News Hatbox Ghost coming to Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion

[celluloid]

I mean, in terms of pacing I'd argue that in some ways we go from 0 to 100 when a lightning storm removes the ceiling from our heads and showcases a man who hung himself after just walking in the door.

From there, a spooky man whose head moves between his shoulders and his hatbox seems about right in WDW's location, especially since their version up until this point has more time to build with the portrait hallway, library and endless staircases before getting to endless hallway area.

I'll admit it might seem a little sudden to me if he were placed here in the Disneyland version because that is like, our first scene. WDW has some build up on the actual ride portion of the attraction going for it before this point. Remains to be seen just how much he detracts from the endless hallway, though. If your eyes go straight to him and want to stay there so you can see his full effect, it may mean paying less attention to stuff like the floating candelabra at the end of the hallway.

Your post bring up a other aspect of just how bad it actually is.
The ghost Host is woth us narrating the tour of the house at this point. He has said something about each room and prominent features.

It is odd to give such a focus as he is narrating how they find it delightfully unlivable there with hot and cold running chills.

It makes me wonder if the staging of the bat cage has anything to do with this and DL considered a.mkvje related.effect and the bat cage prop was a stand in.

 

[DavidDL]

...

It is odd to give such a focus as he is narrating how they find it delightfully unlivable there with hot and cold running chills.

If you mean that the Hatbox ghost and the Ghost host may be competing for audio focus during this moment, then you may be right. We won't know until we see/hear it, though.

 

[celluloid]

If you mean that the Hatbox ghost and the Ghost host may be competing for audio focus during this moment, then you may be right. We won't know until we see/hear it, though.

People know the attraction well enough to where if they out it where that work is going in and the narration remains, it will clash focus if they put a full figure of this nature there. The host not acknowledging this large scale apparition while describing the room when it acknowledges so many other less things I'd off brand to say the least. Just one more shoehorn jarring quality.

It is not just audio. The focus of the scene all around changes.

 

[CraftyFox]

Even if one wanted to make the argument that, "She's casting a spell." or "The crystal ball is what allows you to see her." that still means there are other avenues available to us at Guests which would allow spirits to be seen. If all Leota has to do is say something or utilize a specific object to make herself visible to riders, then certainly other major players like the Hatbox ghost have similar options available to them.

The fact that they know what these are make them different from the other 997 or so spirits who needed help.

While I know that the “Leota Rule” wasn’t some hard and fast rule they followed during the ride’s initial development and construction, it’s always been implied that Leota isn’t “just another” apparition. Just looking at design theory, she is at the center of her own room where the riders face her the entire time. This was even more apparent before she floated. After the very menacing corridor of doors and clock tableau her less dynamic scene felt very much like the “eye of the hurricane”. Even if you don’t know any backstory besides what you can see on the ride, she has all the trappings of what we stereotypically think of as a medium or fortune teller. She’s got the crystal ball, book of spells, even a Spirit Cabinet. The stereotype in the cultural consciousness is that mediums have some special link to the dead. Ergo, a deceased medium should also be able to bridge the gap between deceased and living easier than most. Some early concept art actually featured a living(?) medium performing incantations over a crystal ball but this gag was simplified to the tableau we see today.

Even ignoring all of what I’ve just stated, I think that the logic of “the crystal ball allows you to see her” does loosely fit with other ghosts we have been able to see up until this point in the mansion. The reason we can “see” ghosts this early on is primarily through paintings or the wallpaper. Possession of physical objects to appear to mortals. Leota here too is possessing a physical object to make her presence known.

 

[networkpro]

IMHO, this is a meh, just another glowing object in my oh-so-wonderful escape from the heat on a warm spring or fall day.

 

[DavidDL]

People know the attraction well enough to where if they out it where that work is going in and the narration remains, it will clash focus if they put a full figure of this nature there. The host not acknowledging this large scale apparition while describing the room when it acknowledges so many other less things I'd off brand to say the least. Just one more shoehorn jarring quality.

It is not just audio. The focus of the scene all around changes.

Debatable. The Ghost host also explains what books they keep in the library but doesn't feel the need to point out the fellow playing the piano (which maybe we can't see, but he certainly should be able to).

Really all he's talking about here is that they effectively love the living conditions of the Mansion and to pay attention to the sounds of those who reside there. The Hatbox ghost is exactly the kind of creep I'd expect to appear someplace "unlivable" with "hot and cold running chills".

But I do agree that his audio queues could clash with the narration. Maybe. But it may not feel any more extreme than the host previously saying "All our ghosts have been dying to meet you, this one can hardly contain himself", all the while the Casket Guy is shouting "Lemme outta here!"

We still don't know if they'll change anything in this regard. I'd wager they probably won't and it'll take some getting used to but it's still possible to change the start and end points for audio, if they want to. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[CraftyFox]

Your post bring up a other aspect of just how bad it actually is.
The ghost Host is woth us narrating the tour of the house at this point. He has said something about each room and prominent features.

It is odd to give such a focus as he is narrating how they find it delightfully unlivable there with hot and cold running chills.

It makes me wonder if the staging of the bat cage has anything to do with this and DL considered a.mkvje related.effect and the bat cage prop was a stand in.

There’s been an ongoing joke about there not being enough outlets in the attic for the Hatbox Ghost but that is unironically (sort of) what happened to the bat cage at the DL mansion.

 

[zipadee999]

Where all the scenic hatbox storage is, may be a great start. Effort and losing ole "connie's" projection work is probably part of the reason or someone's ego.

My secret dream all along was for them to bring Hattie to the attic with a revamped (and silent!) Constance with a beating heart who would just stand there in animatronic form with glowing eyes and an axe!

Having Constance talk removes some of her creepiness. The silence of the original bride spoke volumes!

 

[celluloid]

Debatable. The Ghost host also explains what books they keep in the library but doesn't feel the need to point out the fellow playing the piano (which maybe we can't see, but he certainly should be able to).

Really all he's talking about here is that they effectively love the living conditions of the Mansion and to pay attention to the sounds of those who reside there. The Hatbox ghost is exactly the kind of creep I'd expect to appear someplace "unlivable" with "hot and cold running chills".

But I do agree that his audio queues could clash with the narration. Maybe. But it may not feel any more extreme than the host previously saying "All our ghosts have been dying to meet you, this one can hardly contain himself", all the while the Casket Guy is shouting "Lemme outta here!"

We still don't know if they'll change anything in this regard. I'd wager they probably won't and it'll take some getting used to but it's still possible to change the start and end points for audio, if they want to. We'll just have to wait and see.

Right. Pacing. That is my point. He is not speaking much during the shadow during that focus. This will be different. He is already speaking as we pass the hallway.

You also got the coffin hand quote a bit wrong. He is never refered.to as a ghost meeting you. The narration would also goes silent as you pass to amplify that focus.

Again, if one does not care that is cool, but by design and show writing, the main idea of ghosts revealed more and more to the reveal of ballroom and.climax t graveyard is evident and consistent.

 

[DavidDL]

While I know that the “Leota Rule” wasn’t some hard and fast rule they followed during the ride’s initial development and construction, it’s always been implied that Leota isn’t “just another” apparition. Just looking at design theory, she is at the center of her own room where the riders face her the entire time. This was even more apparent before she floated. After the very menacing corridor of doors and clock tableau her less dynamic scene felt very much like the “eye of the hurricane”. Even if you don’t know any backstory besides what you can see on the ride, she has all the trappings of what we stereotypically think of as a medium or fortune teller. She’s got the crystal ball, book of spells, even a Spirit Cabinet. The stereotype in the cultural consciousness is that mediums have some special link to the dead. Ergo, a deceased medium should also be able to bridge the gap between deceased and living easier than most. Some early concept art actually featured a living(?) medium performing incantations over a crystal ball but this gag was simplified to the tableau we see today.

Even ignoring all of what I’ve just stated, I think that the logic of “the crystal ball allows you to see her” does loosely fit with other ghosts we have been able to see up until this point in the mansion. The reason we can “see” ghosts this early on is primarily through paintings or the wallpaper. Possession of physical objects to appear to mortals. Leota here too is possessing a physical object to make her presence known.

Arguably, the Hatbox ghost isn't just another apparition, either. Outside of his infamy to diehard Mansion fans, this should also be made clear to first time riders with his upcoming placement in WDW. Since he's going to be the first, fully realized ghost that they see, I think it will be made clear that he is of importance (or at least, not your average ghost), even if he doesn't have a room where he is the sole focus.

-and given that the entire gimmick of the Hatbox ghost is his hatbox, then your logic following those we've been able to see thus far having a connection to some kind of object should track.

 

[DavidDL]

Right. Pacing. That is my point. He is not speaking much during the shadow during that focus. This will be different. He is already speaking as we pass the hallway.

You also got the coffin hand quote a bit wrong. He is never refered.to as a ghost meeting you. The narration would also goes silent as you pass to amplify that focus.

Actually, I didn't. The audio in this scene (which has since been removed) used to say:

"All our ghosts have been dying to meet you! This one can hardly contain himself!"

At least, in Disneyland. You can hear it for yourself around the 5:20 mark in this video.

 

[celluloid]

Actually, I didn't. The audio in this scene (which has since been removed) used to say:

"All our ghosts have been dying to meet you! This one can hardly contain himself!"

At least, in Disneyland.

Sorry I botched my writing. I meant in the sense the quote does, you would have it a bit wrong as it does not break the current pacing of the full revealed.
Hatbox, whether one cares or not definitely does.
It clashes even further where a full materialized ghost did just meet.you.

 

[DavidDL]

Sorry I botched my writing. I meant in the sense the quote does, you would have it a bit wrong as it does not break the current pacing of the full revealed.
Hatbox, whether one cares or not definitely does.
It clashes even further where a full materialized ghost did just meet.you.

-and what I was originally saying is that you may in fact, be right. But that we don't know how Disney will address this scene from an audio standpoint with 100% certainty until we see (hear?) the final product for ourselves.

Again, you may be absolutely right and maybe it will feel super awkward and weird. But they still have the ability to change audio timing, levels, etc. during this construction so you never know. Maybe this is something they will have taken into account.

Or maybe not. I would like to wait and see before judging if it will be an issue or not.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Your post bring up a other aspect of just how bad it actually is.
The ghost Host is woth us narrating the tour of the house at this point. He has said something about each room and prominent features.

It is odd to give such a focus as he is narrating how they find it delightfully unlivable there with hot and cold running chills.

It makes me wonder if the staging of the bat cage has anything to do with this and DL considered a.mkvje related.effect and the bat cage prop was a stand in.

The Bat situation at Disneyland is unrelated to any of this.

He'll be back, but in a new spot. Either this fall or next spring, most likely.

 

[celluloid]

The Bat situation at Disneyland is unrelated to any of this.

He'll be back, but in a new spot. Either this fall or next spring, most likely.

That would be nice. It was to to see a genuine enhancement, meaning not based on synergy or photo op type deal.

 

[tl77]

If they added him 5 years ago when they did it in Cali maybe people would know who he is and gone to see that movie... how about you give the Hat Box Ghost to Tokyo instead, no one except people on these kinds of message boards cares about him, and no one wants him where they plan to put him

 

[celluloid]

-and what I was originally saying is that you may in fact, be right. But that we don't know how Disney will address this scene from an audio standpoint with 100% certainty until we see (hear?) the final product for ourselves.

Again, you may be absolutely right and maybe it will feel super awkward and weird. But they still have the ability to change audio timing, levels, etc. during this construction so you never know. Maybe this is something they will have taken into account.

Or maybe not. I would like to wait and see before judging if it will be an issue or not.

Right. That could be said about anything. All we can go by is what we know as of now. So that old wait and see thing kills discussion of a discussion board.

They have yet to keep HM audio fixed and in good shape for long in WDW. So this would be especially surprising and against the trends we are used to.

 

[celluloid]

If they added him 5 years ago when they did it in Cali maybe people would know who he is and gone to see that movie... how about you give the Hat Box Ghost to Tokyo instead, no one except people on these kinds of message boards cares about him, and no one wants him where they plan to put him

Budgeted synergy train was in motion when the movie was revealed.to.bomb as badly as it did and desperate to market something in the worlds.mlst.famous theme park that has nothing new on immediate horizon except for the retheme of the most famous log flume of all time.


At least this way Tokyo's version is likely to remain my favorite and as a bonus unscathed from the ideas that did not stick the landing.

 

[DavidDL]

I actually just went ahead and watched another ride through of WDW's mansion and forgot that the host says, "Every room has wall to wall creeps." at this moment, too.

In this new context, "creeps" could be taken quite literally and be seen as a form of addressing the Hatbox ghost, albeit indirectly. Since the scene will literally now be filled with the Hatbox ghost, candelabra ghost and possessed knight armor.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

The "Leota Rule" was also something I innately assumed to be the case as a kid without having been told. The person in the coffin I don't consider to be a "ghost", it's a physical body. Whether it's an actually dead corpse being moved around by an invisible spirit (entirely possible as we know the ghosts can still interact with physical objects even if they're not visible). Or some unfortunate person who was presumed dead but days later woke up inside a coffin. A phenomenon that has happened in real life. Or the famous Edgar Allan Poe horror story (and likely something Disney used as inspiration for Mansion) Fall of the House of Usher.

Leota herself warrants special exceptions to her own rule given the circumstances. She's a medium, which means she had the power to bridge both the living and dead worlds even while alive. Meanwhile, the crystal ball is not only a physical object that she as a ghost can manipulate, it's also a magical object that connects the real and spirit world and can project images of things that are otherwise not visible. So yeah, she can get away with "breaking her own rule" so to speak because of her own innate powers as well as the special properties of the object she uses to appear.

The butler and maid cast members I sort of assumed were still living beings who for whatever reason kept on serving the house as caretakers and were in on the joke the spirits were pulling on guests. Either that or are possessed by the spirits.