Happiest Place on Earth or Most Haunted?

As a long-time Disney fan and a paranormal enthusiast, I'm well aware of some of the alleged hauntings that exist in Disneyland. One of the most common sightings is that of Walt himself, whose ghost has been spotted in numerous locations around the park, but predominantly in his old apartment above the fire station located on Main Street USA, where he and his family would sometimes stay.

Another popular ghost in the park is Dolly, who appears on the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Back in the 1980s. Dolly was riding on the roller coaster-type attraction when she stood up to help the child sitting in front of her. She was thrown from the vehicle and struck and killed by another sled.

There's also the ghost of a teenage boy who was run over by the monorail and Mr. One Way, a male ghost who will sit next to a single rider on Space Mountain when the ride begins, only to disappear partway through the ride.

These, alone, may seem like quite a few spirits to be haunting the classic family theme park, but there's more! According to Aubrey Graves, author of "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland's Haunted Kingdom," there are ghostly activities that take place all over the park.

A very popular ride among young kids is Autotopia, where guests (including children 32 inches or taller accompanied by an adult) can drive sporty-type cars along a track in Tomorrowland. Here, the ghost of a little girl has been seen in the trees surrounding the ride.

There are also two spirits said to haunt the Star Trader shop as well as shadowy figures that have been seen by both guests and employees on Star Tours. Add to that the ghost of an old man on Big Thunder Mountain and a male apparition seen by cast members at the Blue Bayou Restaurant, located at the beginning of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

The list doesn't stop here. Graves continues to mention eerie events that have taken place on some of the rides. On It's a Small World, a charming boat ride filled with animatronic dolls dressed in traditional attire from countries all over the world, the dolls have been seen coming to life on their own, as well as lights mysteriously turning on and off.

At the King Arthur Carousel, located in Fantasyland, the carousel has been seen moving after the ride has been shut down for the night, and let's not overlook all of the paranormal encounters that have been reported on the Haunted Mansion ride, including apparitions and unexplained noises.

Do all of these ghosts in Disneyland really exist? Graves does state in a note at the beginning of her book, "The ghost stories within this book are neither fact nor fiction, but consist of legend and lore based on individuals' personal experiences and opinions."

It is important to state that Graves is a paranormal investigator who has written several books about various haunted locations in California, and it's clear when reading the book that she has a belief in ghosts and thinks at least some of the haunted stories in her book are true.

I found the book to be a quick and easy read, although I have to admit that I was surprised that so much ghostly activity is said to take place in Disneyland. As a huge Disney fan, I have visited Disneyland throughout my life, but have never had a ghostly encounter there..

Maybe I just wasn't open enough to the experience? What I do know is that the next time I go, I'm bringing the book with me and will keep an eye out for any supernatural experiences I might encounter.

What about you? Do you think Disneyland is haunted?