After decades of waiting, the Happy Haunts have materialized on the big screen in Disney’s Haunted Mansion. It wouldn’t be a movie about Master Gracey’s home without plenty of hidden and not so hidden nods and callbacks to the iconic ride. From the Hitchhiking Ghosts to the Caretaker, Constance and “it’s a small world,” here are all the Haunted Mansion easter eggs you may have missed.
Haunted Mansion Easter Eggs
Welcome Foolish Mortals. The film couldn’t have been started any other way tbh.
The story itself is set in New Orleans. At Disneyland, the original Haunted Mansion is located in New Orleans Square.
When Gabbie and Travis arrive at the mansion, the laugh from the Ghost Host can be heard as well as the organ music.
The Hatbox Ghost (played by Jared Leto) is shown for the first time briefly in the mirror. Hatbox Ghost is a staple of the Disneyland attraction but has yet to materialize at Walt Disney World. They did announce he will be coming sometime this year. Interestingly enough, he was originally removed from the ride, shortly after it opened, but was later added back in 2015.
In Travis’ room, Constance Hatchaway, the Bride, appears and disappears.
Before Gabbie and Travis run out of the house, the Suit of Armor scares them. When they leave the Hatbox Ghost says “you’ll be back,” a play on the “hurry back” from the end of the attraction.
The room they camp out in resembles the Stretching Room including the Gargoyle Scones and the Stretching Room Paintings.
In the back of the room, is the library including the Watchful Busts, that’s the official name of those heads that follow you as you leave the room.
The paintings of the dueling ghosts, The Duelists, can be seen in the Grand Hall.
Also shown is a picture of the Sea Captain. One of the original Ken Anderson scripts for the Haunted Mansion had this Captain Gore aka Bartholomew Roberts at its center and the wife he murdered was the original Bride. That was scrapped but he is still shown in the Grand Hall in the ride.
When Ben goes back to the mansion he tells Gabbie “something followed me home.” Towards the end of the ride as you pass the Hitchhiking Ghosts, the Ghost Host warns “They have selected you to fill our quota, and they’ll haunt you until you return! Now I will raise the safety bar, and a ghost will follow you home!”
Travis has several Marvel toys including:
- Black Panther
- Namor
- Storm
- Marvel Comics Monopoly
Master William Gracey is mentioned as owning the house in the past. Fans know that Master Gracey is also considered the Aging Man as well as the Ghost Host in the ride.
The newspaper shows some of the mysterious deaths that happened in the manor including the two brothers who died by pistol (The Duelists) and Constance Hatchaway.
In the seance room they attempt to summon Madam Leota. It doesn’t work but Harriet and Bruce are swept out of the house in chairs that resemble the Doom Buggies from the ride.
In the graveyard, several familiar ghosts can be seen including the Caretaker and his dog as well as the Hitchhiking Ghosts.
Floating Candelabra
Throughout the film the song Grim Grinning Ghosts can be heard in various keys.
Ben goes into the attic which of course is home to ghost Constance and all the photos of her husbands with their disappearing heads.
Leota calls out “from regions beyond” which is part of her incantation- “let there be music from regions beyond.”
Ben’s body is taken over by the Butler Ghost which resembles the Aging Man ghost. This is the portrait seen above the fireplace.
There are 999 Happy Haunts living in the mansion.
The iconic wallpaper can be seen along with the Opera Ghost from the graveyard.
The clock is ticking. The Grandfather Clock with the number 13.
Werecat Lady, one of the paintings in the portrait corridor is shown.
Always room for one more.
As they run through the mansion the hallways stretch.
The Stretching Room also beings to stretch and thanks to the Hatbox Ghost there are no windows and no doors, so there is no way out! Unless of course you take his way…
Among the ghosts running after the humans are Constance’s five headless husbands.
The Hatbox Ghost is given the name Alistair Crump.
Crump Manor resembles the Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion.
Pat is played by Winona Ryder. She is the tour guide and wife of Dan Levy’s character. She is seen here reading Mortuary Monthly.
There is a collection of gravestones underneath Crump Manor. Note: I can’t wait to be able to pause this scene and look at all the names to compare.
“When hinges creak in doorless chambers.”
Gracey leads Ben through the spirit world and the upside staircases are shown.
A joyful Grim Grinning Ghosts song can be heard as the haunts are now happy.
Ballroom dancing ghosts, ghost on the chandelier, the whole group is here.
“it’s a small world” theme is also heard.
It is Halloween, and on the front porch of the Haunted Mansion the pumpkins have been carved with the same eyes that can be seen in the wallpaper on the ride.
Haunted Mansion is now in theaters. It is rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and scary action with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes.
