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In a place celebrated for bringing fairy tales and dreams to life, Disney theme parks may also harbor eerie stories that sound like they belong in a ghost story. Numerous former cast members have shared unsettling experiences that add an unexpected chill to the magic, with sightings and sounds that can’t be easily explained. These chilling encounters, which range from ghostly sightings in backstage hallways to inexplicable voices and shadowy figures, paint a picture of Disney, unlike anything you’ll find in a guidebook.
Related: Guests Beware: Walt Disney World Ghost Stories
Credit: Disney
The Haunted Side of Disney Theme Parks
One former cast member, who worked in custodial services, recounted an experience that has stayed with them ever since. Working at Disney’s Haunted Mansion, this cast member recalls the labyrinthine hallways beneath the ride, which are notorious among staff for being easy to get lost in.
One day, while navigating the twisting halls to reach the cast cafeteria, they passed by a custodial closet. Inside, they spotted a woman they vaguely recognized, another custodian they had only spoken to briefly. The cast member gave her a friendly smile and moved on, only to find out a week later from another colleague that the woman had recently passed away—potentially even before that brief hallway encounter.
Another eerie tale comes from a cast member sweeping along Main Street early one morning. As they worked near the iconic Partners statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, they heard a polite “Excuse me, miss,” from behind them, spoken in a gentlemanly, older voice. Expecting to help a guest with directions, the cast member turned with a welcoming smile, only to find no one there. Looking around, they realized they were entirely alone, with no guests or fellow staff members anywhere nearby who might have spoken. It was an encounter they couldn’t forget, an instance of hearing a voice where there was no person to be seen.
Credit: Disneyland Archives
Cast Member Experiences Paranormal Activity?
The creepiest account may come from a third-shift custodial worker cleaning the Autopia ride after hours. Working alone in the early hours, they began hearing strange noises echoing through the empty attraction. To capture evidence, they snapped a photo—and were horrified by what they saw.
In the alleged image was a shadow that looked like a lion’s head atop a human body with legs bent in a distorted, backward stance. The worker showed the photo to the nearest staff member, a security guard, who was so disturbed by the image that he instructed the cast member to delete it on the spot. Fortunately, the cast member had already sent the picture to a friend, who shared the spine-chilling photo with others before it was erased. The story shared:
Finally, there was a third shift custodial cm who was cleaning autopia who kept hearing weird sounds. He took a photo, and was freaked out when he saw what looked like a shadow of a lions head, on a human body, with its legs bent backwards. I didn’t believe this until I saw the photo for myself. He got out of there and showed it to the closest cm. The cm was a security who actually made him delete the photo! But luckily he had already sent it to a friend of mine, who showed me. I have no clue what it was, but the photo was so scary.
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These former cast members’ stories aren’t part of the official Disney magic, but they reveal a world that goes beyond fairy tales and fireworks—a place where memories linger, and figures from the past might just walk alongside the living. While Disney keeps its focus on enchanting experiences, these ghostly tales remind us that, even in the most magical place on Earth, the unexplained can still find a way in.
