Did You Know?

When it comes to eternal resting places, can you do better than take up residence in the Haunted Mansion?

After all, while the Mansion was being built, Walt himself said "we're out collecting the ghosts, and we want to make it very attractive to them, so we're putting in wall-to-wall cobwebs, and we guarantee them creaking doors, and creaking floors." What self-respecting spook would pass up that opportunity?

Some foolish mortals try their best to join in the ghostly fun. From time to time, stories of human ashes being spread throughout the Haunted Mansion attractions make their way through the rumor mill. Not true, says Disney of the stories, though the leaked details often have an air of authenticity.

On May 15, 2009, another case of spilled human remains was reported at the Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom. According to inside sources, EMTs from Reedy Creek and specialized Disney custodians worked for two and a half hours to clean the ashes out of the attraction, where they were spread along the Doom Buggy track.

The spreading of cremated human remains is not unusual at Disney parks, despite official denials. Disneyland has had numerous cases of ashes being spread in various attractions, though most commonly the Haunted Mansion.

Some of these true-life stories give way to legends told by Haunted Mansion castmembers to each other and the public. In one such tale, the ashes surruptitiously spread were supposedly those of a young boy, who can still be seen from time to time crying at the exit of the attraction, at least according to the friends of friends who have reportedly seen him.

At any rate, Disney steadfastly refuses to "confirm" that the ashes found are human. But as sure as Disney's grim grinning ghosts will continue to come out and socialize, mortals will continue to try to gain residence in the Haunted Mansion in any way possible.