haunted mansion walt disney world 2023

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Haunted Mansion

A single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest and a historian to help exorcise her newly bought mansion after discovering it is inhabited by ghosts. A single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest and a historian to help exorcise her newly bought mansion after discovering it is inhabited by ghosts. A single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest and a historian to help exorcise her newly bought mansion after discovering it is inhabited by ghosts.

• Justin Simien
• Katie Dippold
• LaKeith Stanfield
• Rosario Dawson
• Owen Wilson
• 256 User reviews
• 155 Critic reviews
• 47 Metascore
• See more at IMDbPro

• Ben Matthias

• Father Kent

• Bruce Davis

• Madame Leota

• (as Chase W. Dillon)

• William Gracey

• Mariner Ghost

• Hatchet Ghost

• Eleanor Gracey

• New Year's Eve Bartender
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

The 'Haunted Mansion' Cast Dream Big

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Did you know

• Trivia Gracey Manor is modeled after the original Disneyland Haunted Mansion. Crump Manor is modeled after Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World.
• Goofs Later on in the movie, a secret seance room is discovered via blueprints and the room has a domed skylight. The same domed skylight is visible in the backyard, even more so when Ben talks to Travis in the backyard.

Gabbie : I know this place isn't as warm as I hoped. But I'm gonna light a vanilla candle, and it's gonna be a game-changer.

[see ghosts]

Gabbie : Yeah, we gone

• Crazy credits The Disney's 100th anniversary logo had several variations for that film; in the trailer, the logo was set at night, with the moon above, and is lit up in purple and blue lights. Meanwhile in the actual film, the logo is brighter than usual and is desaturated.
• Connections Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: The HARDCORE Powerpuff Girls (2020)
• Soundtracks His Soul Left Gloss on the Rose Written and Produced by Kris Bowers , Erion Brandon Williams (as Brandon Williams), Derrick James Moss (as Derrick Moss), Paul Michael Robertson (as Paul Robertson), Julian Omari Gosin (as Julian Gosin), Manuel Perkins , Corey Donovan Peyton (as Corey Peyton), Lumar Christopher Leblanc II (as Lumar LeBlanc III), and Marcus Otis Hubbard (as Marcus Hubbard) Performed by The Soul Rebels

User reviews 256

• Jul 28, 2023

Everything New on Disney+ in October

• How long is Haunted Mansion? Powered by Alexa
• July 28, 2023 (United States)
• United States
• Amazon Link
• Horror Buzz article - Haunted Mansion and Real Hauntings Beyond
• Dinh Thự Ma Ám
• New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• Walt Disney Productions
• The Walt Disney Company
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $150,000,000 (estimated)
• $67,414,235
• $24,082,475
• Jul 30, 2023
• $115,657,451

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 3 minutes
• Dolby Surround 7.1
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Atmos
• 12-Track Digital Sound

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Haunted Mansion

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A Spirited Tour

The disembodied voice of the Ghost Host is your private guide through the cadaverous realm of an eerie haunted estate, home to ghosts, ghouls and supernatural surprises. 

Glide past a casket-filled conservatory, Madame Leota’s chilling séance room and a ghostly graveyard of singing specters as you attempt to find your way out. Beware of hitchhikers—these phantom pranksters may follow you home. 

Set your sights on a sinister delight. Starting in late November 2023, the Hatbox Ghost will materialize inside the Haunted Mansion. Be on the lookout for this unhappy haunt during your visit.

Happy haunting!

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New Ghoulishly Delightful Ways to Celebrate ‘Haunted Mansion’ Film at Disney Parks 

by Cayla Ward , Manager, Synergy & Partnership Marketing

Welcome, Foolish Mortals… to the release of the new “Haunted Mansion”   film , now playing only in theaters! 

Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, “Haunted Mansion” is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters. Keep your eyes peeled for many easter eggs and nods to the Haunted Mansion attractions that made it into this film! 

There’s no better place to celebrate the release of this film than at Disney Theme Parks, and we’re materializing frightfully fun ways to experience “Haunted Mansion” for a limited time.

Hatbox Ghost Coming to Walt Disney World Resort

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. The Hatbox Ghost will appear to guests as they pass the Endless Hallway, welcoming himself inside from the swinging wake in the cemetery and grinning at the Doom Buggies as they set off deeper into the mansion. Guests will soon see temporary barriers materialize as we await his apparition.

“Haunted Mansion” Costume Display at Disneyland Resort

For a limited time, guests visiting Disneyland Park can visit the Opera House inside The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln to see a collection of concept art, props and costumes from the “Haunted Mansion,” including the ornate dress worn by Madame Leota (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) in the film.

And for guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort, stay tuned for a similar display of props and costumes coming to Walt Disney Presents Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park very soon!

“Haunted Mansion” Inspired   Treats at Disney Parks

Disneyland park.

Look alive! We’re cooking up concoctions inspired by “Haunted Mansion”   that are sure to thrill your taste buds! 

🕯️ Haunted Mansion Inspired Pre-Fixe Menu available at Café Orleans featuring the Vanilla Mousse and Seafood Boi l

🕸️ April-December Churro at the New Orleans Square Churro Cart: Strawberry-flavored sugar with fresh strawberries, purple cherry sugar, freeze-dried strawberries, and donut icing drizzle

🦇 Constance Concoction at Harbour Galley: Potato and leek soup topped with pea flower crème fraiche, herb oil, and fried leeks served in a sourdough bread bowl

🔮 Madame Leota Cereal Treat at Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen: Crisped rice cereal treat dipped in dark chocolate and decorated with M&M’S milk chocolate candies and Madame Leota chocolate piece #MoviesWithMars (also available at Walt Disney World Resort)

👻  Pickwick Ghost Punch at Royal Street Veranda and Harbour Galley‌: A Combination of fruit, citrus juices, and sherbet (Non-alcoholic)

🎩 Hatbox Ghost Sipper at select locations in New Orleans Square and Critter Country

Walt Disney World Resort

🕯️ Playful Spirits Margarita featuring Patron Silver Tequila with a Fess Parker Big Easy Red Floater and Mickey-shaped Caretakers Beignets dusted with Cookies and Cream Powdered Sugar and a ghoulish Marshmallow Crème drizzle. Both can be found inside Scat Cat’s Club at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

🕸️ Peanut Butter and Jelly Push Pop at Sleepy Hollow inside Magic Kingdom Park.

🦇Happy Haunts Shake at Columbia Harbor House inside Magic Kingdom Park: Blackberry shake topped with purple chocolate-glazed doughnut covered with black sprinkles. 

👻 Haunted Mansion Portrait Bars at The Ganachery inside Disney Springs: Chocolate Ganache Bars with edible image. Bar Flavors: pistachio, salted caramel, chipotle, passion fruit.

“Haunted Mansion” Supernatural Style 

Come and see your new favorite looks inspired by the “Haunted Mansion”   that have floated on over to  shopDisney  and select retail locations at Disney Parks. The  Hatbox Ghost Long-Sleeve T-Shirt  features the big and bold Hatbox Ghost on the front, with thrilling tie-dye stripes from top to bottom and is a perfect mix of day and night (that way, you will always be covered when the ghosts come out). The  Haunted Mansion T-Shirt for Women  shows Crump Manor lurking beneath the surface of Gracey Manor. If you look closely, that’s it, closerrr…. there is an eerie red and black tie-dye that will turn heads (upside down).

Foolish Mortals, you didn’t think we would forget about the kids, did you? Madame Leota waits and watches your fashion sense from the front of the  Haunted Mansion “Foolish Mortals” T-Shirt for Kids . For this last apparel piece, expect spectators to stare back at you when you wear the  Haunted Mansion T-shirt for Kids . 

With this warm gesture, you will be raising the spirits of those who live in The Haunted Mansion when serving this  blood red mug . The design shows a plaque with Master Gracey’s initial (G) set between pictures of Gracey Manor and Crump Manor. For even more thrills, The Haunted Mansion Collection can be found at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and on  shopDisney . And, don’t forget – beware of hitchhiking ghosts! Blend in and hopefully they won’t follow you home!

Tour de Turtles Madame Leota and Harriet Take to Sea

The Disney Conservation Fund and Disney Cruise Line are each sponsoring a turtle this year in the 16th annual  Tour de Turtles  “migration marathon,” whose names, Madame Leota and Harriet, are inspired by the live action film “Haunted Mansion.” Through the use of satellite telemetry, Sea Turtle Conservancy will track these two turtles along with others to determine how far and where sea turtles swim during their annual migration. The one to swim the furthest distance wins Tour de Turtles! The data collected during Tour de Turtles helps researchers, conservationists and governing agencies make more informed decisions about sea turtle conservation methods and policies across Florida and our support is just one way we’re bringing  Disney Planet Possible  to life.

Watch “Haunted Mansion,” Out in Theaters Now

There’s no turning back now! Check out “Haunted Mansion” now playing only in theaters and watch out for any hitchhiking ghosts that may follow you home!

Can we please have the sipper also at Disney World?

What is meant by “The Hatbox Ghost will appear to guests as they pass the Endless Hallway, welcoming himself inside from the swinging wake in the cemetery”? There are no visible ghosts until after the seance… The whole purpose of the seance scene is to go from supernatural happenings (creaking doors, floating items) to visible ghosts. It is why the ballroom scene is so spectacular – it’s the first time you see real ghosts! I hope the hatbox ghost isn’t placed in the endless hallway and doesn’t weaken those other two iconic scenes by its placement!

RE: Hatbox Ghost placement in WDW’s Haunted Mansion attraction

NO! Just NO. Please note my disdain for the recently announced placement of the Hatbox Ghost animatronic figure in the Haunted Mansion attraction at Walt Disney World. It was announced that he would be “materializing” after the Endless Hallway. This location is prior to Madame Leota summoning the ghosts to appear. Per the original Imagineering’s guidelines and the mythos of the mansion, NO GHOSTS should appear in their corporeal form until after that scene.

Because the Endless Hallway is well before we see Madame Leota it is illogical and disruptive to the narrative to have any kind of ghost (Regardless of their new found celebrity status) to appear. Do right by this attraction! The Hatbox Ghost figure needs to appear after the Seance Room never before.

Thanks, A concerned HM fan

I am not sure if this ties in with the new film, but the hatbox ghost shouldn’t appear until after Madame Leota says her incantations and the Ghost Host informs us: “The happy haunts have received your sympathetic vibrations and are beginning to materialize. They’re assembling for a swinging wake”

Would that not mean that the HG should not materialize until sometime after that point? If there is no linear story to the Mansion then it does not matter, but it seems as though there is and I honestly think if you needed to have him placed anywhere else in the attraction other than his original placement in the attic scene, then it should be in the graveyard with the other ghosts or sometime after the Hitchhiking Ghosts before you exit.

Going to the Haunted Mansion is one of my favourite moments at Disney Parks. I’m looking forward to watching the film. Well done, Disney!!

So…which Imagineer forgot that inside the Haunted Mansion the spirits do not materialize until after Mme. Leota’s séance makes them visible to mortals?

I LOVE that they’re finally getting the Hatbox Ghost in Florida – but I have a question – we are not supposed to be able to see the ghosts until Madame Leota’s incantation in the séance room. I really feel that story-wise, this location for Hattie does not make sense. I’m worried this will ruin the 54 year precedent that guests have come to expect of no ghosts until after the séance room.

I’m a bit confused by the wording here. Does this mean that the Hatbox Ghost will appear multiple times throughout the attraction?

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by Cayla Ward , Manager, Synergy & Partnership Marketing

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Disney World shares new Hatbox Ghost details as ‘Haunted Mansion’ hits theaters

Disney’s new “ Haunted Mansion ” movie arrived in theaters this week, but fans of its namesake park attraction will have to wait a little longer for an iconic character to appear at Walt Disney World.

Disney revealed at its D23 Expo last year that the Hatbox Ghost would be coming to Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion this year.

The fabled character has been captivating Disneyland guests regularly since 2015 , but his history goes back to Walt Disney’s days.

Here’s what fans should know about the Hatbox Ghost, including new details on where he’ll be located at the Florida resort.

Who is the Hatbox Ghost?

The Hatbox Ghost was the brainchild of late Disney Imagineer and Disney Legend Yale Gracey , whom Disney picked to design Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion with fellow Imagineer and Disney legend Rolly Crump .

The ghost was intended to be an opening day character whose head disappeared before guests’ eyes then reappeared in a hatbox in his hand. But there was one problem.

“The lighting conditions were different between where they had tested it and where it was installed, and that difference in lightning condition ruined the effect,” Disney Imagineer Victoria Thomas explained on the Disney+ documentary series “ Behind the Attraction .” ”You could see both faces simultaneously.”

That wouldn’t cut it for Gracey, so the Hatbox Ghost was removed after just a few days.

Decades later, he was resurrected at Disneyland by another Imagineer, Daniel Joseph , who idolized Gracey and his work.

“The Hatbox Ghost was something that I loved since I was like 10,” Joseph said on “Behind the Attraction.” He took great care to stay true to Gracey’s design while incorporating new technology.“I’d like to say he would dig it.”

Is Hatbox Ghost at Disney World?

The Hatbox Ghost will arrive in Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion later this year, though he’s already appearing on merchandise.

No debut date has been announced yet, but Disney said Friday, “Guests will soon see temporary barriers materialize as we await his apparition.”

Where will the Hatbox Ghost be?

“The Hatbox Ghost will appear to guests as they pass the Endless Hallway, welcoming himself inside from the swinging wake in the cemetery and grinning at the Doom Buggies as they set off deeper into the mansion,” Disney revealed Friday. 

'Haunted Mansion': Trailer, Release Date, Cast, and What to Expect

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The Walt Disney Company has become no stranger to adapting its original attractions into feature films. Certainly, the most well-known and successful example is the Pirates of the Caribbean series, which had a grand total of five films and created a modern pop culture icon with Captain Jack Sparrow. Since then, Disney has always been looking to make their theme park attractions into feature films, with examples including The Country Bears (2002), Tomorrowland (2015), and Jungle Cruise (2021). It's a concept that's showing no signs of stopping, with Hawkeye (2021) directors Bert & Bertie set to helm a film based on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The one ride at Walt Disney parks that should be a no-brainer to adapt though is the Haunted Mansion . With its iconic visuals and surprisingly deep lore, it should be the perfect candidate for a feature film, and Disney did try to capitalize on the popular attraction nearly two decades ago with 2003's The Haunted Mansion , starring Eddie Murphy . With a comedian like Murphy in the lead role, you could probably imagine that his take on the ride was very comedic. Now it's true that the ride has always had a very on-the-nose sense of humor, but the film adaptation lacked the creepy charm of the ride and leaned too heavily on the jokes, not to mention iconic characters like the Hat Box Ghost and the Black Widow Bride were nowhere to be found. Director Justin Simien , the filmmaker behind Dear White People (2014) and a former Disneyland cast member, looks to make his own cinematic adaption of the beloved attraction, complete with a prestigious number of creatives and an absolutely star-studded cast on board. From what was shown at their presence at 2022's D23 Expo, it's looking to be an incredibly promising adventure-horror hybrid. To get the scoop on the information that was shared at D23 behind closed doors as well as everything else we know so far, simply continue to read below. Editor's Note: This article was last updated on July 23.

Haunted Mansion

The spirits of the Haunted Mansion are set to receive your sympathetic vibrations on July 28, 2023 . The movie was originally scheduled to release on March 10, 2023, then moved to August 11, 2023, and finally brought up to its present date. Tickets for the movie are now on sale so grab yours as soon as you can!

Related: First 'Haunted Mansion' Reactions Call it "Fun," "Spooky," "Full of Easter Eggs"

At San Diego Comic-Con 2023, Collider's editor-in-chief Steve Weintraub hosted a panel entitled "Directors on Directing" that featured Haunted Mansion 's Justin Simien, appearing alongside directors Louis Leterrier ( Fast X ), Gareth Edwards ( Rogue One ). During that panel, we got the chance to bring you your first look at an exclusive clip showing LaKeith Stanfield 's character entering the iconic Stretching Room. See it in the player above and expand this section to see all the other trailers and clips released so far for Haunted Mansion.

Fans of the legendary attraction were treated to the first public look at Haunted Mansion when the spooky teaser trailer premiered on March 2nd . The footage opens up with the character of Gabbie ( Rosario Dawson ) and her young son Travis ( Chase W. Dillon ) as they enter their new home which of course is the titular Haunted Mansion. It doesn't take long for them to realize that the home is infested with restless ghouls, leading to them contacting an ambitious priest ( Owen Wilson ), a down-on-his-luck tour guide (LaKeith Stanfield), and a wise medium ( Tiffany Haddish ) to uncover the mystery behind the unsettling abode. Also seen in the trailer are some recognizable ghosts from the ride, such as the Black Widow Bride and the Hat Box Ghost ( Jared Leto ).

More recently, we got a new teaser for Haunted Mansion on June 8 that shows LaKeith Stanfield's Ben being introduced to the mansion, then moving on to scenes of various guests being spooked out by the mansion's ghostly residents.

Since tickets went on sale, Disney has released a steady stream of clips from Haunted Mansion and we also got a behind-the-scenes featurette featuring the director and cast. See it below:

A new trailer for Haunted Mansion was released on July 18, with a narration from Gabby that unfolds the spookiness of moving into the mansion. It then moves on to show us more of the cast, including a new look at the Hat-Box Ghost. Here it is:

Plot details are pretty thin and the trailer didn't do much to elaborate further on the general plot, but an official synopsis shed a bit more light on the film's story:

"A single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest, and a historian to help exorcise their newly bought mansion; after discovering it is inhabited by ghosts."

We already know that Gabbie will be played by Rosario Dawson ( Ahsoka ), LaKeith Stanfield's ( Sorry to Bother You ) Ben will be the tour guide and Owen Wilson's ( Loki ) Kent will be the priest, and we assume that Tiffany Haddish's Harriet is the psychic and Danny DeVito's unnamed professor is the historian.

As for the ghosts who are set to appear, we do know that the Hatbox Ghost will almost certainly be appearing. An infamous part of the attraction that only returned to the ride somewhat recently, Hatbox Ghost was heavily implied at the event to be played by Jared Leto ( Morbius ). We also know that the Bride will also be a part of the film, and she is a character that has quite the backstory. Most of the "happy haunts" in the Haunted Mansion are just that; happy. They might give people a good scare sometimes, but overall they're not malicious or cruel...except the Bride. Originally named Constance Hatchaway, it's heavily insinuated that she killed her husband (or husbands) and now stalks the mansion looking for her next victim. Both these infamous ghosts would be excellent choices for the main villain.

Related: The Hatbox Ghost Welcomes Foolish Mortals With SDCC Exclusive 'Haunted Mansion' Poster [Exclusive]

Initially, horror and practical effects legend and the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind The Shape of Water (2017), Guillermo Del Toro . Like many of Del Toro's projects, this one just wasn't meant to be for the accomplished writer/director, but Justin Simien is a worthy replacement. Simien has made a name for himself as one of the biggest rising stars in storytelling today, being involved with both the hugely successful 2014 Dear White People film and the critically acclaimed Netflix series of the same name. Simien is also set to have a long history with Disney, as he's also become attached to the upcoming Lando series.

Even though he's no longer directing the project, Del Toro is still credited with writing the screenplay for the film along with D. V. DeVincentis ( High Fidelity ) and Katie Dippold ( The Heat ) also co-writing. This is good news for those wishing for Del Toro's directorial vision of the film as this likely means many of his ideas will make their way into the film. Del Toro will also be involved as executive producer as well. The rest of the ghostly crew consists of composer Kris Bowers ( King Richard ), cinematographer Jeffery Waldron ( Little Fires Everywhere ), editor Phillip J. Bartell ( Bad Hair ), production designer Darren Gilford ( TRON: Legacy ), and costume designer Jeffery Kurland ( Collateral ).

We've already mentioned most of the major leading characters set to appear, including LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, and Jared Leto. Leto, who again is most likely playing the Hat Box Ghost, was one of many new casting revelations revealed at D23. The remaining cast members include Winona Ryder ( Beetlejuice ), Dan Levy ( Schitt's Creek ), Hasan Minhaj ( The Daily Show ) as a sketch artist, and finally, Jamie Lee Curtis ( Halloween Ends ), who made a grand entrance at the Studio Showcase in her very own "Doom Buggy". Curtis will be playing Madame Leota.

Screen Rant

Haunted mansion movie lands 2023 release date.

Disney's latest theme-park-attraction-turned-film, The Haunted Mansion, starring Tiffany Hadish and LaKeith Stanfield, will release in March 2023.

Disney's new Haunted Mansion movie sets a 2023 release date. Originally opening in Disneyland in 1969, the ride is one of Disney's most popular and iconic attractions as it takes guests through an elaborate home and balances genuine spooks with a playful nature to the haunts. The ride was previously adapted into a feature film starring Eddie Murphy in 2003, but it was a critical and box office disappointment and Disney has since been trying to relaunch the movie as a franchise. They've brought aboard screenwriter Kate Dippold ( Ghostbusters ) and director Justin Simien ( Dear White People ) to helm the project.

Now, Disney has set The Haunted Mansion for release on March 10, 2023. The movie has assembled an all-star cast that includes Tiffany Haddish ( Girls Trip ), LaKeith Stanfield ( Sorry to Bother You ), Rosario Dawson ( The Mandalorian ), Owen Wilson ( Marry Me ), and Danny DeVito ( It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia ) and is shaping up to be a highly anticipated film in Disney's release schedule. While no film is currently scheduled to open on the same week, Paramount Pictures'  Dungeons and Dragons is set to open the week prior on March 3, 2023, while Warner Bros.'  Wonka is set for release the following week on March 17, 2023.

Related:  Why Disney's Haunted Mansion Reboot Is Desperately Needed

The Haunted Mansion film, along with the Disney+ special Muppets Haunted Mansion , shows Disney's strong interest in using their theme park attractions to create various cross-media adaptations. 2021 saw the release of The Jungle Cruise and a sequel is currently in development. Disney is working on a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie with Margot Robbie, which will not include  Johnny Depp . Scarlett Johansson is set to produce and star in an adaptation of The Tower of Terror . Battlestar Galactica and Outlander showrunner Ronald D. Moore is also developing a Magic Kingdom universe of television series which will draw from the rich stories of Disney attractions. Disney theme parks attractions look to be another pillar of Disney's release schedule alongside Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, Disney animation, and live-action remakes.

Next:  How Disney's New Haunted Mansion Movie Can Finally Get The Park Ride Right

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Haunted Mansion (2023 film)

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This article is about the reboot. For the 2003 Disney film of a similar name, see The Haunted Mansion (2003 film) .

Haunted Mansion is a 2023 American supernatural horror comedy film based on the attraction of the same name . It is a remake of the 2003 film adaptation . It was released on July 28 , 2023.

• 4 Production
• 6 Reception
• 8.1 Promotional Images
• 8.2 Photography
• 8.3 Production and Concept
• 8.4 Screenshots
• 10 References
• 11 External links

Synopsis [ ]

Gabbie, a single mother, and her young son Travis recently purchased a New Orleans estate at auction only to discover it isn't quite as empty as they expected. Gabbie hires a grieving widower, who works as a ghost tour guide, a psychic, a priest, and a local historian to exorcise the vengeful spirit from the Haunted Mansion.

Ben Matthias is an astrophysicist who meets and marries Alyssa, a ghost tour guide, and becomes entranced with her belief in the supernatural. He builds a camera that can detect ghosts, but she dies in a car accident and in a state of grief, puts his equipment away, becoming a ghost tour guide himself. Years later, Gabbie and her son Travis move into Gracey Manor to turn it into a bed and breakfast, only to learn that it is haunted with ghosts. They further realize that when they leave, the ghosts continue to haunt them until they return to the mansion. Father Kent , a priest who is called to exorcise the house, falls victim as well and recruits a reluctant Ben into taking up the case.

Ben is initially incredulous until he returns home from visiting the mansion and is haunted by the Mariner who forces him to return. He and Kent then proceed to recruit Harriet , a psychic with legitimate powers, and historian Prof. Bruce Davis who is obsessed with the history of the mansion. Upon mentioning that he needs heart surgery, Ben and Kent opt to not bring him along and steal some of his notes on the house. Harriet is annoyed over being haunted by the ghosts, but stays as well and together the group find an old séance room. Harriet manages to contact the spirit of Gracey who leaves a message reading "Talk to Leota". Upon trying to do so, a mysterious entity forces Harriet out of the house. Bruce arrives shortly afterwards where he too gets haunted and briefly ends up in the hospital.

The group stay at the mansion where they proceed to look for the ghost of Madame Leota . Ben goes into the attic where he runs afoul of the Bride before finding an active trunk. Upon examining the contents, they find a crystal ball which house Leota who reveals that Gracey bought the mansion, but after the loss of his wife, he recruited Leota to try and speak with her spirit, every night for a full year. This resulted in Gracey believing that his wife was asking to join him from beyond the grave and took his own life. Leota, knowing that something sinister was afoot, discovered an evil entity that captured her and trapped her in her ball. Harriet attempts to do an astral projection for more answers, but ends up sending Ben out of his body who discovers Gracey as well as the true root of all the hauntings, the Hatbox Ghost .

The next morning, Bruce takes Ben to get a sketch artist to draw up the ghost before they do a facial scan to learn that the Hatbox Ghost is Alistair Crump, a rich heir who was abused in his childhood by his father after his mother's death and was later expelled from his home, disappearing after being shunned by society. Upon reaching adulthood, Crump repurchased his old home, and used lavish parties to kill his fellow socialites out of revenge for ostracizing him, before being beheaded himself by his mutinous servants. Realizing that they need to find the remnants of his head, the group learns that another manor that was Crump's actual home would have it. Crump proceeds to lock the house down and captures Gabbie, Harriet, and Bruce, while Ben, Kent, and Travis manage to escape. They find the manor, which has become a historical site, and learn that the Mariner followed them. He agrees to help them on the condition that they take him to the sea. Travis is forced to go into a hidden trapdoor within Crump Manor and finds Crump's hat.

The group make it back to the mansion where Travis is forced to wait in the car and a scared Kent reveals that he is not a real priest, but a Halloween store employee, but Ben gives him the confidence to go inside. Ben and Kent rescue Gabbie, Harriet, and Bruce, but Crump, who needs one more ghost to release himself, plans to use Travis' grief over the loss of his father to have him to come his side. Ben and Gabbie go searching for Travis, Harriet gets Leota, Kent takes on Crump's ghost army, and Bruce tries to retrieve what little of Crump's hat is intact. Ben manages to plead with Travis to let go of his father as they and Gabbie confront Crump in the graveyard. Kent manages to convince the ghosts to turn on Crump and join forces with them. Bruce delivers the hat piece to Harriet who uses Leota's incantation to Crump away to the underworld with Ben finally making peace with his dead wife.

Having successfully defeated Crump, the ghosts decide to all stay at the mansion, now in harmony with Gabbie and Travis. Harriet regains full confidence in her psychic abilities, Kent undergoes ordainment to become a real priest, Bruce maintains his newfound friendships, and Ben goes back to astrophysicist teaching and adopts a stray cat named Tater Tot, a nod to his wife's love for the snack. The group gather at the mansion for Halloween to party with the ghosts.

• LaKeith Stanfield as Ben Matthias , a man who "was once an astrophysicist engineer working on a camera that could perceive paranormal activity, but after the death of his wife, his life fell to pieces. Now he’s an unenthusiastic ghost tour guide in the French Quarter of New Orleans who no longer believes in the paranormal."
• Rosario Dawson as Gabbie , a single mother who purchases the New Orleans estate.
• Owen Wilson as Father Kent , a priest hired to help exorcise the ghosts.
• Tiffany Haddish as Harriet , a "hapless psychic who is hired to speak with the spirits at the Haunted Mansion."
• Danny DeVito as Bruce Davis , "a smug professor."
• Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota
• Chase W. Dillon as Travis , Gabbie's son.
• Jared Leto as Alistair Crump/Hatbox Ghost
• J.R. Adduci as William Gracey
• Creek Wilson as Mariner
• Ben Bladon as Hatchet Ghost
• Lindsay Lamb as Bride
• Charity Jordan as Alyssa Matthias
• Fedor Steer as Phineas
• Terence Rosemore as Gus
• Mike Benitez as Ezra
• Erika Coleman as Eleanor Gracey
• Christopher Winchester as New Year's Eve Bartender
• Jo Koy as Daytime Bartender
• Hasan Minhaj as Sketch Artist
• Daniel Levy as Vic
• Winona Ryder as Pat (uncredited)
• Chad Crumley as Dueling Ghost
• Sebastien Soudais as Dueling Ghost
• John Curran as Pickwick
• Tracey Goode as Executioner Ghost
• Bryan McClure as The Headless Knight
• Don Stallings as Venetian Ghost
• Ashley John as Lady Blue
• Rick Andosca as Caretaker Ghost
• Kamran Shaikh as Suited Man on Dynamite
• Helene Henry as Ballerina
• Jared Simon as Hatted Man in Quicksand
• Joseph Miller as Quicksand Man
• Ian Covell as Quicksand Man
• Kay Galvin as Elderly Woman with Rose
• Terence Mathews II as Travis' Dad (voice)

Additionally, the Organist , Organ Banshees , Birthday Ghost , Harriet the Opera Singer , Caretaker's Dog , Haunted Armor , The Mummy , the Alligators , The Watchful Busts , the Ballroom Dancers , the Haunted Trees , April-December , the Raven , Werecat Lady , Black Prince , and the Graveyard Specters all appear in the movie.

The Singing Busts were to appear as well, but they were deleted from the final film. [1]

Production [ ]

A Haunted Mansion reboot was announced as far back as 2010 with the intent to have Guillermo del Toro write, produce and direct the film. [2] His take would have featured the famous Hatbox Ghost in a major role and be legitimately terrifying and funny. [3] Imagineer Jason Surrell was brought on as a creative consultant. [4] However, due to numerous delays, del Toro dropped out as director, but would remain as a writer and producer. [5] Ryan Gosling had entered early negotiations to star, while D.V. DeVincentis was hired to rewrite the script. [6] Ultimately, nothing came of this version.

In August 2020 , Katie Dippold was hired to pen a new screenplay, while Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich would co-produce. [7] The following year, Justin Simien signed on as director, [8] while LaKeith Stanfield and Tiffany Haddish entered negotiations to star. [9]

In August 2021 , it was revealed that casting was underway for the roles of Master Gracey and his wife, the Mariner , the butler, the Bride (based on the Constance Hatchaway version), and a duelist . Additionally, roles for the portrait ghosts are also underway. [10]

Production is expected to begin in October 2021 under the working title Joyride . [11] Owen Wilson and Rosario Dawson joined the cast in early September. [12] [13] In mid-October, Danny DeVito joined the project. [14]

On February 25 , 2022 , The Hollywood Reporter reported that the film is set to be released on March 10 , 2023 . [15]

On September 15 , 2022, Variety reported that the film was delayed to August 11 , 2023. [16]

In 2022, composer Kris Bowers was confirmed to be scoring Haunted Mansion . [17]

Director Justin Simien confirmed that Bowers included several interpolations of the " Grim Grinning Ghosts " theme in his score, stating, "Our composer, Kris Bowers, turned those simple phrases into one of the most lush, exciting movie scores I've heard." [18]

Reception [ ]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 37% of 249 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.1/10. The website's consensus reads: " Haunted Mansion' s talented cast makes the movie a pleasant enough destination, although it's neither scary nor funny enough to wholeheartedly recommend." [19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 47 out of 100, based on 52 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [20]

• This is the first film based on an attraction that is a reboot of a film.
• This is also the first film based on an attraction to use Disney's 100th-anniversary logo.
• This film sometimes marketed as The Haunted Mansion or its foreign language equivalent in many countries.
• This film was released 20 years after the original film .
• Action figures of Marvel -owned characters (including Black Panther , Loki , and Storm ) can be seen outside the tent in which Travis sleeps in.
• This is Owen Wilson's second role in a live-action Disney film since Around the World in 80 Days in 2004 .
• This is Danny DeVito's third role in a live-action Disney film, after the 2019 live-action remake of Dumbo and 2020 's The One and Only Ivan .
• This is Jamie Lee Curtis' fourth role in a live-action Disney film after Freaky Friday and the first two Beverly Hills Chihuahua films.
• Due to the actors/writers strike , instead of actors attending the premiere, it was attended by some of the iconic Disney characters including Mickey Mouse , Minnie Mouse , Maleficent (from Sleeping Beauty ), The Evil Queen (from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ), and Cruella De Vil (from One Hundred and One Dalmatians ). Director Justin Simien still attended however. But it is currently unknown whenever the cast would attend the planned second world premiere for the film's anniversary to make up for the original premiere, which was partly affected by the ongoing actors strike.

Gallery [ ]

Promotional images [ ].

Photography [ ]

Production and Concept [ ]

Screenshots [ ]

References [ ]

• ↑ Milheim, Russ ( August 2 , 2023 ). " Haunted Mansion's Singing Busts Got Removed from 2023 Movie (Exclusive) ". The Direct .
• ↑ Radish, Christina ( July 27 , 2010 ). SDCC2010: Guillermo del Toro Interview DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK; Plus Info on THE HAUNTED MANSION, FRANKENSTEIN and HELLBOY . Collider . Archived from the original on July 28 , 2010.
• ↑ Schwartz, Terri ( July 24 , 2010). Guillermo Del Toro Dishes On 'Haunted Mansion' Remake . MTV . Archived from the original on July 27, 2010.
• ↑ Armstrong, Josh ( May 14 , 2012 ). Jason Surrell assembles The Art of Marvel's The Avengers . KnowTheArtist.com . Archived from the original on May 18 , 2012.
• ↑ Chitwood, Adam ( July 10 , 2013 ). " Guillermo del Toro Gives Updates on JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK and HAUNTED MANSION; Confirms He Won't Direct HAUNTED MANSION ". Collider .
• ↑ McNary, Dave ( April 9 , 2015 ). " Ryan Gosling to Star in Guillermo del Toro's 'Haunted Mansion' ". Variety .
• ↑ Kit, Borys ( August 28 , 2020 ). " 'Haunted Mansion' Movie in the Works With Writer Katie Dippold (Exclusive) ". The Hollywood Reporter .
• ↑ Kroll, Justin ( April 22 , 2021 ). " Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’ Pic Finds Its Director In ‘Dear White People’ Helmer Justin Simien ". Deadline .
• ↑ Tyrrell, Caitlin ( July 26 , 2021). " HAUNTED MANSION: INTEREST IN LAKEITH STANFIELD AND TIFFANY HADDISH TO STAR AND EXCITING STORY DETAILS: EXCLUSIVE ". The Illuminerdi .
• ↑ Lancaster, Jessica ( August 17 , 2021). " THESE ARE THE GHOSTS YOU’LL FIND IN DISNEY’S NEW ‘HAUNTED MANSION’ MOVIE [EXCLUSIVE] ". That Hashtag Show .
• ↑ Pillot, Dempsey ( September 1 , 2021). " Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’ Reboot Begins Filming Later This Month! ". The Disinsider .
• ↑ Kit, Borys ( September 8 , 2021). " Owen Wilson to Star in Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’ (Exclusive) ". The Hollywood Reporter .
• ↑ Hipes, Patrick ( September 9 , 2021). " Rosario Dawson Books A Room In Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’ Movie ". Deadline .
• ↑ Pillot, Dempsey ( October 18 , 2021). " Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’ Adds Danny DeVito ". The DisInsider .
• ↑ Couch, Aaron ( February 25 , 2022 ). " Disney Sets ‘Haunted Mansion’ Release Date for 2023 ". The Hollywood Reporter .
• ↑ Rubin, Rebecca ( September 15 , 2022). " Disney Removes ‘Star Wars’ Spinoff ‘Rogue Squadron’ From Release Calendar, Sets Dates for ‘Snow White,’ ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Lion King’ Sequel ". Variety .
• ↑ Greiving, Tim ( February 9 , 2022). " How 'King Richard's' Kris Bowers became one of Hollywood's most in-demand composers ". Los Angeles Times .
• ↑ Nolfi, Joey ( May 16 , 2023). " 'Haunted Mansion' director breaks down ride references in the movie ". Entertainment Weekly .
• ↑ " Haunted Mansion ". Rotten Tomatoes .
• ↑ " Haunted Mansion ". Metacritic .

External links [ ]

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Disney World’s Haunted Mansion Will Be DIFFERENT By The End of 2023

Haunted Mansion fans, there’s been a lot of exciting news you’ve been hit with recently, are you breathing okay?

We recently got a first look at the new Haunted Mansion film coming soon , and there have been some new Haunted Mansion photo filters to celebrate being Halfway to Halloween . But there’s more exciting news in case you forgot — an iconic Haunted Mansion character is coming to Disney World SOON!

Disney just shared a TikTok video of the story behind the Hatbox Ghost …so we had to remind you about a big Haunted Mansion update!

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

The video also shares a bit of the history behind the Hatbox Ghost, and how he wasn’t introduced to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion until 2015 when the technology was ready. Now, he will finally be making his way to the Disney World attraction too!

At the D23 Expo in 2022, Disney announced that the Hatbox Ghost would be coming to the east coast, but there has been no timeline other than “2023”. We’ll be sure to let you know when the ghost will begin haunting Disney World.

We’ve got whole posts dedicated to the Haunted Mansion attractions around the world AND the history behind every single Haunted Mansion ghost ! As always, stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest Disney news!

Read about the legacy of the Haunted Mansion right here!

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Who is your favorite Haunted Mansion ghost? Tell us below!

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Hatbox Ghost in Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom: New Details, Location & More!

Walt Disney World has announced new details about Hatbox Ghost coming to Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom later in 2023. This post shares where the new Audio Animatronics happy haunt will materialize, when work is slated to start, and more about the addition to the iconic attraction. ( Updated September 9, 2023 .)

You might recall that Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro originally announced that the Hatbox Ghost would be added to Magic Kingdom back at the D23 Expo in September of last year. At the time, the announcement was brief: “Foolish mortals, prepare yourselves for a new happy haunt at the Haunted Mansion. The Hatbox Ghost has heard your calls and will materialize next year.”

Since then, not much has been shared. During the “Halfway to Halloween” festivities back in April, there was a teaser on TikTok featuring a video of the Hatbox Ghost Audio Animatronics figure, but presumably the one that already exists at Disneyland. This is the first substantive update on the AA since the initial announcement.

Destination D23 Update: Imagineer Daniel Joseph indicated that Hatbox Ghost is materializing whenever and wherever he wants in Haunted Mansion, because he is not actually a ‘happy haunt.’ (This is likely an indirect attempt to address concerns about the placement of the character by diehard Haunted Mansion fans.)

Joseph also shared that you’ll see Hatbox Ghost for the first time in late November 2023 at Magic Kingdom. No specific debut date was provided.

Here’s the update from Walt Disney World: “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.”

“The Hatbox Ghost will appear to guests as they pass the Endless Hallway, welcoming himself inside from the swinging wake in the cemetery and grinning at the Doom Buggies as they set off deeper into the mansion. Guests will soon see temporary barriers materialize as we await his apparition.”

Just a couple of weeks ago, Haunted Mansion was added to the 2023 Walt Disney World Refurbishment Calendar for a closure August 7-9, 2023. This iconic attraction will be shutting its doors for what is, according to Walt Disney World, a “routine refurbishment.” The company later clarified that Hatbox Ghost would  not  be added during that refurbishment. It’s a near-certainty that the temporary barriers will appear then, though.

For reference, Hatbox Ghost was added to Disneyland as part of a 4-day closure back in May 2015. However, that was  after  a ton of prep-work was done during the annual Haunted Mansion Holiday removal closure, during which time a scrim went up and the attraction returned to normal operations for the next couple of months. None of that has happened yet in the Magic Kingdom incarnation of Haunted Mansion.

The Hatbox Ghost coming to Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom is the second version of the character, so it’s possible that not as much prep work or install time will be necessary. On the other hand, there’s been a ton of turnover in Imagineering and maintenance in the last decade, so it’s also possible the teams that worked on the first Hatbox Ghost are no longer around. It wouldn’t be the least bit surprising if this entire process is starting from scratch again.

Either way, it seems unlikely that Hatbox Ghost will debut in August 2023. The best case scenario at this point is probably staging work being done and the temporary barrier being added to the attraction during the quick August closure, and Hatbox Ghost materializing in October 2023 in time for the heart of the Halloween season. Maybe he’ll debut in September, but this announcement not containing a specific date or even timeframe beyond “later this year” does not bode well.

Frankly, we’re a bit shocked by the timeline for Hatbox Ghost at Magic Kingdom. Disney’s Haunted Mansion  movie hits theaters today (July 28, 2023) and features Jared Leto as the Hatbox Ghost. After that, the first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party  of the year is on August 11, 2023.

If you asked me earlier this year to choose two dates by which the Hatbox Ghost would be added at Magic Kingdom, those would’ve been my picks. However, as we’ve said repeatedly in reaction to Encanto  still not having a permanent park presence at Walt Disney World, this company is not actually as good at synergy as many fans believe.

Missing the start of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party season is also really something. With that, it’s not just a matter of synergy. Walt Disney World could sell more tickets to the special event, as Hatbox Ghost would create more demand for Haunted Mansion, and in turn, increase overall capacity to the event. (That’s really how it works–and precisely why they’ve added ride overlays to MNSSHP and MVMCP in recent years.)

It’s truly wild to me that something announced almost a year ago that already exists at Disneyland and will be prefabricated off-site (it’s not like Imagineers are hand-chiseling Hatbox Ghost inside Haunted Mansion!) won’t be ready for the two big, logical dates that the AA’s debut would make the most sense. We make a lot of jokes about how slowly Disney does everything…and stuff like this is precisely why.

In terms of non-timeline commentary, the other surprise is the location of Hatbox Ghost in Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World has confirmed that the Audio Animatronics figure won’t be in the same spot as at Disneyland. In the New Orleans Square version of the attraction, Hatbox Ghost appears following the end of the attic scene after the Bride.

The figure is slightly shoehorned in even there, but it makes sense and more or less works. If you didn’t know Hatbox Ghost was added in 2015, you’d probably never question the placement. Hatbox Ghost fits with the flow of the attraction and fills some dead space at Disneyland.

Walt Disney World has indicated that Hatbox Ghost will appear as guests pass the Endless Hallway. This is much earlier in the ride, where guests see a candelabra floating in a never-ending hallway (hence the name). Outside the Endless Hallway, there’s an armor suit on one side and a chair on the other; our guess is that one of those is being replaced–probably the chair–by Hatbox Ghost.

This means Hatbox Ghost will appear before Madame Leota’s Séance Circle, and the narration indicating that the “happy haunts have received your sympathetic vibrations and are beginning to materialize. They’re assembling for a swinging wake…”

The placement of Hatbox Ghost in Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom is thus bound to upset some fans. He’ll be the first ghost to appear in the attraction, and come before Madame Leota has summoned them. Prior to this point in the attraction, there’s the casket–but that’s technically a corpse and not a ghost.

Honestly, it’s been a while since I’ve dug deep into the lore of the Haunted Mansion (obligatory plug for the excellent Boundless Realm ), but I think this contradicts the story of the attraction. With that said, a lot has been modified over the years, with fan theories becoming canon, other ‘rules’ being retconned, etc.

Basically, what I’m saying is that I don’t think this is an acceptable placement for the Hatbox Ghost. And, if it is acceptable, by what standards? 1969? 2007? 2023?

For me, it comes down to a smell test more than anything else. When I think about it, the placement strikes me as slightly odd–the logical progression of Haunted Mansion seems to suggest that a ghost shouldn’t appear prior to Madame Leota’s Séance Circle. With that said, perhaps there’s a compelling story or historical reason for this, of which I am unaware.

Moreover, that’s what I’m thinking while sitting at home. I’m honestly not analytically scrutinizing or dissecting Haunted Mansion while riding it. From my perspective as a guest, the attraction is more a series of vignettes, and there are multiple points at which ominous or foreboding imagery protends of something to come.

Hatbox Ghost could pass muster as that, especially if were added in a similar spirit as the eponymous character from Phantom Manor. (But that might present its own problems, with Hatbox Ghost suddenly appearing and dominating the story.)

To be clear, none of this is to say that Haunted Mansion should be a total free-for-all, with story and history both being meaningless because the attraction is all about vibes. To the contrary, I have more reverence for Haunted Mansion than any other attraction, and believe that it is, to this day, the pinnacle of Imagineering. (Right up there with Pirates of the Caribbean.)

Consequently, every change should be done carefully and it’s all well worthy of scrutiny. Haunted Mansion is a work of art, not just mindless theme park escapism. Treating Haunted Mansion with respect and reverence is not the same as being a Dino-Rama disciple.

If you don’t care about any of this, fine; that’s your prerogative. But this type of thing does matter and isn’t simply a matter of diehard dorks taking theme parks too seriously. You’re probably a fan in the first place because someone took all this stuff so seriously when creating it.

Ultimately, what I am suggesting is that the story and history of Haunted Mansion  do  matter. The placement of Hatbox Ghost strikes me as off, but it could work. I’ve been around the block a few times with Haunted Mansion changes, and still vaguely remember the backlash followed by the “ well, actually… ” in response to the 2007 reimagining. As someone who is not an expert in Haunted Mansion lore, I’ll defer to those who are on this one.

All I can say with certainty is that Hatbox Ghost appearing that early strikes me as suboptimal placement when thinking about it now, but will probably strike me as ‘cool new foreshadowing’ while riding. I am even more certain that the installation of Hatbox Ghost is taking way too long, and the figure should’ve debuted  today. 

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Your Thoughts

What are your thoughts on Hatbox Ghost finally coming to Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World? Disappointed by the long delay between announcement and installation, or that he won’t materialize until after Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party season starts? Thoughts on the placement of the Audio Animatronics at Magic Kingdom vs. Disneyland? Any insight into whether this breaks any ‘rules’ or lore for Haunted Mansion? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Just saw movie- it was ok. The haunted mansion is one of my favorite Disney rides- hoping they add him in a way that isn’t too noticeable if that makes sense

Agree, though I’m afraid they are going to try to revamp the whole ride about this, which would be a huge mistake, and ruin the delicious balance between humor and creepy. It almost feels like someone at Disney said, “You want us to include your beloved Hatbox Ghost? Fine. Let’s see how you like him NOW.” They should have just put him up in the attic doing his disappearing head trick and left it at that.

In terms of the new movie, it’s going to bomb (sorry, just being realistic) and from a cultural impact perspective it’ll make the previous Eddie Murphy version feel downright iconic by comparison. If anyone at Disney feels there’s a synergistic benefit to reshaping the ride experience/narrative based on the 2023 film then they must truly be possessed.

Disney’s film production units have historically gone through multiple eras when the ideas and storytelling lapsed and quality suffered. We just happen to be in one of those eras now. And as Tom noted, the company can barely move a muscle to integrate elements of their rare successful new films into the parks/rides (e.g., Encanto) so investing in the duds would truly be a fool’s errand.

I guess (per Tom’s post) in this case the movie was the impetus to grant the budget for the “fan service” of bringing Hatbox Ghost to WDW, while at the same time the producers drastically overestimated the penetration of Hatbox Ghost into our cultural zeitgeist (um, Oscar winner Jared Leto?). So they had to stick it somewhere and are putting it into the most convenient spot with least downtime required vs. spending time trying to thoughtfully integrate. We get a brief burst of cross platform marketing and a shoehorned animatronic. Yay!

The Hatbox Ghost was one of the few REAL announcements they made at D23, so I think they just wanted to put him up front where he’ll be the most visible. Probably easier to get the money for it that way, too. Anyway, he doesn’t look too happy, so he’s probably not counted with the other 999…

I just saw the movie, and without giving anything away, the Hatbox Ghost in the film is distinguishable from the other ghosts for reasons relevant to the plot line. But that makes me dislike the placement even more because if that’s their reasoning, they’re turning the(decades old, much beloved) ride into an adaptation of the (while fun for Disney parks guests, not in any way a blockbuster or cult classic) film. And in a manner that is more disruptive to the vibe of the ride than adding Captain Jack to Pirates.

If you have not yet seen the new Haunted Mansion movie, you REALLY need to, as Hatbox Ghost not only appears, but figures VERY prominently. (The movie btw was much more enjoyable than the Eddie Murphy version, though perhaps not quite as fun as the Muppets Haunted Mansion. This one definitely goes for spooky rather than comic like the other two.)

We think the Hatbox Ghost should go after the bride on the balcony before falling off the roof.

I tend to agree that the hatbox ghost needs to come later, but thats prinarily because he feels like he belongs more with the other literal ghost figures as just a matter of balance and flow, rather than as a matter of “storytelling.” (Never really bought that story should be the principal value of a theme park attraction.)

Honestly, they should just redo the entire attic sequence to make it scary again with pop up heads and throw the hatbox ghost in either as the transition in or out. The redone bride scene has never worked for me.

Who thought it would be a good idea to release the Haunted Mansion film in July? Very weird timing all around, for the film, and for the release of the AA.

Not just in July, but one week after the movie ‘event’ of the last several years and two weeks after the latest Mission Impossible.

Kinda surprised they didn’t blink on the release date, honestly.

As an engineer, I think you may be underestimating the amount of work that goes into creating the robotic character that is the hatbox ghost, especially one that has to run all day, essentially forever.

Yes, Disney already has base robotic units, and they just created one in Disneyland, never-the-less this would have been a full time job for a small team.

It would be interesting to know exactly what the Imagineering teams *have* been working on given the limited state of new projects at the parks at the moment.

You’re right that I have no clue how long it would take to create this. Regardless of whether it takes 6 months or 6 years, I don’t think it’s the type of thing that should be announced a full year in advance.

I also don’t think it’s unreasonable to think they should’ve started work on this at a time sufficient to have it installed by the movie’s release date.

I sure hope that we don’t lose the chair near the endless hallway! It’s arguably the item that is most reminiscent of Rolly Crump artwork in the attraction!

I think the line goes something like “Actually we have 999 happy haunts here, but there is room for one thousand. Any volunteers?” So I am wondering, with the addition of the Hat box ghost…..

I was wondering this, too! I guess the implication is that the Hatbox ghost kicked out one of the minor background ghouls, hahah. Or one of the hitch-hiking ghosts finally got out…

The particular phrasing “welcoming himself inside from the swinging wake in the cemetery and grinning at the Doom Buggies” at first made me think they were going to install *two* Hatbox Ghosts, one by the hallway and one by the wake scene. However, upon re-reading it, it sounds as if he’ll be coming into an ‘exterior’ door near the endless hallway. There are certainly plenty to chose from (and IIRC there is a picture of him in that area as well.) I don’t like him being before the seance, though, and I like it even less if he’s coming in and giving us a preview of the swinging wake at a time in the attraction when the music is still very slow and plodding. The musical build in Haunted Mansion is one of my favorite aspects of the attraction, and I’m not seeing a way that this ghost fits in with the somber and exploratory mood that’s set right by the endless hallway. Not unless he’s a different version that looks more alive somehow…

The wording is really awkward, and it could be interpreted to mean that 2-3 Hatbox Ghosts are coming, Jack Sparrow in PotC style.

Social media posts are a bit clearer, and seem to suggest it’s only one AA–in the Endless Hallway. Personally, I think it might be kind of neat to have build up to him, with a hat in the chair and reflection in a mirror before finally seeing the figure. But I doubt that’s what’s happening.

I hope there are multiples of the HG as well. We saw the movie this weekend and loved it – way better than the Eddie Murphy version. Spookier but still with humor, more logic (to us anyway) as to why the ghosts are there, and the HG figures prominently. He makes multiple appearances in the film, so having multiple appearances at the Mansion makes sense in that respect – and in the film the ghosts are in evidence well before they are called to appear. I don’t think the average fan is going to even notice that he’s making an appearance before Madam Leota does her thing. I would just love to have the HG in more than 1 spot. We’re going in December, and I hope they’ve got him there at that time. I do agree that they lost an opportunity by not having him installed by the movie release – it could’ve boosted both park and movie attendance. I know it takes time to put the animatronics together, but it’s not like the movie was filmed in April and they got caught off guard. They started filming back in October of 2021, and pre-production would have started way before that.

Why do you have photos in this article that are not the Hatbox Ghost? They show a figure likely created solely for display purposes since there is no way its head could be made to disappear. It appears to be based on the figure in the Western Ghost Town at the end of Phantom Manor.

That’s the Hatbox Ghost that appeared in the Imagineering booth at D23 Expo prior to the AA’s return at Disneyland.

Created just for display. That was never going to be the Hatbox Ghost.

This is an extremely weird hill to die on.

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Haunted Mansion

July 28, 2023

Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Horror

Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, “Haunted Mansion” is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.

Rated: PG-13 Runtime: 2h 3min Release Date: July 28, 2023

Directed By

Produced by.

• motionpictures.org
• filmratings.com

Disney’s Haunted Mansion | Now Streaming on Disney+

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(L-R): Chase Dillon as Travis, Rosario Dawson as Gabbie, LaKeith Stanfield as Ben, Owen Wilson as Father Kent, and Tiffany Haddish as Harriet in Disney's HAUNTED MANSION. Photo by Jalen Marlowe. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

(L-R): Chase Dillon as Travis and Rosario Dawson as Gabbie in Disney's live-action HAUNTED MANSION. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

A scene from Disney's live-action HAUNTED MANSION. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

(L-R): Owen Wilson as Father Kent, Danny DeVito as Bruce, Rosario Dawson as Gabbie, and Tiffany Haddish as Harriet in Disney's live-action HAUNTED MANSION. Photo by Jalen Marlowe. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

(L-R): Rosario Dawson as Gabbie, Tiffany Haddish as Harriet, LaKeith Stanfield as Ben, and Owen Wilson as Father Kent in Disney's live-action HAUNTED MANSION. Photo Jalen Marlowe. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

(L-R): Tiffany Haddish as Harriet, Rosario Dawson as Gabbie, LaKeith Stanfield as Ben, and Danny DeVito as Bruce in Disney's live-action HAUNTED MANSION. Photo by Jalen Marlowe. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota in Disney's HAUNTED MANSION. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Disney's Best Haunted Mansion Movie Quietly Came Out 2 Years Before $150 Million Box Office Disaster

• The best Haunted Mansion movie adaptation is an under-the-radar Disney+ special which received a fresh 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
• Unlike the previous adaptations, this version balances humor and heart, unlike the other feature-length movies that struggle with an inflated budget and fail to enrich the source material.

Perhaps surprisingly, Disney's best Haunted Mansion movie came out before 2023's $150 million box office disaster. The definitive adaptation of Disney's popular theme park attraction isn’t 2003’s horror-comedy The Haunted Mansion either. In fact, the best movie version of the much-loved property had a dead-silent, straight-to-streaming launch on Disney+ just two years ago. While the recent Haunted Mansion has a disappointing 38% aggregate critical score on Rotten Tomatoes , the Eddie Murphy-led The Haunted Mansion holds an even more upsetting rating: a dismal 13%. Ultimately, neither film elevates its source material, nor do their shoehorned narratives stand out on their own merits.

However, reviews aren’t the only metric that point to these Haunted Mansion movies’ failures. Both the 2003 and 2023 big-budget adaptations of the ghoulish theme park attraction failed at the box office too. In part, that was due to both films’ unwieldy budgets: The Haunted Mansion cost $90 million to make, while the more recent box office bomb Haunted Mansion totaled a staggering $150 million. That said, a third, lesser-known Haunted Mansion adaptation stands as the franchise’s best effort. A more spirited outing, this under-the-radar Disney+ special also didn’t have the chance to be a theatrical misfire.

Muppets Haunted Mansion Is Still Better Than Disney's 2003 & 2023 Movies

With a fresh 73% on Rotten Tomatoes , Muppets Haunted Mansion is not only the best-reviewed adaptation but it's poised to become a seasonal cult classic. The movie’s success hinges on how well the source material and The Muppets brand complement each other. In Muppets Haunted Mansion , Gonzo and Pepe face their fears and spend one night in the ghost-filled titular residence. The movie takes plenty of cues and in-jokes from the popular theme park attraction: Will Arnett takes on the role of Ghost Host, while Miss Piggy appears as "Madam Pigota" - a riff on the ghostly fortune-teller who resides in the mansion's crystal ball.

That said, there are many ways Muppets Haunted Mansion is better than the Eddie Murphy movie (and the 2023 attempt). With timeless wit and charm, the Halloween special leverages the Jim Henson characters’ signature absurdist, self-referential humor to great success. It’s a strategy The Muppets’ team has employed before when adapting popular properties, ​​​​​from 1996's Muppet Treasure Island and 2005's The Muppets' Wizard of Oz . Like these other films, Muppets Haunted Mansion balances humor and heart in a way the feature-length Haunted Mansion movies struggle to do. Plus, the straight-to-streaming approach didn’t hurt: in addition to costing less, the movie probably garnered more Disney+ subscribers.

Why Disney's Haunted Mansion Movies Both Failed At The Box Office & With Critics

In short, Muppets Haunted Mansion succeeds because it works with its source material. Unlike 2003's The Haunted Mansion and 2023's Haunted Mansion , it doesn't inject too much new story into the mix. In the other adaptations, the padded narrative greatly detracts from the fun mansion lore and fails to build any intrigue on its own. It's hard to imagine a scenario in which 2023's Haunted Mansion would have ever made back its wildly inflated budget. It fails to enrich its source material or pay homage, and, like its 2003 predecessor, it suffers from being neither funny nor scary. Muppets Haunted Mansion , however, brings some much-needed life to the franchise.

Sources: Rotten Tomatoes

• attractions / Magic Kingdom / News / Refurbishment / Refurbishments / Walt Disney World

Haunted Mansion Closing Soon For Refurbishment in Disney World

by Madison Owens · July 10, 2023

Disney World vacations are tons of fun usually, but they don’t always come without the occasional rain cloud (literally and figuratively). We can’t control the weather , and we also can’t control things like ride closures in the parks.

New 100 Decor

Some ride closures are random and unpredictable , like when an outdoor ride goes down due to a thunderstorm. But, Disney also will regularly shut down an attraction in order to do some minor work .

Cast Members in front of the closed Rise of the Resistance

And, that’s what’s about to happen to one of the most iconic attractions in Disney World!

Haunted Mansion Closing

Haunted Mansion will be closed at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom from August 7th through August 9th for routine refurbishment.

Photo: Disney

This likely just means that some upkeep maintenance will be happening so the ride can continue running smoothly!

Haunted Mansion

HOWEVER! Last year, Disney announced that the Hatbox Ghost would be coming to the Haunted Mansion in Disney World sometime in 2023 .

Photo Credit: Disney

Since he has not arrived yet , this seems like a likely time that the ghost could be added to the ride. If the animatronic is ready to go, it could be as simple as Disney just needing a few days to install him into the ride and ensure he’s operating correctly.

The timing would also make sense since it’s around the same time that the Halloween season begins in the parks. Of course Disney would want the spooky spirit to be seen by everyone during this time! 

We will just have to wait and see what happens. Stay tuned for more Disney World news and updates!

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Haunted Mansion Ride Closing at Walt Disney World Just Days After Movie's Release

By Allison Schonter - July 19, 2023 12:35 pm EDT

Disney may be breathing new life into Haunted Mansion with its Justin Simien-directed 2023 remake, but it is closing the chapter on another part of the fabled story's history. The Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World 's Magic Kingdom Park is set to close next month. Thankfully, the closure is only temporary, meaning fans will be able to embark on "a grave journey through a labyrinth of haunted chambers" after a short period of time.

The famed ride will close its doors on Monday, Aug. 7, according to the ride's page on the Walt Disney World website . Thankfully, the closure will be short-lived, as it will only remain closed through Wednesday, Aug. 9, with The Haunted Mansion currently expected to resume normal operations beginning Thursday, Aug. 10. Disney says the closure is for "routine refurbishment," though the company did not share details on the refurbishment project or if it will include the installation of the Hatbox Ghost, which first made his debut in the Haunted Mansion during the ride's initial opening at Disneyland. The character was ultimately removed due to its vanishing head gimmick, which did not function very well. Disney announced at the D23 Expo back in September 2022 that the Hatbox Ghost would debut at Disney World's Haunted Mansion attraction at Magic Kingdom in 2023, though an exact date was not shared.

It’s happening! The Hatbox Ghost will materialize at the Haunted Mansion in 2023 in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort! 👻 #D23Expo pic.twitter.com/Itoz0DMC3Z — Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) September 11, 2022

Located in Magic Kingdom, with identical rides also located in the Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland amusement parks, The Haunted Mansion ride is a haunted house attraction. Riders board Omnimover vehicles called "Doom Buggies" to go on "a grave journey through a labyrinth of haunted chambers." Throughout the ride, guests "glide past a casket-filled conservatory, Madame Leota's chilling séance room and a ghostly graveyard of singing specters."

The ride's upcoming closure will come just days after the release of the new Haunted Mansion movie on July 28. A remake of 2003's The Haunted Mansion starring Eddie Murphy, the new movie stars Rosario Dawson as a single mother who buys a surprisingly affordable mansion in New Orleans. She soon learns it was cheap because the mansion is haunted. Owen Wilson plays a priest, while Tiffany Haddish stars as a psychic. Danny DeVito plays a historian and LaKeith Stanfield plays a paranormal expert. The movie is directed by Simien from a screenplay by Katie Dippold.

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