The Creepy Backstory of the Haunted Mansion’s Black Widow Bride

in Disneyland Resort, Haunted Attractions, Updates, Walt Disney World

A dimly lit room adorned with eerie decor, including an old portrait in an ornate frame and a ghostly figure of Constance Hatchaway, a bride in a glowing blue dress hovering mid-air. Shadows and dim light contribute to the haunting atmosphere.

Credit: Disney

“Here comes the bride…” — These are famous words spoken by the one and only Constance Hatchaway, who is also known as The Black Widow Bride.

Constance is one of the 999 Happy Haunts within Haunted Mansion, which is located in both Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida. But do you know her backstory? In this article, we are diving into everything we know about Constance Hatachway, including who she was, who she married, how she died, and more!

The Haunted Mansion’s Ghost Bride

Haunted mansion Constance hatchaway
Credit: Haunted Mansion Fandom

Constance Hatchaway, who is also known as The Black Widow Bride, is one of the 999 Happy Haunts within Haunted Mansion, which is located in both Disneyland in California, and in Walt Disney World in Florida.

According to Haunted Mansion Fandom, she is “arguably the most villainous and/or most dangerous presence on the ride, being the ghost of a bride with a murderous past life”.

Constance Hatchaway’s appearance

Constance is actually a revamped version of the original bride character, who was introduced in 2006. Along with the revamped look of her character, the attic scene that she is located in was also redesigned to reflect not only the new look of Constance but to showcase a much darker tone.

Constance Hatchaway is modeled after Julia Lee, and she is voiced by Kat Cressida.

Related: Daughter Of Original Madame Leota to Appear in ‘Muppets Haunted Mansion’

constance hatchaway
Credit: Haunted Mansion Fandom

In regards to what she looked like prior to becoming a ghost, in the photos lying around the attic, you can see she was a beautiful woman with blonde hair and pale skin. As she grew older, you could see her hair turn gray, and her posture became poor.

When Constance becomes a ghost, she gains a blue and opaque look as she wears her wedding dress and holds a hatchet.

Where can you find Constance Hatchaway?

stretching room haunted mansion
Credit: Disney

Constance Hatchaway is one of the 999 Happy Haunts within Haunted Mansion and can be found within the attic scene of the attraction located in both Disneyland in California and in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida.

But that’s not the only reference to Constance at Haunted Mansion. In fact, in the Walt Disney World version, as Guests enter the queue, they may notice a realistic-looking engagement ring embedded into the ground. Disney Imagineers put this in the new queue after guests noticed a cut-off stanchion that resembled a diamond ring in the cement outside the mansion. Many believed it belonged to the original Attic Bride, now known as Constance Hatchaway.

Additionally, according to many, Constance also appears as a portrait in the stretching room — the portrait that showcases an old woman sitting on a tombstone holding a red rose. As the stretching room, well, stretches, it is revealed that the old woman is sitting on top of the tombstone of her late husband George, whose bust she had plunged a hatchet into. Many speculate this to be Constance simply because of the variety of similarities, including the fact that George died from a hatchet.

phantom manor disneyland paris
Credit: Disney

For those of you wondering if Constance Hatchaway appears in Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris, the answer is no. Instead, this version of Haunted Mansion has a bride named Melanie Ravenswood and, according to reports, “serves as the counterpart to the Bride from a time before the Black Widow model was implemented in any park, possibly hinting that the role of the bride is intended to be one of tragedy to counter the Ghost Host’s role as a villain and Madame Leota’s role as a neutral figure.”

Haunted Mansion’s Constance Hatchaway’s Dead Husbands

Constance hatchaway haunted mansion
Credit: Disney

Constance Hatchaway is one of the most intriguing characters in the Haunted Mansion. Though many of the details of her backstory remain a mystery, what we do know is that she was a beautiful woman who sought out wealth and luxury. She married several rich men, including bankers and businessmen, and immediately murdered them after their wedding. (Til death do us part).

According to Haunted Mansion Fandom:

Constance Hatchaway was a beautiful woman who sought to obtain wealth and luxury. She accomplished this by marrying several rich men, including bankers, businessmen, farmers, and barons. However, each was murdered after the wedding by the deadly bride, decapitated with a hatchet so that she could claim their inheritance. Despite her crimes, she was never punished (likely due to lack of evidence), though the public did dub her “The Black Widow Bride”.

So, who exactly were her husbands, and what were their stories? Well, we know of the following characters, courtesy of the Haunted Mansion Fandom:

  • Ambrose Harper: The naive but good-intentioned son of successful farmers (married in 1869)
  • Frank Banks: An eastern banker and community pillar (married in 1872)
  • The Marquis de Doome: A foreign diplomat with a military past (married in 1874)
  • Reginald Caine: A celebrated railroad baron, gambler, and world-renowned gourmand (married in 1875)
  • George Hightower: A (possible) relative of the wealthy hotel owner/explorer Harrison Hightower III (married in 1877)
  • Final Husband: It was her final husband who was one of the many owners of the titular mansion. After murdering Hightower, Constance decided that she was satisfied with the wealth she had accumulated and settled down in her newly inherited mansion.

Constance died of unknown causes, though many Haunted Mansion fans speculate it was old age. After Constance passed away, her spirit became a permanent resident of the Haunted Mansion. She resides in the attic, where she can be seen standing next to her past wedding gifts and portraits of her dead husbands and admitting to her crimes as Guests pass by.

Constance says many wedding-related lines, including “Here comes the bride,” “As long as we both shall live,” “For better or for… worse,” “I do. I did,” “In sickness and in… wealth,” “You may now kiss the bride,” “We’ll live happily ever after,” and, of course, “Till death… do us part…”

Is Constance Hatchaway Too Scary for a Disney Ride?

Constance Hatchaway might seem a bit spooky at first glance, but whether she’s too scary for kids is up for debate! Just how scary is Constance?

Atmosphere vs. Appearance: Constance isn’t your typical ghost; her spectral appearance combined with her sly grin and glowing eyes can feel intense, especially in the dimly lit attic scene. For younger or sensitive kids, the combination of her ghostly figure and the darker atmosphere of the ride can be unnerving.

Creepy Backstory: While most kids won’t catch onto the full storyline, adults often find Constance’s dark history of multiple deceased husbands a bit unsettling. However, Disney cleverly keeps this backstory subtle—most kids will just see a spooky bride without grasping the darker undertones.

Jump Scares or Not?: Unlike some other Haunted Mansion characters, Constance doesn’t jump out or make loud noises, so the fear factor comes more from her eerie presence than any startling actions. The slow, ghostly nature of her movements makes her less “jump scare” and more “creepy ghost story.”

constance hatchaway bride haunted mansion
Credit: Disney

Is She Too Scary for Kids?

Depends on the Child: Every child’s tolerance for spookiness varies. Some may find Constance fascinating or even funny in a ghostly way, while others could find her unsettling. It’s always a good idea to gauge how your child reacts to similar spooky themes before taking them on the ride.

The Overall Haunted Mansion Experience: The Haunted Mansion itself is designed to be more whimsical than terrifying, blending humor with mild spookiness. Constance’s scene is brief and flows into other, less intense parts of the attraction, like the lively ballroom or the playful graveyard.

Preparation Helps: If you think Constance might be a bit much, preparing your child beforehand can make a big difference. Watch some videos, talk about her backstory in a lighthearted way, or focus on the fun, ghostly party happening throughout the mansion.

More on Haunted Mansion at Disney Parks

Haunted Mansion at night
Credit: Disney

The spirited Haunted Mansion adventure is guided by the “disembodied voice of the Ghost Host” as he is your private tour guide “through the cadaverous realm of an eerie haunted estate, home to ghosts, ghouls and supernatural surprises.” Beware of hitchhiking ghosts!

Disney World describes this attraction as:

The disembodied voice of the Ghost Host is your private guide through the cadaverous realm of an eerie haunted estate, home to ghosts, ghouls and supernatural surprises.

Glide past a casket-filled conservatory, Madame Leota’s chilling séance room and a ghostly graveyard of singing specters as you attempt to find your way out. Beware of hitchhikers—these phantom pranksters may follow you home.

Happy haunting!

Haunted Mansion at night
Credit: Disney

Related: Headless Horseman Fall Captured on Video During Disney World’s Halloween Party

The official description of the Disneyland ride reads:

Dearly depart into a foreboding estate, drag your body to the dead center of the Portrait Chamber and watch as the walls begin to stretch before your eyes. Climb into your waiting Doom Buggy and embark on a shivering journey into an unearthly realm.

The disembodied voice of the Ghost Host is your private guide through the cadaverous dwelling—home to grinning ghosts and other spectral surprises.

Glide past a rattling casket in the conservatory. Head off to Madame Leota’s spooky séance room. Float by the Grand Ballroom and its waltzing apparitions. Take a spin through a cemetery where the spirited residents regale you with song.

Beware of lurking hitchhikers—these phantom pranksters may try to follow you home!

The Haunted Mansion sign at Disneyland Park
Credit: Disney

Final Thoughts

Here comes the bride… Constance Hatchaway, also known as The Black Widow Bride, is one of the most notorious and eerie characters in Disney’s Haunted Mansion, located in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Constance’s dark backstory of multiple murdered husbands, combined with her spectral appearance in the attic scene, makes her one of the more chilling figures in the attraction.

With glowing eyes, a sly smile, and a hatchet in hand, Constance is a revamped version of the original bride character, introduced in 2006 to add a darker tone to the attraction.

Though her presence can be unsettling, especially for younger children, Disney cleverly balances her spooky nature with the overall whimsical and playful atmosphere of the Haunted Mansion, making her a thrilling part of the 999 Happy Haunts for brave visitors to encounter.

Do you find Constance Hatchaway too creepy or is she the perfect dose of scary for the Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments! 

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