Summary
- Constance Hatchaway’s haunting makeover includes a ghostly presence and a candelabra tribute.
- Disney blends classic Haunted Mansion elements with modern technology in Constance’s update.
- The new bride version narrates a story of lost love while honoring the attraction’s history.
On January 18, 2025, Disneyland‘s traditional Haunted Mansion reopened after an extensive refurbishment, featuring significant updates that enhance the experience while preserving the ride’s beloved history. One of the most talked-about changes is the makeover of Constance Hatchaway, the infamous bride who has been a staple of the Haunted Mansion’s spooky lore. Known for her dark humor and grisly reputation for “severing ties” with her husbands, Constance has captivated Disneyland guests since her debut in the iconic attraction.
Hints of this transformation first surfaced with the opening of Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond gift shop near the Haunted Mansion. Observant fans noticed some artwork on the shop’s walls depicting a mysterious, spectral bride, sparking speculation about an upcoming update. Now, with the help of cutting-edge projection technology, Disney has confirmed that Constance’s spectral presence has received a hauntingly beautiful update. In her new incarnation, Constance appears as a ghostly figure floating before guests, clutching a physical three-pronged candelabra.
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According to the Los Angeles Times, Constance also features a beating red heart, paying tribute to the attraction’s original bride figure from 1969. This design choice evokes nostalgia while blending the classic elements of the Haunted Mansion with modern technological advancements. Unlike her previous portrayal—which showcased Constance in a wedding gown holding a hatchet, a nod to her sinister backstory—the new version presents her as grief-stricken and lovesick.
The Haunted Mansion Bride Gets a Chilling Makeover
Kim Irvine, Disneyland’s longtime creative director with Imagineering, explained the shift in narrative: “We thought, what if we change the story back a little bit to the original story that the Imagineers had about a lost bride in the attic mourning the loss of her husbands,” Irvine told the Times. “It was a sad thing. It was a story about lost love.” Irvine also revealed that the candelabra held by the bride, which debuted alongside the reopening of Haunted Mansion on January 18, 2025, is identical to the one featured in the hall scene earlier in the ride. This update suggests that the bride is now roaming throughout the mansion. The same candelabra will make another appearance in the cemetery scene during the ride’s finale.
This isn’t the first time Disney has reimagined the fan-favorite character. When the Haunted Mansion opened in 1969, the bride featured a physical beating heart, a chilling detail that made her a standout figure. Over the years, Constance’s portrayal evolved, with her hatchet-wielding persona becoming an iconic part of the attraction’s lore. Disney changed the characters’ depiction again in the 1990s. Then, in 2006, Hatchaway, who is known for killing her husbands, debuted. Now, this latest redesign merges the past and present, creating a poignant and eerie homage to her origins.
Beyond character updates, the refurbishment introduced major improvements to the Haunted Mansion’s exterior and guest experience. The outdoor queue has been completely redesigned, offering fresh sights and sounds as visitors approach the mansion’s entrance. Although the original queue was removed, iconic elements like the pet cemetery have been carefully preserved and integrated into the reimagined grounds. These redesigned gardens now boast lush landscaping and intricate details that further immerse guests in the mansion’s gothic atmosphere.