Disney PhotoPass is apparently experimenting with something very different at the Haunted Mansion, and depending on which Disney fan you ask, the results are either incredibly cool or something Disney should stop doing immediately.
A new PhotoPass Magic Shot was recently tested outside the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom. Guests first pose for a fairly normal photo near the attraction, but the finished version transforms their likenesses into stone busts displayed in front of a spooky nighttime Haunted Mansion backdrop. Another version shared online turns the guests into ghostly figures.
The finished photos are pretty wild. The bust version retains recognizable details from each guest, including hairstyles, glasses, facial hair, clothing, and expressions. The result looks like you suddenly joined the collection of ominous family busts already found around the Haunted Mansion. Some of the finished images are even marked “Limited Edition 2026.”
But here’s where things get complicated. The images appear to have been created using generative AI, although Disney has not confirmed exactly what technology is behind the test. That’s an important distinction because the conversation online quickly went from “Look at this cool Haunted Mansion picture!” to a much bigger debate about Disney’s use of AI.
PhotoPass Magic Shots themselves aren’t new. Disney has been digitally dropping characters, props, and other surprises into guests’ vacation photos for years. What makes this test feel different is that instead of adding something to your photograph, it appears to be re-creating you as something entirely new.
And Disney fans have thoughts. Some love the idea. Becoming your own Haunted Mansion bust is exactly the sort of weird, personalized souvenir that could be a blast, particularly if it’s offered as an extra PhotoPass option alongside traditional photos.
Others see generative AI being used in a creative part of the Disney Parks experience and want absolutely nothing to do with it. The reaction has been strong enough that the test is already generating backlash on social media, while other guests are asking Disney to keep it.
That makes this one especially interesting to watch. There’s no indication that these experimental shots would replace traditional PhotoPass photography, and Disney hasn’t announced whether they’ll become a permanent offering. For now, it’s simply a test.
But I really want to know where you land on this one.
Would you want Disney PhotoPass to turn you into your very own Haunted Mansion bust or ghost? Or does the apparent use of generative AI take something away from the creativity and artistry you expect from Disney?
Because judging by the reaction so far, there isn’t much middle ground.
