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Fans Furious Over Haunted Mansion Update, Slam Disney for Hypocrisy

On January 17, Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion officially reopened in its classic form after being closed for months, and then reopened with its spooky overlay. As many fans will recall, the ride temporarily shut down in January 2023 for an extensive renovation of its queue and the addition of a new shop outside the exit.

While it reopened in late July, it was in its Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay to coincide with the start of the Halloween season.

Exterior of Haunted Mansion Holiday, complete with Jack Skellington
Credit: Disney

Related: New Haunted Mansion Addition Faces Practically Universal Backlash from Fans

After Haunted Mansion Holiday closed on January 7, the attraction returned to its original state on January 17. Fans were ecstatic to experience the beloved ride again, having waited nearly 18 months since their last visit to the classic version.

However, a significant change to the beloved attraction has sparked heated debate among fans. While some appreciate the update, others are calling it unnecessary and even hypocritical.

Haunted Mansion
Credit: Disney

The Controversial Change

The most talked-about alteration involves the attic scene, where Constance Hatchaway, the infamous murderous bride, has been transformed. Previously, Constance stood prominently with her sharp axe, delivering chilling lines like, “Here comes the bride” and “As long as we both shall live.” This sinister character added a perfect dose of macabre humor to the Haunted Mansion.

Now, Constance appears without her signature axe, holding a candelabra and floating passively in the corner.

According to Imagineer Kim Irvine, this change was made to address modern sensitivities. In a statement, she explained:

“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. 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.”

Attic scene The Haunted Mansion Disneyland Constance Hatchaway Bride
Credit: Brett Kiger, Flickr

Related: Disney’s New Haunted Mansion Update Will Likely Be Divisive for Some Fans

Fan Reactions

The change has not been well-received by all. Many fans took to social media to express their frustrations, questioning Disney’s reasoning.

One X (formerly Twitter) user, @TheMickeyWiki, shared their disbelief:

“This is an INSANE quote.”

Related: Haunted Mansion Character Gets a Stunning New Design — Disney’s Latest Reveal!

Another fan, @FireBobcat, criticized the new narrative as regressive:

“The axe murderer story was fittingly scary, reverting her back into just a sad woman longing for her dead husbands sort of feels sexist lol. Heaven forbid a woman be a killer, her story is solely longing for men. And speaking of weird, ‘celebrating’ is a weird word choice. Meh.”

Related: Disney Under Fire for AI Use, Haunted Mansion Feature Vanishes

Hypocrisy Claims

The decision to alter Constance Hatchaway’s story has also drawn accusations of hypocrisy, particularly in light of Disney’s announcement of a Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom. This upcoming area is set to feature iconic villains like Maleficent and the Evil Queen, who have committed far worse acts than Constance.

X user @bigbanned1 remarked:

“Everyone’s saying it but I genuinely can’t comprehend how they’re gonna reconcile this mindset with a Villains Land.

I’m not even upset about the bride change, I think it looks good, but if this is really their reasoning… even having Gaston in the parks at all is INSANE, then.”

What’s Next for the Haunted Mansion?

In addition to the bride scene update, Imagineers announced plans to digitize the hitchhiking ghosts scene at the attraction’s finale. While these changes aim to modernize the ride, Disney has not confirmed whether similar Constance Hatchaway updates will come to the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World.

As the debate continues, Disney faces the challenge of balancing modern sensibilities with the timeless charm of its attractions. For now, fans remain divided over whether Constance’s transformation adds to or detracts from the Haunted Mansion’s haunting appeal.

What do you think of the changes to the Haunted Mansion? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!

3 Comments

  1. I think it is ridiculous to change from an axe to a candelabra. I understand Disney has to worry about people’s “sensitivities ” , but really!!! The ride is not a CELEBRATION of an axe murderer. It is a scary ride, and nothing is scary about a bride with a candelabra! If Disney is going to change everything in the parks to serve people with “sensitivities”, they are going to lose a lot of fans who like the classic magical Disney. What are they going to do for the Villains land, have the evil queen send Snow White for a time out! Everything in the Villians land will have to change the original storyline.

  2. Modern sensitivities be damned. This is a tough world, getting tougher all the time. Dumbing everything down and giving everyone participation trophies does nothing to help people cope with the real world. A scary ride should be just that, scary. If that’s too much for someone, let them ride the Teacups.

  3. I think what Disney needs to “Renovate” is half of their Imagineers. I get that rides need to be updated and changed, but serve people with “sensitivities”. Give me a break. That ride has been a around since 1969. Thank you, sorry, rant over.

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