The Haunted Mansion has welcomed Foolish Mortals into the boundless realms of the supernatural for years, but the manor still holds several secrets. As the Disneyland original unveils new tricks and treats for upcoming guests, one new addition adds another layer to the lore.
One thing Disney has absolutely mastered is environmental storytelling, and no ride does that better than the Haunted Mansion. However, some of this attention to detail can also bleed over outside the queue line. One fan made an interesting observation regarding a hot piece of Haunted Mansion merch that reveals a little more than some might think.
Here comes the bride...
If you've been keeping up with some of the developments out of the Disney Parks, you'll have heard about the changes surrounding Disneyland's ghostly bride. While some suspect that Constance Hatchaway might be getting ready to retire, others suspect the new drop-dead diva might be a familiar callback to the original.
A recent post on The Haunted Mansion's subreddit shared a very interesting detail in an official piece of Disney merch that not only reveals more of her identity but expands her role in the ride's overall story as well.
In the story of the Gracey Manor, guests are ushered into its ghostly halls, and the spirits begin to materialize gradually. This is represented by effects like the invisible pianist, footsteps on the ceiling. and breathing doors. However, before Madame Leota calls in the spirits with her seance, the guests are taken down an endless hallway where a floating candelabra lights the way.
In a new piece of official Disney artwork (seen here), Disneyland's Attic Bride is shown holding the exact same candelabra, implying that she has been stalking the guests from the very beginning. In a twisted way, she also mirrors the role of the Hatbox Ghost in the Walt Disney World version as well.
While this has neither been confirmed or denied by the Walt Disney Company, it's impressive to see Disney giving this much attention to the lore outside the ride. It's certainly given some depth to an otherwise standard-issue spooky character.
Have you been stalked by the ghostly bride?