Looks like your post is in the right place to me.
I remember that hearse sitting near the entrance to the line for the Haunted Mansion. It sat between the entrance and the exit to the ride. (One of the few rides in Walt Disney World that exits near the same place it enters, and without exiting into a gift shop.)
I generally like to ride the Haunted Mansion at least twice if there is not a long line, and I usually do that by stepping over the ropes, from the exit to the entrance, just where that hearse sits, or sat. That saves a bit of walking.
Works for me. Hope they put the hearse back; I will step over those ropes anyhow, if I can get away with it. Hardy Har.
Enjoy.