Phantom Manor – Frontierland – Disneyland Park - Frontierland

On your way to Frontierland, you may spot a strange mansion. Some people say it is haunted… Will you be tempted to walk through the doors for a few minutes? Will you pierce the secret of the unfortunate bride-to-be and her fiancé?

Once Upon a Time…

Mr. Ravenswood is a name that is often heard in the city of Thunder Mesa. Indeed, he was the owner of Thunder Mesa Mining Company, exploiting the Big Thunder mine, which can still be seen from anywhere in Frontierland, and which also has the reputation of being haunted.

Rich from the exploitation, he had a manor built, inspired by the architecture of San Francisco. No doubt, this mansion was once beautiful… Once.

Despite the dilapidated appearance of the manor, the interior still seems in good condition. Mr. Ravenswood is obviously always up to the challenge of his success. He was particularly proud… just as he was proud to have such a beautiful daughter…

Needless to say, Mr. Ravenswood’s daughter had recently fallen in love with a man. But his ambition was not to stay in Thunder Mesa, and Mr. Ravenswood’s daughter intended to follow him. Mr. Ravenswood became enraged as soon as he discovered his daughter’s future…

After her father’s death, Mr. Ravenswood’s daughter impatiently prepared for her wedding. But on the D-Day, the groom did not come.

With her heart broken, Mr. Ravenswood’s daughter abandoned herself to solitude, never having the strength to remove her dress. How long has she been wandering around the mansion? It’s a mystery.

As you enter Mr. Ravenswood’s mansion, perhaps you will discover the truth? But rumors are that the mansion is now haunted. Maybe you will meet the bride, or one of the 999 ghosts of the manor. Who knows? Maybe the fiancé is hiding among them.

Small design secrets of Phantom Manor

Walt Disney didn’t want a mansion like this: ruined, dilapidated. He preferred the immaculate façade of the Haunted Mansion in California. He said he wanted to take care of the outside, and let the ghosts take care of the inside.

But the Imagineers knew that in Europe, a clear message was needed, showing that the manor was haunted and that it would be risky to enter it. In fact, you may see a strange resemblance to the Bates house in the film Psycho.

Phantom Manor is a dark ride attraction, in which 92 audio-animatronics are hidden. After a warm welcome aboard one of the two elevators, enter the deepest part of the manor, in one of the hundred and thirty carts that will make you dizzy. Listen, but mostly observe. Special effects and magic guaranteed.

In order to keep a fairly realistic side, the right side of the manor seems to be more dilapidated, giving the impression that the bad weather has been attacking the ruin for a dozen years, this fitting perfectly with the fact that the bad weather usually comes from the east. The left side of the manor is therefore more colourful and regularly repainted, since it should be better protected from the weather.

The vehicle system was designed by Roger E. Broggie and Bert Brundage, but the term (Omnimover) was invented by the imagineer Bob Gurr. These vehicles can tilt and turn left or right 180°. The goal is to be able to see all the stages of the attractions concerned while moving forward and have a cinematic experience.

Tips: Don’t rush out of the elevator: the corridor leading to the carts is full of amazing and magical paintings!