News New Haunted Mansion Grounds Expansion, Retail Shop Coming to Disneyland Resort in 2024

[waltography]

Okay, I'm staking down my final guess for the new bride in case she materializes at the end of the week post-refurbishment. Based on how RatChat's hinting the effect, I think the entire bride's going to disappear and reappear while the candlestick floats, depending on whether the flame's been snuffed out or not (kind of like an up-close version of the lady blowing out the birthday candles in the grand hall). From today's update:

The attraction will return on January 17th with a ghostly surprise. A brand new bride will haunt the Attic. Pepper’s Ghost, projection, and animation effects will enhance her ethereal presence. Guests can catch a preview of the new bride in Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond shop, where she graces a wall holding a candelabra, which plays a key role in her spectral act.

I honestly don't even know how plausible it is given the limited space in that corner of the attic, but oh well.

 

[Consumer]

Gotta say, I'm very glad to be done away with Constance Hatchaway. I expect whatever this new bride ends up being like, it will surely be an improvement over what's been there for far too long.

 

[mickEblu]

Gotta say, I'm very glad to be done away with Constance Hatchaway. I expect whatever this new bride ends up being like, it will surely be an improvement over what's been there for far too long.

It will be an improvement for sure and yet I fear overall the project will be a net negative. If Constance is upgraded but the hitchhiking ghosts and stretching room are butchered or worse than before than it’s hard to be happy about that.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

hitchhiking ghosts and stretching room are butchered or worse than before than it’s hard to be happy about that.

I'd say those would be some disgruntling changes to be sure.

Why can't they just leave things alone?

 

[Disney Analyst]

They’ve also said on micechat that there should be a return of the beating heart.

All will be revealed on the 18th, and if she looks anything like the portrait in the new shop … she should be pretty freaky.

 

[Consumer]

It will be an improvement for sure and yet I fear overall the project will be a net negative. If Constance is upgraded but the hitchhiking ghosts and stretching room are butchered or worse than before than it’s hard to be happy about that.

That is true. It’s bizarre how WDI will undo something bad like Constance and return it to how it should be, while at the same time changing something else that doesn’t need to be changed. At least we can assume in 20 years the HHG will be returned to their traditional state, assuming they’ve been botched in this refurb.

Really too bad they didn’t wait another year or two for the hanging corpse. The cultural shift away from “wokeism” that’s taken place since November is remarkable.

 

[zipadee999]

That is true. It’s bizarre how WDI will undo something bad like Constance and return it to how it should be, while at the same time changing something else that doesn’t need to be changed. At least we can assume in 20 years the HHG will be returned to their traditional state, assuming they’ve been botched in this refurb.

Really too bad they didn’t wait another year or two for the hanging corpse. The cultural shift away from “wokeism” that’s taken place since November is remarkable.

I mean technically we’re getting the beating heart bride back. We also got the Hatbox ghost back. It’ll take a while but I guess it’s not impossible they restore the stretching room and HHG someday. We’ll just have to see how botched they are on Saturday

 

[mickEblu]

That is true. It’s bizarre how WDI will undo something bad like Constance and return it to how it should be, while at the same time changing something else that doesn’t need to be changed. At least we can assume in 20 years the HHG will be returned to their traditional state, assuming they’ve been botched in this refurb.

Really too bad they didn’t wait another year or two for the hanging corpse. The cultural shift away from “wokeism” that’s taken place since November is remarkable.

Right. Or for example as much as I like the new outdoor queue how can I call it a win if it came with that eyesore of a gift shop? That’s not even getting into the ramifications on Magnolia Park or the fact that people were STILL overflowing into that area over the holidays. If getting rid of the new queue also meant making the new gift shop magically disappear I’d take that deal. With or without Magnolia Park being restored. Every new project seems to range from being trade off to a net negative these days.

 

[Tha Realest]

So the HM reopens Saturday. Don’t the parks usually put out a press release beforehand trumpeting the new “enchancements” to come just before opening? It seems the new bride figures into the reworked attraction somehow, given some of the artwork in the gift shop and the new sipper. Yet, as I write this, nothing officially from Disney.

 

[Emmanuel]

So the HM reopens Saturday. Don’t the parks usually put out a press release beforehand trumpeting the new “enchancements” to come just before opening? It seems the new bride figures into the reworked attraction somehow, given some of the artwork in the gift shop and the new sipper. Yet, as I write this, nothing officially from Disney.

We could see something from Disney either today, tomorrow or even day of.

 

[DCBaker]

The LA Times has a first look at the new Bride scene in Haunted Mansion - here's the video (skip to 2:03 to go directly to the scene):



Link to the article with more details:

First look: Disneyland's original Haunted Mansion returns with a heartbreaking new scene

In the ride’s trademark attic scene, there’s still a tortured bride, but she’s never quite looked or acted like this.

www.latimes.com

 

[DCBaker]

Kim Irvine on the use of the AI image:

And the Disney faithful are especially protective of the Haunted Mansion. To wit: an online controversy erupted earlier this winter when it was discovered that the new shop adjacent to the ride contained a piece of art that was created by artificial intelligence. The presence of AI art felt particularly egregious knowing the value Imagineering places on authentic, hand-crafted work.

The moment clearly weighed on Irvine. “How they can find one thing out of all this cool stuff,” Irvine says of the fan outcry, trailing off as she stood in the shop full of artfully created oddities and references to tarot and mysticism. She stresses that the AI art was a temporary placeholder, noting there are many objects coming to the shop — more paintings and tapestries among them — that are in the process of being fireproofed before final install.

“They felt like it would be appropriate for a short time until they could put something else in,” Irvine says of the ill-fated art. “They never intended to do anything bad, and it is gone now. We’re going to bring something back in that is hand-painted, like all of these other pieces are.”

Irvine on the size of the the new shop:

Its size was a challenge. “To shoehorn anything into tiny Disneyland is really hard,” Irvine says, adding, “a lot of people in merchandising would have preferred it was bigger.”

On the hanging corpse:

And there may still be more work to do inside the Mansion. When Imagineering last made updates to the attraction in 2021, Irvine’s team spoke of potentially removing the hanging corpse in the stretching room, noting such an image could be triggering for some guests. “We’re still looking at that,” Irvine says. “That one is complicated, structurally ... One thing at a time.”

First look: Disneyland's original Haunted Mansion returns with a heartbreaking new scene

In the ride’s trademark attic scene, there’s still a tortured bride, but she’s never quite looked or acted like this.

www.latimes.com

 

[Tha Realest]

Kim Irvine on the use of the AI image:


Irvine on the size of the the new shop:


On the hanging corpse:

First look: Disneyland's original Haunted Mansion returns with a heartbreaking new scene

In the ride’s trademark attic scene, there’s still a tortured bride, but she’s never quite looked or acted like this.

www.latimes.com

If it may be triggering to some guests, why not add a warning to the signs they have outside almost every attraction? The theme park equivalent of “Contains tobacco depictions”

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

The new bride seems like a win.

But jeez, Kim Irvine comes off really bad in that article. Getting mad at guests for having the audacity to notice the stock AI art in the shop. And confirming that she's determined to remove the hanging corpse even if it means invasive structural work on the stretching room, in order to appease... who exactly?

I'm glad that these are the creative superstars who WDI is entrusting the future of these classic attractions to.

 

[zipadee999]

If it may be triggering to some guests, why not add a warning to the signs they have outside almost every attraction? The theme park equivalent of “Contains tobacco depictions”

I think Universal has been doing that for a while. Especially with their older rides they’d always have a sign that says ‘Simulates a shark attack which may be intense and frightening.’

Disney has maybe refused to do this for immersion purposes, but a small sign outside of the mansion saying something like ‘The Haunted Mansion contains sights and sounds some may consider unnerving, look alive!’

There are ways to do it that would still be on-brand with the attraction. Plus, it’s not like that kind of stuff is on It’s a Small World. I think that people kind of expect it for Haunted attraction

Side note, the Bride looks great! I like that they reverted back to the mournful original story! Plus, the new portrait effect she was talking about reminds me of Phantom Manor

 

[CaptinEO]

How is it a structural challenge to remove the corpse? No ladders at WDI?

Also what about the dueling portraits, isn't that triggering due to use of firearms?

 

[duncedoof]

The LA Times has a first look at the new Bride scene in Haunted Mansion - here's the video (skip to 2:03 to go directly to the scene):



Link to the article with more details:

First look: Disneyland's original Haunted Mansion returns with a heartbreaking new scene

In the ride’s trademark attic scene, there’s still a tortured bride, but she’s never quite looked or acted like this.

www.latimes.com

I was expecting a lot more practicality from it. But it is a much more worthwhile effect, and much more stunning set piece. I still don't enjoy face projections, but at least they understood this time to leave room between the vehicle, and it, so that it's less jarring.

 

[duncedoof]

The new bride seems like a win.

But jeez, Kim Irvine comes off really bad in that article. Getting mad at guests for having the audacity to notice the stock AI art in the shop. And confirming that she's determined to remove the hanging corpse even if it means invasive structural work on the stretching room, in order to appease... who exactly?

I'm glad that these are the creative superstars who WDI is entrusting the future of these classic attractions to.

I think she only brought it up because they asked. They keep pestering about it. Look, I was positive this was the time they would do it. I don't see when they get another window of time like this one to implement a change like that. Maybe it doesn't happen after all.

Her attitude toward fans observations is very concerning, however.

Now, where are those new hitchhikers?

 

[Tha Realest]

I think she only brought it up because they asked. They keep pestering about it. Look, I was positive this was the time they would do it. I don't see when they get another window of time like this one to implement a change like that. Maybe it doesn't happen after all.

Her attitude toward fans observations is very concerning, however.

Now, where are those new hitchhikers?

It seems the time of unreasonable overreactions to those easily triggered may be paused for the time being?

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

Looks great! Kim definitely lost some respect from me though. I get what she's saying, but the way she's saying it and discussing fans is concerning. I can't wait to see the updated ride when I eventually go back though!