Theme Park Rangers Radar detected movement — but no sound — at a SeaWorld Orlando dance party, then spent time at Magic Kingdom thinking about future developments at Haunted Mansion and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Anyone seen a hatbox ghost around here?

Radar is a weekly roundup of news and notes from Central Florida’s theme parks and attractions. It is posted on OrlandoSentinel.com on Wednesdays.

Sound of silence

A new offering at SeaWorld Orlando isn’t making much noise. Actually, it’s not making any noise at all.  The park has added a “silent DJ party” to its Summer Spectacular entertainment lineup for a limited time.

The concept has been around for awhile.  Participants wear headphones to enjoy the dance music; non-participants are blissfully unaware. And no one is likely to taunt them to “Make some nooooooise.”

It makes for interesting visuals as those united by the beat simultaneously do the moves to, let’s say “Cha Cha Slide,” leaving observers to guess what the song is. (Right foot, two stomps is a clue, y’all.)

But it’s good, clean fun for all ages. The party is held in the covered queue area for the former Wild Arctic ride near the Ice Breaker roller coaster. Headphones are provided.

But the window is small. The music is only available from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays, and it all wraps up July 27.

Tip of the hatbox

OK, everyone, keep their hats on. The upcoming three-day closing of Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom is not designed to install the Hatbox Ghost character, Walt Disney World confirms.

It’s easy to see why folks leap to that conclusion. A posting on disneyworld.com notes that the attraction will be closed Aug. 7-9 for “routine refurbishment,” and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party kicks off at the park on Aug. 11.

But Disney says no, not right now.  It’s not say much at all on this front, so let’s review what we do know. Hatbox Ghost was an animatronic in the attic of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion when the attraction debuted in 1969 but removed a few months later.  The figure wasn’t exactly headless; he just carried it around in a hatbox. (Think headless horseman with an accessory.)

A reimagined effect was added to Disneyland’s mansion in 2015. Then, in September 2022, the company said the character would be added to Disney World’s attraction.

Haunted Mansion is currently front of mind for many fans as the “Haunted Mansion” film arrives in theaters July 28.  Hatbox Ghost is played by Jared Leto, who won an Academy Award for “Dallas Buyers Club” in 2014.

Film director Justin Simien gave Leto high marks in remarks to Entertainment Weekly.

“We’re trying to go for something scary that feels like it could exist physically in the real world, on the ride, but pushes the scare a lot further than the ride does,” Simien said. “He knocked it out of the park. He’s very menacing and terrifying.”

Tiana watch 2023

On a recent Magic Kingdom visit, I went to look at the construction for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the future attraction taking over the old Splash Mountain space.  I lingered to watch visitor reaction to the new tiara-topped water tower and the nearby scaffolding.

Although many people commented on the work, most had their eyes off into the distance, trying to see how long the queue was for the nearby Big Thunder Mountain Railroad coaster.  Folks on the fly were all over the place.

Younger brother: It’s the Tiana ride!

Older brother: Who cares?

Younger brother: I do!

Some passersby working knowledge, like the story of Tiana and “all the people who work for her own the company,” which is marked by the Tiana Foods logo.  “It’s essentially the same ride,” said another man, an imaginary Imagineer.

One woman told me that Tiana, introduced to Disney fans in “The Princess and the Frog,” is a baddie (in a good way, she said. According to Urban Dictionary, this means “she is very pretty and independent.”)  Her husband agreed but may have been melancholy.

“Bye, Splash,” he said. “I’ll miss you.”

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is scheduled to open in late 2024.

Weekend outlook

• SeaWorld’s Summer Spectacular continues daily. Its upcoming concerts feature Pop Evil on Saturday and Foghat on Sunday. Showtimes in the park’s Nautilus Theater are at 6 p.m. both days.

• Orlando Science Center presents Astro Fest, a set of hands-on cosmic activities, Saturday and Sunday.

What’s on your radar? Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com