Phantom Manor: Best. Mansion. Ever.

7 Sep

Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris is hands-down my favorite Haunted Mansion at any Disney Park worldwide. The ride itself is quite a bit different from its US counterparts, with a ghost town finale entirely unlike the graveyard scene you’ll see elsewhere (though fear not, your favorite song is still there). The themeing is a bit different too, to suit its Frontierland environs.

DLRP Magic has provided a ride through video on YouTube; there’s also a higher quality version at their site.

One of my favorite things about Phantom Manor is the reduced presence of your Ghost Host. I seem to recall from a Tony Baxter Haunted Mansion walkthrough video that the decision to use minimal narration was prompted by a desire to make the attraction accessible to a multi-lingual audience, but ultimately it makes the attraction spookier, and focuses one’s attention more closely on the visuals, which themselves are often far creepier than anything the stateside Mansions offer. There’s still a playfulness to the happy haunts, but a scarier side too.

The entrance and exit queues may just be the best, most extensive themeing I’ve seen at a Disney Park. I could have lingered for hours taking pictures, reading epitaphs, and just soaking up the atmosphere.

All photos below are reduced-size; click on them for more pixels than you probably need, suitable for computer desktops or framing.

Phantom Manor at a distance

Phantom Manor entrance

Phantom Manor

Gazebo

A fountain in the courtyard, in the entrance queue

A fountain in the courtyard, in the entrance queue

Maintenance issue? Nope, excellent themeing.

Maintenance issue? Nope, excellent themeing.

Looking down on the courtyard from the entrance queue

Looking down on the courtyard from the entrance queue

Watching the sun set behind Big Thunder from the Manor's porch

Watching the sun set behind Big Thunder from the Manor's porch

The exit queue is even better than the entrance

The exit queue is even better than the entrance

Tombstone

IMG_0211

IMG_0214

Another tombstone

Saloon doors tombstone

Tombstone for miners

Hurry back, hurry back! Be sure to bring your death certificate

Hurry back, hurry back! Be sure to bring your death certificate

3 Responses to “Phantom Manor: Best. Mansion. Ever.”

  1. Nick September 14, 2009 at 12:18 pm #

    Interesting indeed. Would love to get out there someday.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. TDC#69 Talking to Rich « Those Darn Cats - September 8, 2009

    […] Phantom Manor ride thru – Jennifer has a great post about her favorite Haunted Mansion on her blog     […]

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