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Phantom Manor is a
dark ride A dark ride—or ghost train when horror themed—is an indoor amusement ride on which passengers aboard guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain Animatronics, animation, sound, music and Special effect#Live spe ...
attraction in
Frontierland Frontierland is one of the "themed lands" at the many Disneyland-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company, Disney around the world. Themed to the American frontier of the 19th century, Frontierlands are home to cowboys and Settler, pioneers, ...
at Disneyland Park in
Disneyland Paris Disneyland Paris is an entertainment resort in Marne-la-Vallée, France, located about east of Paris. It encompasses two theme parks, seven Disney-owned hotels, two convention centers, a golf course, an arena, and a shopping, dining and entert ...
. Phantom Manor is the park's version of
The Haunted Mansion The Haunted Mansion is a dark ride, dark-ride attraction located at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland. The haunted house attraction features a ride-through tour in Omnimover vehicles called “Doom Buggies”, and a walk-through s ...
attractions at
Disneyland Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, ...
,
Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom Park is a Amusement park, theme park at the Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. It opened on October 1, 1971, and is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Disney Experiences, Expe ...
and
Tokyo Disneyland is a theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney park t ...
, although it is designed to be darker in tone compared to other Haunted Mansion rides. It opened with Euro Disneyland on April 12, 1992. The attraction combines a walk-through portion with Omnimover vehicles and features special effects and
Audio-Animatronics Audio-Animatronics (also known simply as AAs) are a form of Mechatronics, mechatronic animatronics puppetry created by Walt Disney Imagineering and Trademark, trademarked by The Walt Disney Company for use in designed shows and attractions at Disn ...
. This version of the ride has a distinct plot, compared to the largely ambiguous story lines of the other Haunted Mansion attractions in Disney parks. The ride also features a unique orchestral soundtrack, differing from the American and Japanese versions.


History

While planning Euro Disneyland, Tony Baxter, executive designer for
Walt Disney Imagineering Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, Inc.—commonly referred to as Walt Disney Imagineering, Imagineering, or WDI—is the research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation, design, and construc ...
, decided that certain staple Disney attractions would likely have to be modified to fit the altered tastes and preferences of a European audience. The
Haunted Mansion Haunted Mansion may also refer to: *Haunted house, house or other structure inhabited by disembodied spirits *Haunted attraction (simulated), a type of amusement attraction Disney * The Haunted Mansion, a dark ride attraction located at multiple ...
was among these, and the Imagineers saw the new iteration of the ride as an opportunity to expand and build on past ideas. Jeff Burke was assigned the role of executive producer for the construction of this park's version of Frontierland and, with help from Imagineer Bob Baranick and show writer Craig Fleming, it was decided that the story related to Phantom Manor would have to be congruent with that of Thunder Mesa, the fictional town portrayed in Frontierland. A similar treatment was given to the Paris version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. A major influence for the story of the ride was
Gaston Leroux Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux (; 6 May 186815 April 1927) was a French journalist and author of detective fiction. In the English-speaking world, he is best known for writing the novel ''The Phantom of the Opera'' (, 1909), which has been made int ...
's novel, ''
The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera may refer to: Novel * The Phantom of the Opera (novel), ''The Phantom of the Opera'' (novel), 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux Characters * Erik (The Phantom of the Opera), Erik (''The Phantom of the Opera''), the title char ...
'', the secondary plot focusing on the abandoned bride
Miss Havisham Miss Havisham is a character in Charles Dickens's 1861 novel ''Great Expectations''. She is a wealthy spinster, once jilted at the altar, who insists on wearing her wedding dress for the rest of her life. She lives in a ruined mansion with her ...
from
Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...
' ''
Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by English author Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. The novel is a bildungsroman and depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip. It is Dickens' second novel, after ''Dav ...
'', as well as many European Gothic legends, which were altered for a
Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
setting. Imagineer Marc Davis disliked the derelict aspect of the building, stating "
Walt Walt is a masculine given name, generally a short form of Walter (name), Walter, and occasionally a surname. Notable people with the name include: People Given name * Walt Anderson (American football) (born 1952), American football official * Walt ...
would never approve of it." However, the designers of the attraction thought that many guests would expect a haunted house attraction to look dilapidated and would likely be confused if the façade had a spotless appearance like the American mansions. The architecture is in the
Second Empire style Second Empire style, also known as the Napoleon III style, is a highly Eclecticism in architecture, eclectic style of architecture and decorative arts originating in the Second French Empire. It was characterized by elements of many differe ...
. Inspiration for Paris's Frontierland architecture was provided by historic buildings in Virginia City, Nevada, specifically the Fourth Ward School for Phantom Manor.


Story


Old Version (1992-2018)

Henry Ravenswood (born 1795) was a Western settler who struck gold in Big Thunder Mountain and founded the Thunder Mesa Mining Company, thus creating the city of Thunder Mesa (
Frontierland Frontierland is one of the "themed lands" at the many Disneyland-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company, Disney around the world. Themed to the American frontier of the 19th century, Frontierlands are home to cowboys and Settler, pioneers, ...
as a whole). Ravenswood became rich and built himself a Victorian manor high on Boot Hill overlooking Big Thunder Mountain, where he lived with his wife Martha (born 1802) and his daughter, Melanie Ravenswood (born 1842). Big Thunder Mountain was rumored by
natives There is no generally accepted definition of Indigenous peoples, although in the 21st century the focus has been on self-identification, cultural difference from other groups in a state, a special relationship with their traditional territ ...
to be home to the Thunder Bird, a powerful spirit possessing a treasure. According to the legend, its wrath could be materialized into a terrible earthquake. However, Ravenswood would not believe such stories. Years went by and the gold in Big Thunder Mountain became scarce, making miners dig deeper into the mountain. Melanie grew from a young girl into a beautiful young woman and became drawn to several suitors who planned to take her far away from Thunder Mesa, much to the dismay of Henry. Henry did everything he could to stop this, with the first four being subjected to various cruel fates. His useless attempts to stop Melanie in the midst of being engaged to a train engineer named Jake were put to a stop when a terrible earthquake killed him and Martha. It seemed the Thunder Bird had been awakened and the family was never heard of again. After several years, the story of what really happened came out from underneath the rubble: On Melanie's wedding day, a mysterious Phantom unknown to anyone appeared in the house. While Melanie was preparing in her room, the Phantom lured Jake up to the attic where he hanged him by the neck from the rafters. In the ballroom, the bride sat alone. Hours went by with no sign of the groom. Guests slowly filed away, leaving Melanie alone in the house with the staff of maids and butlers. "Some day", she told herself, "he will come". And so, having never taken off her
wedding dress A wedding dress or bridal gown is the dress worn by the bride during a wedding ceremony. The color, style and ceremonial importance of the gown can depend on the religion and culture of the wedding participants. Wedding dresses hold a significan ...
or dropped her flower bouquet, in preparation for her loved one's return, she wandered the house aimlessly, singing melancholy songs of lost love. But the Phantom was still in the house, laughing at her human devotion to her intended husband. One after one, he invited his dead, demonic friends from the afterlife to fill the house in an eternal party. A dark curse fell upon the house and the shape of the house was slowly transformed by the evil forces. No one ever set foot in the house ever since. Inside and outside, the house was decaying with age. Dusty cobwebs covered every inch, the disheartened staff not caring, for it was rumored that Melanie had lost her mind. She wandered the house for years and years, singing softly to her groom, while all around her demons and ghosts reveled and danced. Everywhere she went she was reminded of the wedding. The Phantom's eternal laughter still carried through the walls of the house. Outside, the once beautiful grounds were falling apart and crumbling. The gilded staircase and structure were dotted with mold and trees and every plant on the grounds died. As if sensing the evil inherent in the house, nothing living ever trod there. Even so, Melanie kept her hopes, waiting for her love's return and never figured why he didn't show up at the wedding. The earthquake that killed her parents all those years ago cut a huge gouge in the west half of the property and in the crumbling ghost town of the old Thunder Mesa. The deserted buildings were rumored to be called Phantom Canyon, the dark supernatural version of the town and anyone who entered the ghastly old town at night never came back. Today, no one knows if Melanie Ravenswood is still alive in that old house on the hill. If she is, then she is well over 100 years old. Her beautiful voice still carries over the town at night though, through the walls of the house and night air. And sometimes, people still see lights in the house. Some nights, when the moon is full and the sky is clear of clouds, one can still hear the lonely mourning of the bride, the maniacal laughter of the Phantom, and the faint tinkle of glass and the laughter of party guests. Whether she is alive or not, what is well known is that poor Melanie never really left the crumbling mansion. She waits for her groom for all eternity. Many people believe the Phantom to be Melanie's late father, Henry Ravenswood, seeking vengeance from beyond the grave. Others believe that it is the pure spirit of evil, and that a curse was placed upon the young girl.


New Version (2019-)

For the 2019 refurbishment, the story was slightly revised in addition to the new effects, these include: * The confirmation that the Phantom was indeed Henry Ravenswood, who vowed that no one would marry his daughter no matter what, using various means, including direct murder. (Previously, the Phantom's identity was left ambiguous pre 2019 refurb, on whether or not it was really him or some evil presence that awakened from the earthquake that killed him and his wife, and collapsed the mines inside of Big Thunder Mountain.) * Instead of simply Jake, Melanie had a variety of suitors (Barry Claude, Sawyer Bottom, Captain Rowan D. Falls, and Ignatius "Iggy" Knight), who all were killed in various accidents implied to be staged by the Phantom, just before or after they married his daughter. * Melanie becoming aware of the phantom that terrorized and killed all her potential husbands (implied via the changes to the ride post 2019 refurb, although it is still ambiguous if she came to realize if it was her father, or if she knew it was her father from the start), before outright being driven mad in the process and resulting in her complete allegiance to the Phantom after her death, with her spirit offering to marry riders at the climax in the new version of the ride.


Attraction

Like the
Haunted Mansion Haunted Mansion may also refer to: *Haunted house, house or other structure inhabited by disembodied spirits *Haunted attraction (simulated), a type of amusement attraction Disney * The Haunted Mansion, a dark ride attraction located at multiple ...
s located in other Disney parks, only the introduction of the ride (the Octagonal Portrait Gallery) takes place in the visible Manor façade. The actual ride itself takes place in a large warehouse-style show building hidden behind the Manor. Phantom Manor's Omnimover portion is similar to the
Disneyland Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, ...
Haunted Mansion's system. The track layouts of both are almost identical, but not completely. The main difference is that Phantom Manor's track is slightly longer, primarily to accommodate the Phantom Canyon scenes that substitute for the graveyard scenes in the other rides. Many scenes from the classic Haunted Mansions are replicated, but altered to incorporate the new Western theme and plot, such as the Octagonal Portrait Gallery, the Portrait Corridor, the Endless Hallway, the Conservatory, the Corridor of Doors, Madame Leota’s Seance Room, the Ballroom, and even the busts singing ''Grim Grinning Ghosts''.


Outside queue

In the original Haunted Mansions at
Disneyland Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, ...
, the
Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom Park is a Amusement park, theme park at the Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. It opened on October 1, 1971, and is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Disney Experiences, Expe ...
and
Tokyo Disneyland is a theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney park t ...
, the mansion was designed to look clean and aesthetically pleasing. Phantom Manor, however, is designed to look clearly derelict and stands at the top of a small hill, looking out onto the southern side of Big Thunder Mountain, with a commanding view of the washed out trestle, the mine elevator, and the second lift hill. The Manor's grounds are untended, overgrown with weeds and scattered with dead vegetation. Upon entering the grounds, guests can see a
bat Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...
guard box and a plaque on the wall which reads ''Phantom Manor – Non Omnis Moriar'' (
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
for "I shall not die completely"). A derelict
gazebo A gazebo is a pavilion structure, sometimes octagonal or Gun turret, turret-shaped, often built in a park, garden, or spacious public area. Some are used on occasions as bandstands. In British English, the word is also used for a tent-like can ...
stands on the lawn that has a tea set laid out. Originally, these used to move to mimic two people pouring and drinking tea; at night, the light in the gazebo flickers. The gazebo also contains a
music box A music box (American English) or musical box (British English) is an automatic musical instrument in a box that produces Musical note, musical notes by using a set of pins placed on a revolving cylinder (geometry), cylinder or disc to pluck ...
playing within (since 2001, this music box track is also used in Disneyland's version for use on the annual seasonal overlay). This is also the only mansion in any of the parks that has guests enter the ride through the front door. Shadows and lights can be seen from within the house at nighttime. Melanie can also be seen from a window in the façade carrying a candle from one window to the next.


The Foyer

Guests walk up the pathways towards the Manor, along the
porch A porch (; , ) is a room or gallery located in front of an entrance to a building. A porch is placed in front of the façade of a building it commands, and forms a low front. Alternatively, it may be a vestibule (architecture), vestibule (a s ...
and queue outside the house where they wait for admission. A cast member dressed as a macabre servant opens the doors and invites a small group of them into the foyer.


Original version (1992–2018)

The foyer contains a dusty chandelier and two mirrors, and is lined with dark wood panelling. The voice of the Phantom sounds from the ceiling and around the room, politely welcoming guests, telling them the legend of the manor and inviting them to explore the place further. Melanie's face fades in and out of the smallest mirror during the narration.


New version (2019–present)

In the 2019 refurbishment, an additional effect was added to the foyer. The small mirror was replaced by a painting of Melanie in her wedding gown, looking sad, and her father Henry Ravenswood, looking angry, standing behind her outside the decrepit house with both hands on her shoulders. A bare tree is also behind them with four hearts crossed out and a noose hanging from one of its branches. As the Phantom begins recounting the legend of the Manor, the painting changes. It now shows a happier Melanie, dressed in summer clothes, while Henry is smiling and resting one hand on Melanie's shoulder. The Manor is in pristine condition, and the tree, now with leaves, has one heart and a swing hanging from its branches. Lighting effects also transform the wallpaper in the room from old and torn to brand-new. The Phantom was originally voiced by
Vincent Price Vincent Leonard Price Jr. (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993) was an American actor. He was known for his work in the horror film genre, mostly portraying villains. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. Price ...
, but legal agreements required the narration to be primarily in French. Within a few months after the attraction first opened, writer and dub voice actor Gérard Chevalier was brought in to record a French version of Price's narration. However, a small piece of Price's recording was kept in use: the Phantom's maniacal laughter. As part of the refurbishment, parts of Price's narration were restored to the ride's soundtrack. The new tracks feature Price once again, original excerpts as well as previously unused material from his 1990 recording, spoken English, with French actor Bernard Alane voicing the parts in French. The Phantom says (French lines ''in italics'', translated into English below): "When hinges creak in doorless chambers, ''when strange and frightening sounds are heard all around,'' when candlelight flickers though the air is deathly still, ''that is the time when the Phantom manifests''. Welcome curious friends, it is so nice to have guests. ''We welcome you, humble mortals, to this mysterious manor''. You may not believe it but beauty once lived in this house. ''Phantom Manor had happier days, but times have changed''. And now curious souls, come, I have more to show you. ''Enter brave mortals into this famous manor together''."


Octagonal Portrait Gallery

Guests then enter an octagonal room with four portraits of a young Melanie, with each of her four suitors. Melanie is with Barry Claude in one portrait, Sawyer Bottom in the second, Captain Rowan D. Falls in the third, and Ignatius "Iggy" Knight in the fourth. The Phantom comments on the gallery, referring to the "sweet innocence of youth". Shortly after, Melanie fades away from each of the paintings, with only the suitors left and the Phantom acknowledges a "disquieting metamorphosis" and that "not all tales have happy endings". Suddenly the room appears to stretch upwards and the paintings grow taller, revealing the fates to each of Melanie's suitors: * Barry Claude sitting on a tree branch, while an angry
bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family (biology), family Ursidae (). They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats ...
with her cub roars down below. * Sawyer Bottom straddling a log and being sawed in half by an industrial buzzsaw. * Rowan D. Falls riding in a rowboat about to head over a waterfall. * Ignatius Knight standing atop several crates of TNT and an ignited barrel of dynamite. The Phantom comments "It appears everyone is doomed at Phantom Manor. Even you." He goes on to add that the chamber has no windows and no doors, offering the guests a "chilling challenge": to find a way out. After his maniacal laughter echoes away, he adds that "the Phantom" (referring to himself) would be happy to help them — lightning and thunder effects fill the space as the ceiling turns invisible and the Phantom reveals himself in the attic, holding a noose and sinisterly laughing. Then suddenly, lights go out completely and the guests are shrouded in darkness. The gallery's lights slowly come back on and a hidden door opens, revealing a hallway lined with portraits. The Phantom apologizes for frightening the guests prematurely and beckons them further into the Manor, and states that "the real beauty of this house awaits us, farther on, and she's dying to meet you, but beware of the Phantom" (once again referencing himself). Prior to the refurbishment, the four portraits depicted a young Melanie, pictured in more felicitous times, only to stretch to reveal more macabre situations: *Melanie is having a picnic with her fiancé Jake Evans as
ant Ants are Eusociality, eusocial insects of the Family (biology), family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the Taxonomy (biology), order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from Vespoidea, vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cre ...
s, a diamondback rattlesnake, a
scorpion Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the Order (biology), order Scorpiones. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by a pair of Chela (organ), grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward cur ...
, a
tarantula Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,100 species have been identified, with 166 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although ...
and a
beetle Beetles are insects that form the Taxonomic rank, order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 40 ...
raid their food. *Melanie holds a parasol as she rides in a boat about to go over a waterfall. *Melanie picks roses from above a
tombstone A gravestone or tombstone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. A marker set at the head of the grave may be called a headstone. An especially old or elaborate stone slab may be called a funeral stele, stela, or slab. The us ...
while a skeletal
zombie A zombie (Haitian French: ; ; Kikongo: ''zumbi'') is a mythological undead corporeal revenant created through the reanimation of a corpse. In modern popular culture, zombies appear in horror genre works. The term comes from Haitian folkl ...
emerges from the ground, gripping a small rake in one hand. *Melanie wades through a small stream as an aquatic monster reaches for her foot. The scene revealed in the attic was also slightly different until 2018; instead of just showing the Phantom evilly laughing, he was hanging Jake Evans, Melanie's sole groom in the original version of the attraction. Like in the Disneyland Haunted Mansion, the Octagonal Portrait Gallery is actually a pair of cleverly disguised OTIS
elevator An elevator (American English) or lift (Commonwealth English) is a machine that vertically transports people or freight between levels. They are typically powered by electric motors that drive traction cables and counterweight systems suc ...
s. These elevators were originally created to solve a space constraint in Disneyland, as the Imagineers building the ride had to figure out a way to subtly funnel guests underneath the
Disneyland Railroad The Disneyland Railroad (DRR), formerly known as the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad, is a 3-foot () narrow-gauge railway, narrow-gauge heritage railway, heritage railroad and attraction in the Disneyland theme park of the Disneyland Resort in ...
that sat directly behind the ride's exterior. The floor is lowered while the upper half of the walls are also lowered at half the speed to create the stretching illusion. This served a double purpose of both a dramatic effect, while also lowering guests from the elevation of the attraction façade to the elevation of the ride's loading area in a separate warehouse-style show building behind the berm of the park. The Tokyo and Florida versions of the attraction did not face the same issues regarding space, and thus were constructed with stretching rooms that only stretch upward while guests remain at the same level. Despite Phantom Manor also not facing these spatial issues, the decision was made to use actual elevators for the stretching show scenes in the ride similarly to California's attraction. This was likely done because the façade of the manor is elevated and without the elevator functionality the show building would be visible to guests around the manor and those riding Big Thunder Mountain. The ceiling at the top of the room is actually a scrim, which conceals the Phantom until he is backlit from above.


Interior queue and loading area

Stepping out of the Stretching Room, guests walk down the Portrait Corridor, which takes them from the Manor visible from within the park into the show building that houses the actual ride. Unlike the Disneyland Haunted Mansion, this corridor does not pass under the park's railroad (which instead travels behind the show building). As the guests walk down the corridor, they see four portraits, slowly morphing into more macabre images. The original paintings were all adapted from the Disneyland ride, based on the opening day versions of the paintings in said attraction: * A
knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...
and his horse on a cliff both becoming ghosts and the sky darkening. * A young woman in a Greek temple turning into a stone gorgon in the temple’s ruins. * A
ship A ship is a large watercraft, vessel that travels the world's oceans and other Waterway, navigable waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research and fishing. Ships are generally disti ...
sailing across the sea becomes a tattered and ghostly version of itself sailing through a storm. * A woman reclining on a sofa turns into a were-panther. During the ride's 2019 refurbishment, Imagineers decided that the original paintings did not fit with the more serious tone of the attraction, and changed them to better convey the story of the ride. The three paintings were replaced with: * Henry Ravenswood becoming the Phantom (replacing Medusa). * The ''Flying Dutchman'' as seen in '' Pirates of the Caribbean'' catching on fire (replacing the original version of the ship). * Henry and another man outside the Manor about to have a duel, with it changing to Henry shooting his opponent in the back (replacing the were-panther). This portrait is a reference to the duelist-painting ghosts in the Disneyland attraction's ballroom scene. * A cowboy and his horse on a cliff becoming ghosts with the sky darkening and ghost buffaloes appearing in the sky (replacing the knight). At the end of the hallway stands a large portrait of Melanie Ravenswood, wearing her bridal gown, from which she can be heard singing. Although subtle, the refurb added
faint figure of Henry
standing behind Melanie in this painting. It is unknown if this was intended to be an animated effect like the rest of the portraits, or if it was just added for more observant guests to find. Guests then turn a corner and enter the loading area, a large hall with the Grand Staircase leading to the upper floor. One can see a ghostly, foggy landscape with flashes and bolts of lightning through the huge window above the stairs, and Melanie standing on the midway landing. Old furniture lines the walls, and sitting on a shelf is a marble bust of a stern-looking woman, who stares at guests and seems to follow them as they pass by. This is accomplished using the hollow face illusion, and the effect is a commonality between every version of the attraction in the different Disney parks. An unbroken train of black Omnimover vehicles known as "carriages" move through the center of the room, alongside a moving platform to enable easy loading. Unlike the American versions of the attraction, the loading area is the last scene with narration from the Phantom. The Imagineers chose to convey much of the story visually, and were hesitant to rely on narration throughout the entire ride because of possible language barriers.


The ride

Guests board the carriages, each accommodating two to three persons and then move upwards to the show building's main floor. Prior to 2019, guests would pass a young Melanie bowing while holding a candelabra and singing the entire time. During the renovations, Melanie was moved to the loading area and now a twitching suit of armor is in her place (a reference to when California's Haunted Mansion had live actors in a knight costumes scare guests for several weeks after the 1969 opening). After passing the armor the guests face a seemingly Endless Hallway, with the vision of Melanie and the Phantom appearing and disappearing in the distance while the candelabra that she is holding remains in view. The hallway effect is accomplished with a
full-length mirror The cheval glass (also cheval mirror, psyche mirror, horse dressing glass, swing glass) is a free-standing large mirror, usually with a tilt mechanism, that provided a complete reflection from head to foot (thus also the full-length mirror name). ...
on the far end of the hallway, and the disappearance of Melanie and the Phantom is done utilizing the
pepper's ghost Pepper's ghost is an Magic (illusion), illusion technique, used in theatre, Film, cinema, amusement parks, museums, television, and concerts, in which an image of an object offstage is projected so that it appears to be in front of the audience ...
effect. On the left side of the Corridor is a Conservatory containing a
piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...
, adorned with the
wreath A wreath () is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs, or various materials that is constructed to form a ring shape. In English-speaking countries, wreaths are used typically as household ornaments, most commonly as an Advent and C ...
s of the deceased suitors. At first glance, it seems to be playing a minor chord version of "The Wedding March" by itself, but one can notice a ghost pianist's shadow falling on the carpet (this effect is achieved by the use of mechanical keys). A large, red-eyed
raven A raven is any of several large-bodied passerine bird species in the genus '' Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between crows and ravens; the two names are assigne ...
sits on a music stand next to the piano and squawks madly. The carriages then travel through a corridor lined with doors. As guests pass each door, they hear pounding, knocking, or shouting behind it, and the knockers seem to move by themselves, as if their inhabitants are struggling to get out. When the last door is reached, guests can see two skeletal hands clutching at the top, trying to force their way through, with the skeleton yelling "Let me out of here!" (It uses the same audio as the skeleton attempting to escape his coffin in the Conservatory in other Haunted Mansions). The carriages pass a small hall containing a demonic
grandfather clock A grandfather clock (also a longcase clock, tall-case clock, grandfather's clock, hall clock or floor clock) is a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock, with the pendulum held inside the tower or waist of the case. Clocks of this styl ...
, with a large "13" on its face (instead of the usual 12) and its hands spinning backward as it chimes. The walls are lined with purple wallpaper covered in eyes, several of which glow in the dark as the guests move between the hallway and the next scene. The carriages then enter a round Seance Room adorned with
gargoyle In architecture, and specifically Gothic architecture, a gargoyle () is a carved or formed Grotesque (architecture), grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from ...
s, where a
crystal ball A crystal ball is a crystal or glass ball commonly used in fortune-telling. It is generally associated with the performance of clairvoyance and scrying through crystal gazing. Used since Antiquity, crystal balls have had a broad reputation with ...
sits on a floating central table. The ball contains the head of Madame Leota. Behind her is a raven perched on a chair. As the ride vehicles revolve around her, she summons ghosts and dark creatures to a wedding party in both English and French (translated in English below): "Goblins and Ghoulies, creatures of fright, we summon you now, to dance through the night! ''Spirits and ghosts, on your proud stallions, accompany the beautiful bride through the night!'' Warlocks and Witches, answer this call! Your presence is wanted at this ghostly ball! ''From the twelve knolls of midnight to the morning bells, we shall waltz together, gruesome debutante!'' Join now the Spirits in Nuptial Doom, a ravishing Bride, a vanishing Groom..." The narration in this scene is entirely separate from that of the original attraction, although retaining the ghostly
séance A séance or seance (; ) is an attempt to communicate with spirits. The word ''séance'' comes from the French language, French word for "session", from the Old French , "to sit". In French, the word's meaning is quite general and mundane: one ma ...
aspect. Whereas the original scene was created purely for spectacle, the redesigned scene for Phantom Manor was created with the story of the ride in mind. This is reflected in the narration with Leota's mentions to the bride and groom (being Melanie and her various suitors, respectively). During the 2019 refurb, the scene received a new effect that saw Madame Leota's crystal ball floating above the table. The original score for this scene was replaced with the score from the American versions of the attraction, although it was changed back shortly afterward after fans voiced their displeasure with the change. Guests leave the Seance Room and move along a balcony, looking down into the
Ballroom A ballroom or ballhall is a large room inside a building, the primary purpose of which is holding large formal parties called ''balls''. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions and palaces, especially histori ...
, where a ghostly wedding party takes place. Melanie stands on a staircase, singing while the Phantom stands behind her, laughing at her as lightning flashes behind him. Ghostly guests enter the room, bringing in wedding presents, and sitting around the dining table, where a moldy
wedding cake A wedding cake is the traditional cake served at wedding receptions following dinner. In some parts of England, the wedding cake is served at a wedding breakfast; the 'wedding breakfast' does not mean the meal will be held in the morning, but at ...
is waiting for them. Drunken ghosts swing from the chandelier above the table. Elegantly dressed pairs of ghostly dancers twirl around the Ballroom, as a spirit organist sits at a massive organ, playing a haunting waltz as wraiths fly out of its pipes. Apart from plot-related retheming, this scene is similar to the regular Haunted Mansions' ballrooms. During soft-opening previews after the 2019 refurbishment, the music here was temporarily replaced with the equivalent music from the American Haunted Mansions, but was switched back after backlash similarly to the previous Séance scene. The transparent effects of ghosts in this scene is accomplished with the
pepper's ghost Pepper's ghost is an Magic (illusion), illusion technique, used in theatre, Film, cinema, amusement parks, museums, television, and concerts, in which an image of an object offstage is projected so that it appears to be in front of the audience ...
effect, with animatronics above and below the ride vehicles reflected in mirrors to create the illusion of transparency. Leaving the Ballroom, the vehicles enter the Bride's Boudoir (which replaces the attic scene in the original attraction). A dying fire is crackling in the fireplace. Guests then see Melanie who has given up looking for her long lost groom. Melanie sits weeping into a mirror as an old woman while her father's skeletal face can be seen over her shoulder in the reflection. A music box and gramophone play in the background. Prior to 2019 the scene was largely the same, but the mirror was fogged and damaged to resemble an actual skull, in reference to the Charles Allan Gilbert painting ''All is Vanity''. The clock displayed in the room has a blade pendulum, in reference to
Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely re ...
's " The Pit and the Pendulum," which was also the basis for a movie featuring
Vincent Price Vincent Leonard Price Jr. (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993) was an American actor. He was known for his work in the horror film genre, mostly portraying villains. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. Price ...
. The carriages leave the Bride's Boudoir through open double doors and glide across a terrace and then into a stormy graveyard, past an animatronic of the Phantom with a shovel standing before an open grave, with an undead dog growling beside him. The Phantom laughs as the guests pass by. The carriages then travel underground to the
catacombs Catacombs are man-made underground passages primarily used for religious purposes, particularly for burial. Any chamber used as a burial place is considered a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman Empire. Etym ...
(presumably Boot Hill), passing by fissures in the ground as a reference to the earthquake that resulted in the death of Henry Ravenswood. A series of coffins being opened by their skeletal residents are seen, as well as a pair of skeleton hands attempting to pry open a coffin from the inside, typically found in the conservatory scene in the Haunted Mansion. A set of Singing Busts then come into view, singing the original '' Grim Grinning Ghosts'' from the Haunted Mansion. For unknown reasons, the singing bust originally portrayed by Chuck Schroeder was removed from Phantom Manor, leaving only four. Through a hole, the carriages then enter Phantom Canyon, which is a twisted, supernatural version of Thunder Mesa. Great rifts in the earth surrounding the vehicles again convey damage from the previous earthquake, which marked Thunder Mesa's turning point from a prosperous community to a ghost town. An animatronic ticket master (using the same mold as Ezra, one of the original Hitchhiking Ghosts from the American rides) stands before a ramshackle train station, offering the riders train tickets to the
Underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. ...
. Guests then pass a ruined
town hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or municipal hall (in the Philippines) is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses the city o ...
where the mayor (who speaks clips of dialogue from
Paul Frees Solomon Hersh Frees (June 22, 1920November 2, 1986), better known as Paul Frees, was an American actor, comedian, impressionist, and vaudevillian. He is known for his work on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Walter Lantz, Rankin/Bass and Walt Disney the ...
, the original rides' Ghost Host, and who is modeled from the same mold as animatronics of Dreamfinder from the original version of Epcot's Journey into Imagination with Figment) holds the Key to the City and invites guests to be the Manor's 1000th ghost, "but beware of hitchhiking ghosts!" As he tips his hat, his head comes with it. A
shootout A shootout, also called a firefight, gunfight, or gun battle, is a confrontation in which parties armed with firearms exchange gunfire. The term can be used to describe any such fight, though it is typically used in a non-military context or to ...
follows between a bank robber fleeing on a
mule The mule is a domestic equine hybrid between a donkey, and a horse. It is the offspring of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare). The horse and the donkey are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes; of the two ...
and a cowardly sheriff, with Big Thunder Mountain in the background. Guests see a
pharmacy Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medication, medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it ...
where a green-faced
pharmacist A pharmacist, also known as a chemist in English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English, is a healthcare professional who is knowledgeable about preparation, mechanism of action, clinical usage and legislation of medications in ...
drinks a potion of some sort, followed by a saloon whose front wall has caved in. Inside it, there is a dancing
showgirl A showgirl is a female performer in a theatrical revue who wears an exotic and revealing costume and in some shows may appear topless. Showgirls are usually dancers, sometimes performing as chorus girls, burlesque dancers or fan dancers, and ...
, a
bartender A bartender (also known as a barkeep or barman or barmaid or a mixologist) is a person who formulates and serves alcoholic or soft drink beverages behind the Bar (establishment), bar, usually in a licensed bar (establishment), establishment as ...
and a man playing a
honky-tonk A honky-tonk (also called honkatonk, honkey-tonk, honky tonk, or tonk) is either a bar that provides country music for the entertainment of its patrons or the style of music played in such establishments. It can also refer to the type of piano ...
piano. Every once in a while, a hand with a candelabra appears out of the piano. Four invisible
gambler Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of value ("the stakes") on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. Gambling thus requires three ele ...
figures play
poker Poker is a family of Card game#Comparing games, comparing card games in which Card player, players betting (poker), wager over which poker hand, hand is best according to that specific game's rules. It is played worldwide, with varying rules i ...
nearby. Much of Phantom Canyon was derived from a planned scene of a wild mining town called Dry Gulch in the Western River Expedition at the
Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom Park is a Amusement park, theme park at the Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. It opened on October 1, 1971, and is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Disney Experiences, Expe ...
, later retooled into their version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Phantom Canyon occupies a space that in the regular Haunted Mansions is used for the graveyard scene. Another cackling figure of the Phantom and his raven stands by a tree and gestures towards a noose hanging on a branch and an empty coffin for awaiting guests, his eyes glowing red at passing riders. Prior to 2019, this animatronic version of the Phantom was a skeleton with rotting flesh on his body, showing the guests that he has lost any humanity he's ever had left in him. As guests see the silhouette of the Manor above, they enter the mausoleum, where Melanie's four suitors were buried. Prior to the 2019 refurb, guests would encounter Melanie's floating skeleton pointing the way out. After the refurb, the skeletal hand of one of her suitors holds a wedding ring out as guests pass by. The vehicles enter a subterranean chamber lined with large, gilt-framed mirrors in which the ghostly image of Melanie, driven insane by the loss of her suitors and groom, appears in the vehicles, beckoning riders to wed her. Vehicles travel through a
wine cellar A wine cellar is a storage room for wine in bottles or barrels, or more rarely in carboys, amphorae, or plastic containers. In an ''active'' wine cellar, important factors such as temperature and humidity are maintained by a climate control s ...
, where cast members await to help them disembark their carriages and exit the attraction.


Post show

As guests travel towards daylight, the evil laughter of the Phantom can be heard, as well as Melanie's voice, telling guests to "hurry back" and to "bring their death certificates". Prior to 2019, a small Melanie would beckon guests to hurry back. This figure was removed in the ride's 2019 refurbishment. Finally, guests exit into Boot Hill, a cemetery filled with humorous gravestones, as well as ride-oriented gravestones for the Ravenswoods and several others. If one should turn around to look back at the house, they can occasionally see the Phantom looking out the window over the exit and down at them, before he closes the curtains. The effect is more visible at night due to backlighting. In the Cemetery, one can hear Melanie's beating heart in her tomb, both a reference to the original Haunted Mansion bride, whose red beating heart could be seen through her chest and
Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely re ...
's ''
The Tell-Tale Heart "The Tell-Tale Heart" is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1843. It is told by an unnamed narrator who endeavors to convince the reader of the narrator's sanity while simultaneously describing a murder the nar ...
''.


Soundtrack

An opening narration by
Vincent Price Vincent Leonard Price Jr. (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993) was an American actor. He was known for his work in the horror film genre, mostly portraying villains. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. Price ...
was recorded and initially used. However, due to a deal with French officials, the attraction's audio had to be primarily in French; thus the narration was rerecorded by Gérard Chevalier, who had provided a dubbed French voice for Price in some of his movies. Price's narration is available on the CD '' The Haunted Mansion - 30th Anniversary (1999 CD)''. Parts of Price's original narration in English were restored to the soundtrack in 2019, including excerpts previously unused in the attraction. The attraction features an orchestrated score by John Debney. Although it is based on
Buddy Baker Elzie Wylie "Buddy" Baker Jr. (January 25, 1941 – August 10, 2015) was an American professional stock car racing driver and commentator. Over the course of his 33-year racing career, he won 19 races in the NASCAR Cup Series, including the 19 ...
's '' Grim Grinning Ghosts'', it provides the attraction with a cinematic feeling, along with giving it a darker, more romantic tone. In the climactic Phantom Canyon scene, a big-band-style swing version of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" is heard, compared to the original version's "spirited" but straight meter.


Other information

In the early 2000s, Phantom Manor was given a special Halloween celebration. Known as ''The Phantom Wedding'', it featured a large scrim covering the whole building, which was used for projection of Melanie's recreated wedding. In 2005, however, this celebration was replaced by another. On January 8, 2018, Phantom Manor closed for refurbishment. The graveyard has remained relatively untouched, though the walkway and manor itself were covered in scaffolding. At the ''FanDaze'' event at
Walt Disney Studios Park Walt Disney Studios Park ( French: ''Parc Walt Disney Studios'') is the second of two theme parks built at Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France. The park opened on 16 March 2002, and it is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company t ...
on June 2, Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald confirmed that Vincent Price's original English dialogue would return to Phantom Manor following its refurbishment. The ride soft-reopened on April 30, 2019, and fully reopened on May 3.


Incidents

During the morning of April 2, 2016, the body of a 45-year-old cast member was found inside the attraction. He had been working on lighting backstage, and his death was understood to have been accidental and due to
electrocution Electrocution is death or severe injury caused by electric shock from electric current passing through the body. The word is derived from "electro" and "execution", but it is also used for accidental death. The term "electrocution" was coined ...
. The ride was closed during the investigation.


See also

*
Mystic Manor Mystic Manor () is a dark ride attraction in the Mystic Point area of Hong Kong Disneyland. Unlike Disneyland's Haunted Mansion attraction and its counterparts in other Disney parks, Mystic Manor has a lighthearted, fantasy-based theme with n ...


References


External links


Videos


dlrpfans – Phantom Manor


Photo pages


Photos Magiques – Phantom Manor

Photos Magiques – Boot Hill


Fan websites


Doombuggies – Phantom Manor

DLRP Synopsis – Phantom Manor

DLRP Magic – Phantom Manor
{{Disney rides 1992 establishments in France 2018 disestablishments in France 2019 establishments in France Amusement rides introduced in 1992 Amusement rides introduced in 2019 Amusement rides manufactured by Vekoma Amusement rides that closed in 2018 Audio-Animatronic attractions Cultural depictions of Medusa Dark rides Disneyland Park (Paris) Fiction about witchcraft Fiction set in the 1870s Fictional houses Frontierland Ghosts in popular culture Haunted Mansion Haunted attractions (simulated) Omnimover attractions Walt Disney Parks and Resorts attractions Western (genre) amusement rides Works based on mythology Works about fictional serial killers