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The Ghost Host serves as the unseen narrator of the attraction heard in the Stretching Room and in the ride itself. His voice provides commentary through the ride heard via onboard speakers in the Omnimover ride vehicle. The character is voiced with a Mid-Atlantic accented voice provided by Paul Frees that has been described as "gleefully sardonic".[1] The hanging corpse seen in the Stretching Room implies that he committed suicide.
The character is given the name 'Master Gracey' in some related media such as the 2003 film and the Slave Labor Graphics comics; a name featured on a tombstone in the queue. This connection was originally popularized by fans. It is an homage to master effects designer Yale Gracey who created most of the special effects in the mansion.
In the 1969 record album The Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion, the Ghost Host was voiced by Pete Renaday, using an accent and manner of speaking inspired by English actor Boris Karloff. During Haunted Mansion Holiday, the Ghost Host is voiced by Corey Burton. In the Tokyo Disneyland Haunted Mansion, the character is voiced in Japanese by Teichiro Hori.
The character is known as the Phantom in Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris. He was originally voiced in English by Vincent Price, but was replaced by French actor Gérard Chévalier soon after the attraction opened due to French regulations that required the voice to be only in French. After the 2019 renovation, both voices were used.
Appearances in other media
The Ghost Host's famous line "Welcome, foolish mortals" was reproduced by Corey Burton in the opening titles of the 2003 film as a tribute to Paul Frees. The DVD release of the film has an interactive tour of the film's mansion as a special feature, with the late British actor Tony Jay voicing the character. For the feature, the Ghost Host gives instructions on how to proceed with the tour, and also provides more stuff and information about the mansion.
The film's Master Gracey (Nathaniel Parker), given the name Edward, is shown to be separate from the Ghost Host although he is a mix of the Ghost Host, the aging man portrait, and the original Master Gracey in the attraction. The character fell in love with Elizabeth Henshaw, the beautiful multiracial daughter of one of the manor's mixed-race servants, who in turn, also fell in love with him and wrote a promise of marriage in a letter. However, the family's butler Ramsley (Terence Stamp), seeing his actions as a disgrace to the family, murdered her with a poisoned cup of wine and gave Edward a false letter from Elizabeth that he had penned himself which led Edward to believe that Elizabeth had never loved him, causing him to hang himself from the ceiling of the mansion in his grief while Elizabeth's real letter, which was confiscated and hidden by Ramsley. After she died, her spirit remained in the mansion as an orb (or "ghost ball"). Edward still loved her, and anxiously awaited her return, which was prophesied by a gypsy woman named Madame Leota. When a flyer for Evers & Evers Real Estate was 'delivered' to the mansion by chance, Gracey became convinced that Sara Evers was the reincarnation of Elizabeth, and arranged for her to come to the mansion, with Ramsley forcing her to go along with this belief by threatening her children. After Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) reveals the truth to Edward, Ramsley is condemned to Hell for his actions and Elizabeth reunites with Edward, who gives the Evers family the deed to the house, before ascending to Heaven with the rest of the spirits.
The Ghost Host appears in Muppets Haunted Mansion portrayed by Will Arnett. This version of the character is shown to be disappeared magician called The Great MacGuffin.
Stretching Portraits
The following characters are depicted in the portraits of the Stretching Room:
Balding man: A brown mustache and beard, dressed in a black tailcoat, a white shirt, a red sash and a black bowtie. When the portrait stretches, it is revealed that he is not wearing pants (only red and white striped boxer shorts) and he is standing atop a lit keg of dynamite. In an early attraction script, which gave the names of the characters in the stretching portraits, he was an ambassador named Alexander Nitrokoff, who came to the Mansion one night "with a bang". In the comics, he was a visually impaired man named Steven who was invited to a party at Gracey Manor. Once Steven arrived at the Manor (sans pants), his glasses were flicked off by the Hatbox Ghost. Due to his poor eyesight, he wandered the house completely oblivious to the ghosts and ended up lighting a keg of dynamite with a candle. The game Epic Mickey features a similar painting of a man resembling Abraham Lincoln standing on a barrel of TNT.
Old Woman: An old woman holding a rose and smiling. When the portrait stretches, it is revealed that she is seated on top of the tombstone of her late husband, George, who is depicted as a marble bust with his head split by an ax.
Brown-haired Man: A brown-haired man arms crossed, dressed in a brown suit and wearing a brown derby hat. When the portrait stretches, it is revealed that he is sitting on the shoulders of another man, who is sitting on the shoulders of yet another man who is waist-deep in quicksand. In the comics, the three men were gamblers known as Hobbs, Big Hobbs and Skinny Hobbs.
Tightrope Walker (aliases: Lillian Gracey, Ally Gal, Sarah "Sally" Slater, Daisy De La Cruz, and Lillian O'Malley): A pretty young brunette holding a pink parasol. When the portrait stretches, it is revealed that she is balancing on a fraying tightrope above the gaping jaws of a crocodile. This ghost has had many names attributed to her. Walt Disney World's cast members call her "Lillian Gracey" and say she strung her rope across to Tom Sawyer's Island from the Mansion grounds, where she met her fate. In the comics, the girl was a witch named Daisy de la Cruz, who turned men into crocodiles. This was also her name in 2014 Haunt Your Disney Side event. More recent imagineering projects have given her the name "Sally Slater", starting from the 2011 interactive queue for the Walt Disney World version of the attraction and continuing in the 2016 Ghost Post ARG, where she is voiced by Hynden Walch in the interactive app portions. The unofficial Ghost Gallery storyline states that she was the Ghost Host's first wife, Lillian O'Malley and that the alligator was summoned by Madame Leota who was jealous of her relationship with the Host.
Appearances in other media
The Tightrope Walker appears in the 2003 film adaptation as one of the ghosts in the graveyard and is seen sitting on a tree branch with the "Old Lady's Ghost" as the camera shows the duelists.
In 2019, "Host-A-Ghost" Jars were sold that identified the tightrope walker as Sarah "Sally" Slater.
In the Haunted Mansion comics, her name was Daisy de la Cruz; in this version, she was, against all odds, actually the villain, while the alligator was the victim, as she was presented as a nefarious sorceress who'd turn her lovers into alligators.
Tightrope Walker character was impersonated by a cast members who would wander through Disneyland, talking with visitors. In those appearances, the name of "Daisy de la Cruz" was taken from her comic incarnation, even though the "witch" backstory was not referenced by the character.
The Tightrope Walker, under the Sally alias, gains a major role in the comic Frights of Fancy. This version of her is very supportive of protagonist Sydney. The Balding Man, under his Nitrokoff alias, also appears as a misfit ghost.
Muppetised versions of three of the portraits are shown in Muppets Haunted Mansion, showing Crazy Harry as the Balding Man, Janice as the Tightrope Walker and Link Hogthrob, Dr. Strangepork and Miss Poogy of the Moopets as the Brown-Haired Man and his associates.
Changing portraits
The Werecat Lady – A woman reclining on daybed changes into a gray tiger. In Muppets Haunted Mansion, this shows Annie Sue Pig changing into Gaffer the Cat.
Aging Man – A young man morphs to a decaying corpse. Fans name the portrait as "Master Gracey". In Muppets Haunted Mansion, this is a picture of the Muppet Newsman.
Edward the Black Prince – A knight and his horse change into skeletons. The 2003 film also has a similar painting but is based on Napoleon Crossing the Alps, while the same effect is applied on Napoleon Bonaparte and his horse. In Muppets Haunted Mansion, this shows Dr Phil van Neuter riding a Muppet horse.
Medusa – A young woman changes from her human form to gorgon form. In Muppets Haunted Mansion, a picture of Yolanda Rat was used to portray Medusa.
April/December - A young woman who changes from young and beautiful to an old crone.
Madame Leota
Madame Leota appears in the ride as a head encased within a crystal ball. She is the spirit of a psychic medium, conducting an otherworldly séance in an attempt to summon spirits and assist them in materializing. Her ghostly head appears on a table in the middle of her dark chamber, from which she speaks her incantations. Musical instruments and furniture levitate and make noises in response. She was played by Leota Toombs (face) and Eleanor Audley (voice). Before Toombs was chosen for the face of the medium in the crystal ball, Imagineer Harriet Burns was tested for the part. Toombs also played the Ghost Hostess who appears at the end of the attraction.
In 2001, a tombstone for Madame Leota debuted at Walt Disney World's Mansion. The epitaph reads: "Dear sweet Leota, beloved by all. In regions beyond now, but having a ball." The face on the tombstone periodically shifts and opens its eyes. In 2006, Disneyland's Madame Leota was given the ability to float above the table in mid-air, via wires. This effect, along with the spell-book, was installed into the Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion during the 2007 refurbishment. In the Servants Quarters (Walt Disney World), there is a bell for Madame Leota's Boudoir. Near the mansion in Walt Disney World, there is a newly opened shop named "Memento Mori" that has many references to Madame Leota.
In Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris, Madame Leota was played by Oona Lind. Her incantations are different from those of the attractions in California, Florida, and Tokyo, and they alternate between English and French.
Appearances in other media
Madame Leota was portrayed by Jennifer Tilly in the 2003 film. She first appears when its protagonist, Jim Evers, stumbles upon her chamber while trying to find his way out of a secret passage. Leota then tells him and his children, Michael and Megan about how the mansion was cursed and how to break it before sending them with servants, Ezra and Emma, to the graveyard to find the "clue" to break the curse, which turns out to be a key hidden in a mausoleum crypt. When the protagonists retrieve the key, Leota leads them to a trunk in the attic which contains the secret of the curse; a letter from Elizabeth, the fiancée of the mansion's master Edward Gracey, only for Ramsley to imprison Jim's children, Megan and Michael, and literally throw Jim out of the mansion. As Jim is ready to give up his attempts to break back in the mansion and rescue his family, Leota appears and provides the critical inspiration to make a final, successful try. After Gracey and Elizabeth are reunited in the afterlife, Leota becomes part of the Evers family and joins them in their vacation.
In the 2003 video game, Leota (voiced by Lisa Donahey) aids the player character, Zeke Halloway in navigating the Mansion to restore peace in the residence and free her six friends as well as other spirits from the game's villain, Atticus Thorn, who has enslaved them when his group, the Order of Shadows, took over the estate. At the game's conclusion, Zeke reveals that he had become a successful author and writer with Madame Leota's guidance. This version of Leota speaks with a Southern accent despite her Romani background (a trait evident in the entire franchise), which implies that she was born and raised in the American South.
In the comics, Leota was killed mid-trance by William Gracey, and doesn't realize that she's dead.
In the Haunted Mansion level of the Xbox 360 game Kinect Disneyland Adventures, a malevolent Madame Leota (voiced by Suzanne Blakeslee) is encountered upon entering the Mansion, in the Stretching Room.
The video game Epic Mickey has its own version of the character, named Madame Leona, who is the librarian of Lonesome Manor.
In Muppets Haunted Mansion, Miss Piggy portrays a variation of the character called Madame Pigota. The Electric Mayhem were used to portray her ghostly band. Kim Irvine, daughter of Leota Toombs and face of Leota during Haunted Mansion Holiday, makes a cameo as Pigota's personal maid.
Bride
The Bride, one of the Mansion's most enigmatic characters, haunts the Attic. Inspiration for the character can be traced back to legends including the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall. The Bride has been altered on numerous occasions over the years, appearing now at Disneyland and Walt Disney World as Constance Hatchaway—the "Black Widow Bride", using a digital projection effect. In the Phantom Manor version, the bride is Mélanie Ravenswood who appears in several parts of the manor throughout the attraction, and is firmly established as a key character in the storyline of the mansion.
Original Incarnation
The original incarnation of the Bride was a skeletal corpse with glowing eyes, clutching a candle in one hand and a bouquet in the other. The sound of her beating heart filled the attic, and it could be seen glowing red within her chest. Her groom (according to the Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion album), the Hatbox Ghost, was removed shortly after the attraction opened, as his "disappearing head" effect was unconvincing under the scene's lighting conditions. Her final incarnation was that of a fully-fleshed spirit with a sad face, with her veil either opened or closed. Several "blast-up" and "pop-up" ghosts were also featured in the attic until they were removed with the "Black Widow Bride" update. These, however, remain in the Tokyo mansion along with the original bride,
At one point a story circulated that the Bride's ring was embedded in the exterior exit path of Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion. The object was actually what remained of a crowd-control stanchion that had been cut down. It was removed during 2007's Re-Haunting. In November 2011 when the new interactive queue was added, an "official" Bride's ring was embedded in the path to honor the popular legend.
Appearances in other media
The bride does not appear in the 2003 film but she is frequently referenced through the character, Elizabeth Henshaw. Other references include the film's attic scene due to the presence of a stored wedding dress and the botched wedding ceremony scene, wherein one of the main protagonists, Sara Evers, wears the aforementioned wedding dress while the "out of tune" rendition of the Bridal March does the same while referencing the ride's attic.
The Bride also appears in the 2003 video game, but as a friendly ghost encountered in the "Maids' Room" level. Similar to the original incarnation, the character holds a candle and a bouquet but the beating heart element is eliminated.
In the comics, the bride is named Emily De Claire.
The storyline of Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris revolves around a bride named Melanie Ravenswood who is tormented by the sinister Phantom.
During the 2006 upgrades at Disneyland, the Bride was given a name, a new look, and a backstory. In the late 19th century, Constance married—and murdered—at least five wealthy men and inherited their fortunes. Her ghost utters sinister variations on classic wedding vows as a hatchet materializes in her hands. The visible beating heart from the previous versions of the Bride was not carried over to Constance, but its audio remains on the soundtrack. While much of Constance's story is left to the imagination, there are some hints in the newly decorated attic that give guests some insight into the character. A series of wedding photographs can be seen among various gifts and ceremonial trappings, and as guests pass each photo the heads of Constance's former grooms disappear while the number of pearl necklaces around Constance's neck grows. In the last photo, Constance holds a rose while posing next to her groom George Hightower. This echoes the portrait (in the stretching room) of a much older Constance holding a rose as she sits atop the tombstone of her late husband George, whose stone bust has a hatchet lodged in its head. (In an early attraction script, the widow in the stretching portrait was named Abigale Patecleaver) Though Constance's ghost manifests as a young woman, she apparently lived to see old age. It has been speculated that the Hatbox Ghost was one of Constances' murdered husbands, or possibly her accomplice in the crimes.
Constance was later installed at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion during the 2007 refurbishment, though considerable work was done on her Floridian counterpart (including utilizing different video footage and switching to a single projector instead of two at Disneyland).
The performance model of Constance is Julia Lee while she is voiced by Kat Cressida.
Appearances in other media
In the Wii game Epic Mickey, Horace Horsecollar (who runs the Detective Agency in the Wasteland) sends Mickey Mouse on a quest to find Constance's murder weapon. As Horace explains to Mickey, "Constance Hatchaway was once the Lady of Lonesome Manor. Several of her husbands... expired. There were suspicions but no evidence. Mrs. Hatchaway hid a hatchet in the house."
In the Xbox 360 game Kinect Disneyland Adventures, Constance haunts the Ballroom and serves as a boss. Her appearance is based on the pre-2006 version of the character, complete with candle and bouquet.
Constance also appears in the Frights of Fancy comic. Here, she's depicted as something of a bully towards other ghosts, especially towards newcomer Sydney.
In Muppets Haunted Mansion, Constance was portrayed by Taraji P. Henson. The ghosts of her different husbands were portrayed by Muppet characters Johnny Fiama (who is accompanied by Sal Minella), Lew Zealand, Walter, Beauregard, and a Penguin.
Mélanie Ravenswood
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2019)
Melanie Ravenswood is a prominent character featured in the Disneyland Paris attraction, Phantom Manor. She is a ghost of a bride, whose groom never materialized on their wedding day. Melanie Ravenswood was born to Henry Ravenswood and Martha Ravenswood in 1842. Her father was a Western settler who struck gold in Big Thunder Mountain and founded the Thunder Mesa Mining Company, thus creating the town of Thunder Mesa. Ravenswood became rich and built himself a grand Victorian manor high on Boot Hill overlooking Big Thunder Mountain, where Melanie was raised. At this point in her ill-fated life, Melanie has grown into a beautiful young woman. As part of the 2019 refurbishment, she had four suitors. They all died sudden and horrible deaths according to their profession, as seen in the Phantom Manor stretching room. It is suspected that the Phantom killed Melanie's late suitors.
The Phantom is the main antagonist of Phantom Manor who torments the ghost of Mélanie Ravenswood. In life, he was known as "Henry Ravenswood" and is the father of Melanie Ravenswood. The Phantom fills the role of the Ghost Host in the attraction, his voice guiding guests through most of the early parts of their tour. Though originally portrayed in English by Vincent Price, only his manic laugh is still heard in the attraction. The narration in the foyer and stretching room was provided by another actor, in French, although sounding as close to Price as possible.
In the 2019 refurb, he is explicitly Henry Ravenswood's vengeful shade, whereas the original kept his identity somewhat more ambiguous, though heavily implying he was Ravenswood. Vincent Price also returned as the voice of the Phantom, along with Bernard Alane doing the French parts.
Organist
At the attraction's ballroom is a ghostly organist dressed in formal wear with a cape and top hat. He plays "Grim Grinning Ghosts" as a macabre waltz on the ballroom's pipe organ. Tiny wisp-like spirits emerge from the organ's pipes as the organist plays. As it says in the little booklet that comes with the Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion album, it says that the figures are banshees (female spirits whose wailing warn of an impending death in the household).
In the original Disneyland version of the attraction, the organ console is the original prop of the organ used by Captain Nemo in the 1954 film, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". While the console is the same, the noticeable differences are that of the bat-shape note stand which replaced the mirror from the film and the taller set of pipes that replaces the fan-shaped pipes of Nemo's organ to better complement the ballroom's dimensions and to make a good effect on the skull-like spirits floating out of the pipes.
During the “Ghost Post” ARG, the organist was given the name “Victor Geist”, and depicted with a German accent.
Other appearances
The organist appears in The Haunted Mansion video game as one of the six friendly ghosts who are enslaved by the game's villain, Atticus Thorn. Unlike the ride, the character is depicted without a hat but retains his cloak and is shown to be short-tempered and rude, on the manner that he refers to the game's protagonist, Zeke Halloway, as "beggar" and is always upset when his playing is interrupted. However, despite some of his negative attitudes, he is also shown to be a little bit nice and appreciates Zeke's efforts to restore the Mansion and thanks him for setting him as well as his friends and the other spirits free from Thorn's control. The character gives Zeke a second weapon upgrade.
While the character does not appear in the 2003 film adoption, there is a homage to him wherein one of the supporting characters, Ezra (Wallace Shawn) is shown wearing a cape and a hat and plays an off-key rendition of Richard Wagner's Bridal Chorus during the film's botched wedding ceremony.
In Muppets Haunted Mansion, the Organist was portrayed by Rowlf the Dog.
The Hatbox Ghost was a character who originally appeared in the attic, on the opposite side of the room from the Bride. He was a cloaked figure with a grinning skeletal face, clutching a cane with a trembling hand. His head would disappear from his body and reappear from within the hat box he held in his other hand. He was removed shortly after the attraction opened at Disneyland due to the effect not working as intended. In the Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion album, he is identified as the Bride's groom ("with each beat of his bride's heart..."). The headless groom theme was re-introduced into the attic scene in 2006, as part of the "Black Widow Bride" storyline.
Guillermo del Toro has stated that his upcoming Haunted Mansion film will feature the Hatbox Ghost as a pivotal figure in the story, and that the mythology of the Mansion will be centered around the character. Del Toro analogized his version of the Hatbox Ghost to a spider sitting in the middle of a "web" of Haunted Mansions.
The look of the Hatbox Ghost may have been inspired by the Man in the Beaver Hat, played by Lon Chaney in the 1927 film, London After Midnight.
After the end of the 2014 Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay, and when the Mansion was returned to its original state, guests observed what appeared to be a temporary work walk at the end of the attic scene.[4] This created much speculation that the Hatbox Ghost would return as part of the park’s 60th anniversary. On April 10, 2015, it was officially confirmed that the Hatbox Ghost would return to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion in May 2015. The first day of the character's return was May 9, 2015.[5]
In Muppets Haunted Mansion, Fozzie Bear portrays a variation of the Hatbox Ghost named Gauzey the Hatbox Bear.
The Groundskeeper
The groundskeeper (also known as "The Caretaker") is a man who tends to the Mansion's upkeep but is stopped in his tracks when he effectively joins the guests' tour in witnessing the ghosts' materializing at night. He is seen standing just outside the graveyard gates, next to a lamppost, raising a lantern in his shaking hand, and is visibly terrified. A shaking hound dog accompanies him, presumably his pet. In his other hand he holds a shovel, which either aids in his groundskeeping or could suggest alternatively he is a grave-robber caught in the act by the ghosts.
It is often pointed out that he is the only 'living' audio-animatronic seen throughout the entire ride.
The groundskeeper features prominently in D. W. Frydendall's comic book series based on the ride, and is identified as Horace Fusslebottom.
Appearances in other media
The groundskeeper and his dog appear in the 2003 film adaptation as ghostly versions of themselves in the graveyard scene. The dog's breed is identified as a Labrador Retriever and is shown to be healthy in shape unlike the ride where it appears as a skinny unknown breed. An original script had the Groundskeeper as a supporting character played by Don Knotts, who later dropped out before shooting began.
In the video game, the groundskeeper also makes an appearance as a ghost but his dog is omitted. The character is seen in the Winter Garden as a disgruntled ghost who complains about the absence of someone who is to pay him for his work. He only appears when the level is completed. It is also noted however that the player character and primary main protagonist, Zeke Halloway, was partially inspired by the groundskeeper.
A quintet of marble busts sing Grim Grinning Ghosts amidst the revelry in the graveyard. Their names are (from left to right): Rollo Rumkin, Uncle Theodore, Cousin Algernon, Ned Nub, and Phineas P. Pock. The original concept art for talking or singing busts by Marc Davis included a female, Aunt Lucretia. The busts can also be seen in Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris, minus Cousin Algernon.
Rollo Rumkin: "Lived and died a friendly bumpkin", according to his tombstone (spelled Rolo on the stone), which was originally located in the family plot outside of the Disneyland Haunted Mansion. His name is a tribute to Imagineer Rolly Crump. He was played by Verne Rowe. In 2011 at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion, an epitaphless tombstone with the name Rollo Rumkin debuted on the hillside adjacent to the queue.
Uncle Theodore: The lead singing bust, whose head is broken off, was played by the deep-voiced Thurl Ravenscroft (known for singing You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch and providing the voice of Tony the Tiger). He is often incorrectly identified as Walt Disney. Ravenscroft also narrated the 1969 record The Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion. In the comics, Uncle Theodore narrates Doom of the Diva, the tale of Baronessa Elda. In the 2003 film (like in the attraction), Thurl Ravenscroft's likeness was used for one of the singing busts. In 2011 at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion, an epitaphless tombstone that reads "In memory of Uncle Theodore" debuted on the hillside adjacent to the queue. In Phantom Manor, his head has not broken off of the bust, but it is leaning over to the side a little, mimicking the broken head in the American mansions and in Tokyo.
Cousin Algernon: Distinguishable from the other busts by his derby hat. He was played by Chuck Schroeder. In 2011 at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion, an epitaphless tombstone with the name Cousin Algernon debuted on the hillside adjacent to the queue.
Ned Nub: The only bust without a necktie. He was played by Jay Meyer. In 2011 at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion, an epitaphless tombstone with the name Ned Nub debuted on the hillside adjacent to the queue.
Phineas P. Pock: Relative of the poet Prudence Pock. He was played by Bob Ebright. The name Phineas Pock has appeared elsewhere in Haunted Mansion lore. A tombstone with the name Phineas Pock was featured in the original family plot at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, but it may not have been the same character as the singing bust. In 2011 at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion, an epitaphless tombstone with the name Phineas Pock debuted on the hillside adjacent to the queue.
The Disney animated film Hercules features an homage during the song I Won't Say (I'm in Love), in which the Muses appear as singing busts and are arranged in the same way as the original characters from the Disneyland attraction.
The Hitchhiking Ghosts are a trio of ghosts who appear near the ride's conclusion. The trio are said to be the franchise's and attraction's de facto mascots due to their multiple appearances in many merchandise and are also known as the "funny ghosts". They are a tongue-in-cheek send-up of urban legends involving phantom hitchhikers.
Near the end of the ride, the trio are encountered standing together inside a crypt, with thumbs extended. They hitch a ride with guests traveling in Doom Buggies and appear alongside them in mirrors. "They have selected you to fill our quota, and they'll haunt you until you return", says the Ghost Host.
In 2011 at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion, the mirror scene was updated with digital effects that enable the ghosts to interact with the guests. The vocals for Walt Disney World's computer-generated ghosts were provided by actor Kurt von Schmittou.
The Prisoner is a short, hairy little ghost with a ball and chain shackled to his ankle.
The Skeleton is a tall, dapper, grinning ghost. When the attraction first opened at Disneyland, he was completely bald, but has since had hair of varying lengths. Although the Skeleton figure has the same face mold as the Hatbox Ghost, they are not meant to be the same character. In Marc Davis' original concept art, the character was a stereotypical "sheet ghost" with no clothes, save for the bowler hat he lifted above his head. By the time the attraction opened, the character had evolved into the fully clothed skeletal ghost seen in the Mansion today.
The Hitchhiking Ghosts are often referred to as "Gus" (Prisoner), "Ezra" (Skeleton), and "Phineas" (Traveler). These names are thought to have originated from and popularised by Cast Members who worked at the Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion, and further spread by fans. Since then, the names have appeared on merchandise for the characters and in various media licensed by Disney. When the subject was brought up in a 2006 interview, Imagineer Jason Surrell said, "Their names are not Ezra, Phineas, and Gus. I don't know where it came from. I know at one point, Cast Members contributed to this website that names all the ghosts and gives them backstories. None of those have any basis in Imagineering story, or anything like that. But somehow Ezra, Phineas, and Gus in particular managed to stick, so in the book about the only thing I could do is acknowledge that and say it's not official, but acknowledge it at the same time." When the interactive queue was installed outside of the Walt Disney World attraction in 2011, tombstones with the names Gus and Ezra were added. Also added was a tombstone for Phineas Pock, though this is a reference to the singing bust character, and not the Traveler hitchhiking ghost.
Appearances in other media
The Hitchhiking Ghosts make a brief appearance in the 2003 film, passed by the hearse carrying the Evers family through the graveyard, striking their signature pose. As Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) is startled by their appearance, the Traveler (played by Clay Martinez) and Prisoner (played by Deep Roy) argue how the Evers see them, thinking they are invisible until the Prisoner accuses Jim as a liar and psychic as the Skeleton (played by Jeremy Howard) observes silently. Early script drafts for the movie have revealed that the three ghosts were going to play larger comic relief supporting roles, similar to the servant characters Emma and Ezra. Unlike their ride counterparts, the trio were the mansion's former servants; the Traveller was the mansion's head chef (complete with French accent), the Skeleton was the coachman, and the Prisoner was the assistant groundskeeper.
The Hitchhiking Ghosts made cameo appearances in multiple episodes of Disney's House of Mouse. Most noticeably in the episode "House Ghosts", they are released from a crate by Pete and scare the daylights out of him while singing Grim Grinning Ghosts. They also appear in Mickey's House of Villains where they are freed from a crate by Cruella De Vil and join the villains as they take over the House of Mouse.
In 2016, the Disneyland Haunted Mansion "Ghost Post" in-park scavenger hunt includes the Phantom Radio iOS app with Disney voice veterans Peter Renaday as Ezra, Dee Bradley Baker as Gus and Stephen Stanton as Phineas.
In Muppets Haunted Mansion the hitchhikers appear in Gonzo and Pepe's limo at the end of the special. They are based on the ride's CGI animations of them, rather than Muppet versions.
Little Leota
Also known as the 'Ghost Hostess', this miniature "lady in white" type ghost beckons guests to hurry back at the end of the attraction: "...be sure to bring your death certificate" says the Little Leota. She was played (face and voice) by Leota Toombs. The character is said to have been inspired by the "arrangement hostesses" from the 1965 film The Loved One. The character was conceived as being separate to the character of Madame Leota, however due to being played by the same woman, both characters are sometimes combined in related media.
The Dread Family
The Dread Family is a family of six (five busts, with the twins on one bust together) that killed each other out of greed for their family fortune. Their busts are seen while waiting in line and are a part of the interactive queue of the Florida mansion as a murder mystery for the guests to solve. The members of the Dread family are:
Uncle Jacob Dread
Bertie Dread
Aunt Florence McGuffin Dread
Wellington and Forsythia Dread, also known as "The Twins"
Cousin Maude Sweeny
Each bust includes a cryptogram and a small image to help the guest figure out who killed whom. The cryptograms are as follows:
Uncle Jacob - "Greed was the poison he had swallowed. He went first, the others followed. His killer's face he surely knew; now try to discover who killed who."
Uncle Jacob met his demise when he was poisoned by Bertie with the venom from his (Bertie's) pet snake.
Bertie - "Avid hunter and expert shot, in the end that's what he got."
Bertie was killed with a pistol by Aunt Florence as revenge for killing Jacob.
Aunt Florence - "Never did a dishonorable deed, yet found face down in canary seed."
Unfortunately, when Florence shot Bertie, there was a rogue accident, and the Twins' pet canary was shot as well. Out of revenge, the twins killed Florence by suffocating her with a bag of canary seed.
Wellington and Forsythia - "Departed life while in their beds, with identical bumps on identical heads."
The twins were killed by Cousin Maude when she thumped their heads with a mallet.
Cousin Maude - "Our sleeping beauty, who never awoke, the night her dreams went up in smoke."
As the sole survivor of the Dread family, Maude became the heir to Uncle Jacob's fortune. Unfortunately, Maude had put matches in her bun. When she fell asleep, the friction with her pillow caused a fire; ending the story of the murderous Dread Family.
On the subject of the conceiving the Dread Family, Pete Carsillo of Walt Disney Imagineering said: "I was proposing a lot of new ghosts, (lion tamers, cowboys, robbers, barons), but I had to construct a story for myself to make the cemetery - particularly an interactive one-make sense. If there are 999 ghosts-as divergent as kings, mummies, minstrels, and even Caesar's ghost-there had to be a larger backstory to explain how the eclectic collection of spirits came to be in one place... beyond Marty Sklar's famous sign from back in 1963... In play testing, we called them the Dread family, although in the final show, they are not called out by the name Dread. Online they are still referred to as the Dread family, and I don't mind that. It kicks the door open for families other than Gracey to live in the Mansion and creates a lot more possibilities" The Dread family are the first new characters that guests encounter in the interactive queue of the Florida Mansion.
When they were introduced in 2011 as part of the new interactive queue, along with two other family members, Whitifield Tarkington and Ruben, that were cut in the final draft. The family also followed a different backstory, as Jacob died of natural causes, the death order was almost parodoxile and they were on a big stone slab showing most of their full body images. It is unknown Jacob’s cause for death and who killed who first and last, but Ruben killed Forsythia in a fire if you overlook his axe and see the candle, Ruben was killed by Florence with a poisoned dessert that she is seen holding, Florence was killed by Whitifield as he is seen mixing something while holding a syringe, Whitifield was killed by Wellington who is seen holding a slingshot, Wellington was killed by Maude who is seen wrapping something around his neck, Maude was killed by Bertie who is seen with his snake, and Bertie was killed by Forsythia who is seen holding a tea-filled cup and a small bottle. Jacob would be seen separate and has the guests find his fortune he hid, along with the other family members have voice actors and whisper clues to the guests, locating the fortune to be in an urn on the front lawn.
In Muppets Haunted Mansion, Cousin Maude was integrated into the Family Plot and was played by Jeannie Mai.
The Family Plot
The Family Plot consists of the graves of various former residents of the mansion, most of the epitaphs on their tombstones giving indications of how they each met their ends.
Known examples include:
"Good Old Fred": A man who died when "a great big rock fell on his head". In Muppets Haunted Mansion, he was played by Alfonso Ribeiro and depicted as a cowboy, possibly in reference to Phantom Manor.
Brother Claude: A man who had a seemingly uneventful life and lies at peaceful rest "planted here beneath this sod". In Muppets Haunted Mansion, he was played by Ed Asner.
Harriet: An opera singer who "searched for a tune but never could carry it". In Muppets Haunted Mansion, she was played by Chrissy Metz.
Cousin Huet: A man who was wrongfully convicted of a crime he didn't commit, his epitaph saying "We all know you didn't do it." In Muppets Haunted Mansion, he was played by Danny Trejo.
Mary: Exclusive to Muppets Haunted Mansion and played by Sasheer Zamata, she was a mystery writer who inadvertently poisoned herself with her own quill ink; the groundskeeper states that she "wrote mysteries with masterful quill, not knowing the ink of words could kill."
Sydney Campbell
Sydney Campbell is the protagonist of the Frights of Fancy comic, and is the latest ghost to arrive at the Haunted Mansion.
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Surrell, Jason. “A Tour of the Ghostly Retreat.” The Haunted Mansion - Imagineering a Disney Classic, Disney Editions, 2015, pp.66–67. ISBN1484722299
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