My Review of Halloween on the High Seas

The pumpkin tree on the Disney Wonder was really neat!

Halloween on the High Seas is Disney Cruise Line’s collection of special Halloween-themed sailings, typically offered from mid-September through the end of October. I had the good fortune of sailing on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise aboard the Disney Wonder, and I wanted to share my experience.

If you are trying to decide between a Halloween sailing and a regular Disney Cruise, this article may help you make an informed choice. If you have already booked a Halloween on the High Seas cruise and want to know what to expect as you start planning, I hope this gives you a helpful preview. And if you are like me and simply enjoy reading about Disney Cruises before you sail to build the excitement and anticipation, then enjoy!

I will walk through the different offerings and experiences that made our Halloween on the High Seas sailing feel special. My cruise took place in October 2022 aboard the Disney Wonder, so some details may differ on current sailings or on other ships. That said, based on recent blogs and videos I have seen, the offerings appear to remain largely similar across the fleet, with only minor variations from ship to ship.

Decor Around the Ship

The first thing you will notice when you step onboard a Halloween on the High Seas sailing is the decor. The highlight is the Halloween pumpkin tree in the ship’s atrium or Grand Hall. The tree strikes the perfect Disney balance: slightly spooky, but not scary for young children. It has a face carved into the trunk and pumpkins hanging from its branches. It also lights up, creating a beautiful glow and a festive atmosphere throughout the atrium.

I loved walking onto the ship and having the pumpkin tree be one of the first things we saw. It immediately made the cruise feel different and special. It also makes a fantastic photo backdrop, so getting a picture with the tree is a must-do in my opinion.

To make it even more fun, each Disney Cruise Line ship has its own unique pumpkin tree, complete with a name. Each tree has its own personality and, in many cases, ties into the theme of the ship. This is a nice touch because if you take another Halloween on the High Seas sailing on a different ship, you will get to experience a different tree.

Here are the names of the pumpkin trees on the Disney Cruise Line ships currently offering Halloween on the High Seas sailings:

• Disney Magic: Reap

• Disney Wonder: Bog

• Disney Dream: Grim

• Disney Fantasy: Muckelbones

• Disney Wish: Boo

• Disney Treasure: Ginger

• Disney Destiny: No name revealed yet

• Disney Adventure: Not currently offering Halloween sailings

In addition to the pumpkin tree, you will find fall-themed garlands throughout the atrium and on the levels overlooking it, as well as along the grand staircase. One of my family’s favorite decor details was the window decals around the ship. Many featured different jack-o’-lantern faces, and I have also seen images of decals showing silhouettes of famous Disney villains.

The decor did not necessarily change what we did on the cruise, but it absolutely added to our enjoyment. We love holidays, and seeing the ship decorated for Halloween put us in the spirit from the moment we stepped onboard. It helped set the mood for the entire sailing.

These window decals were so much fun!

Special Entertainment Offerings

This is, in my opinion, the biggest reason to book a Halloween on the High Seas cruise. I will admit that live entertainment is my family’s favorite part of a Disney Cruise, so I may be biased, but Disney truly knows how to create magic on stage.

Here is a rundown of the special entertainment you can expect on a Halloween on the High Seas sailing.

Pumpkin Tree Lighting and Storytelling

On the first night of the sailing, there is a special performance in the atrium or Grand Hall that culminates in the lighting of the pumpkin tree. On some ships, the legend of the pumpkin tree is told by the tree’s caretaker, who gives a wonderfully theatrical, fully in-character performance. On newer ships, the show is led by storytellers who help guide guests throughout the sailing. On the Disney Treasure, those storytellers are Sage and Coriander, and I assume something similar will be true on the Disney Destiny with Zayah and Gamble.

During the performance, stories and legends are told as excited children gather beneath the grandeur of the ship and the branches of the pumpkin tree. The show ends with the tree coming to life and lighting up. It then remains lit for the rest of the sailing.

This show is a fun way to kick off the cruise and adds to the appeal of the pumpkin tree. I would make attending it a priority on your first day.

Because my Halloween on the High Seas sailing was also my very first cruise of any kind, I was not as familiar as I should have been with the schedule or special offerings, and we unfortunately missed this performance. Now that I have seen videos of the show on different ships, I know that if we ever sail on another Halloween cruise, we will make it a high priority.

I really appreciate the way Disney weaves Halloween fun together with just a hint of spookiness while still keeping the experience entertaining and comfortable for the whole family, including young children. My kids have never liked being scared at Halloween, so they love Halloween at the Disney parks and on Disney Cruise Line because they get the fun and spirit of the season without the scary factor.

Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party

One day of your Halloween on the High Seas sailing will be designated as “Halloween” day for the purposes of the cruise. That evening, you will have the opportunity to enjoy Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party.

This is a fun, lighthearted dance party and show featuring Mickey and the gang dressed in their Halloween costumes. It is usually performed on the stage by the pool deck, though if weather does not cooperate, it may be moved to the atrium. The show is not too long, usually running about 15 to 20 minutes, which is often just right for younger kids. It is also very interactive, with lots of chances to dance and join in the fun with the characters.

Fortunately, we did attend this show during our Halloween on the High Seas cruise. As the cruise went on, I learned more about the special offerings and became more familiar with how cruising works. We really enjoyed the show and thought it was a lot of fun. It does not compare to the Broadway-caliber shows in the Disney Theatre, but it is still well worth watching.

I viewed Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party as bonus entertainment because we still got all of the entertainment normally offered on a regular Disney Cruise sailing. The show was very popular, so I recommend heading to the pool deck early if you want a good view of the stage.

If your kids want to participate in the dancing, they will likely want to be close to the stage with the other kids. If they prefer to observe, you can stand farther back or watch from the level above the pool deck. Those upper-level spots are some of our favorites for deck parties, especially if we can get a front-row view looking down.

Enjoying the fun at Mickey's Mouse-querade party!

Trick-or-Treating Onboard the Ship

On the “Halloween” day of our cruise, trick-or-treat stations were set up around the ship at the end of Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party. Stations were located around the pool deck, the level above the pool deck, and the atrium area.

Since many guests dress up in Halloween costumes, this was a really fun opportunity for kids to enjoy some bonus trick-or-treating. If you have ever attended Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland or Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, you can probably picture the general experience.

The amount of candy handed out was quite generous. Even though there were not a huge number of stations, we still received plenty of treats. A small trick-or-treat bag was provided in the stateroom, but I recommend bringing larger bags because the provided bags can be a little small.

Dressing Up in Halloween Costumes

One of the fun parts of a Halloween on the High Seas cruise is that kids and adults can dress up. If you visit the Disney parks, you may know that adults generally cannot dress as characters except during special Halloween events. On a Halloween cruise, however, adults can absolutely join in the fun and wear costumes.

We saw so many amazing costumes onboard, and we especially loved the group costumes. Seeing so many guests dressed up made the day feel festive and helped it really feel like Halloween at sea.

Most guests who dressed up seemed to put on their costumes in the late afternoon and wear them through dinner, Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party, trick-or-treating, and the Broadway-style show that evening. That said, you certainly do not have to dress up. Not everyone did, so there is no need to feel uncomfortable if costumes are not your thing.

Our family went with a Descendants theme so that we could wear Disney-inspired costumes. It was really fun, and we got some great pictures with the pumpkin tree and the characters.

All dressed up for Halloween on the Disney Wonder

Character Meet and Greets

Character meet and greets are not exclusive to Halloween on the High Seas sailings, but one of the fun seasonal touches is that the characters dress in Halloween costumes.

We love that on Disney Cruises, the characters wear different outfits on different days. On embarkation day, they often appear in captain or sailing outfits. On formal night, they dress in formalwear. On Halloween day, we got the added fun of seeing them in festive Halloween costumes.

Our kids loved seeing what each character was wearing, and it made them want to meet the characters again so we could get pictures with the Halloween outfits. It may seem like a small detail, but I think those details are part of what sets Disney apart. Having the characters dressed for Halloween was a really nice touch.

Minnie, Daisy and Clarabelle dressed as the Sanderson Sisters.

Food, Movies, Trivia, and More

There are several other fun extras you may experience on a Halloween on the High Seas sailing. On the day designated as Halloween, the ship includes lots of seasonal touches and activities.

One simple detail we loved was the Halloween music playing around the ship. First thing in the morning, when we left our cabin, we were greeted by Halloween music. It was a fun way to set the tone for the day.

We also enjoyed that many of the movies shown both on Funnel Vision by the pool and in the movie theaters had a Halloween theme. When we sailed in 2022, Hocus Pocus 2 had just come out, so it was showing in the theaters. On the night when there was not a Broadway-style show in the Disney Theatre, they showed the movie on a big screen, which was a fun addition.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is another favorite that is often shown onboard. I did not attend that movie, but I have heard it is sometimes offered as a sing-along, and you may also have the opportunity to meet Jack and Sally on the ship.

We also noticed that trivia, crafts, and photo backdrops had Halloween themes that day. Throughout the sailing, there were Halloween-themed treats available around the ship, including at Cove Cafe, the buffet, and the sweet shop. The desserts in the sweet shop are available for an additional charge, but it is always fun to treat yourself to some Halloween-decorated goodies.

Disney does holidays so well, and in my opinion, they nailed these smaller details. Together, they made the whole cruise feel extra special.

Final Thoughts

My family was very happy with our Halloween on the High Seas cruise. At the time, it was the only Disney Cruise we had ever been on, so every aspect of the cruise felt extra exciting and magical. Even looking back now, after more Disney Cruise experiences, I still think Disney did a great job with the Halloween offerings.

I would not go in expecting nonstop Halloween theming. Instead, I would expect the regular Disney Cruise experience with bonus entertainment, decor, costumes, photo opportunities, and seasonal fun. In fact, I think if Disney did too much Halloween theming, it might take away from the classic Disney Cruise experience that guests are also there to enjoy.

For us, there was a great balance between Halloween fun and the regular Disney Cruise activities. It felt like a strong value because we still got the usual entertainment and experiences, plus the extra seasonal offerings, including the pumpkin tree lighting show and Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party. We also loved the decor, the photo opportunities, the characters in costume, planning our family costumes, and enjoying extra trick-or-treating.

So, if a Halloween cruise is an option for you, I would recommend it. I still think cost, timing, itinerary, and ship are probably the most important factors when choosing a cruise. However, if you are deciding between a Halloween on the High Seas sailing and a regular sailing, and all other factors are close, I would choose the Halloween cruise. And if you are a big Halloween fan, I think you will especially enjoy it.

We really felt like we got everything we would have enjoyed on a regular Disney Cruise, plus a little more seasonal magic. The good news is that we have loved every Disney Cruise we have sailed, so you really cannot go wrong.

Happy sailing!