FIRST LOOK at Disneyland’s New Haunted Mansion Bride and Other Updates!
It’s been quite a while since Disneyland guests have ridden a doom-buggy around the classic Haunted Mansion attraction. (About 16 months exactly, but who’s counting?) Following the Haunted Mansion Holiday’s seasonal run in 2023, the entire attraction closed for a lengthy refurbishment, returning only in its holiday form when it reopened in July 2024.
Photo: Disney
Needless to say–but we’ll say it anyway–fans are excited about the classic version’s long-awaited return tomorrow, January 18th! And, to add to the excitement, we got a peek at some of the new updates and details!
Haunted Mansion Bride
The Los Angeles Times released an article, giving us a preview of some new updates that took place around the attraction during its refurbishment. Here’s a video outlining some of those changes:
Let’s touch on the biggest piece of information from the article–the Attic Scene update. The scene is moving away from the “killer bride” storyline, where she’s holding an axe and standing in a room of portraits displaying her past grooms with…disappearing heads. The scene has shifted to fit a more somber storyline, where she’s ditched the axe for a candelabra and stands among portraits where her grooms disappear entirely.
Using the latest technological advances, she appears to float–hovering near a shattered window–and has a red heart–a nod to the park’s original version of the bride.
Photo: LA Times
Creative Director, Kim Irvine, confirmed that the scene is intended to give guests a “sense of mourning,” with the bride appearing grief-stricken instead of spiteful. Irvine went on to say the team wanted to change the story back to its original version, where Imagineers had her mourning the loss of her husbands. The candelabra matches the one you see earlier in the attraction, in the endless hallway, implying that she’s wandering the mansion alone. (Yeah, that’s pretty sad.) The candelabra will also appear yet again in a cemetery crypt.
Photo: LA Times
Irvine confirms the update was made to be cautious of “the sensitivities of people,” noting that the change will probably be met with varied reactions.
Other Updates and Details
Remember the AI art controversy that took place over at the new shop, Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond, where guests noticed the presence of AI art decorating the shop? Irvine was surprised it caught the attention of guests amid all of the shop’s unique details, but confirmed the AI art was a temporary placeholder and no longer present.
The AI Art in Question
We also got confirmation that the impressive painting in the shop is of Leota Toombs, Irvine’s mother, in her Haunted Mansion guise. Looking closely at the crystal ball, you’ll spot Kim’s face, as Leota is looking into her future. (This is such a sweet detail–their connection to the attraction runs deep and we’re glad they’ve been honored in such a big way.)
Photo: Disney
She noted other subtle and not-so-subtle nods in this shop, like the doom buggy-shaped chair, a low-hanging chandelier that used to be in the attraction, and more. Irvine stated the shop has been “in the works for about a decade.”
Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond
As for the expanded queue, Irvine mentioned that they used the space to “expand the Mansion’s narrative,” with the slightly purple garden dedicated to Madame Leota, and a somber area with mermaids meant for the master of the house, touching on his love for the sea.
New Haunted Mansion Queue
Possible Future Update
With so much done, there’s somehow still work to do! Irvine spoke about the team’s desire to remove the hanging corpse from the stretching room, which has been the subject of criticism for quite some time. Irvine noted that they’re still looking for options to remove it; however, it’s a complicated update to make, structurally.
Those are all the updates and details shared regarding the past and present changes to the classic attraction and its surrounding area! We’ll continue keeping you updated on all of Disney’s changes, so stay tuned to MickeyBlog.com!
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