Ghost Relations Department

A sign from the GRD which was hung outside the manor leading up to its 1969 opening

### Appearances

Haunted Mansion
Ghost Post

### Home

The Haunted Mansion, Esplanade Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

### Other names

The GRD
The Ghost Relations Department of Disneyland

**The Ghost Relations Department** also known as **the** **Ghost Relations Department of Disneyland** or more simply abbreviated to **the** **GRD** is a fictional organization from the *Haunted Mansion*.

## Description

The Ghost Relations Department is an organization based out of the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans, Louisiana. The GRD is affiliated with the bureaucratic side of the manor and works to bring in different spirits from creepy old crypts all over the world to retire in the manor. The mansion is capable of housing a grand total of 1,000 spirits within its domain and has an apparent quota of the number of spirits which it needs to bring in a certain number of spirits, be they already deceased or still alive in which cases the Ghost Relations Department might end their mortality prematurely for their own gain.

The GRD might have been affiliated with a mortal entity established in New Orleans which is referred to as, "Disneyland". The exact nature of their relationship is unknown however it is believed that Disneyland would have assisted the GRD in bringing in spirits and mortals from outside the manor. Theories on Disneyland's existence within this context include: it being non-diegetic and shorthand for the audience to replace the name in their readings with whatever the setting for a respective attraction is, it being the name given to certain locales which are connected by certain bodies and/or organization, or it being a literal location such as, "The Magic Kingdom" in-lore affiliated with the Haunted Mansion.

### Potential Members

There have yet to be any officially named however there are certain characters likely affiliated with the GRD.

## History

### Background

The Ghost Relations Department was established by the spirits of the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans, Louisiana to obtain spirits for their residence. By the 20th/21st century they acquired 999 incorporeal residents for the estate including those connected to the manor's grounds, famous ghosts, ghosts attempting to make names for themselves, and spirits who simply didn't wish to live alone.

#### Famous ghosts

The Haunted Mansion has a wide array of posthumous, "Celebrity" residents with most if not all having likely been brought in by the GRD. Amongst these are:

##### Folklore/Myth

* Medusa
* *The Flying Dutchman*'s crew

##### History

* Prince Edward of Woodstock
* Jack the Ripper
* Gaius Julius Caesar
* Charles Dickens

##### Film/Literature

* Sparky the dog
* The One-Eyed Black Cat
* Jack Skellington
* Count Vladislav III Dracula
* Bluebeard
* Bluebeard's seven wives
* J. Thaddeus Toad, Esquire

### Development history

The Ghost Relations Department is largely a remnant of the discarded, "Bloodmere Manor" story for the Haunted Mansion where the manor is canonically located in Disneyland park rather than New Orleans, hence the, "Of Disneyland" part of its name. During the lead-up to the attraction's opening, the GRD was frequently referred to directly and indirectly to rationalize the time it took to develop the attraction as the GRD bringing ghosts into the estate.

## Appearances and allusions

### The Ghost Post

The Ghost Relations Department was a prominent figure in this Disneyland interactive-game. During the events of this game, a supernatural fog results in the ghosts being trapped within the manor as several others are lost throughout Disneyland. The Ghost Relations Department along with a splinter-group known as the Committee of Wandering Ghosts aids guests in overcoming this curse and freeing the different spirits.

### Haunted Mansion

In the hearse parked outside of the Haunted Mansion is a sign for the Ghost Relations Department reading, "*Reservations Accepted. Ghost Relations Department, Disneyland. Please do not apply in person!*". During the early years of the attraction and during its construction was a sign outside of the manor which read, "*Notice! All ghosts and restless spirits; post-lifetime leases are now available in this HAUNTED MANSION don't be left out in the sunshine! Enjoy active-retirement in this country club atmosphere- the fashionable address of famous ghosts, ghosts trying to make a name for themselves...and ghosts afraid to live be themselves! Leases include license to scare the daylights out of guests visiting the Portrait Gallery, Museum of the Supernatural, Graveyard, and other happy haunting grounds. For reservations, send resume of past-experience to: Ghost Relations Dept. Disneyland; Please! Do not apply in person*". Additionally there are multiple potential allusions to the operations of the GRD made within the attraction when the Ghost Host refers to having ghosts from all over the world or the manor having a quota.

#### Promotional-materials

In addition to the sign placed in New Orleans Square, the GRD was featured in radio materials during the lead-up to the Haunted Mansion's 1969 opening. A series of these radio-commercials had Disneyland officials interviewing ghosts from across the globe such as Granny Ghoul, Phineas Pock and Willie the Wisp.

### Main Street, U.S.A.

"Ghost Relations" is mentioned in Disneyland's Casting Agency, looking to cast for an undead musical.

### In other media

#### Disney Kingdoms

At the end of Disney Kingdoms: The Haunted Mansion, the mortal protagonist Danny Crowe nails a sign for the Ghost Relations Department outside of the Haunted Mansion before waving goodbye to the Hitchhiking Ghosts and leaving. Constance Hatchaway assumes Little Leota's role within this story, telling Danny to, "Hurry back" as he leaves.

## Connections

### Museum of the Weird

In the early days of the attraction, a sign from the *Ghost Relations Department* advertised the Haunted Mansion containing a, "Museum of the Supernatural". This was alluding to the planned but ultimately unrealized Museum of the Weird expansion for the mansion which was later integrated into the stories of the *Adventurers Club* and *Big Thunder Mountain Railroad*.

### Mystic Manor

Lord Henry Mystic's Mediterranean Hall collection includes a large mosaic of Medusa as a young woman. After his pet monkey Albert opened the cursed Balinese Music Box, this mosaic transformed into a gorgon and attempts to attack guests. Medusa was also brought into the Haunted Mansion, presumably by the GRD.

## Trivia

* The GRD has only been referred to in the Disneyland version of the attraction as Phantom Manor and the Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion both attempt to rationalize the 999 spirits within more contained narratives.
* If the, "Of Disneyland" part of the GRD indicates that they have involvement with the ghosts of all Disneyland attractions and not just the Haunted Mansion than that might implicate a history of affiliation with *Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad* and the defunct *Twilight Zone Tower of Terror*.

## References

1. ↑ http://www.mainstgazette.com/2016/07/now-casting.html