News Walt Disney Imagineering Files New Haunted Mansion Permit for Set Installation

[JustInTime]

Go on…

We are looking at exterior work coming up. Facade refresh. Possibly what these permits are pointing towards!

 

[HMF]

I definitely disagree with this. It's not very well done and I much prefer a bride that doesn't have speaking lines and is more atmospheric/creepy

The problem with the current Disneyland incarnation is more that it represents a continuation of the dumbing down of the Disney Parks to make them so squeaky clean that no one will be offended by anything. Plus, the fact of the matter is the new DL Attic re-uses so much of the infrastructure of the 2006-2023 incarnation that now the story doesn't make much sense. Plus, the fact that the Widow in the stretching room portrait who is still canonically Constance and clearly depicts her as an axe murderer means ultimately that the story has not changed, they have just made it more confusing and indecipherable to the average guest. If they wanted to ditch the black-widow Bride concept completely they should have re-designed the entire scene from scratch.

The History of the "Heart" of Disney's Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion's Attic Scene's evolution through the years.

vocal.media

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

The problem with the current Disneyland incarnation is more that it represents a continuation of the dumbing down of the Disney Parks to make them so squeaky clean that no one will be offended by anything. Plus, the fact of the matter is the new DL Attic re-uses so much of the infrastructure of the 2006-2023 incarnation that now the story doesn't make much sense. Plus, the fact that the Widow in the stretching room portrait who is still canonically Constance and clearly depicts her as an axe murderer means ultimately that the story has not changed, they have just made it more confusing and indecipherable to the average guest. If they wanted to ditch the black-widow Bride concept completely they should have re-designed the entire scene from scratch.

The History of the "Heart" of Disney's Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion's Attic Scene's evolution through the years.

vocal.media

It’s not a case of dumbing down, in my opinion. The last incarnation of the bride was not received well by long time fans of the attraction (it was widely criticized for removing the mystique from the ride by being too on the nose with the story), and this one has been received better (not perfectly, but way better). It’s a rare time Disney’s reversed a move that the more purist inclined fans didn’t like rather than the opposite.

 

[HMF]

It’s not a case of dumbing down, in my opinion. The last incarnation of the bride was not received well by long time fans of the attraction (it was widely criticized for removing the mystique from the ride by being too on the nose with the story), and this one has been received better (not perfectly, but way better). It’s a rare time Disney’s reversed a move that the more purist inclined fans didn’t like rather than the opposite.

They said point blank they were doing it because they thought their guests were too sensitive. Once again, if they wanted to re-do the scene from scratch than that is what they should have done. As it stands the scene makes no sense and due to the stretching room connection is still there, she is still an axe murderer whether WDI likes it or not unless you are suggesting we get rid of the widow portrait which was designed by the legendary Marc Davis which I do not encourage.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

They said point blank they were doing it because they thought their guests were too sensitive. Once again, if they wanted to re-do the scene from scratch than that is what they should have done. As it stands the scene makes no sense and due to the stretching room connection is still there, she is still an axe murderer whether WDI likes it or not unless you are suggesting we get rid of the widow portrait which was designed by the legendary Marc Davis which I do not encourage.

It doesn’t really matter what their stated reasons for doing it are in the end. They took out something the Mansion purists really hated and replaced it with something that, while still not perfect in their eyes, they like better.

I will not call myself a total purist, but I too agree that Constance being an axe murderer needs to be left to what it is now: more implied and left in clues. It’s spookier that way. Physically showing us that takes away all of the mystique and intrigue, which is what DL HM fans were upset about in the first place.

The easiest way to make something less scary is to explain too much. Constance holding an axe explained too much that didn’t need explaining.

You’re decrying something that was a positive change back to the Manson being a mystery rather than something so blatant and on the nose.

 

[HMF]

You’re decrying something that was a positive change back to the Manson being a mystery rather than something so blatant and on the nose.

If they wanted a completely new scene or concept, they should have thrown out all the remaining infrastructure left from the last incarnation. Never mind the fact that the 2006-2023 Attic was actually closer in concept to how the scene was supposed to be read in 1969. The scene right now is a throwback to the misguided notion that the bride was a tragic figure that was heavily implied in the 1995-2005 version at Disneyland. As of right now, the scene has no logic. portraits of bride with various grooms who disappear with no explanation followed by random bride who doesn't even look like the bride in the portraits followed by random Hatbox Ghost.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

If they wanted a completely new scene or concept, they should have thrown out all the remaining infrastructure left from the last incarnation. Never mind the fact that the 2006-2023 Attic was actually closer in concept to how the scene was supposed to be read in 1969. The scene right now is a throwback to the misguided notion that the bride was a tragic figure that was heavily implied in the 1995-2005 version at Disneyland. As of right now, the scene has no logic. portraits of bride with various grooms who disappear with no explanation followed by random bride who doesn't even look like the bride in the portraits followed by random Hatbox Ghost.

Anything is better than Constance holding an axe.

We can go back and forth on what the BEST option for the scene is, but what we have now is still, even if flawed, better than what it replaced which was the worst incarnation of the scene the ride has ever had.

I’d go as far as to say that the terrible placement of HBG in Florida is still better than Constance with an axe. Giving her that axe ruined the best element of the whole attraction: it’s mysteriousness.

 

[HMF]

Anything is better than Constance holding an axe.

We can go back and forth on what the BEST option for the scene is, but what we have now is still, even if flawed, better than what it replaced which was the worst incarnation of the scene the ride has ever had.

I’d go as far as to say that the terrible placement of HBG in Florida is still better than Constance with an axe. Giving her that axe ruined the best element of the whole attraction: it’s mysteriousness.

That is quite an interesting take. How did those husbands disappear then and how do you factor in the widow portrait in the stretching room which the final groom portrait is clearly modeled after and explicitly depicts her as an axe murderer. If they want to change the scenes premise, they should have re-done the scene entirely. Not the strange hybrid we have right now.

 

[JustInTime]

Still hearing there is exterior facade work starting soon and nothing for the interior. If I hear different I’ll post!

My sources were correct. Facade work has begun.

 

[Emamba]

Are we thinking new indoor or outdoor queue? I’m assuming the land being prepared behind the Mansion will be queue space to give the pathway to Villains/Cars more room.

 

[James Alucobond]

Are we thinking new indoor or outdoor queue? I’m assuming the land being prepared behind the Mansion will be queue space to give the pathway to Villains/Cars more room.

I doubt the existing footprint of the queue would be altered even if they add more to it. The Piston Peak pathway does not appear to need "more room" based on the art they've shown thus far.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Are we thinking new indoor or outdoor queue? I’m assuming the land being prepared behind the Mansion will be queue space to give the pathway to Villains/Cars more room.

My guess is extending the queue past the current graveyard to give some space at the entrance without all the confusion of overflow queues spilling out into the land

 

[Figments Friend]

ITM is basically the Fox News of Disney Theme Park reporting.

More like the National Enquirer.

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[HMF]

I am hoping most of the interactive elements finally get bulldozed.

 

[MisterPenguin]

More like the National Enquirer.

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More like a loner's manifesto.

 

[FigmentJedi]

Anything is better than Constance holding an axe.

We can go back and forth on what the BEST option for the scene is, but what we have now is still, even if flawed, better than what it replaced which was the worst incarnation of the scene the ride has ever had.

I’d go as far as to say that the terrible placement of HBG in Florida is still better than Constance with an axe. Giving her that axe ruined the best element of the whole attraction: it’s mysteriousness.

The axe was fine, the 60s Batman villain puns not so much.

 

[Bocabear]

I would love to see them extend the facade of the Mansion around the Show building... You will probably be able to see a lot more of the building when the new esplanade is installed...To me, the Mansion has always been too small...Like it needed to look bigger to match some of the interior we see on the ride...
I really wishe they would remove all of Constance and her weddings from the attic and like Disneyland Paris, make the bride a more romantic, tragic figure... But that is my personal taste in horror...More subtle, less Axe Murderer.. A Peppers Ghost Bride sitting at her dressing table...weeping... The Disneyland Pop-ups that say "I do"...that would be amazing in the attic...

 

[WondersOfLife]

Anything is better than Constance holding an axe.

We can go back and forth on what the BEST option for the scene is, but what we have now is still, even if flawed, better than what it replaced which was the worst incarnation of the scene the ride has ever had.

I’d go as far as to say that the terrible placement of HBG in Florida is still better than Constance with an axe. Giving her that axe ruined the best element of the whole attraction: it’s mysteriousness.

I (half heartedly) disagree.

 

[Bocabear]

I agree that Constance it way too literal... I just don't think this addition and the Escher Stair Hall scenes aged as well...
It would be nice if the Stair Hall looked more similar to the scenes the preceeded it....Something about the LED candles looks like party city to me....and not the quiet elegance of the other settings....

 

[HMF]

I would love to see them extend the facade of the Mansion around the Show building... You will probably be able to see a lot more of the building when the new esplanade is installed...To me, the Mansion has always been too small...Like it needed to look bigger to match some of the interior we see on the ride...
I really wishe they would remove all of Constance and her weddings from the attic and like Disneyland Paris, make the bride a more romantic, tragic figure... But that is my personal taste in horror...More subtle, less Axe Murderer.. A Peppers Ghost Bride sitting at her dressing table...weeping... The Disneyland Pop-ups that say "I do"...that would be amazing in the attic...

I would really rather keep the Mansion and Phantom Manor as distinct entities.