John Debney

referencennSo, the music for Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris? Yeah, that’s all thanks to John Debney. The guy went full-on gothic for this one—think sweeping strings, those dramatic pipe organs, and just a touch of old-school haunted house vibes. It’s not your regular theme park jingle. The score actually weaves through the entire ride, switching moods as you move from the creepy old Western town to those ghostly ballrooms. Debney really nails that eerie, cinematic feel—like, you’re not just on a ride, you’re in a living (well, undead?) movie. The music’s got layers; if you listen close, you’ll catch subtle nods to classic horror flicks and even a few playful twists on familiar Disney tunes. Honestly, without Debney’s score, Phantom Manor would lose half its magic. That soundtrack basically gives the ride its soul—or, well, its ghost.

Man, movie sets are a total trip. You’d think it’s all glitz and cool vibes, but honestly? Half the time, you’re just standing around, twiddling your thumbs, while a bunch of people in headsets argue over whether the lamp should be two inches to the left or the right. Lighting takes forever. Like, five hours just to get one shot looking “right.” Meanwhile, the actors are lurking in the corners, sipping on terrible coffee, and the director’s sweating bullets because time is money and everyone’s bored out of their minds. It’s chaos, but somehow organized? Sometimes, you start to lose sight of what you’re even doing there—oh yeah, making a movie. The glamour fades fast, replaced by the reality of endless waiting, weird snacks, and the faint smell of burnt popcorn from the craft table. But hey, when the camera finally rolls, it’s magic—at least for those five minutes before they yell cut and start the whole thing over again.