New HitchHiking Ghosts Coming to WDW

[raven]

I don't have sources, I have a direct connection to the information I have. But I will be scouring my areas looking for any evidence of this in the next few days. Something like this (especially HM related) usually doesn't sneak by me.

 

[Rum Pirate]

Rum Pirate, you definitely sound confident and you know what you're talking about. Still, you can understand a bit of doubt on our behalf, as we have heard this rumor before (in some shape and form) and you are a new member, after all. But, like you said, time will tell. Interesting.

Without question, thats why Im not crying like a little girl, I state what I know as fact, and I let the chips fall where they may, believe me I have seen people get chewed up and down, Im not that guy so Ill take my lumps now, but when things come through, I only hope those will give credit, thats all

 

[Rum Pirate]

hi and welcome to the forum:wave:

what little "indecent" happened did a mammary gland pop out of a shirt or was someone unclothed?:shrug: or do you mean "incident" like the fire?

Did I type to fast, sorry, yeah Incident

 

[Rum Pirate]

Children mustn't speak lies.

Exactly my point WDItrent, Im not repeating a Bus Driver ROFL

 

[TP2000]

I remember about a year ago Al Lutz on Miceage talked about some ideas WDI was playing around with for the hitchhiking ghosts at Disneyland's Mansion. They were supposed to be digitally projected, interactive ghosts riding with you, instead of just the manequins on sticks that rotate on the turntable on the other side of the mirrors (in case you didn't know how that surprisingly simple effect worked). And Photopass would then sell you a picture of yourself interacting with your ghost at the exit.

I bet this is part of it, and it's a project that has been folded in to the much broader and bigger "Next Gen" super-secret thing at WDW.

 

[Rum Pirate]

I remember about a year ago Al Lutz on Miceage talked about some ideas WDI was playing around with for the hitchhiking ghosts at Disneyland's Mansion. They were supposed to be digitally projected, interactive ghosts riding with you, instead of just the manequins on sticks that rotate on the turntable on the other side of the mirrors (in case you didn't know how that surprisingly simple effect worked). And Photopass would then sell you a picture of yourself interacting with your ghost at the exit.

I bet this is part of it, and it's a project that has been folded in to the much broader and bigger "Next Gen" super-secret thing at WDW.

Not the final product, but that effect will be used during retrofit, My guess is that it will be updated figures with some form of Photo that you can purchase at the end of the ride, along with something that will reflect RFID identification for frequent riders

 

[danlb_2000]

I have to say this is a lot more plausible then some of the other newbie rumors that have been posted here recently.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

Fun rumor, Rum_Pirate, thanks for sharing :sohappy:

Part of the fun of these rumors is waiting to see if they come to fruition. This one would be pretty cool!

 

[kittybubbles]

I have heard a rumor about the possibility that the ghosts might be "coming home" with you. It was in a recent guest survey. I am thinking it would be some sort of a Hitch-hiking online ghost type deal. Perhaps this is where the rumor came from? Until I get some sort of source, I trust Raven. I like them the way they are.

I had a photo pass photographer tell us (about 2 years ago) that they were working on an on ride photo for the end where the ghost is riding with you, so I assume they have wanted to let you 'take something home'.

It sounds reasonable that the RFID project would bring some sort of interaction from characters on many of the rides.

 

[gerryu21220]

Perhaps they're just going to update the figures with better ones like they have in Tokyo...? They move very smoothly without the stiffness and bounce that the old AA figures have.

 

[marni1971]

Not a bad first post :wave:

Prelim work has already begun.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Not a bad first post :wave:

Prelim work has already begun.

Glad you jumped in, because Raven's doubting confused me... I've heard this rumor for awhile now... but it applied to Disneyland. Hadn't heard that we were getting the upgrade as well.

Best I've been able to figure out is that they would be RFID enhanced figures that would interact with guests in the Doombuggies.

*shrug*

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

Not a bad first post :wave:

Prelim work has already begun.

Awesome news, Martin, thanks for confirming the rumor!

 

[JimboJones123]

Not the final product, but that effect will be used during retrofit, My guess is that it will be updated figures with some form of Photo that you can purchase at the end of the ride, along with something that will reflect RFID identification for frequent riders

Sounds like a much better post ride purchase than a $32 wand that doesn't do anything. Not that we don't have two of those wands collecting dust on a shelf.

 

[Atomicmickey]

I could see this being a possibility using new technology to enhance the effect, but I could never see them losing or replacing the actual characters.

 

[PirateJeffWDW]

Here comes my reply out of nowhere, and feel free to shoot me down, but I just want to add my two cents by saying that there have been RFID transmitters in the hitchhiking ghosts scene for almost 10 years, now. And having been a cast member in the area, and seeing them in person, I know it's not just my limited memory making things up. While walking through that scene in 2003, my attention was directed to what I was told were cameras that would eventually provide that lovely Disney on-ride photo, once they got everything worked out. I'm not trying to start any rumors or even claiming it's true,I just figured I'd bring up what I was once told by someone who would know for sure, and see if anyone else "in the know" had heard it. It seems like a lot of times we all get information that we either hope will be true or pray won't be, but I could go either way with all this. HM is a favorite of mine and minor improvements are fine with me. I would never buy an on-ride photo from this attraction, but I can imagine that lots of people would.

 

[paul436]

I guess my question is "why"? Why change the Hitchiking Ghosts? The limited Haunted Mansion merchandise that is actually available usually includes some version of Ezra, Phinneas and Gus so it seems like they would be taking away one their most recognizeable marketing tools for the Mansion.

I think the fact that they ghosts have names (and people know the names) means that they are unlikely to go anywhere. And how hard could it be to change them if you wanted to. Seems like the original post isn't really a post. :shrug:

 

[Atomicmickey]

I think the fact that they ghosts have names (and people know the names) means that they are unlikely to go anywhere. And how hard could it be to change them if you wanted to. Seems like the original post isn't really a post. :shrug:

Again, I don't think the CHARACTERS will change.

Just the technology used to represent the characters.

Sorta like Mr. Lincoln getting an animatronic upgrade.

 

[paul436]

Again, I don't think the CHARACTERS will change.

Just the technology used to represent the characters.

Sorta like Mr. Lincoln getting an animatronic upgrade.

That's plausible.

 

[MickeyPeace]

Ok, here's the problem I have with this post. It went from this-

Coming soon to WDW Mansion, there will be new Hitch Hiking Ghosts, The new ghosts are part of the Next Gen project so exact description is still currently not available, however during the change over there will be no ride interruption, the are going to scrim over the current ghosts and use a temporary Video Projection while the change-over is under way. Im a big fan of the mansion and am not at all sure how I feel about this change.

to-"Details are not forthcoming, but I believe they are going to "enhance" the figures not replace them altogether. They are pretty old figures, what the really need to do is focus on Pirates, that attraction is a Hot Mess"

Clearly two different statements with a nice flourish of change the subject to Pirates at the end. Maybe you're telling the truth Rum Pirate but are very scattered? Too much rum?
And can we please retire the phrase "hot mess" for all eternity?
Thanks. :hammer: