Curious about Disney Cruise’s Halloween on the High Seas sailings? If Halloween ranks among your favorite holidays, you can celebrate it in style on a Disney Cruise!
Whether you’ve already booked a Halloween Disney Cruise and want to know what to expect, or you’re considering if it’s the right choice for you, Disney Cruise Lines ensures a spooktacular Halloween celebration for all ages.
Here is a quick summary of all the things you can expect before we go into more detail:
- Mickey’s Mouse-querade: A lively party featuring Mickey, Minnie, and other beloved characters in Halloween costumes, complete with music and dancing.
- Pumpkin Tree Lighting: A magical event where the ship’s pumpkin tree comes to life with lights and stories.
- Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream: An interactive movie experience where guests can sing along to the classic film.
- Disney Characters in Halloween Costumes: Meet and greet opportunities with Disney characters dressed in their Halloween best.
- Haunted Stories by the Sea: Spooky storytelling sessions perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit.
- Halloween Movies in the Theater: Enjoy a selection of Halloween-themed films in the onboard theater.
- Spooky Treats and Fall Flavors: Indulge in a variety of themed snacks and drinks available throughout the cruise.
- Specialty Classes: Participate in unique classes that offer Halloween-themed crafts and activities.
- Kid’s Club Halloween Activities: Special Halloween activities designed just for kids in the onboard clubs.
- Trick or Treating Onboard: Traditional trick-or-treating fun throughout the ship for guests of all ages.
When are the Halloween on the High Seas Cruises?
You don’t actually have to be onboard a Disney ship on October 31 to experience the Halloween on the High Seas celebrations.
Depending on which ship you are sailing on you can party any time from September to the end of October.
The Disney Halloween on the High Seas cruise for 2024 will take place from September 9 to October 31.
This special Halloween-themed cruise is offered on the Disney Wish, Fantasy, Magic, and Dream ships.
- Disney Wish starts on September 13, 2024
- Disney Fantasy starts on September 14, 2024
- Disney Magic starts on September 9, 2024
The Disney Wonder will not have any Halloween on the High Seas cruises. She is sailing on transpacific and Australian cruises at this time and we are guessing that the logistics of having all the decorations and different costumes available just wouldn’t work.
Disney Dream is in Europe and then in Dry Dock for most of the Halloween Season in 2024 so there are no special cruises scheduled.
When are the 2025 Themed Cruises?
Disney has also released all of the 2025 cruises. This will see the first season on the new Disney Treasure cruise ship.
The Halloween on the High Seas cruises are
- Disney Wish starts on September 12, 2025
- Disney Magic starts on September 13, 2025
- Disney Dream starts on September 8, 2025
- Disney Fantasy starts on September 21, 2025
- Disney Treasure starts on September 13, 2025.
Again, as Disney Wonder is sailing the Pacific and Australia, there will not be any Halloween on the High Seas cruises.
Are They More Expensive?
Good question.
It varies. This will depend upon the ship, the dates and the itinerary.
Usually we don’t find these cruises to be higher priced and often there are some available at a special discount closer to the sail date.
Halloween Themed Character Meet and Greets
This is a great way of seeing the characters in their Halloween costumes.
And Jack Skellington and Sally make an appearance too!
One of the most popular character meet and greets for Halloween on the High Seas features Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, and Clarabelle Cow dressed up as the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus.
Minnie is dressed as Winifred Sanderson, Daisy as Sarah Sanderson, and Clarabelle as Mary Sanderson.
Disney Cruise Halloween Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party
One of the highlights is Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party.
This is the perfect occasion to don your Halloween costume!
As you might expect, the Disney Cruise Halloween Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party is extremely popular.
Very popular.
It’s fun, it’s crowded, and it’s noisy.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse, along with other select characters, will join the party for a song and dance performance. It’s a high-energy event with plenty of lighting effects.
You’ll be fine in your regular attire, but it’s a lot of fun to get into the spirit and wear a costume. There’s even a prize for the best one!
What About Pirate Night?
Don’t worry!
There will still be a Pirate Night on your Halloween on the High Seas cruise.
Disney Cruise Halloween on the High Seas Decor
This is Disney, so as you would expect, the decorations are spooktacular!
As soon as you board your Disney ship you will notice the atrium is be beautifully decorated.
Pumpkins in the shape of Mickey ears will be decorating the atrium.
Look up and you will see swags of purple cloth and orange pumpkins decorating the atrium Decks 3, 4 and 5.
The huge portholes along Deck 3 have huge pumpkin decals on them.
Halloween Themed Activities
There are so many activities on your Disney Cruise Halloween on the High Seas cruise you need to make sure that you know about all of them so that you can choose which to participate in.
How do you know what Halloween activities there are scheduled?
Your Disney Cruise Navigator App is your essential guide. This is what you need so that you can see what events are going on around the Disney ship.
One of the events that you might miss unless you look carefully is the Pumpkin Tree Storytelling. This usually happens at 7.30 on the evening before the main Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party.
However, this may vary on your cruise, so make sure you check!
The spooky storytelling is appropriate for all ages and reveals how the pumpkin tree magically grows full of pumpkins overnight.
Of course, this is all due to the Disney cruise magic, but probably if you happen to be awake in the early hours of the next morning you would see how it really happens – not quite so magical.
I am always surprised at just how popular the Pumpkin Storytelling is.
I think my first couple of Halloween cruises I managed to miss it completely, just because I didn’t know it was happening. However, I am not sure how I missed the huge crowds of people who wanted to listen.
As the Pumpkin Storytelling is usually held at 7.30 this is that in-between dinner seatings time. So everyone on the ship is in theory available to go to the event. Last time I went, it pretty much felt as though everyone on the ship was there!
If you want the best spot you do need to stake it out at least 30 minutes early. Deck 3 close to the tree is the best location.
However, if you do not want to plan ahead that much, and it will be difficult if you have early seating, you can still see and hear the event from Decks 4 and 5.
Really the higher deck 5 is not ideal, but at least you get some sense of participating.
Settle out on the deck in the evening for the Haunted Stories of the Seas. The Sea Captain tells some spooky stories for the kids and the grown-ups.
One of the best Halloween on the High Seas Disney Cruise events is the screening of “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. You need to check exactly when this will take place as it varies on each cruise. However, you can expect at least one afternoon showing and a late evening one as well.
If you can stay up, the late showing of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a lot of fun. This showing is in the Walt Disney Theater and is termed a “sing and scream along”.
It’s certainly more than just watching the movie!.
Another great feature is that following the screening Jack Skelllington and Sally will be available outside the Walt Disney Theater for a meet and greet. Due to their seasonal nature, these characters are had to come by, so if you get the chance the meet and greet is a great opportunity for a photo op.
You will also find lots of other Disney Halloween movies on your stateroom television as well as special screenings in the Buena Vista Theatre.
Adults have an amazing time on Disney Cruises too! Part of the celebration is the aptly named Halloween Isn’t Just For Kids.
This is the adult-only dance party which will be held sometime after 9 pm at the entertainment district on each of the Disney ships.
Halloween Themed Food and Drinks
To help you get even more into the Halloween spirit your themed cruise provides a tempting selection of specialty food and drinks.
From spooky cocktails to indulgent sweets, there’s something for everyone.
Each day, a new Halloween-themed cocktail is featured on the menu, along with a non-alcoholic option – all at extra cost of course.
Popular choices from previous Halloween on the High Seas cruises include the Jack Skellington Chocolate Mousse, Mickey Mouse Halloween Cupcake, and Haunted Mansion Cake Pop.
Related: What is Not Included on a Disney Cruise
There are some magical themed food and drinks for a Disney Halloween Cruise. Look out for Spooky Juice and Spider Cakes. Or sample a Halloween themed Caramel Pecan Chocolate Mocha.
Disney Halloween on the High Seas Stateroom Gifts
If you sail in Halloween season you will find many themed gifts in the gifts shop.
Also, a very popular addition is this BOO in the High Seas package which is available on the Disney Cruise Gifts site.
This is only available for pre-order and will be delivered to your stateroom on arrival.
These packages always sell out so if you see it grab it while you can.
Will There be Trick or Treating?
Halloween just wouldn’t be Halloween without Trick or Treating. Of course, Disney doesn’t disappoint! Trick or Treating is part of the Mickey Mouse-querade Party.
The night before the Halloween Party, you will find Trick or Treating bags left in your stateroom. The design has varied from year to year, but you can always bring your own if you want to. Lots of people do!
What is the candy on the Disney Cruise Halloween?
As you would expect, it is a decent quality.
We have seen brands such as Milky Way, Snickers, and Mars. Our experience is that Cast Members are very generous in the amount of candy that they hand out.
If you have a child or adult with allergies on a Disney cruise, the candy is marked accordingly.
On our last cruise, we noticed that there were special stations for those with nut allergies. These were labeled as Purple Pumpkin Stations.
If you are in any doubt at all, visit Guest Services who will help you and tell you what you need to know.
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Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.