Haunted Mansion | Disney World

Last Updated on: March 26th, 2024

Here is everything you need to know about Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion ride including history, fun facts, photos and more. I hope you find this listing informative and helpful!

About Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion Disney World

The Haunted Mansion is a classic and iconic attraction found at several Disney theme parks around the world, including the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

The Haunted Mansion is a dark ride that takes guests on a spooky and entertaining journey through a haunted estate inhabited by a cast of ghostly characters. The attraction is known for its eerie and atmospheric setting, haunted effects, and humorous storytelling.

The adventure begins as guests enter the stately mansion, where they are greeted by a “Ghost Host” who guides them through the haunted tour. As they board their “Doom Buggy,” a unique ride vehicle, they are taken on a chilling tour through the mansion’s various rooms and scenes.

Throughout the ride, guests encounter an array of spectral apparitions, including the famous “999 happy haunts” that reside in the mansion. These playful spirits come to life through innovative special effects, optical illusions, and Audio-Animatronics technology, creating a sense of wonder and mystery.

The Haunted Mansion features a perfect blend of spooky and fun elements, making it suitable for guests of all ages. The attraction’s clever storytelling and attention to detail have made it a beloved favorite since its opening.

One of the most memorable aspects of The Haunted Mansion is its iconic theme song, “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” The catchy tune plays throughout the attraction, further adding to its immersive and eerie atmosphere.

The Haunted Mansion is a must-visit attraction for many Disney guests, and its popularity has led to various seasonal overlays and special events.

Haunted Mansion Disney World

Fun Facts

  • The ride’s exit features a small pet cemetery with a tribute to Mr Toad, which was placed there when Mr Toad’s Wild Ride shut down in 1998.
  • The ride was originally supposed to be a walk-through attraction.
  • The attraction was originally supposed to have a feature called the “Museum of the Weird.”
  • The ride has 160 buggies and travels at roughly 1.5 miles per hour.
  • There is a hidden Mickey in the ballroom scene. Look at the place settings…
  • The special effect that makes the ballroom scene seem so realistic is a trick called ‘Peppers Ghost,” which is named after scientist John Henry Pepper. The effect uses glass to reflect a room that is unseen to the viewer. Other examples of this effect are the Blue Fairy in Disneyland’s Pinocchio’s Daring Journey and the 3D hologram of Tupac Shakur at Coachella in 2012. Modern day teleprompters also use the basic premise of Peppers Ghost.
  • There was an unsuccessful live-action movie based on this ride starring Eddie Murphy released in 2003.
  • The stretching room actually does stretch as opposed to the elevator mechanism in the Disneyland version.
  • This is the most popular Disney ride for guests to try to spread the ashes of loved ones on.
  • The hitchhiking ghosts at the end of the ride actually have names. They are Ezra, Gus and Phineas.
  • The ride has a few recognizable voices in it:
    • Ghost Host: Paul Frees (no, its not Vincent Price), who played the Pillsbury Doughboy, Burgermeister Meisterburger  in the claymation Santa Claus is Comin to Town.
    • Singin Bust in Graveyard (the one that looks like Walt Disney): Thurl Ravenscroft, who was Tony the Tiger, played Fritz in the Tiki Room and sang “You’re a Mean One Mr Grinch.”
    • Madame Leota: Eleanor Audley, who was Lady Tremaine in Cinderella and Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty.

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About the Author

Craig Smith
I am founder and editor of DisneyNews.us. My passion for all things Disney goes pretty far back to my first trip to Walt Disney World in the mid-80's. I have since returned to the magical place more than 20 times. I started this site when I came to the realization that I spent a significant portion of my day reading articles about Disney and watching Disney content with my 8-year old, so it made sense that I would start sharing some of what I read and see and building a little community around it. Other interests include 80's nostalgia, vintage toys, video games, LEGO, Star Wars and tech gadgets. Other sites include DMR and VideoGamesStats.com.