A red lighting effect has been activated in the hearse within the graveyard scene at The Haunted Mansion attraction in Magic Kingdom. A similar effect was already in place at Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland park.
Red Light Effect
A haunting red light has been added to the carriage hearse’s interior within the graveyard scene in The Haunted Mansion. The scene features several ghosts socializing around the hearse, and until recently, was only visible via exterior lighting. A spooky red light has been added to the cabin’s interior.
Check out our video of the new look below.
The red light also makes it a little easier to see the detail within this scene.
Additional Change Coming to Haunted Mansion
In addition to this light, Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World is slated for a significant upgrade: The Hatbox Ghost.
The Hatbox Ghost was in the original Disneyland Haunted Mansion for only a few weeks before vanishing for nearly 50 years.
The legendary animatronic character created by Yale Gracey in his garage appeared originally in Haunted Mansion at Disneyland but was removed shortly after the attraction’s debut in 1969. Located in the ride’s attic scene, the figure is described as “an elderly ghost in a cloak and top hat, leaning on a cane with a wavering hand and clutching a hatbox in the other.”
The Hatbox Ghost’s effect was created using a combination of optical illusions and animatronics. The ghost’s head was actually a separate piece that was illuminated from behind, and it was positioned so that it would appear to vanish into thin air when the lights were turned off. The effect was so convincing that many guests reported feeling faint or dizzy when they first saw it.
Unfortunately, the Hatbox Ghost’s effect often malfunctioned. After only a few months of operation, the ghost was removed from the attraction and replaced with an animatronic figure.
The Hatbox Ghost’s disappearance was met with disappointment by many guests, and it quickly became a source of urban legend. Some people claimed that the ghost was haunted, while others said that it had been removed because it was too scary. The truth is that the ghost was simply removed due to technical issues.
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the Hatbox Ghost, and there have been calls for Disney to bring him back to The Haunted Mansion. In 2015, Disney announced that the Hatbox Ghost would be making a comeback at Disneyland, and he was eventually restored to his original location in the attic scene.
What do you think of the new spooky effect? Are you excited about the upcoming change for Haunted Mansion? We’d love to see your opinions in the comments below.
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