On Tuesday October 7th the Disney Parks’ Blog hosted their Creepy Cruise Meet-Up in Disneyland park. This after-hours event took attendees for a ride on the Sailing Ship Columbia as it made its way around a Halloweenified Rivers of America. Not only was the River equipped with creepy fog, but the ship itself was decked out in purple and green lighting to really set the mood.
Thankfully for the easily-frightened (namely me) the cruise turned out to be far more cheeky then the name might imply. Instead the cruise paid tongue-in-cheek homage to deceased attractions of the past. Hosted by Carousel of Progress father John, several faces from the past — including a Kid of the Kingdom and a Tahitian Terrace dancer — made appearances during the 10 or so minute trip around the Rivers of America.
John’s script was surprisingly funny such as the reference he made to the new occupants of Carousel’s former home, saying (“Goodbye G.E., hello Captain America. Isn’t progress a marvel?” Another clever joke came as John went “101” as the ship docked and later apologized by saying, “Sorry about that,folks; it was my first cruise and I’m still getting used to my programming.”
Once guests had disembarked they were treated to a selection of desserts, beverages and the chance to get their photo taken with Donald, Goofy and Cruella de Vil. Additionally Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was running for attendees to enjoy. At the evening’s conclusion, cruisers exited through a treat trail ala Mickey’s Halloween Party and also received a coffin containing a set of headstone-inspired coasters.
While the Creepy Cruise might not have been exactly what Parks’ Blog guests might have been expecting, it was still an enjoyable evening and a rare chance to sail the Rivers at night. With the recent increase in high-priced exclusive experiences Disney has been offering it’s nice to have such a thoughtful event offered to fans completely gratis.