Melanie Ravenswood

**Melanie Ravenswood** is the protagonist of Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris. She is the ill-fated bride of the attraction, inspired by the attic bride from the Haunted Mansion, and the daughter of Henry Ravenswood, the owner of the mines in Big Thunder Mountain.

## Background

Melanie Ravenswood was born to Henry and Martha Ravenswood. She grew up in the town of Thunder Mesa after her father discovered gold within Big Thunder Mountain, living in Ravenswood Manor under his watchful eyes. She aged into a beautiful young woman, attracting the attention of many suitors. Four bachelors vied for her hand: Barry Claude, Sawyer Bottom, Rowan D. Falls and Iggy Knight. However they all met a grisly fate at the hands of her possessive father, believing that no man was good enough for her.

She eventually fell in love with a train engineer, who promised to take her far away from Thunder Mesa forever. However, the day of their wedding, he never appeared. She remained in her wedding dress, waiting for him to return. For the rest of her existence, she was tormented by a malevolent Phantom - the spirit of her dead father returned from the grave. Her story became gossip among the people of Thunder Mesa, and any unlucky mortals who managed to wander into Ravenswood Manor would discover the truth of what happened to her.

## Appearances and allusions

### Phantom Manor

Melanie is first seen in the foyer, in a portrait with her father. She is in her wedding dress with her veil covering her face, while her father is grabbing onto her shoulders. As the Phantom speaks, the portrait changes to one of happier times, and Melanie is now more relaxed, wearing a blue dress. Guests enter the secret room, where she stands with her four suitors - Barry Claude, Iggy Knight, Rowan D. Falls, and Sawyer Bottom. Once the doors close, Melanie disappears from the portraits, as they stretch to reveal their fates. A portrait of Melanie in her wedding dress sits at the end of the portrait gallery. In all three moments, her voice can be heard singing with the music.

Once guests board their doom buggies, they first encounter Melanie in the endless hallway. She is holding a candelabra, while the Phantom looms over her. She is then seen in the ballroom, standing ontop of the balcony, overlooking the ghostly body. The Phantom is standing right behind her, again. They enter her boudoir, where she is crying in front of a mirror, where the Phantom is staring at her. At the end of the attraction, guests enter a hall of mirrors, where Melanie appears to enter their doombuggies. She asks them to marry her, while she laughs. She calls out to them to hurry back, after they disembark. In the Boot Hill Cemetery, a large crypt intended for Melanie sits near her parents, where one can hear her heart beating.

### Other

Melanie has made appearances at Disneyland Paris as a live character several times. She appeared in the stage show “C’est Magique” during the Frontierland segment. She was on the Illusion Manor Float in the Mickey’s Halloween Celebration Float, alongside the Phantom and Mickey Mouse. She has made sporadic appearances as a meet and greet character, mainly at special events and parties in Disneyland Paris.

Melanie can be found on a mural at the Disneyland Railroad station in Main Street.

## References

1. ↑ https://parcorama.tumblr.com/post/145362261780/melanie-ravenswood-cant-leave-phantom-manor