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The Traveler also known as Phineas is one of the Hitchhiking Ghosts and one of the ghosts haunting the Haunted Mansion.

Description[]

Background[]

The Traveler is a rotund, and (in some of his incarnations) slightly hunched-over ghost. He wears a coat and a top hat, and carries around a carpetbag. He is one of the three hitchhiking ghosts along with Ezra the Skeleton and Gus the Prisoner.

Development History[]

Phineas' appearance might be partly inspired by Quasimodo from Victor Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris (AKA The Hunchback of Notre-Dame). Quasimodo was once considered to be a famous ghost in the Haunted Mansion be Ken Anderson, likely inspired by his appearances in the Universal monster movies from 1929 and 1939. Similarities between them include their hunched backs, squashed faces, and growths overtop of their left-eyes.

In concept art, cartoons, and posters he is often shown to be wearing a cloak with capelets although he never wears it in the attraction. He was given the officially adopted name of Phineas from the cast-member created Ghost Gallery backstory for the Haunted Mansion used as a catalogue for answering guests' stories about the Mansion's story. Coincidentally, a Phineas had already existed in the Mansion's cast in the form of the recurring name Phineas Pock and some Disney merchandising produced since the adoption of the Phineas name erroneously named him as a Pock.

In the Magic Kingdom's 2011 enhancement of the Haunted Mansion in Walt Disney World the Hitchhiking Ghosts were given new effects and figures. This new (but now fairly dated) effect used a CGI projection of the Hitchhiking Ghosts in the mirror rather than animatronics and had them be given new characterization. It was stated in Jason Surrell's book The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic that the reference for Phineas' personality in this appearance were actors John Candy (1950-1994) and Chris Farley (1964-1997).

Appearances[]

The Haunted Mansion[]

The Traveler is seen along with the other two Hitchhiking Ghosts at the end of the ride, in the Crypt, where they try to hitch a ride out of the mansion with the guests, intending (according to the Ghost Host) to "haunt them until they return" in order to help fill the Mansion's quota. Likewise, like his two partners, the Traveler is seen one last time sitting in one of the Doom Buggies in the mirrors.

Walt Disney World[]

In the exterior queue of the Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion, a tombstone labelled as, "Phineas" can be seen on a berm along those for, "Ezra" and, "Gus". These were added as an allusion to the Hitchhiking Ghosts.

In the exit crypt, he is seen with an open case which is filled with: A portrait of Cousin Maude from the Dread Family, a bust of Charles Dickens, a candelabra, an urn and some silverware.

Promotional Materials[]

Like the other Hitchhiking Ghosts, he appears on the posters for the Haunted Mansion.

Haunted Mansion Holiday[]

For the first two years of Haunted Mansion Holiday, the Hitchhiking Ghosts were replaced with three jack-o-lanterns that would be Jack's gift to the guests. However, if one looks closely in the area where all three usually stand, where Lock, Shock, and Barrel now peer in through a window, they can be seen in the distance, implying that they never really left.

They are also mentioned in the narration, trying to pick up a ride on Jack Skellington's sleigh, but they are ultimately denied, as Jack has to leave to continue his midnight journey.

Photo Opportunities[]

One of the three ghosts will appear in photographs taken by Walt Disney World photographers in-front of the Haunted Mansion.

Other Appearances[]

The Ghost Post[]

During the limited interactive mystery game, Ghost Post, he is heavily implied to be the ghost yearning to hitchhike named Phineas.

Disney Skyliner[]

The Hitchhiking Ghosts appear on the artwork for one of the gondolas in Walt Disney World's Disney Skyliners.

Other Appearances[]

Film[]

Mickey's House of Villains[]

The Haunted Mansion (film)[]

He is seen in the graveyard scene, thumbing while the hearse drives by. He appears next to Jim Evers and his family inside of the hearse. He swears that Jim can see him, but the Prisoner tells him that he's lying and/or psychic.

Followed from the Mansion[]

He is a main character in the short fanfilm Followed from the Mansion, directed by Josh Daws and Jeremiah Daws. A young boy thinks that a ghost really followed him home from the Haunted Mansion. The ghost turns out to be the Traveler, who pulls pranks on him and the rest of his family. He is animated in CGI and voiced by Jesse Corti, who played LeFou in Beauty and the Beast.

Television[]

House of Mouse[]

In the House of Mouse episode House Ghosts, he and the other Hitchhiking Ghosts perform the song Grim Grinning Ghosts to scare Pete.

2004 Disneyland Advertisement[]

A promotional ad for Disneyland in 2004 revolved around the Hitchhiking Ghosts riding different Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure attractions with a few other ghosts. They go on the Haunted Mansion, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror all gleefully. When they have to go on It's a Small World however, they scream at the sight of the happy singing dolls.

Printed Materials[]

The Ghost Gallery[]

Slave Labor Graphics Comics[]

In an unpublished story for the Slave Labor Graphics comic, he is given the name of Dr. Phineas Q. Hackenbush, and depicted as a former traveling quack and self-proclaimed doctor.

Enter if You Dare!: Scary Tales from the Haunted Mansion[]

This book features a loose reimagining of Phineas in the form of Jake MacHeath, a horseman who died while riding through Sedgwick Park when a tree-branch smashed his face and knocked him off of his horse. As a result, Jake became a ghost with missing teeth and a crushed nose (resembling that of Phineas's). In the story, "The Face in the Mirror", Jake began appearing in the reflection of a horse-rider girl named Sarah Janeway who he followed home from the park to warn her of her own impending death of similar means. Ultimately he is successful and Sarah narrowly avoids the demise thanks to Jake's warnings.

Video-Games[]

Kinect Disneyland Adventures[]

Phineas is one of the common enemies in this video-game's Haunted Mansion stages. At one point he possess the Haunted Armour and turns into the Headless Knight to chase guests.

Disney Crossy Road[]

In the mobile game Disney Crossy Road, he is given the name Professor Phineas Plump, which implies a similar backstory to either his comics counterpart or his Ghost Gallery counterpart.

Disney Magic Kingdoms[]

In the mobile game Disney Magic Kingdoms, he is referred to as simply Phineas.

Merchandise[]

  • In the Casey Jones Vinylmation figure he is incorrectly labelled as, "Phineas Pock". Phineas Pock is a name commonly used in the Haunted Mansion, most notably for the singing bust known as Phineas P. Pock.
  • A pin made to tie into the 2011 interactive queue refurbishment of the Haunted Mansion featured Phineas by his respective tombstone added in the refurbishment.
  • The 2019 Host-A-Ghost Jar merchandise identified Phineas by his Disney Crossy-Road name of "Prof. Phineas Plump" and gives him the background of of a Snake-Oil salesman who died drinking a poorly brewed elixir.
  • A set of novelty snack containers of the Hitchhiking Ghosts sold in 2019 for the 50th Anniversary gives Phineas the epitaph "Rest in Peace Professor Phineas Plump, his travel plans have hit a bump"

Trivia[]

  • The ambiguity of whether or not the hitchhiker Phineas is a Pock is referenced in Tales from the Haunted Mansion Volume IV: Memento Mori when it is mentioned that Prudence Pock took an interest in researching the tales of the Hitchhiking Ghosts because one was supposedly a distant relative.
  • Up until 2020/2021, Phineas did not wear the cloak he does in promotional materials. He was given this article of clothing in a 2020/2021 refurbishment.
  • In the queue for Walt Disney World's Jungle Cruise is a bottle titled, "Prof. Plump's Miracle Tonic for Everlasting Life", a possible reference to Phineas' identity as a snake-oil salesman from the Ghost Gallery.

Gallery[]

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