Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion reopened on January 18, with long-awaited updates to both the Bride and Hitchhiking Ghosts scene.
The queue of the Haunted Mansion was recently expanded in November of 2024. No major changes have been made since then, though the area did debut a new music loop by Ego Plum in December.
Stretching Room
No significant changes have been made to the stretching room, apart from some general maintenance and repair.
Despite multiple rumors that it would be removed, the hanging corpse remains at the end of this scene for now. Disney discussed the possible change in an article with the Los Angeles Times and stated that the removal is still on the table, but has been left for now due to the scene being structurally complicated.
Moving to the Haunted Mansion boarding area, the lighting effects on the changing pictures appear clearer and more well-defined. It is uncertain whether these projections have also turned digital or if the lights have just been cleaned for the first time in a while.
Bat in a Birdcage
The bat sitting inside a birdcage has been restored in the hallway scene. The bat hangs upside-down next to two glasses of what appears to be blood. Bones stick out the sides of the cage.
The bat was based on original concept art created by Marc Davis that was not included in the original attraction. Disneyland added the bat in the birdcage to the hallway in February of 2023, but it was mysteriously removed only a few days later. The bat made a short reappearance during the last run of Haunted Mansion Holiday, but it appears the creature may now be back for good.
Like many of the other effects, the ghosts dancing and hanging from the chandelier also appear more defined since the reopening.
New Bride Scene
We previously reported that sources indicated the updates to the scene would include an entirely new Bride, replacing the murderess Constance Hatchaway.
When the ride was last open in its standard form, the scene with Constance Hatchaway had no window behind where she once stood. The new ghost now stands in front of an open pointed window with stars visible in the background. A ghostly cat with one glowing eye also stands next to her on the ground.
The new Bride holds a candelabra and has a beating heart of bright red light. Imagineers alluded to the idea that the bride is also the invisible ghost carrying the floating candelabra in the previous hallway scene.
Graveyard Scene
Several new projections have been added to the graveyard scene, both near the Doombuggy and further in the background.
A new floating candelabra has also been placed next to the ghost singing opera, replacing a phantom in a tomb. This may also be related to the continuous storyline of the new Bride carrying it throughout the mansion. The thin scrim placed in front of the ghosts on this side also has a new projected fog effect.
Digital Hitchhiking Ghosts
The Hitchhiking Ghosts previously utilized the old classic effect of Pepper’s Ghost — the same effect used in the ballroom scene. This effect was achieved with actual figures in another room and their images projected into the mirrors.
That has since changed to digital projections of the ghosts.
Watch our full POV video of the updated Haunted Mansion below.
What do you think of the new updates to the Haunted Mansion? Let us know in the comments!
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