This U.S. President Found His New Home in Disney’s Haunted Mansion

The Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida and Disneyland Resort in Southern California are world-renowned for being some of the best places in the world to feel the Disney magic. Both Disney Resorts have some of the most amazing Theme parks in the world—think Magic Kingdom Park or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Disney World or Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland. One of the biggest parts of the experience many fans love is the chance to meet their favorite characters and princesses and to really immerse themselves in the Disney experience.

One of the best ways to enjoy being at the Disney Resorts is to frequent one of the many incredible attractions at a Disney Park. And, one of the most popular ones is Haunted Mansion. The popular dark ride attraction is found in several Disney theme parks around the world, including Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. The original Haunted Mansion attraction was developed for Disneyland Resort and opened in 1969; it has since become a beloved classic attraction.

The Haunted Mansion is one of those attractions that fans have theorized about over the years, and now one other fan has a new theory. Reddit user and Disney Guest u/CaliforniaScreamers shared a photo during the ride and asked whether fellow fans thought that they saw James Madison during the attraction as well.

The OP asked, “Can anyone confirm if this is James Madison and if there’s any backstory behind this portrait?”

Is this James Madison in the Haunted Mansion?
byu/CaliforniaScreamers inDisneyland

One fellow fan commented, clarifying,

It absolutely is James Madison. Interesting find. Maybe Walt or an Imagineer was a fan so they stuck it in as homage? As for the print’s background – Portrait of James Madison, engraved and published in the Story a Great Nation by John Gilmary Shea and edited in New York by Gay Brothers & Company in 1884.

Another fan also explained, “That portrait used to be a prop in Fort Wilderness, but was moved to the Haunted Mansion once the fort was permanently closed. Many other props from Fort Wilderness were moved to the attic scene, as well.”

All in all, it turns out this President has been hiding in plain sight at the Haunted Mansion!