Credit: DisneyWelcome, Foolish Mortals to the Haunted Mansion. I am your host, your Ghost Host.
Haunted Mansion is a classic Disney Parks attraction that features several spooky elements, including hitchhiking ghosts, the iconic stretching room, doom buggies, and more. But one of the most memorable aspects of the ride is the Ghost Host.
Related: Why You Want to Be the Last Out of Haunted Mansion’s Stretching Room
Throughout your tour of the Mansion, the Ghost Host tells you all the spooktacular details, giving you hot and cold running chills as you ride your Doom Buggy bypassing the 999 Happy Haunts. Because the Ghost Host is, well, a ghost, Guests never really see this character as he is only a voice that comes over the speaker in the stretching room and throughout the ride.
But what if we told you that there is a way to see Ghost Host as he may actually be another character seen inside the Mansion?
Haunted Mansion Fandom pointed out that according to Jason Surrell’s bookThe Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic the shadow pianist seen playing in the music room is actually the same character as the Ghost Host.
The website continued to explain the backstory of the pianist at Disney World’s Haunted Mansion, which we find to be very interesting:
In the cast-member made Ghost Gallery storyline, the pianist in the Haunted Mansion of Liberty Square is named Ludwig von Baroketch and is said to have been an alcoholic composer who made a bargain with the Angel of Death to extend his life in exchange for Ludwig composing a piece dedicated to the angel in 13 days.
After the 13 days Ludwig failed to finish Death’s Symphony and wound up not only being claimed by the Angel, but also being cursed to haunt the piano and compose Death’s Symphony for eternity.
We here at Inside the Magic love learning about the backstories of classic Disney Parks attractions. This just goes to show that Imagineers really take the extra mile when creating rides for Guests to enjoy.
More on Haunted Mansion at Disney World
Related: Guests Experience Secret Entrance to Haunted Mansion
The spirited Haunted Mansion adventure is guided by the “disembodied voice of the Ghost Host” as he is your private tour guide “through the cadaverous realm of an eerie haunted estate, home to ghosts, ghouls and supernatural surprises.” Beware of hitchhiking ghosts!
Disney World describes this attraction as:
The disembodied voice of the Ghost Host is your private guide through the cadaverous realm of an eerie haunted estate, home to ghosts, ghouls and supernatural surprises.
Glide past a casket-filled conservatory, Madame Leota’s chilling séance room and a ghostly graveyard of singing specters as you attempt to find your way out. Beware of hitchhikers—these phantom pranksters may follow you home.
Happy haunting!
Related: There Is a Secret Donald Duck Inside the Haunted Mansion
Do you think the Ghost Host is the pianist? Let us know in the comments below.
Do you want to visit Haunted Mansion on your next Disney World vacation? Book your trip today!