Hey everybody! We just got back from a whirlwind four-day Halloween on the High Seas cruise aboard the Disney Dream. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with planning for a seasonal cruise, so we’ve compiled everything you need to know to get you set up for a spooky good time on the high seas.
Halloween Is Starting Now!
The Legend of the Pumpkin Tree Lighting
The fun begins once you board the ship, as the first night of a Halloween on the High Seas cruise is marked by the lighting of the pumpkin tree in the atrium, called “The Legend of the Pumpkin Tree.”
During this experience (which happens multiple times on the first night, check your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for specific times), a mysterious caretaker appears to share tales of Halloween traditions and legends as guests gather round for the lighting of the pumpkin tree.
Tracker Tip: Get to your desired tree lighting time early to snag the best spot! If you’re behind, you can also get a good view on the upper levels overlooking the atrium.
Each pumpkin tree aboard the Disney Cruise Line ships is different, with each one having its own look and name. On the Disney Dream, the Halloween Tree is named Grim. The trees aboard the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy are all inspired by the spirit of author Ray Bradbury’s story, “The Halloween Tree,” which was originally published in 1972. It tells of a group of boys traveling through the history of Halloween, and also serves as the inspiration for the Halloween Tree found in Frontierland at Disneyland Park!
Frightfully Fun Decor
As for decor, you’ll mostly find it in the atrium, or grand hall of the Disney Dream, though there will be some decorations in the porthole windows in various areas aboard the ship.
For an added fee, you can also purchase the Spooky Time Bundle in-room decor add-on to add an extra bit of Halloween fun to your stateroom. You can pre-purchase this add-on for $100 plus tax, just make sure you buy it at least three days before your sailing date. For the 2025 Halloween on the High Seas sailings, the bundle includes a Halloween blanket, a plush pillow, a pennant banner (subject to availability) and a drawstring bag. The decorations will be set up in your room once you get on board the ship.
Ghostly New Merchandise
New Halloween on the High Seas merchandise will also be available during your cruise, and can be found in the Mickey’s Mainsail gift shop aboard the Dream.
Keep in mind that the shops are only open when you’re not in port. For example, when our cruise was docked in Nassau or at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, the shops were closed, but they reopened shortly after we left those ports. During our sea day, the shops were open all day.
Tracker Tip: Buy all your desired Halloween merch on the first night of your cruise, as it does tend to sell out quickly once everyone is onboard! You don’t want to miss out on a hot ticket item you really want, as it may not get restocked before you return to port.
New merchandise this year includes:
Two Disney Cruise Line Spirit Jerseys: one with Mickey and friends in their Halloween costumes, and another featuring Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, and Clarabelle Cow as the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus. Above is the jersey with Mickey and his pals.
There is also a limited release pin!
Other merchandise items for this year include a new Minnie ear headband, a mug, a T-shirt, a glow necklace, plush, various Halloween-themed treats, and a Halloween Tree figurine.
Halloween Day Aboard the Disney Dream
During each Halloween on the High Seas cruise, there is one day during your itinerary that is considered “Halloween Day.” This will be designated in your Navigator app, but is traditionally the second day of your cruise. On that day will be several activities available to enjoy, including:
- Family crafts like mask making
- Pumpkin carving contests for teens in the Edge and Vibe clubs
- Trick or treating
- Mickey’s Mousequerade
- Halloween movies screening on Funnel Vision and in the cinema
- Halloween music playing onboard the ship
- Characters meeting in Halloween costumes
- Halloween trivia and game shows
- More themed activities in the youth clubs
- “Halloween Isn’t Just for Kids” adults-only party
Trick or Treating
When it comes to trick or treating aboard a Halloween on the High Seas cruise, the experience is pretty straightforward, if a little chaotic. On past cruises’ “Halloween Day,” your stateroom host would leave trick or treat bags in your room to use for collecting candy later on in the day. For now, at least on the Dream, it’s a little different.
During our cruise, we didn’t get an empty treat bag left in our room for us to actually trick or treat. Instead, we went to the pool deck at our cruise’s designated Trick or Treat window to pick up a pre-filled bag of candy.
By the time we got to the pool deck, guests were already waiting for Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party. We were able to get our bag of candy and catch the show while we waited; where we were standing also was perfectly positioned to watch each of the characters enter for the show and dance party.
With this new procedure, since there were no massive buckets to refill bags from, Cast Members often had to run back to make more pre-filled treat bags, which increased the wait time — keep that in mind when planning to head up to get your candy. The specific time for trick or treating for your cruise will be listed in the Navigator app.
Tracker Tip: Arrive early for trick or treating, as it only lasts about 15-20 minutes in total and only happens once per cruise!
Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party
The Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party on the pool deck will also take place on “Halloween Night.” This is where you can don your Halloween costumes (though you can wear them all day if you want!) and see your favorite Disney characters in their spooky best, like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip ‘n Dale.
Tracker Tip: You can wear your Halloween costume throughout your cruise if you want, not just on “Halloween Day.”
Halloween Character Meet and Greets
You can meet several characters in their Halloween costumes aboard the Disney Dream during a Halloween on the High Seas cruise. For us, we met Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, and Clarabelle Cow as the Sanderson Sisters, Chip ‘n Dale as a candy cauldron and a candy poison apple, Daisy Duck again in a purple spidery dress, Minnie again in her bat costume, and Mickey in his bat tuxedo.
Tracker Tip: Be sure to check the Navigator app to see which characters will be available on your “Halloween Day” in special costumes and at what times. Lines can get a bit long.
Halloween Isn’t Just for Kids
For the adults in your party, you’ll want to check out the “Halloween Isn’t Just for Kids” offering while onboard. This adults-only party includes a costume contest for attendees, and plenty of dancing to Halloween tunes. On our cruise aboard the Disney Dream, it was held in Evolution, one of the bars onboard. On other ships, this same offering may be called the “Villainous Takeover.” Be sure to check your Navigator app for specific details.
Halloween on the High Seas Treats and Eats
You can find specialty Halloween-themed snacks during your cruise as well. Specifically, the S’Morester Shake, Spooky Spiced Brew, and the Hocus Matcha can be found at the Cove Cafe. At Preludes, you can find themed drinks and snacks available for an additional charge.
The Navigator app will also list the Drink of the Day special every day on your cruise. During Halloween on the High Seas cruises, the drinks will match the season!
Novelty Items
Preludes is also home to the novelty items available for purchase onboard the ship, including Halloween-themed items that can also be found at the Disney Parks on land. The ones we spotted were:
- Pluto Skeleton Sipper
- Jack Skellington Tombstone Popcorn Bucket
- Jack Skellington Sipper
- Mayor of Halloweentown Sipper
You might also find the following novelties on your cruise:
- Mickey Ghost Popcorn Bucket
- Stitch Mummy Popcorn Bucket
Have you ever been on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise? Do you have any tips we might’ve missed? Head over to the comments section on our latest cruise vlog and let us know!
