Haunted Mansion Bar on Disney Treasure: Weird & Fishy New Details

Disney has announced the Haunted Mansion Parlor, an all-new bar inspired by the iconic Walt Disney World and Disneyland rides, will materialize on board the Disney Treasure cruise ship when it sets sail in late 2024. This post shares a first look at concept art, design details, macabre merchandise and drinks in this first-ever lounge. (Updated May 6, 2024.)

According to Disney Cruise Line, this 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. Legendary characters from Haunted Mansion attractions around the world, as well as new seafaring arrivals, will come out to socialize in mysterious ways throughout the Haunted Mansion Parlor experience.

The Haunted Mansion Parlor will follow the nostalgic art style of the original 1969 Disneyland classic. True to the original attraction, the lounge aboard the Disney Treasure will blend humor with Imagineering’s 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.

Disney Treasure’s Haunted Mansion Parlor will include tributes to the Disneyland and Walt Disney World 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 (fondly known as the “Donald Duck Chair” among Disney diehards). Guests will also encounter a few new ghoulish faces in a portrait gallery depicting the Disney Treasure’s own ghostly residents.

The Haunted Mansion Parlor will feature a custom musical arrangement inspired by the attraction’s original score. This is being arranged and adapted by composer Shruti Kumar and Walt Disney Imagineering, and will set the stage for an ever-escalating anthology of illusions that immerses guests into the mysterious lore of the Haunted Mansion.

May 6, 2024 Update: As part of Halfway to Halloween, Disney Cruise Line is sharing more about plans for the Haunted Mansion Parlor, which will honor more than five decades of fandom and introduce the world to the next chapter of the Haunted Mansion saga. Imagineers will harness the power of design to convey the nostalgia of the original attraction alongside a new nautical storyline.

The Haunted Mansion bar will resemble a well-appointed ship parlor, which once belonged to a jovial sea captain and his strange, but captivating fiancé. With so many rumors swirling about, it’s hard to say what happened to the happy couple following their sudden and mysterious disappearances – but discerning guests may glean the truth by deciphering clues hidden around the bar.

Here’s the first weird and fishy new detail about the Haunted Mansion Parlor…

When plans for the original Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland were well underway, celebrated Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump proposed a creative concept for a “Museum of the Weird” exhibit. As the final design took shape, many of Rolly’s initial ideas were realized throughout the Haunted Mansion.

However, a few of his concepts remained in the vault, living on thanks to dedicated fans and Disney historians. One such concept was a mysterious aquarium, filled with ghost fish. More than fifty years later, the sketch Rolly developed was referenced by a new generation of Disney Imagineers to create a modern “Aquarium with Ghost Fish” for the Haunted Mansion Parlor.

Blending nostalgia with a fresh layer of lore, the aquarium will fold into the curious backstory of the parlor’s former sea captain owner. Legends passed down from The Captain’s devoted crew recount how he was last seen heading to his parlor for a special meal prepared by his betrothed. All that remained after The Captain and his bride seemingly vanished was his hat, which was found floating in the aquarium tank. Perhaps his disappearance grants a new meaning to “fish food.”

For those unfamiliar with Museum of the Weird, it’s an excellent unbuilt attraction conceived by Imagineer Rolly Crump for Disneyland as a walk-through that would supplement Haunted Mansion decades ago.

Museum of the Weird is one of those concepts that continues to float around Imagineering, and has morphed over time. To my recollection, the last time there were rumors about it, the idea was for a twist on Mystic Manor in Paradise Pier as part of the second phase of the DCA overhaul. Obviously, that never happened.

We’re still holding out hope that the concept is revived and repurposed, potentially as a BoardWalk counterpart to Trader Sam’s. A freakshow kinda thing is fitting for the Coney Island-inspired resort, and Walt Disney World could definitely use a second Trader Sam’s type of establishment.

The Haunted Mansion Parlor’s eerie portrait gallery will depict some of the wandering souls that have taken up residence onboard the Disney Treasure. The collection of works will be reminiscent of the quintessential paintings inside the Haunted Mansion attraction, mimicking the art stylings used by Disney Imagineers in 1969. The portrait gallery will also incorporate present-day technologies to allow the ghostly residents to entertain guests in new ways.

One of the paintings in the parlor is The Mariner, a concept created by famed Disney animator Marc Davis. The portrait now occupies the halls of the attractions in Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland. The Mariner’s story will be taken to new depths when he takes his place in the Haunted Mansion Parlor on the Disney Treasure and continues to uphold Marc Davis’ storied legacy.

A distinguished portrait of the good-humored sea captain will also grace the walls of the Haunted Mansion Parlor. His lifelong dream of serving on a luxury ocean liner was cut short after his untimely demise, but his merry soul has lingered on in his private parlor.

The likeness of The Captain’s enigmatic bride-to-be will take cues from Marc Davis’ iconic “cat lady” concept, which was also featured in the original attraction. Inside the Haunted Mansion Parlor, her portrait will flicker to reveal her true form and perhaps, her true intentions.

Tales of the doomed couple’s first encounter all began when The Captain received a dramatic distress transmission from another vessel. He wasted no time in altering his course to aid in the rescue, but as he neared the source of the call, he found only a mangled wreckage and a lone survivor – a woman floating amongst the debris.

With bright green eyes, chestnut hair and a golden key hanging about her neck, it is no wonder that The Captain was immediately taken by her beauty. The pair became inseparable and were soon engaged to be wed.

Just to offer some quick commentary on the latest update…I am so on board with this! Marrying Haunted Mansion with Disney Cruise Line and digging deep into the archives to pull ideas from and pay tribute to legendary Imagineers Marc Davis and Rolly Crump is so, so cool.

I love that this has both elements of homage and originality. Not that I was ever “worried” about Haunted Mansion Parlor (it’s always sounded awesome), but I figured it would just be self-referential and a love letter to the ride. That it’s actually extending the story–and in a way that’s on-theme for a cruise ship is just perfect.

Obviously I haven’t seen the finished product yet and execution could stumble (Hyperspace Lounge isn’t exactly the pinnacle of Imagineering, in my mind), but the idea here and the angle they’re using to tell the story is brilliant. I’m even more excited than I was before.

Part of that, admittedly, is that The Mariner and these other characters are right up my alley. I first became obsessed with this as a kid thanks to, of all people, Ken Griffey Jr. That resulted in a lifelong fascination that’s led me everywhere from Herman Melville to the Hartford Whalers to Duffy, resident of Cape Cod. Yeah, that’s quite the eclectic seafaring selection.

Even absent my personal interest, this is just such a great conceit for the Haunted Mansion Parlor–especially on a cruise ship. The ocean is ominous, there’s so much mystery and unknown–lots of great folklore and foreboding figures lurking in the fog. If anything, now I hope that the Haunted Mansion Parlor is so well done and such a huge hit that it inspires its own interconnected universe (and more locations) a la Trader Sam’s or S.E.A.

The portraits inside Haunted Mansion Parlor will also lend inspiration to a Disney Cruise Line-exclusive commemorative mug collection that will debut onboard the Disney Treasure.

The ceramic mugs will appear to be carved from the worn wooden planks of a ghost ship. These early sketches and models illustrate the first in a series coming to the Disney Treasure – one inspired by The Mariner and other by The Captain’s bride.

Prior to this, Disney Cruise Line has announced that a new sculpture, bound for the Haunted Mansion Parlor onboard the Disney Treasure, is being crafted at a dedicated Walt Disney Imagineering workshop at Walt Disney World Resort.

Who inspired this mysterious bust? The sculpture was modeled in the image of the famed Disney Legend, Rolly Crump. And the fact that today is Rolly’s birthday makes this reveal all the more special as the world remembers him and his many contributions to Disney Parks.

The Rolly bust is melting like candle wax, which is a nod to Rolly’s Museum of the Weird concept that went unbuilt but is now, interestingly, starting to come to fruition with this bust and new additions to Haunted Mansion. The plaque reads “BROTHER ROLAND – FOREVER REVERED FOR EMBRACING THE WEIRD.”

Turning back to the Haunted Mansion Parlor, here’s what else Disney Cruise Line has announced for the bar so far…

Deliciously Chilling Drinks

At the Haunted Mansion Parlor, guests will sample from a selection of ghostly cocktails that capture the spirit of the famed theme park attraction, The Haunted Mansion.

• Blood orange and sour cherry flavors will harmonize in a shimmering zero proof cocktail served in a specialty mug aptly titled, Sympathetic Libations.
• The Ghoulish Delight will be an ube-flavored treat that everyone will be able to enjoy. The drink, with hints of sweetness and nuttiness, will incorporate decadent ube fudge, oat milk and tapioca pearls in a purple concoction garnished with a gummy eyeball and ube glitter.
• A spooky twist on a classic margarita, presented to guests amidst a swirl of flavored smoke, will be another signature drink at the Haunted Mansion Parlor. Topped with a lemon salt foam, this tequila-based cocktail will contain a secret message, only to be revealed by black light.

Mysterious Merchandise

The Haunted Mansion Parlor will introduce an exclusive array of horrific homewares and spooky souvenirs to the shops onboard the Disney Treasure:

• The Haunted Mansion Parlor Music Box will be a keepsake inspired by the eerie music box that will play a melodic soundtrack inside the Haunted Mansion Parlor.  As the rumors go, this mysterious box belonged to the captain’s bride-to-be and only opens in the presence of malevolent spirits.
• Honoring the memorable grandfather clock seen in the original Disney Parks attraction, the Haunted Parlor Mantle Clock will loom over the fireplace inside the venue, instigating mysterious happenings when it strikes 13. As a part of the new merchandise collection, Disney Cruise Line guests will be able to bring home their very own mantle clock, just like the one from the parlor.
• Featuring the same octopus design from the bar’s entrance onboard the Disney Treasure, the Haunted Mansion Parlor Sculpted Mug will depict an aura of intrigue and will be accented with a variety of sea life, including a hidden Mickey Mouse-shaped barnacle.
• The Haunted Mansion Parlor Mirror will allow guests to take home a piece of the magic, offering a ghoulish surprise to unsuspecting users when the hitchhiking ghosts mysteriously appear.

Here’s an artist’s concept tour of the Haunted Mansion Parlor:

Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion Parlor! 🔮👻 Take a look at this first-of-its-kind lounge coming to the all-new Disney Treasure. Check out the @DisneyParks blog for more: https://t.co/Vn4OuwhAnE pic.twitter.com/lsdPjeAyVS

— Disney Cruise Line (@DisneyCruise) October 24, 2023

Disney Cruise Line and the Haunted Mansion Parlor’s happy haunts are eager to welcome foolish mortals to this spirited space on board the Disney Treasure in December 2024.

Turning to commentary, we’re really excited for this and think it could be what makes the Disney Treasure for diehard theme park fans. As previously discussed in our Disney Treasure Cruise Ship First Look, this ship feels a lot like Adventureland on the ocean. The theme of the Disney Treasure is really strong, with the ‘thrills, capers, and adventure’ motifs offering a lot of opportunities.

While this is the official reveal of the Haunted Mansion Parlor, it’s been widely rumored since even before the Disney Treasure reveal. So we sort of expected this would be the replacement for Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge. It’s not the “Trader Sam’s At Sea” that many fans wanted to see, but I can’t imagine there will be much disappoint with getting the Haunted Mansion Parlor instead.

One thing we discussed with the Destination D23 announcements was how so many of those things were tailormade for diehard fans rather than mainstream audiences. That it’s great to see Disney once again treating the theme parks themselves with reverence, and not just as a dumping ground for intellectual property from Disney+ or movies.

It’s refreshing after the last decade, and also shows that the company finally “gets” that there’s a huge fandom that only exists due to the parks. That’s been obvious at Disneyland for decades, but not Walt Disney World.

This isn’t exactly the same as that, but it’s a similar idea. Haunted Mansion is one of the few original attractions that has cracked into the mainstream pop culture zeitgeist–it’s recognizable even to those who aren’t theme park fans.

Not only that, but there was just a major motion picture about the Haunted Mansion this summer, and it’s entirely possible that the bar began development with the assumption that movie would be a hit. (It wasn’t.)

Regardless, it’s a bold bet for Disney Cruise Line to replace a Star Wars lounge–one of the most popular and recognizable brands in the world–with a Haunted Mansion bar. That would’ve been true even if the movie topped the box office for months on end and, again, it did not.

Redoing Test Track to include nods to World of Motion, adding the Barker Bird to a new Pirates of the Caribbean tavern, or bringing back the old version of Soarin’ all at Walt Disney World is one thing. Expanding the presence of theme park intellectual property aboard a brand-new Disney Cruise Line ship is another thing entirely. We love to see it.

Frankly, nothing of value is lost with swapping out Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge and replacing it with the Haunted Mansion Parlor. While that Star Wars bar was a fantastic idea–and offers surface level fun and cool visuals–its execution left so much to be desired.

In fact, Hyperspace Lounge actually made our List of the Worst of the Disney Wish Cruise Ship. In our view, it felt like Imagineering blew 90% of its budget (probably more) on the screen behind the bar, and didn’t have enough money to finish the rest of the lounge. So they bought some lava lamps from Spencer’s and called it good.

That’s hyperbole, but it’s not that far off. Unless you’re fully fixated on the screen, Hyperspace Lounge really did feel like sitting in an empty, windowless room. The rest of the space was very underdressed, and it made suspension of disbelief difficult. At least, for us. There just wasn’t enough that was engaging or well-themed to give it lasting appeal once the initial novelty of the screen wore off.

Already, it’s clear that the Haunted Mansion Parlor won’t have that issue. It’s teeming with detail from the attraction, from the wallpaper to the aforementioned Donald Duck Chair and so much more. While the screen with the Hitchhiking Ghosts and who knows what other surprises will certainly be cool, what we’re most relieved about is that the Haunted Mansion Parlor won’t use the screen as a crutch to ignore all other themed design.

The whole environment here looks thoughtfully done, with a refreshing thoroughness and level of Imagineering that’s missing from Hyperspace Lounge (and frankly, a few other spaces aboard the Disney Wish). The furniture, fixtures, carpet–everything–makes the Haunted Mansion Parlor look oddly cozy and eerily intimate. It actually does remind me a bit of Trader Sam’s, except with a more cohesive and singular style.

Ultimately, we’re really looking forward to the Haunted Mansion Parlor and hope that it’s both well-designed and well-received by regular guests. The concept art shows a level of detail and depth that’s really promising, and that alone–regardless of the IP attached–should make this an improvement over Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge.

Even though there’s a lot of overlap with the Disney Wish, we like what we’ve seen of the Disney Treasure thus far. As mentioned before, we’d really like to see the differentiation taken a few steps further by removing the level of luxury retail and also making a few other improvements. Although the layout is locked in (regrettably, if you ask us), there are ways that the Treasure could iterate and improve on the Wish. The Haunted Mansion Parlor is a step in the right direction, as are a few of the other new venues. Here’s hoping that there’s more to come!

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YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you think of the Haunted Mansion Parlor? Pleased that this is the bar that’s materializing on board the Disney Treasure, or do you wish it were Hyperspace Lounge, Trader Sam’s At Sea, or something else? Does this have you more excited for the Disney Treasure? Do you plan on booking a cruise aboard this ship, or are you awaiting more details? Do you agree or disagree with our advice and assessment? Any questions? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!