Haunted Mansion Ghost Question

I_heart_Tigger

I_heart_Tigger

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I








Ok just kidding, I do have more to say than that. I was just going through my photos of HM and noticed that most of the time on my last two trips I've had the same ghost hitchiker riding on my Doombuggy.

Then I had a good look at him and realized that he looks like the Hatbox ghost - similar face, kind of similar build (though not quite as hunched over) and the same hat.

Sorry of this has been brought up before but I was wondering if anyone knows if this was intentional?
 
FettFan

FettFan

Well-Known Member
I_heart_Tigger said:
I








Ok just kidding, I do have more to say than that. I was just going through my photos of HM and noticed that most of the time on my last two trips I've had the same ghost hitchiker riding on my Doombuggy.

Then I had a good look at him and realized that he looks like the Hatbox ghost - similar face, kind of similar build (though not quite as hunched over) and the same hat.

Sorry of this has been brought up before but I was wondering if anyone knows if this was intentional?
Click to expand...

The tall, lanky, skeletal Hitchhiker Ghost is not the Hatbox Ghost. His name is Ezra.
His companions are Phineas the traveling salesman (Chubby, non-skeletal face, and always holding the satchel) and Gus the prison escapee (wild mountain-man hair and beard, holding his ball and chain).

The Hatbox Ghost is thus far unnamed. He's got Ezra's (and a tad bit of the Phantom's) sense of style, but has Phineas' shorter stature, and is not hunched.

Perhaps he will finally get a name if Guillermo Del Toro's Haunted Mansion movie ever happens.
 
dreamfinder

dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
Alot of the guests of the HM share molds, costume pieces, etc. So you may very well notice similar facial features on other ghosts, but pretty sure that Ezra doesn't share with the hatbox ghost.
 
Patricia Melton

Patricia Melton

Well-Known Member
To my knowledge, the Hatbox Ghost is not featured in the Mansion. He was supposed to be in the Disneyland version but never made it (aside from a few appearances during the soft opening period which someone caught on film and has on YouTube now). I think the reason he is not present, despite a great design, is that Disney could not get the special effects working correctly.

They should install him now, though, because I am sure we have the technology today to make this effect work.
 
ExtinctJenn

ExtinctJenn

Well-Known Member
Patricia Melton said:
To my knowledge, the Hatbox Ghost is not featured in the Mansion. He was supposed to be in the Disneyland version but never made it (aside from a few appearances during the soft opening period which someone caught on film and has on YouTube now). I think the reason he is not present, despite a great design, is that Disney could not get the special effects working correctly.

They should install him now, though, because I am sure we have the technology today to make this effect work.
Click to expand...
Yep he was installed and operational at the DL version for cast member previews that immediately shed light (no pun intended) on some effects issues, mainly related to lighting. Apparently a 2nd one was indeed built and ready for installation at the WDW HM but after it's failure at DL the project was scrapped (or at least on hold until they a) fix the issues and b) the movie that supposedly features him is released as mentioned above). :)
 
Patricia Melton

Patricia Melton

Well-Known Member
ExtinctJenn said:
Yep he was installed and operational at the DL version for cast member previews that immediately shed light (no pun intended) on some effects issues, mainly related to lighting. Apparently a 2nd one was indeed built and ready for installation at the WDW HM but after it's failure at DL the project was scrapped (or at least on hold until they a) fix the issues and b) the movie that supposedly features him is released as mentioned above). :)
Click to expand...

I really, really want a Haunted Mansion movie to happen that's done correctly this time.

Every time I am in the Mansion I wonder about the story about all those ghosts. Would love a really great movie to tell their stories.
 
Cmdr_Crimson

Cmdr_Crimson

Well-Known Member
dreamfinder said:
Alot of the guests of the HM share molds, costume pieces, etc. So you may very well notice similar facial features on other ghosts, but pretty sure that Ezra doesn't share with the hatbox ghost.
Click to expand...

Let's Compare...

Ezra
hm_hitch3.jpg


Hatbox Ghost
Hatbox%20Ghost%20Wallpaper.jpg


Discuss.....
 
FettFan

FettFan

Well-Known Member
Patricia Melton said:
To my knowledge, the Hatbox Ghost is not featured in the Mansion. He was supposed to be in the Disneyland version but never made it (aside from a few appearances during the soft opening period which someone caught on film and has on YouTube now). I think the reason he is not present, despite a great design, is that Disney could not get the special effects working correctly.

They should install him now, though, because I am sure we have the technology today to make this effect work.
Click to expand...

Actually....he IS featured to a degree in the Mansion. There are multiple portraits of him in the Corridor of Doors, each one wearing a different hat.

Here he is wearing a crown.
Austin_Disneyland_N10.jpg


One portrait has him with his regular top hat, and a third one features him wearing a bowler.
 
dreamfinder

dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
So apparently I stand corrected. According to Doombuggies,
(Pictured, left: One of the heads from the Haunted Mansion attraction. This particular sculpture was used both as the head of the proposed Hatbox Ghost and the head of the skeletal Hitchhiking Ghost.)
Click to expand...

However I do see differences in both the mold they show, as well as between the two images you provided. http://doombuggies.com/secrets_corridor.php also shows at least 3 other shots of an almost identical head with different hair/props.
 
FettFan

FettFan

Well-Known Member
Oh....and here is a piece of work by Illusion Industries, purportedly a HB ghost concept maquette for Del Toro's HM film.

5DesignHatBoxGhost.jpg
 
mamamouse

mamamouse

Well-Known Member
I_heart_Tigger said:
I








Ok just kidding, I do have more to say than that. I was just going through my photos of HM and noticed that most of the time on my last two trips I've had the same ghost hitchiker riding on my Doombuggy.

Then I had a good look at him and realized that he looks like the Hatbox ghost - similar face, kind of similar build (though not quite as hunched over) and the same hat.

Sorry of this has been brought up before but I was wondering if anyone knows if this was intentional?
Click to expand...
HAHAHA I just spit out my iced tea when you started it with I LOL
 
HM GhostHostess

HM GhostHostess

Well-Known Member
This is not entirely relevant but I think it is kind of interesting how Disney now officially acknowledges the names Phineas, Ezra, and Gus as the Hitchhiking Ghosts considering the fact that they originally didn't have names. The cast members working at the ride came up with the names and back stories to the characters. Usually, details that aren't created by the Imagineers are taken away by Disney. For example, the "Evil Tower U R Doomed" phrase that was spelled out by the fallen letters on the directory in the Tower of Terror's lobby was taken away in 2006. This is because the cast members created this little detail and it wasn't considered official by Disney or the Imagineers.

But, anyways, "Ezra" and the Hatbox Ghost share the same head mold. There are several other ghosts within the Haunted Mansion that share the same head molds.
 
MagicMike

MagicMike

Well-Known Member
HM GhostHostess said:
But, anyways, "Ezra" and the Hatbox Ghost share the same head mold. There are several other ghosts within the Haunted Mansion that share the same head molds.
Click to expand...

It seems to me, when compared side by side in @Cmdr_Crimson 's earlier post, the face of the original Hatbox Ghost appears to be slightly more menacing and wild-eyed. Erza, seems more happy and nonthreatening. Am I just imagining this?

If so would the reason for this variation have to do with their respective ride placement and function each ghost served?

Am I full of crap? ...Maybe.
 
HM GhostHostess

HM GhostHostess

Well-Known Member
MagicMike said:
It seems to me, when compared side by side in @Cmdr_Crimson 's earlier post, the face of the original Hatbox Ghost appears to be slightly more menacing and wild-eyed. Erza, seems more happy and nonthreatening. Am I just imagining this?

If so would the reason for this variation have to do with their respective ride placement and function each ghost served?
Click to expand...

The Hatbox Ghost's eyes are definitely different and he does seem to be a bit more menacing. Even if they use the same head molds, they can change the expression of the face or the eyes a little bit. The paint job and the lighting of the scene can also change how the figure looks as well.

This variation between Ezra and the Hatbox Ghost, in terms of their faces, would indeed have to do with their placement in the ride and their function. The Hitchhiking Ghosts are not threatening, at least compared to the other ghosts that are not found in the graveyard. The attic scene, where the Hatbox Ghost was placed, has a darker and more ominous tone. The Hatbox Ghost is also a more cryptic character, as his intentions are not entirely clear. This makes him seem more threatening than Ezra, who is obviously just trying to hitch a ride.
 
MagicMike

MagicMike

Well-Known Member
HM GhostHostess said:
The Hatbox Ghost's eyes are definitely different and he does seem to be a bit more menacing. Even if they use the same head molds, they can change the expression of the face or the eyes a little bit. The paint job and the lighting of the scene can also change how the figure looks as well.

This variation between Ezra and the Hatbox Ghost, in terms of their faces, would indeed have to do with their placement in the ride and their function. The Hitchhiking Ghosts are not threatening, at least compared to the other ghosts that are not found in the graveyard. The attic scene, where the Hatbox Ghost was placed, has a darker and more ominous tone. The Hatbox Ghost is also a more cryptic character, as his intentions are not entirely clear. This makes him seem more threatening than Ezra, who is obviously just trying to hitch a ride.
Click to expand...

Boom! Nailed it!
 

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