept The Hatbox Ghost memory alive and in 2015, Disney gave us a new Hatbox Ghost for Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration.

See Also

Complete Guide to Haunted Mansion - WDW Prep SchoolDisney World's Haunted Mansion Will Scare You SillyEverything You Need To Know About the Haunted Mansion - Inside the Magic13 Facts About Disney’s Haunted Mansion

This is one of the coolest Haunted Mansion ride secrets!

6. Haunted Mansion: The Water Ride

The Haunted Mansion was briefly developed as a water ride by Imagineer Claude Coates.

This was because the Haunted Mansion needed some type of conveyance design and a water ride seemed like a possible option at the time.

7. Live Caretaker in the Movie

The original concept of the Haunted Mansion film script had a live Caretaker as one of the main characters, but was later scrapped.

He would then go on to make a small appearance in the original Haunted Mansion film.

8. The Real Haunted Mansion

The Disneyland Haunted Mansion was rumored to have been inspired by the Shipley-Lydecker House in Baltimore, Maryland.

However, Ken Anderson, the original storyteller of the ride, found the most inspiration in a catalog of Victorian decorative art and architecture he was looking through at the time.

Ready to make your trip out to Walt Disney World Resort, then get your no obligation, FREE Quote by filling out the form with The Park Prodigy byClicking HERE!

9. The Singing Busts Inspiration

Designer, Rick Baker, first modeled the film’s singingbusts after Marc Davis, Thurl Ravenscroft, Blaine Gibson, Paul Frees andWalt Disney.

Be sure to look for them in the queue and on the ride!

Check out my latest theme park adventures on Instagram TODAY!

10. Filming Location Changes

The original Haunted Mansion film was originally set in New York state.

However, the director (Rob Minkoff) and the film production, felt like the story should be based on the setting of the original Haunted Nansion which was in New Orleans.

11. Haunted Mansion Bride

The well-known Haunted Mansion bride was one of the few characters who was almost always featured in the many versions of the Disneyland Haunted Mansion storyline concepts.

12. Lord of the Mansion

Imagineer F.X. Atencio is considered to be the unofficial lord of the manor.

Ready to start planning your next Disney World vacation? Listen to thelatest podcast episode on Appleor on yournon-Appledevice now!

13. Whimsical, yet Creepy Wallpaper

The Haunted Mansion wallpaper was a collaboration between Museum of the Weird creator Rolly Crump and Claude Coats.

You know it’s Haunted Mansion by this famous purple pattern!

Get all of your Disney Halloween merchandise over on ShopDisney.com!

14. Mystery Around Madame Leota’s Tombstone

At Madame Leota’s tombstone in the outside queue of the Haunted Mansion, watch closely as her eyes may open

15. Gargoyles in the Haunted Mansion

As you leave the stretching room of the Haunted Mansion, listen for gargoyles talking. They will be there to make sure you all stay together.

This is one of my favorite Haunted Mansion secrets!

16. Haunted Mansion Pipe Organ

There’s a replica of the pipe organ from the film 20,000Leagues Under the Sea in the ballroom scene of the Haunted Mansion.

17. Tony the Tiger in the Haunted Mansion

One of the singing statues in the Haunted Mansion was voiced by the same man who did Tony the Tiger from Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes! His name was Thurl Ravenscroft.

See Also

How Do They Do It? The Secrets Behind 4 Special Effects in the Haunted Mansion | Theme Park Tourist

18. Stretching Room Plays Tricks on You

The stretching room of the Haunted Mansion inDisneyland California is an elevator that takes you underground.

19. Madame Leota’s Daughter Contributes to the Haunted Mansion Ride Secrets

After the “real” Madame Leota died, Disney wanted to update the film. Disney then used her daughter, Kim Irvine, to help create the newer footage.

20. Walt Disney’s Touch

It has been rumored that Walt Disney recorded a narrationof the Haunted Mansion in an earlier drafted version of the ride.

21. The Gracey Family

In the Haunted Mansion movie, the Gracey family is named after Imagineer Yale Gracey who helped create the Seance Room with Madame Leota.

22. Pepper’s Ghost

Pepper’s Ghost is a famous illusion from the 1800s that can be seen with the ghost dancing in the Grand Ballroom scene.

This is one of the top Haunted Mansion secrets that we all love!

Ready to plan your theme park trip? Watch the best vacation planning tips on YouTube. Get started here!

23. Hitchhiking Ghosts Joins Your Doombuggy

You can find the famous Hitchhiking Ghosts at the endof the ride inside your Doombuggy. Disney uses the Pepper’s Ghost illusion topull off this trick.

Hopefully, it’s just an illusion and you don’t take one homewith you.

24. The Walkthrough Experience

Another earlier concept of the Haunted Mansion put it as a walk-throughexperience that would’ve had a boat pull up to you in one of the rooms.

The only problem with this concept, is that this portion of the attraction would only hold a few people and would take too long.

This is not a good thing for keeping the attraction flow moving optimally.

25. Delayed Opening Date

Believe it or not, the exterior of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland was completed in 1963, but it did not open officially until 1969.

26. Museum of the Weird

One of the earlier concepts of the Haunted Mansion was to beThe Museum of the Weird with both haunted and mysterious trinkets fromaround the globe.

27. Doom Buggy Life

The Doom Buggy, the vehicle that takes you throughthe Haunted Mansion, is also known as an Omnimover (you can see a similarvehicle in Spaceship Earth at Epcot).

28. Find a Hidden Mickey in the Mansion

Try to find the Hidden Mickey in the famous ballroom scene (hint, hint…check the table).

29. A Real Bullet Hole

Believe it or not, there’s an actual bullet hole in the Disneyland Haunted Mansion.

While on the ride look towards the end of the ballroom scene where the two portraits are shooting at each other.

The bullet hole is rumored to be there and is sometimes coveredwith a spider.

Ready to start planning your next Disney World vacation? Listen to thelatest podcast episode on Appleor on yournon-Appledevice now!

30. Hitchhiking Ghosts Names

The Hitchhiking Ghosts have names dubbed by the fans. The names are Gus (the Prisoner), Phineas (the Traveler), and Ezra (the Skelton).

This fact is one of the most unique Haunted Mansion secrets.

31. Interactive Queue Line

The Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom has an interactive queue line that is just as mysterious as the ride.

This was a wonderful addition to this classic Disney dark ride at the Magic Kingdom.

Have a DIFFERENT kind of Orlando vacation with a Resort home next to Disney World. Find Your Disney Resort Vacation Rental here!

32. Time to Pay Up

The Haunted Mansion cost $7 million to create when it was developed and built.

33. Films that Inspired the Haunts

Some believe that there are three films that inspired the attraction:

• The Haunting
• Haunting of Hill House (1963 version)
• La Belle et La Bete – Beauty and the Beast (1946version),
• The Cat and the Canary (1927 version)

34. Pet Cemetery

The Haunted Mansion in both Disneyland California and the Magic Kingdom have a pet cemetery located outside the mansion.

35. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in the Mansion

In the Florida Haunted Mansion, look for a tombstone with J. Thaddeus Toad. This is a nod to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.

36. The Bride’s Ring

Look for the “Bride’s ring” when you exit the HauntedMansion ride in the Magic Kingdom.

According to Susan Veness, if you ever ask a Haunted Mansion Cast Member about Madame Leota’s ring, you might get a really detailed story or just a blank stare and a quick, “There’s no such thing.”

Funny enough, after the Haunted Mansion got a refurbishment in 2007, that second answer became the correct one (kind of).

The story about the bridal ring had a bunch of different versions, but they all centered around Master Gracey, the owner of Gracey Manor (that’s the official name of the Haunted Mansion), and his sad bride, Leota.

You can actually see Leota’s likeness all throughout the ride:

• in the crystal ball
• the attic wearing her wedding dress
• at the end of the attraction, bidding you goodbye

Check out my latest theme park adventures on Instagram TODAY!

37. True Story of the Bride’s Ring

There were many stories of how the ring was left in the cement out the exit of the Haunted Mansion.

Originally there was no backstory since it was the trimmed-off end of a metal post.

38. Your Death Certificate

Did you know that there’s a portion of the Haunted Mansionthat signifies your death?

When you fall from the attic window, your doom-buggy goes backwards.It is at this point that the haunts of the estate will now start to recognizeyou.

Get your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Tickets TODAY!

39. Exit First

If you want to get out of the stretching round room first, then stand near the painting of the tight rope lady holding the parasol at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

This location may vary based on which Haunted Mansion ride you’re experiencing.

40. Edgar Allan Poe

Look out for the raven throughout this Disney ride.It’s a reference to Edgar Allan Poe.

ORDER NOW to secure your Orlando theme park ticket reservation in the parks! GET MY TICKETS.

41. The Tragic Sea Captain

An original storyline of the ride involved a pirate named Captain Gore and his wife Priscilla who lived in a mansion where his wife discovers his hidden dark past as a pirate.

She is then murdered by her husband who then hangs himself. You may be able to see aquatic nods to this Captain on the attraction.

Recommended: Top 5 Ways to Find Cheap Disney World Ticketsfor Your Vacation!

42. Spreading Ashes

Believe it or not, there have been Disney guests who havetried to spread the ashes of their loved ones on the Haunted Mansionride.

43. Who’s that Hanging?

Look for Master Gracey “hanging” from the ceilingrafters in the stretching room scene.

44. The Storyline Continues

Originally, Imagineers didn’t have a fully developed storysurrounding the relationship between Master Gracey and Madame Leota.

45. Look for a Mysterious Figure

At the Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom during thenight, look up towards the top window and you may see a ghostly figurepassing by…

46. Find the Skulls

When you are exiting the waiting area of the Haunted Mansionin Disney World, look at the top corner moldings which are shaped asskulls.

47. Monitor the Changing Weather on the Haunted Mansion Ride

As you go through each room, you notice the change in thestorm that will subside for just a bit once you make it to coffin room.

48. The Clock of Doom

Look closely at the creepy 13-hour clock, you maynotice fingers instead of the normal features of a clock.

49. Music to Your Ears

The sheet music on the floor of the piano room statesEt cum spirituo (This means “And with your spirt”)

Recommended: The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide

My Final Thoughts on the Disney Haunted Mansion Secrets, Story and Fandom

On my quest to find more information about this uniquefandom I learned that it is more than a simple Disney attraction.

The Haunted Mansion has captivated its followers with thebrilliant story-telling passion that Imagineers, such as Yale Gracey, KenAnderson, and Claude Coates, put into telling the fantastic fables of thegloomy inhabitants.

Despite all of the constant storyline changes and disagreements among creators, this lighthearted “Ghost Retirement Home,” has become a staple Disney attraction across the world.

I also learned that devout fans are aware of allthingsHaunted Mansion, such as the soundtrack secrets, the historybehind the early concepts, and the back story of each ghoulish creature just toname a few.

There are even fan-based websites thatfocuson a single entity of the attraction. This aspect keeps thetrue fans of thegrim grinningadventureloyal for the rest oftheir mortal lives.

Which Haunted Mansion secret was your favorite? Let usknow in the comments section below.

If you loved this article, then you’ll love these:

• Top Tips for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
• Friday the 13thDisney Villains Party
• Mento Mori Haunted Mansion Merchandise Shop
• How to Visit Magic Kingdom Alone
• The Ultimate Disney Gift Guide
• Top Gifts for runDisney Runners
• Haunted Mansion MagicBands: The Ultimate Guide

Planning a trip soon? If so, read theDisney Vacation Planning Guidefor your next dream trip!

Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!

About the Author

My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, andawriter who lovesALL thingsamusem*nt park related!

Traveling alone to the parkshas changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.

Connect with me on Instagram!

(Original Date October 31, 2013/Updated April 21, 2024)