4. The Haunted Mansion

Location: Disneyland Park
The Effect: A forgotten spirit rematerializes
Video: Extreme low-light POV video of the Hatbox Ghost scene

Projections don't just bring environments to life; they can create characters. 

When the Haunted Mansion opened in 1969, one of its most famous residents was one guests never got to see. In the Mansion’s attic stood the genuinely creepy Hatbox Ghost – to our count, one of the 10 Greatest Original Characters Created Just for Disney Parks. The frail, skeletal, eerie figure stood, hunched over with a cane, wearing a large top hat and carrying a hatbox. Every few seconds, the ghost’s head would disappear from its shoulders and re-appear inside of the hatbox before returning to its body once again.

In terms of technology, the effect was simple. Two heads, with only one lit at a time. The problem, Imagineers quickly discovered is that – while it worked in isolation in Imagineering's Glendale test environment – ambient light of the Mansion’s attic scene was enough to keep both heads visible. Before the ride even opened to the public, the Hatbox Ghost disappeared. But he wasn’t gone. He continued to be featured in the well-known Haunted Mansion vinyl record released to promote the ride, and through the years, Disney happily acknowledged him on merchandise. He became a sort of cult figure for Disney Fans: a lost character, a never-before-seen effect, and (perhaps most interestingly) a rare miss for designers.

In May, 2015 as part of Disneyland’s nostalgic 60th celebration, the happy haunt rematerialized inside the Mansion, this time owing his appearance to 21st century projection technology. Now, the Hatbox Ghost waits within the mansion’s attic as before, but the flawless effect is absolutely stunning and has been met with wild acclaim from fans.

5. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Location: Magic Kingdom
The Effect: The Dwarfs sing along
Video: Disney Imagineering Behind-The-Scenes video

The same technology behind the Hatbox Ghost is to thank for the outstanding animatronics inside of Magic Kingdom’s Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. The newest family coaster at Walt Disney World isn’t all thrills. Part of the ride is a charming dark ride section (meant, in part, to replace Snow White’s Scary Adventures) carrying guests through the active gem mine from the film.

However, the animatronic dwarfs at work in the mines aren’t the 1971 originals from the Snow White dark ride (though those figures do make an appearance later on in the ride). The new figures are unimaginably fluid, moving gracefully and realistically. But the real wow moment is in their faces. The Seven Dwarfs are brought to life through internal projections – each of their heads contains a projector that casts the character’s face onto the blank head.

What this means is that the figures inside of the mine can blink, look around, sing along, and speak with perfect, spot-on animation that an animatronic simply couldn’t muster. The faces are astounding works of innovation and earned the Dwarfs a spot on our countdown of the top 20 animatronics in the world.

6. Mystic Manor

Location: Hong Kong Disneyland
The Effect: An ancient storm and musical magic (...or magical music)
Video: POV video of queue and ride. The scene in question begins at 10:25. 

Considered by some to be the best modern dark ride Disney's designed, we explored the in-depth story of Hong Kong Disneyland's Modern Marvel: Mystic Manor in its own in-depth feature. A compelling original tale (and part of Disney's S.E.A. – The Society of Explorers and Adventurers), the ride places guests in the museum-like residence of the eccentric Lord Henry Mystic, whose collection of treasures is on display for all. Mystic invites guests aboard trackless "Magneto-Electric Carriages" that traverse the manor to gaze in awe at the adventurer's cultural collections.

There's just one problem: Mystic's trustworthy sidekick, Albert the monkey. Albert can't seem to keep his hands off of Mystic's newest acquisition: a music box said to grant life to the lifeless. When Albert pulls an "Abu" and opens the music box, its enchanted tones begin to awaken the artifacts around the home, twinkling through rooms of Greek, Polynesian, Medieval, Nordic, and Egyptian relics.

But the big finale happens in the Chinese room where priceless tapestries and drums hang on the walls with a monkey statue in the center. As the vehicles glide in, the monkey is brought to life and begins conducting a wind storm. The gusts of wind carry the tapestries and music notes in circles as the vehicles spin. The monkey casts lightning against the walls until one shatters, sending Albert flying through the air outside of the Manor. The incredible finale can really only be understood by seeing it, but without projections, it simply wouldn't be possible.

7. Fantasmic

Location: Disneyland Park
The Effect: A living canvas
Video: Mickey falls asleep

Disneyland's Fantasmic has been a headlining, anchor attraction of the park since its 1992 debut. A fusion of fireworks, fountains, floats, music, and Las Vegas spectacle, the unbelievable show follows Mickey Mouse on a journey deeper and deeper into his imagination, encountering "mysteries and magic; visions fantastic leading to strange and wondrous dreams." Before the end of the 25 minute spectacle, Fantasmic becomes a battle between good and evil and Disney's nefarious Villains set out to turn Mickey's dreams into a nightmare.

Over the decades, Fantasmic has been pretty continuously "plussed" with new effects, including a 45-foot tall, 18,000 pound firebreathing Maleficent that joined the cast in 2009 – one of the 25 Best Audio-Animatronics on Earth.

When Disney briefly closed the Rivers of America in 2016 to begin construction on Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, designers took the opportunity to retool Fantasmic with new scenes and to completely cover the Tom Sawyer Island stage and backdrop with projection mapping. While many fans contend that the new scenes actually detract from the show, the projection work – when it's done right – adds to the show's abstract, otherworldly, dreamlike, setting-free feel. Such is the case in the show's first minute when Mickey enters his own dream in a column of light and – upon recognizing the powers of his imagination – gasps and draws all of the lights on the stage toward him... a moment that can illicit goosebumps.

8. Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expedition

Location: Tokyo Disneyland
The Effect: Living legends

The Jungle Cruise was one of the opening day attractions at Disneyland way back in 1955. In each subsequent version of the ride – in Orlando, Tokyo, and Hong Kong – it's been slightly reimagined. Yet for the most part, the tried-and-true attraction is simply a staple. 

However, in 2014, Tokyo Disneyland did something radical: they reimagined what the Jungle Cruise could be. The renamed Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expedition added a new orchestral score, special effects, and nighttime lighting to the ride. But one of the most talked-about effects was the simple reinvention of the temple scene that Magic Kingdom guests will recognize. As the boat enters the temple, stunning projections ignite torches and bring the ancient carvings on the temple walls to life. With a burst of "magic," the temple walls are restored to their former glory, with timeless portraits of wildlife coming alive around guests.

It's yet another example of how completely new signature moments can be made of simple scenes thanks to the power of projection.

Your Thoughts?

What do you think? Is projection the new wave? Can this technology be used to supplement existing rides and attractions to extend the story in new ways?

Or has Disney invested too heavily in this technology? Have projections become a fix-all that Disney may use instead of building physical sets or animatronics? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!