REVIEW: Third Edition Haunted Mansion Gargoyle Tiki Mug & Halfway to Halloween Cocktails from Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Walt Disney World

As we announced earlier today, there’s a new Haunted Mansion gargoyle tiki mug now available for a limited time only at Walt Disney World. Part of Halfway to Halloween, the new mug also comes with one of two drinks at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. So naturally we stopped on by to give them a try!

Haunted Mansion Gargoyle Tiki Mug – $80

with choice of Beverage

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There are two drink options available with the tiki mug, both specially created for Halfway to Halloween:

  • Look Alive Mai Tai: Plantation Dark Rum, BACARDI Superior White Rum, Bols Blackberry Brandy, Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava Juice, Orgeat (Almond), Falernum, and lime juice
  • Ghoulish Delight (Zero Proof): Lyre’s Agave Reserva Spirit with Passion Fruit, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, agave, and soda water

Either way, the drink and mug together cost $80.

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This gargoyle is an exaggerated version of the one found in the stretching room of The Haunted Mansion. The tiki styling of this mug is very well done, so as to be immediately identifiable as the iconic gargoyle while still bringing that tiki aesthetic. Three skulls are sculpted into the base, while the gargoyle itself has its trademark spooky face.

We’re now on the third edition of the gargoyle tiki mug. The first was released in September 2021, while the second came last year in September 2022.

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The mug holds two torches in its hands, much like in the Stretching Room where they are originally found. The torches light up.

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The hole for drinks is of course on the top of the head and curves around the back. Two horns are nestled right on the edges of the drinking gap.

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Of course we can’t talk about the mug without also mentioning the two drinks it came with. It’s important to note before we begin that the “zero proof” drink is not non-alcoholic as it contains spirits, and Cast Members will not sell the mug and accompanying drink to any guest under 21 as a result.

Starting off with the alcoholic Look Alive Mai Tai — The drink follows the pattern of drinks with mugs in that it’s pretty terrible. They almost always put falernum in these and we can’t stand it. Without that single ingredient, it would be fine. There’s a hint of blackberry and a hint of POG, but the falernum overpowers them both. We didn’t taste the rum at all.

Meanwhile, the zero proof Ghoulish Delight is much better, as it has been in the past. The grapefruit and lemon gives the drink a serious sour kick, while the lack of falernum makes the passionfruit flavor more pronounced. The agave spirit and agave syrup provides a nice sweetness to offset the grapefruit. Overall we’d rather have this with a shot of rum than the actual alcoholic drink. 

Guests are required to pick these up through a wristband system. Wristband distribution begins at 12:00p.m. daily at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and is sold with your choice of one of two specialty beverages. The beverages will be themed after the Halfway to Halloween Celebration, while supplies last. Guests will be allowed to purchase the mug at 3:00p.m. when Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto opens.

Are you excited to bring home this new Haunted Mansion Gargoyle Tiki Mug? Let us know in the comments below!

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