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Disney Guests Say Character “Possessed by the Devil,” Scarred Families

Walt Disney World Resort guests were left shocked last week after an animatronic malfunction turned Mr. Potato Head into something out of a nightmare. The malfunction led to Disney Park guests claiming that the beloved character had been “possessed by the devil.” While some families were left laughing, others found the experience disturbing.

The malfunction occurred inside Toy Story Mania!, the interactive 3-D attraction in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The ride’s queue has featured a Mr. Potato Head animatronic since it first opened in 2008, and the character’s ability to interact with guests is one of the ride’s most charming features. However, last week, the character’s eyes glowed an eerie red.

A large Mr. Potato Head animatronic on Toy Story Mania
Credit: Inside the Magic

Reddit user u/fullmoon119 shared two images of the malfunction, showing Mr. Potato Head with unsettling red marks on his eyes.

What happened to Mr. Tater? 

What happened to Mr. Tater?
byu/fullmoon119 inDisneyWorld

The images quickly garnered hundreds of comments from other Disney Parks fans.

“The first one looks like he needs some clear eyes drops,” said u/ManeToys83. “The second one looks like he’s been fully possessed by the devil.”

Entrance to the "Toy Story Mania!" attraction featuring colorful decorations with images of Woody and Rex. Signs indicate "FastPass Entrance" and "Stand-by Entrance." Lush green foliage is visible in the background.
Credit: Disney

“He’s just auditioning for Five Nights at Freddy’s for [Halloween Horror Nights],” u/TheSpottedBuffy replied.

Others suggested that Mr. Potato Head had “smoked a little spud” or had become a “Baked potato.”

He forgot to pack his sober eyes,” u/Goodechild commented.

Toy Story Mania!
Credit: Christine Pingel, Flickr

It remains unclear what caused Mr Potato Head’s eyes to glow red, but the issue seems tied to the projection-mapped digital eyes that bring the character to life. Projection-mapped faces, a common feature of Disney audio-animatronics in the late 2000s and early 2010s, have been known to malfunction at times, leading to frozen or blank expressions.

Walt Disney World Resort has yet to release an official statement about the malfunction, and there has been no public response to the images shared on social media.

Have you had an unusual character interaction at Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments. 

Jess Colopy

Jess Colopy is a Disney College Program alum and kid-at-heart. When she’s not furiously typing in a coffee shop, you can find her on the hunt for the newest Stitch pin.

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