Enter, foolish mortals, if you dare!
I know this is what everyone has been dying to read!
By far the most popular place onboard the Disney Treasure – probably more so even than its counterpart, the Star Wars-themed Hyperspace Lounge on sister ship Disney Wish – is the Haunted Mansion Parlor. I’m sure many of you (I’m looking at you, Scott) would welcome a bar with no windows and no doors… Muahahaha!
Enter through the crypt to find what spooky delights await you on the other side!
For fans of the attraction or movies, this is like stepping right into the afterlife of the happy haunts. Upon entering, you really don’t know where to look first. Dark lighting and steady, creepy music welcome you while you try to find a seat – which is easier said than done. The atmosphere takes you right back to the Doom Buggy of your childhood.
Described by Disney Cruise Line as:
The one-of-a-kind experience will invite guests to partake in the next chapter of the Haunted Mansion, focused on the story of a jovial captain who entered the ghostly realm after a disastrous dinner with his beloved fiancé. A custom musical arrangement inspired by the attraction’s original score arranged and adapted by composer Shruti Kumar and Walt Disney Imagineering will set the stage for an ever-escalating anthology of illusions that immerses guests into the mysterious lore of the Haunted Mansion.
Legendary characters from Haunted Mansion attractions at Disney Parks around the world, as well as new seafaring arrivals, will come out to socialize in mysterious ways throughout the experience. The venue will follow the nostalgic art style of the original 1969 Disney Parks classic, and true to the original attraction, the Haunted Mansion Parlor will blend humor with Disney’s own distinct brand of spooky storytelling.
The design of the Haunted Mansion Parlor will be reminiscent of a first-class drawing room from the classic cruise liners of the golden age, invoking inspiration from the original Haunted Mansion with a nautical twist. The lounge will include tributes to the Disney Parks attractions, from the iconic purple wallpaper framed by wooden finishes to a mantel clock atop an inviting fireplace to a distinctive purple armchair tucked in the corner. Guests will also encounter a few new ghoulish faces in a portrait gallery depicting the Disney Treasure’s own ghostly residents.
You could really consider this an attraction that sells beverages. With periodic séances, ghostly entertainment, and melting statues, you are constantly looking over your shoulder.
Of course, those beverages are themed to match, with both non-alcoholic and full “spirits” to choose from. We tried the Ghostly Retreat and each of the signature sodas. Complete with glowing and color-changing ice cubes and a few eyeball gummies, the presentation was the highlight. While I wouldn’t say any of them were anything to rave about, it was all about the mood. We even brought home each of the bottles from the sodas to turn into lava lamp-style Halloween decorations.
For those who want a little more punch to their drink, they have a full selection of liquors as well as a few specialty drinks that are served in smoke-infused boxes. The presentation of those was spectacular.
The parlor is family-friendly too, as kids are allowed to join in the fun—at least until 9:00 PM, when it goes 18+. It was just as big of a hit with the younger cruisers as the parents. We figured out a little trick to finding seats, too: if you head in shortly before 9:00 PM, there is a slight transition as the families clear out. Don’t wait too long, though, as it fills back in rather quickly.
While you enjoy your drink, keep an eye out, as you never know what you’ll witness. Swimming fish skeletons in the tank, singing paintings, dancing ghosts, and rattling chandeliers – it’s all there to keep you on your toes.
If the popularity of this parlor is any indication, it would not surprise me to see something similar make its way into the parks once Bob Iger passes on the torch. Since they opened the can of worms with the sale of alcohol at Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom, it would only make sense. They could easily convert the Columbia Harbour House or add a new venue beyond the graveyard entrance of the queue.
As I’m not one to hang out in bars or lounges for long, this was definitely the exception. I’m sure I didn’t catch all the features and will look forward to the next visit to see what I may have missed.
