Book Review: Phantom Manor : l'Attraction Décryptée (The Attraction Decrypted) by Jérémie Noyer, Mathias Dugoujon
Genre: Non-Fiction
This book was hard to get hold of! I’d hoped to buy a copy when we were in Disney Paris a good few years ago now, but alas, it wasn’t to be. Lucky for me, not long after we returned, it did go on sale on the Disney Store website, and I managed to get a copy. It’s been sitting on my shelf since, and I finally decided to sit down and give it a read.
As I know many of our readers are based in the USA, it’s worth mentioning Phantom Manor is the Disney Paris version of Haunted Mansion. However, it’s very much more geared towards the European market, with a bit of a darker storyline in its halls but with features you’ll find familiar if you’ve ridden Haunted Mansion. I love Phantom Manor. Where Haunted Mansion has a cleaner, ‘well maintained’ looking exterior, Phantom Manor looms over Frontierland, a dilapidated old building with signs warning visitors to stay away until the strange goings-on inside can be investigated.
The manor was once home to the Ravenswood family, after Henry Ravenswood struck gold in Big Thunder Mountain and built the Big Thunder Mining Company, which drew others to the area and so Thunder Mesa (Frontierland) was born. Henry and wife Martha had a daughter, Melanie, who grew into a beautiful young woman. After four of her suitors died in strange circumstances, Melanie met Jake. As the pair made plans to wed, an earthquake struck the town, killing both Henry and Martha. Melanie prepared to marry, but her groom never showed, and instead a strange curse seemed to fall over the mansion, as Melanie walked the halls, waiting for a groom who would never arrive.
This is the story of an overbearing father who could never let his little girl go, and it’s reflected in every inch of the ride from the moment you enter the grounds. I admit, I was hoping for a bit more of the story and maybe some ride easter eggs in the book, but the focus is more on the creation, refurbishment, and various things you can see throughout the ride. It’s interesting enough if you’re a fan of the ride, and worth having on your shelf, but it’s also suitable for more casual Disney Park fans. It’s laid out really beautifully, especially with the bilingual text side-by-side (written in both French and English). It also has some great photos from the ride, and was really enjoyable to go through quite slowly.
It does highlight some of the humour found in the grisly story, and it’s always felt like a welcome addition to my more ‘showy’ books. It was definitely fun reading it, but don’t expect a whole load of new information in the pages. Instead, sit back, follow the Ghost Host, and simply enjoy the ride.
Review by Elle Turpitt
Twitter & Instagram: @elleturpitt
www.elleturpitt.com
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