Little Leota

"Hurry ba-ack...hurry ba-aack.
Be sure to bring your death certificate if you decide to join us.
Make final arrangements now.
We've been dying to have you."

One last Spirit beckons to guests as they ride a moving walkway out of the crypt. With this plaintive invitation still ringing in their ears, guests continue back to the relative safety of New Orleans Square.

The tiny ghost, standing atop the ledge of the crypt, holds a bouquet of flowers in her hand and stares wistfully into the distance. She is officially call the "Ghostess" (a combination of "ghost" and "hostess"), though most fans and Cast Members refer to her at "Little Leota," since she is portrayed by WED Imagineer Leota Toombs of Madame Leota fame.

This time, however, Ms. Toombs supplied both the character's face and her eerie voice, which have become a guest favorite over the years.

Both "Madam Leota" and "Little Leota" use the faces of Disney Imagineer Leota Thomas. Leota Thomas (her maiden name was Leota Toombs) mainly worked in the model shop and could be seen in the Small World pictorial guide, now out of print, which showed several "making of" photos. Thomas is the voice of "Little Leota" at the end of the attraction.

Unfortunately, she passed away in the early 1990's. Eleanor Audley is the voice of Madam Leota (also Maleficent and Lady Tremain). Leota Thomas's daughter, Kim Irvine, is also an Imagineer and works in Show Quality at Disneyland.

running time 1:00
size 320 x 270

Leota Toombs as the Ghost Hostess