Some speculate that he was removed because he was "too scary for a family attraction." Early promotional material for the Haunted Mansion likewise heavily featured the character and, coupled with the fact that most never even saw him or the intended effect, he was not easily forgotten.

Why was the Hatbox Ghost removed in The Haunted Mansion?

He was removed because he was so scary, he gave someone a heart attack. The Hatbox Ghost scared every journalist that came to review the ride. He was still there but the figure itself was haunted so he kept disappearing.

Is the Hatbox Ghost evil?

He is a mischievous and creepy ghost that haunts the mansion, and is heavily tied to its history. He is one of the most popular Haunted Mansion characters, mostly due to his disappearance from the ride from the attraction's opening in 1969 to 2015, where he reappeared.