Disneyland Resort

[Jake S]

Apparently they are indeed considering it, and have been since 2021. The only thing holding them back is probably just trying to figure out what to put in its place.

Disney 'looking at' removing hanging corpse from Haunted Mansion: 'That one is complicated'

Disney parks are 'looking at' removing the hanging corpse from the Haunted Mansion ride's stretching room at Disneyland and Disney World.

ew.com

This is the quote from todays article:

 

[belloq87]

On a storytelling level, the fate of the Ghost Host is actually very important in establishing a sinister and threatening edge. And even when we discover, later in the ride, that the spirits are mostly just partying, there is still a straight-faced macabre thread running through it that begins with that pre-show.

Of course, as we've seen before, narrative coherence isn't much of a priority for Disney when they tinker with their classic attractions (starting all the way back with the extended queue at MK's Mansion, which features some light ghostly goings-on way before that stuff should be experienced by us within the story of the attraction).

So I expect, if they do replace that element in the stretching room, it will be with something much more overtly comedic and silly, done with little thought about what that does to the overall attraction.

 

[Jake S]

Of course, as we've seen before, narrative coherence isn't much of a priority for Disney when they tinker with their classic attractions (starting all the way back with the extended queue at MK's Mansion, which features some light ghostly goings-on way before that stuff should be experienced by us within the story of the attraction).

I agree with you in principle, but part of what has made the Haunted Mansion so enduringly interesting is its total lack of narrative coherence. That said, it's pretty clear which of those two halves current executives are, ah, more amenable to.

 

[belloq87]

I agree with you in principle, but part of what has made the Haunted Mansion so enduringly interesting is its total lack of narrative coherence.

I'm not talking about plotting, but more in terms of structure.

Certainly at WDW, it was carefully designed to have a clear progression and escalation starting before you even get into the queue (a little less so at Disneyland's, which doesn't have as much of a "spooky" exterior). The deeper you get into the attraction, the more overt supernatural stuff gradually gets added in.

Or at least that's how it used to be, because now you can "play" with some of the ghosts at their crypts before you even get into the building, and there's the Hatbox Ghost just hanging out in a hallway!

 

[TheUniC6]

An interesting thing I heard from a poster on WDWMagic. He was riding the Red Car Trolley to get one last ride in. It just so happened representatives from the SoCal Railway Museum. He goes on to say this:

"They were filming the last days of the Trolley for their YouTube channel. The fellow who seemed to be in charge said that Disney offered to sell the Red Car's tracks to the museum, but they declined because the tracks were wrong for their operation."

"If this guy was on the level and Disney plans on tearing out the tracks and are looking to sell them, that doesn't bode well for the Red Car ever coming back."

"Anyway, pinch of salt and all that. It's just what I overheard."

Southern California Railway Museum - Bringing Railway History to Life

Explore the West’s largest collection of railway locomotives, streetcars, electric cars, buildings & other artifacts dating from the 1870’s. Ride streetcars & trains on the Museum railway, visit the collection of more than 200 railway vehicles, & experience the early days of electric, steam, &...

socalrailway.org

 

[Jerroddragon]

I mean, the ride is very cool but....sadly people don't ride it and unlike the main street vehicles which connect to Walt...these just are not that old so they don't see any issue just taking them away

On another note, I was thinking that they could be uses for a blue print and have an above land version of the Trolley that takes you around san fransokyo, it would add a ride to the land and be pretty cool

But it would ruin some nice shots of the land and cost wayyyy too much for draw it would have in the park...but more of a fun what if Idea

 

[pumpkinbot343]

Something about the Bride’s face projection seems really off to me, I’m not sure what it is.

 

[Jake S]

for those interested, the piece I was working on has gone up. I’ll be curious to see the reactions to the new queue, bride and (especially) hitchhiking ghosts today.

 

[Jerroddragon]

people literally got excited when they heard hanging rope was still there

Don’t take this out, if Disney wants to prevent more suicides pay your workers more so many are homeless and more can afford mental health help

I believe the candle stick in the endless hallway is different match the bride and her casket stick appears in a grave before the the hitchhiking ghosts

The hitchhiking ghosts are also much better

They look like they are right next to you and super clear to see

 

[Freak]

people literally got excited when they heard hanging rope was still there

Don’t take this out, if Disney wants to prevent more suicides pay your workers more so many are homeless and more can afford mental health help

I believe the candle stick in the endless hallway is different match the bride and her casket stick appears in a grave before the the hitchhiking ghosts

The hitchhiking ghosts are also much better

They look like they are right next to you and super clear to see

I’m gonna see for myself on the 28th, but I’m very happy to hear that they kept the hanging body. I’m tired of everything being overly sanitized. The kiddies could use a scare every once in a while.

I’ll reserve my judgement about the Hitchhiking ghosts when I see them in person. I do t like what I heard but hopefully it’s an improvement when I see it.

It sounds like for the most part they made some true upgrades. I’m looking forward to it!

 

[belloq87]

for those interested, the piece I was working on has gone up. I’ll be curious to see the reactions to the new queue, bride and (especially) hitchhiking ghosts today.

Great piece.

I had no idea they'd changed the bride's backstory, but in hindsight, of course they did. Can't have anything genuinely sinister in this.... *checks notes* haunted house attraction!

And Irvine's quotes are pretty horrifying, really.

 

[DrStarlander]

I had no idea they'd changed the bride's backstory, but in hindsight, of course they did. Can't have anything genuinely sinister in this.... *checks notes* haunted house attraction!

I can't quite follow all the historic twists and turns of the Haunted Mansion backstory, but the gist I get is that the Constance Hatchaway bride who butchered her husbands has been nixed (according to current-day WDI) and now she's a bride who has "lost" all her husbands and is sad about it.

Well...here's how I'm looking at it: Disney is presenting the bride as sad about mysteriously losing her husbands. And that is true, she is sad. And confused as to why they're gone. But like Jeckle & Hyde, she has a dual...and very sinister...other personality, who did chop her husbands up. But the bride we see in the attic doesn't know that other, darker half of herself...the side of herself that is compelled to kill.

 

[Jake S]

And Irvine's quotes are pretty horrifying, really.

Yeah, I find the quotes more disturbing than any of the changes (though, I'm not a fan!) because it indicates the whole department is at best rudderless and at worst going the wrong direction.

I do think, in fairness, nixing the Bride's murdery backstory is only negating a relatively short period of the attraction's history. She had no story at all until the mid-2000s and I think this more somber story better reflects the vibe in the attic. That said, the justification given for changing the backstory is absolutely nuts.

 

[DrStarlander]

Back before this backstage gate was there, I posted an image in this discussion showing this ugly behind-the-Madame-Leota-shop area and showed how high of a gate would be needed to block the unsightly mechanical stuff going on back here.

Unfortunately, and inexplicably, Disney put a transparent gate here...because they want 2,000 people per hour to get a good look at this area? (It's just missing an employee smoking a cigarette back there to fully realize its disappointing potential.)

There are opaque Cast Members Only doors and gates all over Disneyland, in fact...I kind of feel like pretty much every other Cast Member Only gate is opaque. It's kind of the point....to separate On Stage from Back Stage.

And many are quite tall. Yes, a quite tall, opaque gate would have been the right call here.

 

[HauntedTyty]

Something about the Bride’s face projection seems really off to me, I’m not sure what it is.

Yeah I thought the same thing. Its like nose comes to a weird point, almost like they are projecting onto a cone shape.

 

[saint.piss]

Cute

 

[DrStarlander]

Wonder if the umbrella is there to keep people from walking into the post.

 

[Ron101]

This whole building has questionable design and placement that you’d think they looked at.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Imagine paying 150+ bucks and this is what you get.....



Besdies that many of the other shows like the one at the Fantasyland theater are good enough



For me this was the highlight of the entertainment, sucks they only do it on after hour events

 

[Ron101]

Still sells out somehow every year. I even know people with highest tier Magic Keys that buy the after hour event tickets smh.