Ghosts (Haunted Mansion)

"We have 999 happy haunts here but there is room for a thousand.. any volunteers?"

• Host Ghost

The Ghosts are the main antagonists of the Disney ride / attraction "Haunted Mansion" - they are a collection of horrible phantoms who inhabit the titular mansion, made famous by their theme song "Grim Grinning Ghosts".

The Ghosts enjoy terrorizing mortals, some of the more notable ghosts in the ride are the Host (whose voice guides the audience through the ride and occassionally taunts them from the shadows) and the minstrels, who project themselves onto a collection of statues in order to sing their song, which echoes across the entire mansion.

The Ghosts personalities are a fusion of mischieviousness and sinister threat, a result of a comprimise between the creators of the ride: one of which wanted a silly ride while another wanted a more traditional and frightening "ghost-ride".

The ride itself tells a gruesome tale of horror that worsens as the dark history of the mansion is told through a mixture of music, dance and (of course) frightening visions - the audience is introduced to the many Ghosts and the spirits are quick to welcome them in their own unique manner.

It is hinted at the end of the ride that the Ghosts wish to make the audience permanent members of the mansion, to join them in their happy haunt.

Also, although the audience manage to escape, the ride ends with the Ghost Host informing them that a group of Hitchhiking Ghosts have arrived and have chosen them to be their new hosts - as the ride ends the audience is shown (via a trick-mirror) a Ghost sitting next to them, waiting to follow them home.

Other Appearances

Haunted Mansion (Film)

The Hitchhiking Ghosts have a minor role in the live-action adoption of The Haunted Mansion. Phineas and Gus made speaking lines while Ezra never spoke.

House Of Mouse

Hitchhiking Ghosts - Grim Grinning Ghosts

The Ghosts (known as Hitchhiking Ghosts) appeared in a Halloween special of the cartoon series House Of Mouse where they sung a slightly updated version of their famous "Grim Grinning Ghosts" theme song.

They took great delight in causing mischief for Pete - who, in fairness, deserved most of what he got.