Research: Phantom Manor

[dlpSteve]

I mentioned in another thread about doing a website about DLRP. Anyway, where this one will differ from others is that instead of having just one description of an attraction it will feature lots of comments from people who have been there - I always find the opinions of lots of people more valuable than one travel brochure style description.

Any comments are appreciated, however long or short they may be and as positive or as negative as you feel best represents your experience - any little titbit could be if use to someone planing a trip.

Many thanks for any contributions.

So, Phantom Manor....

 

[dlpSteve]

Phantom Manor is second only to Pirates of the Caribbean for me and is a mustdo atraction, at least 2 or 3 times every trip. Sitting up on Boot Hill it has an ominous presence and can be seen from far away. The queing area is quite pleasant in the summer but can be a bit cold in winter - luckily it moves quickly. I think we visited DLRP 5 times before I noticed the blue water fountain in the queuing area!

Inside the 'lift' the stretching pictures are fun and the lightning coming down from the top is a great effect - if you are lucky there is a mischievous CM who will scare a few unsuspecting guests!

The doom buggies are great - always nice to have a sit down if you'be been walking round the park! The effects in the ballroom are fantastic and I see something new every time we ride. The ghost town is apparently the former town of Thunder Mesa which shares it's name with the riverboat landing elsewhere in Frontierland. Great animatrinics and fab music - especially the four busts singing Grim grinning ghosts.

To finish things off there is the 'ghost on the buggy' which you see in the mirror. Phantom Manor has everything - great effects, brilliant music, a variation of themes and all housed inside anearie looking manor. The gravyard outside is fun too - imagineers names can be found on the gravestones and you can even hear a heart beat coming from one a tomb! One of the must-do attractions of DLRP.

 

[Bexx]

I love, love, love Phantom Manor - it's so well done both inside and out. And I agree with everything you've said Steve, apart from...

The ghost town is apparently the former town of Thunder Mesa which shares it's name with the riverboat landing elsewhere in Frontierland. Great animatrinics and fab music - especially the four busts singing Grim grinning ghosts.

Apart from the singing busts, the ghost town is the only bit of the ride that I don't enjoy so much. After the detail of the foyer and the wonderful effects of the cyrstal ball and the ballroom, I find this part just a bit too obvious. But that's just me, and I can appreciate that it's all very well done.

 

[Orbitron]

I like almost everything on Phantom Manor, including the singing busts, but I also don´t like the ghost town very much. The graveyard at Anaheims Haunted Mansion is much better. Phantom Manor has a great story and I enjoy hearing the bride singing each time.

 

[Bexx]

Welcome to the DIS Orbitron!! Good name BTW!!

I'm glad it's not just me being churlish about the ghost town part , but at least they don't have the things that pop up and go "Boo" at you, like they do in the WDW Haunted Mansion. They were dreadful!!!

 

[1000th happy haunt]

I've been to the Haunted Mansion in both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom. I've also been to the Phantom Manor. Of the three, I can honestly say the Phantom Manor is my favorite.

On my first trip through I didn't like it. But that's because I was comparing it to what I was used to. By the third trip, I started to appreciate it for its uniqueness.

And unlike the other posters, I do like the ghost town. I guess there's just a little bit of Old West in me.

When we went last year, a CM named Patric made the trip for us. We saw him several of the days and he was perfectly suited to the Phantom Manor.

 

[Cyrano]

Hi Orbitron and welcome to DLP DIS board
We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any thread or if you have a number of questions just start a new thread for each

 

[JJ For Ever]

Hi Steve,

I agree with you in that Phantom Manor is definitely one of my favourite attractions in DLRP.It is always a must do attraction.I like the theming of Frontierland as a whole,it really is very atmospheric especially at night,theres nothing better then riding Thunder Mountain in the dark & looking out at the many guests entering the Manor knowing that you can be joining the queue soon.

Again Ive been to Paris & Florida & while The Haunted Mansion is a super attraction,I also feel Phantom Manor shades it.What I really like about the Manor is the physical appearance from the outside,the house is obviously run down but there is the feeling that this was once a very important house in Thunder Mesa.It was a happy home at one time !!

The music in the lobby & the elevator is spooky & watch out,theres always a cast member ready to scare the pants off unsuspecting guests.At the bottom of the elevator is another great moment in the attraction where there is complete darkness.The doom buggies are a relief for many guests at this stage,the ride really moves on to a new level here,as we begin to see the story develop,the ballroom scene is again outstanding with superb special effects.

Finally I like Phantom Canyon,it fits in well with the theme of the attraction & the land again & the ghost in the buggy is a nice surprise at the end.Boot Hill rounds it off & this is also done very well.The heartbeat is very good - took me a while to spot this !!All in all this is a gem of an attraction & I would rate it 5 star all the way.

 

[Orbitron]

thank you all for the warm welcome!

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi Orbitron and welcome!

Steve, I also love Phantom Manor. My favourite bit is not really in the ride itself but when you go to the very end of Boot Hill and can look over the lake of Big Thunder Mountain. I like looking at the geyser and the dinosaur remains, especially at Christmas when it was icing over.

 

[dlpSteve]

Thanks for all the replis so far - great stuff - keep it coming

Welcome to DIS Orbitron.

 

[arieliwish]

I'm glad it's not just me being churlish about the ghost town part , but at least they don't have the things that pop up and go "Boo" at you, like they do in the WDW Haunted Mansion. They were dreadful!!!

Yes, especially when the ride 'pauses' at this part, prob for someone who's not very mobile to get on or off so i'm not complaining about that!, but with a trembling 6 year old, its not great! However, he grew to love this ride and went on another 3 or 4 times, and spent his pocket money on the great imagineers book about it!!

My favourite bit is to remember to look up in the lift when the lights go out - hope the effect is the same in phantom manor as in wdw haunted mansion, as i've yet to experience the DLP one!

 

[wideeyes]

I did not see that much on the ride when we went on.. I wast to busy looking at dd in assmusment as she had her hands of her eyes and a wierd grin on her face as if saying "yes! I figured a way not to see".
I remeber when we went in to the walking bit and was thinking whats going to happen my sister who had been on before and said it is excellent was just like "wait and see"

the sacreist bit for me was when we got of the ride and a CM done up in his scarey gear and make up would not let me walk past every time I tryed to get past he'd stand in front of me, I got really freaked out and ended up running out scheeching to my dd asmusement. His costume just so good!

 

[kevankiki]

This was the first ride we went on when we got there on Thursday, and the last ride we went on before we left yesterday, since it is one of our favourites! We also went on the ride several times in between, the most scariest time was one evening around 7pm when it was dark and we found ourselves alone in the stretch room with a creepy CM called Vincent. We were both convinced he would jump us when the lights went out, and agreed to move about a lot when they did

We were the only ones on that ride that night - scary or what???

 

[+ Kimbee +]

Vincent was the best

I remember a few years ago, (and I mean a few, I am only 13) me and my mum and brother went on the California one... I don't remember many details, apart from me crying and being so scared in the "lift" and opening my eyes for two seconds to look at the phantom in the doom buggy with us!

The CM really make your visit worthwhile, they don't say much, so there presence in the room is enough to make you cold.

I never got to get a chance top veiw the long corridor, expecially when me and Annette went on our own... Just rushing to the doom buggy is important as it is rather busy up there.

My only bad point is walking and getting in and out of the buggy always makes me feel dizzy.

The effects of the ride are brilliant, and, the fact that I have no clue when it comes to french, the voice over is scary. The ride along with the story is a deffinate


5/5

 

[knitting nancy]

I've enjoyed reading all your spooky descriptions of Phantom Manor and am really glad that we didn't try it because my children would have been scared witless! Out of interest, and just in case we try it next time, how many people do the buggies hold? One of the reasons why I didn't push it too much was in case we got inside and then found out that 2 terrified children would have to go off by themselves.

 

[+ Kimbee +]

1 kimbee and 1 scared nettles

The buggys hold 2 people per buggy.

 

[kevankiki]

1 kimbee and 1 scared nettles (I think she means Annette )

The buggys hold 2 people per buggy.

 

[knitting nancy]

I think we would have had to have found the emergency exit in that case!

 

[NIK]

I'm a complete coward when it comes to ghost trains which is wierd since i can sit through the scariest horror movie without a twitch! I think I would get the colliewobbles going on this ride on my own. It doesn't seem so bad when you've got someone else with you.