Welcome, Foolish Mortals to a Haunted Mansion Quiz

The staircase room showcases stairs moving up and around in all directions. Some go to the ceiling, others into walls and some seem to stop for no reason. If you look closely, you will see footprints traveling up the stairs and if they so happen to walk by a candelabra, the flames will curiously flicker off. This room is inspired by the famous Winchester House in San Jose, California. The owner of the house, Sarah Winchester, believed that ghosts, victims of the Winchester Rifle, were haunting her and were the cause behind the misfortunes in her life. After visiting a psychic, she was told that the only way to be rid of these hauntings was to build a house that would confuse the malicious spirits. Sarah then packed up, took her life’s fortune, and moved to San Jose California where she built a mansion that required workers to work on the house 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! 

This room tells the story of Constance Hatchaway. The scene would have you believe she is a “black widow” as she is seen in a wedding dress with various portraits of her late husbands. Look closely and you’ll see a flash of how they met their untimely death.

Outside the exit of the ride is a Pet Cemetery honoring some departed ‘Faithful Friends.’ Look closely for Mr. Toad's tombstone, from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, a popular attraction, precursor to the Winnie the Pooh ride in Fantasyland.

Am I crazy or are the faces following me? In typical Disney fashion, Imagineers use an easy, yet effective ‘trick’ to give the illusion that the faces on the busts move to follow your doom buggy around the room. Its simplicity is awe inspiring. The busts are three dimensional; however, they are inverted. With the proper lighting, these faces give the illusion of turning.

Want to check out a book? The majority of the scene is nothing but a mural, that in the dim lighting of the mansion, looks like an actual library stocked with many books. To add to the eeriness of the room, real books are placed in various areas and made to look as if they are being moved around by one of the many resident ghosts. Perhaps a ghost writer? Muhahahaha! 

The manor is owned by Master Gracey, whose life came to an untimely end. Master Gracey is a nod to Imaginer Yale Gracey, who was the driving force behind the special effects of the attraction.

The names of the three hitchhiking ghosts at the end of the ride are named; Gus (ball & chain), Ezra (tall & skinny) and Phineas (top hat). While there is no official story to explain these ghostly characters, I am sure if you asked cast members, they would give some interesting answers.

You may recognize the names from answer choice Jaq (mouse), Gus (mouse), and Bruno (dog) from Cinderella; and Jasper, Horace (Cruella de Vil's goons) and Roger (Pongo's owner) from One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

The tightrope walker goes by many names! Walt Disney World Cast Members call her Mistress Lillian Gracey, Master Gracey's first wife. She is also referred to as Sarah "Sally" Slater and Daisy de la Cruz (the name used during meet and greets).

Guests travel throughout the manor on an omnimover called a “Doom Buggy”. This track system was designed and patented by Disney Imagineers, Roger Broggie and Bert Brundage, in 1968. This concept allows Imagineers to control the guest’s ride experience through line of sight (preventing guests from seeing any offstage scenes not integral to the show), lighting and sound. It allows a constant flow of guests to experience the 7 ½ minute ride, while ideally cutting down on the wait time. This ride only stops to accommodate guests with needs, in wheelchairs and of course if the ride is experiencing a malfunction.

The Dread Family has a sinister secret....they all murdered each other for Uncle Jacob's money! Under each bust is the person's name and how they died. Imagineers have given guests all the information that they need to solve the ghastly murders! Next time you are in line, see if you can solve the mystery.

 It is an effect called “Pepper’s Ghost”. During this scene the doom buggies travel upward and face down into the ballroom. There is a room directly below the track with full bodied animatronics dancing on tracks. Imagineers then reflect the image of the dancers off Plexiglas using light. What we are seeing is a mirror image through glass of the animatronics waltzing and because of this mirror image, the women ghosts are leading the men!