While Disney loves to doll up its theme parks for Halloween, it also puts an Allhallows Eve spin on its cruise line.
Last week, with just six months until Oct. 31, the company announced details coming on board all five of its ships in the fleet including the new Disney Wish set to debut from Port Canaveral this summer. While the theme parks will start feeling the Halloween festivities as early as Aug. 12 with the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the cruise line’s Halloween on the High Seas will hold off until September.
Each ship gets a spooky makeover with its own Pumpkin Tree in the atrium along with costume parties, trick-or-treating, scary movies and other events for both children and adults.
For 2022, guests will see a new character meet-and-greet in the form of Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck and Clarabelle Cow dressed up as the Sanderson sisters from the movie “Hocus Pocus.”
Disney Wish’s Pumpkin Tree will have a unique look with a more graceful face carved into the trunk. The theme is tied to the Cinderella-inspired Grand Hall. Disney’s storyline touts that this is the tree that grew the perfect pumpkin, which was later turned into the coach that took Cinderella to the Prince’s ball.
The other four ship’s Pumpkin Trees have a creepier look and feel, inspired by Ray Bradbury’s story “The Halloween Tree.” During sailings, the trees sprout jack-o’-lanterns with flickering lights, with each tree tended to by a mysterious caretaker who spins haunted yarns to guests.
All five ships will feature a Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party for all, special themed food and beverages like spider cakes and spooky juice, mask making and a “ghostly takeover of ship announcements,” according to a DCL press release. Past events have included things like Tim Burton’s “A Nightmare Before Christmas - Sing and Scream,” an interactive movie experience with a meet-and-greet with the film’s characters Jack Skellington and Sally.
Adults will have their due as well with their own costume contests and a Disney Villains-themed dance night.
The special themed sailings began in 2013 on board Disney Dream before rolling out fleetwide the following year.
With five ships now, the line has more Halloween sailings than ever, available on 52 itineraries with Disney Wish and Fantasy from Port Canaveral, Disney Dream from PortMiami, Disney Magic from New York and Disney Wonder from San Diego.
The earliest sailings are Sept. 10 on Disney Fantasy and Sept. 12 on both the Dream and Wish, while Wonder sailings begin Sept. 23 and Magic’s on Sept. 30. The last sailings among all five ships leave on Oct. 31, after which they will immediately shift into Christmas mode for a series of Very Merrytime Cruises.
More details can be found at disneycruise.com or by calling 888-325-2500.
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