In the early 1960’s Walt Disney began developing plans for a mansion using secrets of the magic trade to create illusions of ghosts and spirits. In 1966 when Disney died, building work halted, but the attraction finally opened in 1969. There have been several sightings of ghosts over the years and many believe that real ghosts haunt the place.
One of the ghosts is thought to be that of a man who died when his plane crashed in a nearby lake. Referred to by employees as “the man with the cane”, he is often seen late at night, especially after closing.
Another spirit is the so-called Man in a tuxedo”, who is said to occasionally appear as a reflection in the mirror used by attendants to see visitors in the area where they disembark. One female employee resigned immediately after seeing the figure of a man wearing a tuxedo in the mirror when there was no one present to create a reflection. She also reported feeling a chill and a hand placed on her shoulder.
Another ghost sometimes seen is said to be a crying baby boy near the exit. According to legend his mother scattered his ashes secretly inside the Mansion when Disney officials forbade it, and it seems this isn’t what the little boy wanted.
Skeptics argue that the artificially created atmosphere of the place triggers the imagination and creates illusions that seem real. It’s also possible that Disney and his design team threw in a secrets and surprises to baffle tourists, but most people who visit the haunted mansion find the experience unusually chilling and eerie.
