News New Haunted Mansion Grounds Expansion, Retail Shop Coming to Disneyland Resort in 2024

[britain]

Hot take but Phantom Manor's overrated and its recent renovation was an overall negative change. There's definitely great stuff about it, such as the Western setting, Vincent Price, the music, the overall more macabre tone, but then there are huge weak elements, too, like the excessive backstory, the tonal shift of including the singing busts, and the replacement of a graveyard with a ghost town. Obviously it's still a strong ride and far better than anything WDI is putting out today, but I'll always prefer the original Haunted Mansion to the Phantom Manor.

Hot take: Yes, U.S. Haunted Mansion is a better show, better tone. But the 2019 update was an improvement to Phantom Manor. Tightening the screws and changing some of the creative decisions that never really worked. And the exterior grounds and facade are very grand.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I love how defenders say “wait until it’s finished to judge” and then it gets finished and it’s even worse than we feared! Haha

Just like Frog Mountain.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Hot take but Phantom Manor's overrated

My impression of Disneyland Paris - after just visiting for the first time - it can not possibly be overrated. It’s simply a beautiful park - including phantom manor.

I like the concept of the phantom better than the bride killing off her husbands. Of course that has been added and cartoonified in recent years.

 

[waltography]

Ok that’s what I thought you might have meant. In other a words, a back story- at least as it pertains to the endless hallway. Your idea sounds cool for a movie. Not sure if it would work so well on the attraction. It’s the first show scene and too soon for something like that. What am I sure of is I don’t trust WDI to execute properly.

Fair enough! It’s probably not something that could come across well without something giving way that’d be unpleasant given how heavy-handed WDI is these days.

 

[mickEblu]

Fair enough! It’s probably not something that could come across well without something giving way that’d be unpleasant given how heavy-handed WDI is these days.

Heavy-handed is a great way to describe modern WDI

 

[Disney Analyst]

My impression of Disneyland Paris - after just visiting for the first time - it can not possibly be overrated. It’s simply a beautiful park - including phantom manor.

I like the concept of the phantom better than the bride killing off her husbands. Of course that has been added and cartoonified in recent years.

Disneyland Paris is stunning. I loved Phantom Manor. A different take on the attraction for sure, but variety is the spice of life!

I prefer the OG, but I think PM is very successful and wonderful still.

 

[Phroobar]

I remember my trip to Paris and checking out DLP. It is beautiful but looked like it was falling apart. There was a lot of weathering and broken things everywhere. Pirates and PM was amazing and I loved Space Mountain Mission 2. Never did the Nautilus. I'm glad the place is getting the TLC it never had before. WDS across the way made DCA look like Disney Sea. What were they thinking?

 

[PiratesMansion]

I remember my trip to Paris and checking out DLP. It is beautiful but looked like it was falling apart. There was a lot of weathering and broken things everywhere. Pirates and PM was amazing and I loved Space Mountain Mission 2. Never did the Nautilus. I'm glad the place is getting the TLC it never had before. WDS across the way made DCA look like Disney Sea. What were they thinking?

It was in similar shape when I visited; thankfully, it seems like they've definitely made a turnaround where maintenance is concerned.

They were contractually obligated to build WDS within ten years of DLP's opening or they would lose the land. Doesn't mean they couldn't have/shouldn't have done better, but those circumstances plus late Eisner/Pressler resulted in a horrid park that almost sunk the whole enterprise out there.

 

[Phroobar]

It was in similar shape when I visited; thankfully, it seems like they've definitely made a turnaround where maintenance is concerned.

They were contractually obligated to build WDS within ten years of DLP's opening or they would lose the land. Doesn't mean they couldn't have/shouldn't have done better, but those circumstances plus late Eisner/Pressler resulted in a horrid park that almost sunk the whole enterprise out there.

Even WDS park map makes the park look pathetic. You go to left for a couple of Marvel rides and TOT. Go to the right for random Pixar stuff and a made over Cars tram tour. Now the front entrance is under construction for Disney Adventure World.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Even WDS park map makes the park look pathetic. You go to left for a couple of Marvel rides and TOT. Go to the right for random Pixar stuff and a made over Cars tram tour. Now the front entrance is under construction for Disney Adventure World.

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It wasn't much/any better in 2015. At that point, the center of the park was open, so it was the left side of the park (then-home to Rock n Roller Coaster) that felt disconnected from anything else.

 

[J4546]

once the lake/frozen land/pathway are done the park will be much much better, still the worst disney park probably, but not a terrible park

 

[PiratesMansion]

once the lake/frozen land/pathway are done the park will be much much better, still the worst disney park probably, but not a terrible park

They're going to have to do a lot more work than what's been announced for it to be not terrible IMO.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

They're going to have to do a lot more work than what's been announced for it to be not terrible IMO.

I don’t think it’s terrible right now (giving them grace for the construction) - they have done a lot to improve things. I had a very enjoyable time there. When the entrance and frozen are finished I think it will be a very nice park.

Naturally it should be better….

 

[Phroobar]

I don’t think it’s terrible right now (giving them grace for the construction) - they have done a lot to improve things. I had a very enjoyable time there. When the entrance and frozen are finished I think it will be a very nice park.

Naturally it should be better….

It will always be terrible until they add a train. Epcot has the monorail and DAK has that train to nowhere. Disney Sea has an elevated train. Even USO has a train. DCA needs a train!

 

[Disney Analyst]

 

[waltography]

The new animatronic looks horrible! So plasticky and somehow seems to have even less movement than the previous one.