Absorbent articles including improved elastic panels

An absorbent article comprising:

• a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the first waist region and the second waist region;
• a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet;
• and
• a side panel comprising:
• an ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate comprising an elastomeric layer and a substrate,
• a first panel region,
• a second panel region,
• an elastic region, and
• a first inelastic region;
• wherein the side panel is joined to the chassis at a chassis attachment bond and positioned in one of the first or second waist regions;
• wherein the first panel region comprises a side panel surface modification and wherein the second panel region is free of the side panel surface modification, creating a morphological difference between the first panel region and the second panel region;
• and
• wherein the first panel region is in at least partial overlapping relationship with the first inelastic region and wherein the second panel region is in at least partial overlapping relationship with the elastic region.