The creaking gates of Phantom Manor are about to open for another day. Behind the laughter and screams of Disneyland Parks guests lies a devoted team of Cast Members, meticulously tending to every corner of the manor to ensure that everything is perfect. Dive into an immersive world with these guardians of mystery – where magic and talent intertwine.
6:55 am : Our chilling journey behind the scenes begins on a cold autumn morning. Before heading into the heart of Ravenswood Manor, Cast Members gather behind the scenes at Disneyland Park for the first briefing of the day. This important meeting, which is sometimes shared by teams from nearby attractions, gives Phantom Manor’s Cast Members all of the information necessary to give every guest an unforgettable experience.
We walk past Thunder Mesa still shrouded in haunting darkness, until the outline of Ravenswood Manor appears. Unlike guests visiting this mysterious residence, Cast Members access the attraction through a hidden entrance. Once the maintenance teams give the green light, the Cast Members take full possession of the property.
Our visit begins with the opening checklists alongside William, who has been a Cast Member for almost four years.
©Disney
Let’s face it, you can’t open an attraction with pixie dust alone! The handful of Cast Members present are given a list of tasks to complete and a challenge: to finish all the checks in under two hours. From inspecting the Doom buggies (the name given to the attraction’s vehicles) to checking the sound system, every corner of Phantom Manor is thoroughly checked to ensure it is ready to welcome guests.
9:00 am : The Manor’s heavy doors finally swing open. In the gloom of the foyer, the first guests of the day venture in, hesitantly, under the watchful eyes of the Cast Members ready to welcome them. Each Cast Member has a distinct position and a specific role to play, which changes when a colleague comes to take over from the previous one in a seamless rotation that continues until the Park closes. In theory, they change positions every 20 minutes in a specific order!
But for the first to arrive, it’s time for a break. Cast Members rest in the depths of Phantom Manor … next time you walk through the portrait gallery, keep your eyes peeled!
While some are enjoying a well-earned break, others continue to welcome guests. Our tour then continues with the role of the Porter, stationed at the entrance to the attraction. This is the first point of contact with our guests, whether they are in the regular queue or the Disney Premier Access queue. Behind them, the façade of Phantom Manor comes to life: smoke curls from the chimney, shutters rattle, and, if you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of the weeping bride at the windows on the first floor. The wait time indicated on the sign says thirteen minutes – an omen perhaps?
©Disney
After meeting the Porter, guests proceed to the foyer, the antechamber where the story of Melanie Ravenswood begins. Here, Cast Members usher groups into Phantom Manor before guiding them into a strange room with no windows and no doors. On a control screen, cameras along the route help to manage the flow of guests, preventing any hold upsh. ‘We always have to keep an eye on the screens, even when we’re playing our role.’ said a Cast Member.
Our exploration continues to the loading area, where guests exit their Doom buggies. With their eyes fixed on the moving walkway, Cast Members ensure that no one remains seated, as the attraction remains in motion. In the event of any problems (or playful spooks interrupting the tour), they can slow down or even stop the attraction using a series of buttons carefully arranged on the control panel.
Did you know? One full tour of Phantom Manor lasts over 6 minutes, aboard one of the 130 ‘Doom buggies’ that continuously move around the track? It’s the perfect amount of time to fully savour the enchanting atmosphere of Phantom Manor and discover its many hidden details.
Cast Member fun facts!
Working at Phantom Manor is far more than simply welcoming guests to an attraction – it’s about living each day immersed in a story, sometimes with the occasional twist!
‘Good evening’ … even at 10 am
At Phantom Manor, time stands still. As a matter of tradition (and out of respect for the Ravenswood ghosts, of course), Cast Members greet every visitor with a ‘Good evening,’ regardless of the time of day. This is a quiet reminder that, inside these haunted walls, the light of day no longer penetrates. It’s a tradition that confuses guests, who are often surprised to be wished good night at the first light of dawn or in the early afternoon – and some visitors even imagine that it’s a French thing!
Hamou, the Phantom Manor’s polyglot
Hamou is a quadrilingual Cast Member who is fluent in French, English, Spanish and Arabic – a valuable asset in a place that welcomes guests from all over the world.
One day, when a young child was hesitating, terrified at the thought of getting on the ride, Hamou was able to reassure him. The boy, who finally got on, returned a little later, not to revisit Phantom Manor, but to give Hamou a hug and a pin as a thank you. It was a touching scene, reminding us that even among ghosts, kindness remains the driving force behind Disney’s magic.
The guests who are terrified of the secret room
One of the most talked about, and sometimes most feared, parts of Phantom Manor is the secret room. In this room, which mysteriously grows longer and longer, some panicked guests are too scared to leave.
Luckily, the control tower keeps an eye on things, so if someone finds themselves frozen with fear, a Cast Member may come in person to ‘free’ the poor guest.
This is a discreet but well-organised procedure, because in a haunted mansion… even the ghosts are keen to help you!
The spirits finally allow us to leave the manor and conclude this visit behind the scenes. But we cannot leave without one final look back, and one wish: to return to this eerie mansion…
