Okay it should be open today after going through a refurb recently. I was wondering if anyone is going to ride it soon could give me a run-down on whats been done? I like to keep up to date with the Manor, even with refurbs. Thanks for any info.
I hope they don't change the storyline too much. I think it was perfect the way it was.
Nah it was just a refurb. I just want to know what state the ride is in at the moment, recently its been in need of some care and attention.
But there is a rumor that next year it will get an update.
According to this (//http://disneycentralplaza.englishboard.net/t30977p140-phantom-manor) thread at DCP, Madame Leota's table was fixed (it's floating once again), the mayor is once again tipping his head and the mirror scene has been fixed. I'm sure there's more but that's all the person noticed.
Quote from: "DGRavenswood"According to this (//http://disneycentralplaza.englishboard.net/t30977p140-phantom-manor) thread at DCP, Madame Leota's table was fixed (it's floating once again), the mayor is once again tipping his head and the mirror scene has been fixed. I'm sure there's more but that's all the person noticed.
Ah thank you!
I'm also wondering about the skeleton in the coffin; in the recent DLRPMagic video the coffin lid seemed closed. Not entirely sure though.
Quote from: "DGRavenswood"According to this (//http://disneycentralplaza.englishboard.net/t30977p140-phantom-manor) thread at DCP, Madame Leota's table was fixed (it's floating once again), the mayor is once again tipping his head and the mirror scene has been fixed. I'm sure there's more but that's all the person noticed.
That's good for a start, next we need an update! Thanks for posting.....
Update is rumored for next year, but... it is still just a rumor. I'm not sure exactly what they'd do with an update; I just hope they don't change too much with the scenes. Especially Phantom Canyon... that's my favourite scene.
Who's guessing a 'interactive' Phantom in the mirrors? lol! o_o Though he'd have to do something decidely scarier than the Hitchhikers. :mrgreen: Though to be honest I'd prefer more subtle changes instead.
I'm expecting the interactive Phantom effect, he wouldn't have to mess around like the Hitchers do, but he could easily fade in between you, or appear above you holding a noose etc.
Hoping for at least an overhaul of the Bride in the Mirror, I've not seen her fade in for my most recent visits!
The new endless stairwell at wdw is cool, as is the attic scene, but the attic scene wouldn't fit the phantom manor storyline.....
The attic idea could be adapted though, change the current Melanie AA to one similar to the bride, but instead of the axe have her holding a bouquet, then in a portrait of the happy couple on the wall have Melanie standing next to her groom as a noose appears around his neck. Whilst in the background a portrait of her family fades away to reveal the Phantom standing behind it, eternally overseeing her loneliness..
Quote from: "Scissorsboi"The attic idea could be adapted though, change the current Melanie AA to one similar to the bride, but instead of the axe have her holding a bouquet, then in a portrait of the happy couple on the wall have Melanie standing next to her groom as a noose appears around his neck. Whilst in the background a portrait of her family fades away to reveal the Phantom standing behind it, eternally overseeing her loneliness..
Cool, that would work, the attic scene was a show stopper! So it would be cool if they could us it.....
They took away the pop-up ghosts. :(
Anyhow interesting ideas folks! If anyone else has any feel free to post them here! I think they need to make the story more apparent in the ride. Honestly before I knew what the story was I really didn't know what was going on in the ride. Infact even if they reintroduced the English spiel its still a bit confusing. Haunted Mansion has more narration but Phantom Manor doesn't have much, only the opening spiels.
Though talking about the Price narration maybe they could find a way to alternate between his narration and the French narration?
I'm like a stuck record and would love Vincent Price back! Can't see it happening, which is a shame. The man was an icon.
The story of phantom manor has also been confusion! Even The imagineers get confused, so all the talk about "keeping" the story of phantom manor is a little wasted as the story is a mystery to all, and no non speaking French visitors I spoke to understand wants going on anyhow, without doing some reading up in a book on the Internet......
I know, the story is still a bit of a mystery; there's a lot of unanswered questions. Hmmm, if there is going to be an update I wonder if they'll add to the story of the ride?
Quote from: "disney-john"Even The imagineers get confused, so all the talk about "keeping" the story of phantom manor is a little wasted as the story is a mystery to all, and no non speaking French visitors I spoke to understand wants going on anyhow, without doing some reading up in a book on the Internet......
I disagree. The fact that the story is a mystery does not mean it doesn't matter. After all the original story informed all aspects of the ride's creation.
As for the Imagineers getting confused, mind that WDI is made up of many individuals, very few of which were very closely involved with the creation of Phantom Manor.
I think the story is very important to the ride; I just wish it was more apparent actually in-ride.
Agreed the story isn't just for phantom manor it's for all of thunder Mesa , but if it was clearer to every day visitors, and not just us "disney nuts" (in the nicest sense) I feel the great theming would come across clear, and increase visitors enjoyment of frontierland.
The backstory of the lands at Disneyland Paris was not ment to be fully known by guests, but only as a basis to develop each land in a way that gives a sense of consistency, to make everything have a reason to be there. Over the years, the addition of new attractions at Disneyland California and Walt Disney World Florida, made each land a little confusing in terms of storytelling, that's why Michael Eisner wanted the Imagineers to create a backstory not only for each attraction, but also for each whole land, so each attraction would be seemlessly integrated with its environment and its neighbour attractions. The real goal is to make guests feel they are in a real place and that everything has a logic sense inside each land. That's part of the magic of Disneyland.
Of course, for us fans, knowing backstories as well as many other secrets ads up to the magic because we love Disneyland not only for what it offers, but also for what it is, we love this kind of secrets because we love the art and we appreciate the hard work in it.
True, and imagineers always say that story drives everything they do, but I feel that phantom manor story, (it's my favourite ride I must point out) is confusing to say the least, or maybe, and I'm not knocking disney, imagineers or dlrp for this, but poorly told? I'm all for mystery, and our favourite rides has tonnes of that, but a little more narration is all I'm asking for, as my daughter has been for the passed 6 years visiting dlrp, has come out of PM with a load of questions, why is she a skeleton at the end? why is she crying? Who is the figure in the mirror? And on..... And on..... Believe me I , and I'm sure other parents will agree, we get enough "why?" questions from our children without disney adding to them..... Lol
Also went on haunted mansion in wdw, she came off no questions, just a statement "that was cool."
I think the fact that the Manor leaves so many open questions is actually part of what makes it so intriguing. Everyone can either come up with their own interpretation or try to research it. It's a dilemma I've come across with my site – do I really want to rob the attraction of its mysteries?
In any case, I think we need to differentiate the backstory and the ride story in this case. The backstory is a quite well-developed narrative but the ride itself does not try to tell a more linear story than the other Haunted Mansions. The recurring characters (Bride and Phantom) are essentially visual replacements of the ghost host narration; a "backbone" to tie the various scenes together. Anything beyond that is intentionally open for interpretation... Much like it has been at the Haunted Mansion for over 40 years.
Just had a thought! The mirrors could use the spirit of Melanie guiding you out to safety, I've never really liked that final scene with her skeletal form, it seems so anticlimatic and confusing compared to how beautifully crafted the rest of it feels - most people I ride with don't even realise it's her, just a generic skeleton..
True; Haunted Mansion does not have a liner story. But it does make sense; I think of it like this (on ride)... The Ghost Host invites you to tour the Mansion; which is a kind of... retirement home for ghosts from all over the world. The ghosts at first have trouble materializing so Madame Leota summons them. The ghosts materialize and have a party. XD Then it turns out they really like you and want you to stay with them and become the 1000th Happy Haunt. Of course there are rumors with the whole... falling out the attic window thing. Not sure about that. But... what makes it different from the Manor is that... the Manor's on ride story line is somewhat unknown... when the Mansion's is pretty much understood. However the Mansion's backstory is quite unknown, when the Manor's is more well-known.
I hope that made sense. o_o
And about Melanie being skeletal at the end... well... I just guessed she was a ghoul rather than a ghost, like the folks in Phantom Canyon (well apart from the poker players and the ghosts flying around... they're obviously ghosts). Eh, just my own opinion.
Nice feature re phantom manor here on disney and more site....
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... manor.html (http://disneyandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/designing-disneyland-paris-phantom-manor.html%22%20target=%22_blank%22%20rel=%22nofollow)
Quote from: "Ezra"True; Haunted Mansion does not have a liner story. But it does make sense; I think of it like this (on ride)... The Ghost Host invites you to tour the Mansion; which is a kind of... retirement home for ghosts from all over the world. The ghosts at first have trouble materializing so Madame Leota summons them. The ghosts materialize and have a party. XD Then it turns out they really like you and want you to stay with them and become the 1000th Happy Haunt. Of course there are rumors with the whole... falling out the attic window thing. Not sure about that. But... what makes it different from the Manor is that... the Manor's on ride story line is somewhat unknown... when the Mansion's is pretty much understood. However the Mansion's backstory is quite unknown, when the Manor's is more well-known.
That is one interpretation, just like there are many for Phantom Manor.
One example: We enter the house where we see what happened here many years earlier when the evil Phantom hung the groom in the attic. The Bride searches the house for him as more and more spirits materialize (invited to the ghostly wedding party by Madame Leota). The Phantom has dug a grave for us in the garden through which we enter the underworld where he tries to trap us. Just then, the Bride appears, dead by now, and shows us the way out. After one last attempt to hold us back (the Mirrors), we manage to escape the Manor. With the Phantom defeated (or is he?) the Bride invites us to hurry back and keep her company.
That's one interpretation of the ride's story, and if I'm not too mistaken it's pretty close to what the Imagineers had in mind themselves. But they kept it intentionally open for each guest's imagination and, again, I think that kind of audience participation helped the Manor gain its fan base.
Quote from: "DGRavenswood"Quote from: "Ezra"True; Haunted Mansion does not have a liner story. But it does make sense; I think of it like this (on ride)... The Ghost Host invites you to tour the Mansion; which is a kind of... retirement home for ghosts from all over the world. The ghosts at first have trouble materializing so Madame Leota summons them. The ghosts materialize and have a party. XD Then it turns out they really like you and want you to stay with them and become the 1000th Happy Haunt. Of course there are rumors with the whole... falling out the attic window thing. Not sure about that. But... what makes it different from the Manor is that... the Manor's on ride story line is somewhat unknown... when the Mansion's is pretty much understood. However the Mansion's backstory is quite unknown, when the Manor's is more well-known.
That is one interpretation, just like there are many for Phantom Manor.
One example: We enter the house where we see what happened here many years earlier when the evil Phantom hung the groom in the attic. The Bride searches the house for him as more and more spirits materialize (invited to the ghostly wedding party by Madame Leota). The Phantom has dug a grave for us in the garden through which we enter the underworld where he tries to trap us. Just then, the Bride appears, dead by now, and shows us the way out. After one last attempt to hold us back (the Mirrors), we manage to escape the Manor. With the Phantom defeated (or is he?) the Bride invites us to hurry back and keep her company.
That's one interpretation of the ride's story, and if I'm not too mistaken it's pretty close to what the Imagineers had in mind themselves. But they kept it intentionally open for each guest's imagination and, again, I think that kind of audience participation helped the Manor gain its fan base.
You certainly know your PM Mr Ravenswood, have you picked this all up from the web or could you reccomend some bed time reading for another avid fan?
Quote from: "RockNRoller"You certainly know your PM Mr Ravenswood, have you picked this all up from the web or could you reccomend some bed time reading for another avid fan?
I'm the one who
put it on the web in the first place! ;)
More seriously, I wish there was more reading material out there regarding Phantom Manor. If you've read Jason Surrel's Haunted Mansion book and "From Sketch to Reality" you've read most everything there is out there. If you can read French, I also recommend "Entretiens Avec un Empire Vol. 3" which has interviews with many DLP Imagineers including Jeff Burke.
For my website I had to do my own research which consisted not only in closely examining the attraction itself but also in corresponding with many key Phantom Manor imagineers who were kind enough to share their insights.
With the Mansion... I still think its on-ride story is quite obvious. So I stick by what I said that they're kinda opposite with what is known and what isn't known. But hey, just my opinion. :mrgreen: But the Manor's on-ride story you posted is the one I generally think is correct; I merely meant that its not too obvious to most people who don't know the history of Thunder Mesa etc.
After all the backstory of Haunted Mansion is quite unknown; there are the old concept stories but who knows what is actually canon. And mostly all the characters pasts are unknown too. Phantom Manor's story is more explored even though its not obvious at the parks.
And there's that debate with who the Phantom is... I was reading a French forum and someone mentioned that one of the party guests in the ballroom is actually Henry... then surely that would mean the Phantom is not Henry? o_O After all he appears in that scene too. But then... auto-translate doesn't always get everything right.
I don't get it when people say that in the Manor you (as the rider) arn't involved in the story like you are with the Mansion... I mean the Phantom is talking to you... and he seems to want to keep you in Phantom Canyon... that seems pretty involved to me.
Oh BTW just have to add; I love your Manor site! Did you take all the photos for it yourself? 'cause they're really good!
Quote from: "Ezra"And there's that debate with who the Phantom is... I was reading a French forum and someone mentioned that one of the party guests in the ballroom is actually Henry... then surely that would mean the Phantom is not Henry? o_O After all he appears in that scene too. But then... auto-translate doesn't always get everything right.
Yes, I remember reading that somewhere myself. It's only fan speculation. I think it's pretty safe to say that in the Imagineer's original concepts the Phantom is a malevolent manifestation of Henry Ravenswood's spirit. In the original story version I posted a while ago this is even spelled out while the Imagineers generally avoid confirming this one way or the other.
Quote from: "Ezra"Oh BTW just have to add; I love your Manor site! Did you take all the photos for it yourself? 'cause they're really good!
Thank you, most of them were taken by me or my co-host Sam, a few are official pictures.
Quote from: "DGRavenswood"Quote from: "RockNRoller"You certainly know your PM Mr Ravenswood, have you picked this all up from the web or could you reccomend some bed time reading for another avid fan?
I'm the one who put it on the web in the first place! ;)
More seriously, I wish there was more reading material out there regarding Phantom Manor. If you've read Jason Surrel's Haunted Mansion book and "From Sketch to Reality" you've read most everything there is out there. If you can read French, I also recommend "Entretiens Avec un Empire Vol. 3" which has interviews with many DLP Imagineers including Jeff Burke.
For my website I had to do my own research which consisted not only in closely examining the attraction itself but also in corresponding with many key Phantom Manor imagineers who were kind enough to share their insights.
Thanks for that, Ive already got both those books so I guess I'll just have to trawl the web, oh dear never mind :lol:
Ah okay, thanks. I was wondering if it had any confirmation or not. Guess its all speculation again as usual with the Manor. :mrgreen:
Just home form DLRP and noticed a few things on Phantom Manor for Ezra.
In the stretching room I don't usually pay much attention, but I looked around this time and the Phantom is involved in the hanging scene, I don't remember this from before.
madame Leotta's table is floating and the walls behind the doom buggies have a glowing light effect.
The coffins are all working again but the mayor is not. they have installed a door so you can't see him at all! The Phantom on the right at the end of the ride has lost his hat!
There could be more, but I'm no expert!
Thanks for the info! The Phantom has always been there but he is often hard to spot because of dust accumilating on the scrim.
And what do you mean... a door? O_O Wha... why!? I hope they fix him and not just leave it like that...
I think the Phantom at the end hasn't had his hat since the year before, but I'm not certain.
What do i mean by a door?..... well its a door! You cannot see the mayor at all.
Actually, the Phantom at the end never wore a hat; if you follow the Disney and More link above you'll see this was already the case in the concept art.
Since the mayor is standing right next to the track, where exactly is that door located...?
Wonder if the Mayor is just gone for a refurbishment and its the door on the building behind him?
Hmmm... a lot of folks kept going on about them removing his hat though... o_O Odd if he didn't have one anyhow! lol XD
And yeah that's what I thought was odd... where is the door placed so that it blends in with the surroundings? I mean there can't just be a door right next to the track for no reason. o_o
@RockNRollar: That's what I was thinking too.
The mayor was definiteley not there. I thought he was in a building, but when I look on my photos I see he was in front of the building that seemed to have a temporary door on it.
When I went, the Manor had a LOT of changes, 3 I think...
1 The Stretching Room scene: The Phantom is more visible, better lighting effects have been added!
2: The Mayor: He seemed to become a ghost and fly away! Not traces of him! No door! Just...nothing!
3: I was sitting on the rocks next to the Riverboat Landing, evening, when I noticed flashes going off in the grassy area in front and queue line of the manor! Is this a new effect to represent lightning? Or is has it always been there? I gotta admit it was really clever! Added mystery to the manor!
You're right, the lightning is new.
The Phantom being more visible is generally the case after a decent rehab; unfortunately it rarely lasts longer than a few months. I'd hope they'll find a more permanent solution when/if they update the attraction.
PS: Ravenswood Manor is back online with new pages and new design. Enjoy and let me know what you think! (Not here, maybe. I don't want to hijack the thread.)
Hmmm, I hope they can sort it out soon then. o_o
Anyhow as I said before great new layout for the site! Shame the site doesn't have that pic of Ezra on it anymore; I really liked that photo. ^_^; But other than that it looks fantastic! Love the style you have used. :mrgreen:
Happy Halloween! Have a spooktacular day!
I was supposed to have a costume this year, but do you know how difficult it is to find a old-fashioned (1800s style) visor? o_o Even eBay doesn't have them... just modern ones.
Anyhow; happy Halloween! :mrgreen: I'm sure the residents of the Manor and Phantom Canyon will be more active tonight eh? ;)
It's quite odd not seeing the Mayor. I rode a second time just to make sure I hadn't imagined it!
Just back from DLRP and my multiple rides on Phantom manor, there were a few things I noticed. The mayor is still missing, the Phantom at the end is now just rattling his mouth with no sound, and as you approach Melanie weeping at her dressing table the sound recording makes a loud click and the track starts again, but, since our previous trip I loved that the fountain with the spooky light in the queueing area is working, the hanging scene in the lift is much clearer, the singing busts features are much sharper and Little Melanie in the wine cellar now has a fantastic new face, when she says "were just....dying to have you" she does a fabulous sneer.. :thumbs: :thumbs:
Wish i was there now... :cry:
I also noticed the Phantom's locked jaw last week when I was on the attraction a few times, also I don't know if it's nostalgia clouding my memory or not but I always thought the skeleton climbing out of the tomb (or "lazy skeleton" as I like to call him :P ) would climb further out of his tomb.
I've been out of the DLP loop for about 2 years now but does anyone know when the final Melanie scene was changed from a bright white light to a dimmer green one? I always used to prefer the former but I can understand why it was altered.
Thanks for the info guys. I didn't know they had changed Melanie's projection at the exit cellar... hmmmm... they need to update Madame Leota's projection too. I mean the method used makes it look really odd... especially if you compare it to Madame Leota in the Haunted Mansion who pretty much looks real with the method they use for the projection. o_O
As of Tuesday the Mayor was back! No audio between the ballroom and Melanie's dressing room though :?
At the dressing room there is still an audible click :idea:
Melanie's veil has been lifted from above her candelabra at the first time we see her so it no longer looks like she's setting herself alight :lol:
Oh and the ghostly piano player wasn't moving!
(//http://i.imgur.com/7Bb0O.jpg) (//http://imgur.com/7Bb0O)
Quote from: "Festival Disney"As of Tuesday the Mayor was back! No audio between the ballroom and Melanie's dressing room though :?
At the dressing room there is still an audible click :idea:
Melanie's veil has been lifted from above her candelabra at the first time we see her so it no longer looks like she's setting herself alight :lol:
Oh and the ghostly piano player wasn't moving!
(//http://i.imgur.com/7Bb0O.jpg) (//http://imgur.com/7Bb0O)
Just another day at the manor... :lol:
Was a seven year break since I returned last week again. Loved it to have it early dark and enjoying the park by night. Am i wrong or was back at the beginnig the light more green and even fog machines in place?? Or was the fog just steam from the steamboats nearby?
Thanks for the pic!
Looks like things are gradually going back to normal. Wonder if the rumor of an update is true though?
Quote from: "Ezra"Looks like things are gradually going back to normal. Wonder if the rumor of an update is true though?
It's true that they have an update planned; the big question is
when rather than if they're going to do it.
Quote from: "DGRavenswood"It's true that they have an update planned; the big question is when rather than if they're going to do it.
I just hope nothing big is changed... especially anything that messes with the story.