3. Phantoms of Fantasia
In the ride, as one falls backward out of the attic scene and toward the famous Haunted Mansion graveyard, a swirling series of ghost projections are shown in the sky. Too many Disney fans, these phantoms are fiendishly familiar. These ghostly visions are very reminiscent of Chernobog’s minions of darkness from the“Night on Bald Mountain” sequence of Fantasia. Some Haunted Mansion Buffs may argue that this resemblance is purely coincidental, but consider this: Disney has been known for hiding Easter eggs and references in almost all their material. Ergo, this is most likely an obvious reference to the famously frightening scene. Whether you consider this a direct reference or not, there is no denying that the soaring spirits are having a much better time at the Swinging Wake than they did with their dark master on Bald Mountain.
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