The Haunted Mansion is one of the premiere attractions in any Disney Park. From versions of the iconic ride in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World to attractions like Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris and Mystic Manor in Hong Kong Disneyland, the Haunted Mansion is a huge part of most Disney vacations.
A photo of the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom via Disney Parks website
That’s why major changes to the attraction’s story and overall presentation are often over-examined by the fanbase and media. Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, the original incarnation of the attraction, is currently undergoing a massive refurbishment that began back in January 2024.
When the attraction opens again later this year it will be for its annual Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay with Nightmare Before Christmas characters injected into the mansion’s various scenes. But when it resumes standard operations in 2025, rumors are flying that it will come back without one iconic moment. This rumor was first reported by WDW News Today.
A photo of the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom via Disney Parks website
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The Stretching Room is a hugely popular moment, with guests (infuriatingly in most instances) speaking along with the Ghost Host narrator as the room around them stretches to reveal ghastly portraits (I want to hear The Ghost Host say it! Not you!). The Disneyland version of this room is actually an elevator that transports guests down one level to access the ride.
But a major moment from this epic pre-show might not return. The hanging corpse that swings from a noose overhead may be permanently covered in response to internal concerns over sensitivity issues regarding suicide.
A photo of the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom via Disney Parks website
We’ve seen Disney go to great lengths to purge the parks of perceived “problematic” elements in the past, and it’s usually not met with a lot of enthusiasm from fans. Most notably, Splash Mountain was closed and replaced with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in response to supposed racist elements found within the ride. Pirates of the Caribbean’s iconic auction scene was also changed to accommodate modern sensibilities and inject a female pirate into the mix.
The Country Bear Jamboree will be re-opening later this month with a whole new show after the long-running animatronic presentation was altered with Disney IP music to replace songs many decried as offensive. These include “All The Men Who Turn Me On Turn Me Down,” “Blood On A Saddle,” and “Mama Don’t Whoop Little Beauford.”
Many of these changes were internal decisions and didn’t seem to be based on actual guest feedback.
Promotional image of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure via Disney World website
Removing the hanging corpse in the stretching room was an idea floated several years ago with Disney Imagineer Michele Hobbs noting that it had “been discussed.” She described it then as “definitely something that we’re thinking about.”
The hanging corpse has long been believed to be the body of The Ghost Host who takes guests through the Haunted Mansion. So, its inclusion has always been, to many, an integral part of the attraction’s overarching story.
A photo of the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom via Disney Parks website
What are your thoughts on Disney potentially changing the Haunted Mansion to remove this iconic element? Will this stop you from booking a Disney vacation or going into the Haunted Mansion? And what else will Disney change in its quest to create a more PC-friendly park experience? Are they offending more people while trying to be less offensive? Let us know in the comments.
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