Disneyland Paris: uncover the secrets of Phantom Manor, the haunted mansion of the famous theme park.

If you’ve ever been spellbound by the chills and suspense of the Phantom Manor ride at Disneyland Paris (and the other Disney Parks around the world), then strap in: we invite you to dive into the story and the unexplored mysteries of this famed attraction!

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And secrets and other Easter eggs, the attraction has plenty of them. To start with its very conception... Unlike its counterparts at the other Disney Parks, the Parisian manor offers a darker, more elaborate backstory, shaped by European history and horror cinema. That influence is evident from the facade of the crumbling manor, which bears a striking resemblance (and that’s intentional, that’s where the inspiration comes from) to the mansion in Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic, Psycho, itself inspired by Edward Hopper’s painting, House by the Railroad.

On the storytelling side, Disneyland Paris’s attraction differs from the haunted mansions of other parks, being more layered and closely aligned with the Frontierland setting, since it fits coherently into the tale the land aims to tell. The plot follows Melanie Ravenswood, an abandoned bride, whose ghost haunts the site in search of her missing fiancé. It’s a tragic romance that gives the manor a mood that is at once romantic and eerie. Added to the ghost is the bride’s father, suspected of being behind the deaths of her suitors, whose fate is revealed in the streching room, the very first room you enter, stretching as the story unfolds.

As for the voice-over, it's the master of horror, Vincent Price, who lends his voice to the ghost who guides us through the mansion. His eerie timbre helped forge Phantom Manor's identity. Although a French version was recorded by Bernard Alane and Gérard Chevalier, the English version with Price is the one that most impressed visitors. Note that Vincent Price's voice can still be heard, as the phantom 's characteristic laugh is his, the attraction's true vocal identity.

Other secrets to be discovered outside the manor: head for the cemetery, and take a tour of the Ravenswood family tombs. Stand in front of the large anonymous tomb... You should hear a heart beating!

Other tombs are those of animals which, positioned side by side, reveal what happened to them, as the work of the food chain is revealed.

Also of note are the graves of the bride's father and mother, Martha and Henry Ravenswood.

Phantom Manor, beyond its ghostly appearances and eerie atmosphere, stands as a living testament to Disney's technological innovation. From holograms to optical illusions, every element contributes to an immersive and chilling experience. Now the attraction even has its own film: The Haunted Manor.