Halloweentravel

Complete Guide: Queen Mary Dark Harbor 2015

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Maddie has always loved Halloween, she gets that from Pete and I. We love it too. But she has taken it up a notch. She doesn’t just love Halloween, she also loves all things scary. That is why the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor is one of her favorite events of the year. I think it’s also one of the scariest events!

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Pete and I knew it was going to be interesting having our oldest and youngest 10 years apart, but we had no idea it was going to be this fun. While Emmy likes to do more of the mellow Halloween fun things, think on the level of pumpkin patches, Pete gets to take Maddie to much more scary events. I can’t tell you how awesome it is to be able to still have fun at such a range of experiences. I’m so glad there is so much to do in So Cal  during Halloween time.

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Although this isn’t something for Emmy, at five years old it’s just too scary, it’s perfect for teens and us adults. Pete and I have even gone here for a fun date night. The past couple of years we have stayed over night after the event on the Queen Mary in the hotel. I highly recommend doing that because it just ads to the experience. Especially if you have gone through one of the mazes that goes into the belly of the ship. It will also freak you out like nothing has before. Trust me on that.

Here are some of the sights from this year:

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The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor rises once again from the deep history of the infamously haunted ship October 1 – November 1, 2015. Dark Harbor is thrilled to unveil the horrific new maze, Lullaby, that tells the tale of the ship’s youngest soul, Scary Mary. The chilling new Side Show of Freaks and Oddities, new attractions and new monsters will be orchestrated by The Ringmaster and all of the ghoulish spirits of the Queen for its most frightful season of thrills yet.

 

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Lullaby will take fear-seekers on a terrifying voyage with Dark Harbor’s youngest soul, Scary Mary, who has haunted the Queen Mary ever since her horrific drowning in the poolroom in 1952. Mary was a bad seed from birth. Before her death, mysterious tragedies and unexplained occurrences seemed to follow in Mary’s wake. She isn’t looking for just one playmate; she wants a whole playground of souls to play with in the afterlife. She can be spotted throughout Dark Harbor, but the poolroom of the ship is her playroom. One must proceed through Lullaby with caution, as it may be the last journey through Dark Harbor as a mortal soul.

 

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Dark Harbor will introduce the new Side Show of Freaks and Oddities that will take guests through an immersive experience into the grotesque world of freaks like never before imagined. Enjoy a specialty cocktail at the Side Show Bar for an up-close and personal look behind the Side Show curtain and catch an exclusively freaky live Side Show performance.

Dark Harbor guests will get lost in the depths of the Queen Mary’s haunted history through the Deadrise, Soulmate and B340 mazes as well as visit the feared Voodoo Priestess in her Voodoo Village with dark magic gypsies in a setting wrought with shrunken heads and voodoo dolls.

 

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The Ringmaster will orchestrate the freaks and monsters of the Circus maze and its terrifying mad house that will disorient illusions through horrific magic, paranormal wonders and spirited thrills (Hint: it’s very hands on!). The Ringmaster, The Captain and their band of spirits including Samuel the Savage, Graceful Gale, Half-Hatch Henry and of course, Scary Mary will haunt the grounds of Dark Harbor nightly.

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2015 Queen Mary Dark Harbor Guide

  • Get there early. Parking is right next to the where all the fun is, but it does get busier into the night.
  • There are food stands so come hungry and buy some of the spooky treats. The stands all have creepy names.
  • The mazes are amazing and there is a historic folklore weaved into each one of them.
  • Spend some time walking through the whole event because there are creepy crawlies hidden throughout.
  • While eating be sure to sit in front of the live entertainment. I use the term “live” loosely. 
  • The RIP lounge is part of the VIP experience and a really awesome place to take in the views of everything happening. If you are over 21 I highly recommend buying this upgrade.
  • The sinister swings from Micheal Jackson’s Neverland Ranch are also here!
  • Be prepared to be scared. The roaming undead are there to cause you nightmares and are known to jump out at you when you least expect it. (PS. They won’t touch you, but if you act scared they will haunt you throughout the night and follow you around).

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Dark Harbor brings the true haunted tales of the Queen Mary to life, offering the most authentically frightening experience available. The annual event begins October 1 and continues to scare those who dare through November 1. Ticket prices start at just $20 online, with Fast Fright, VIP Passes, and lodging packages available. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.queenmary.com/dark-harbor.

Do you like to be scared?

Heather Reese
the authorHeather Reese
Heather Delaney Reese is the storyteller and photographer behind the lifestyle and family travel blog, It's a Lovely Life®! For the past decade, she has vacationed over 150 days a year with her family. She is a vegan, and loves being by the water, spending time with her children, husband, 2 Shih Tzus and Cat.

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