Disney has confirmed several changes and updates for its classic haunted-house-themed dark ride.
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Big changes are on the horizon for Disneyland’s original Haunted Mansion, the Los Angeles Times reports, with Disney set to introduce a newly-updated bride inside the classic dark ride. The California publication shared a first look at the updates coming to the Haunted Mansion ahead of the ride’s reopening on Saturday, January 18, sharing details about the refreshed bride scene.
While the holiday decorations will all vanish when Haunted Mansion returns to Disney’s original theme park, the biggest change lies with the ride’s bride character Constance Hatchaway.
The character is now utilizing the “latest” in projection technology, floating in front of guests who pass by in their “doom buggy.” The bride now holds a candelabra, which further illuminates her glowing red hair, a nod to Disney’s original version of the character.
“We thought, what if we change the story back a little bit to the original story that the Imagineers had about a lost bride in the attic mourning the loss of her husbands,” said Disney Imagineer Kim Irvine. “It was a sad thing. It was a story about lost love.”
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New and improved technology is always exciting to see implemented in Disney’s rides and attractions, with Irvine explaining the scene was redone due to the figure becoming outdated in regard to regular maintenance.
This change allows Disney to improve and enhance perhaps its most famous theme park ride. Another reason for this change, and why the bride is holding a candelabra instead of a sharp weapon, is that Disney wants to be “careful” about what it includes in its attractions.
“The bride that used to be in there was an axe murderer, and in this day and age we have to be really careful about the sensitivities of people,” Irvine said. “We were celebrating someone chopping off her husband’s heads, and it was a weird story. I know the fans — some will like it and some will say, ‘Oh, you changed something again.’ That’s our job. That’s what we’re here for.”
This naturally led to a question about the hanging corpse, which can be seen during the Haunted Mansion’s pre-show. This has been a highly controversial and hotly debated topic for years, with many arguing the element does not belong in a modern-day Disney theme park and others claiming it ties in nicely with the idea of a “haunted house.”
Irvine addressed potential changes to the hanging corpse, saying, “We’re still looking at that. That one is complicated, structurally […] One thing at a time.”
It’s unclear if Disney plans to bring the new scene to the version of Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World, though given recent changes for the attraction, like the addition of the Hatbox Ghost, it’s possible guests will see Magic Kingdom’s version follow suit.
Do you enjoy riding Disney’s Haunted Mansion? What’s your favorite Disney dark ride?
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