Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Amonarch
ORLANDO, Fla. — As leaves fall, temperatures cool down, and pumpkin spice lattes go on sale, several Florida theme parks prepare for the arrival of the spookiest Halloween-themed events.
All three major theme parks in Central Florida — Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando, and Universal Orlando Resort — have ticketed events for Halloween enthusiasts.
Keep reading to find out more about the upcoming festivities.
Disney After Hours Boo Bash
‘Disney After Hours Boo Bash’ kicked off at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom on Tuesday.
This Halloween event is held after the park closes on certain nights between August 10th and October 31st. To access this event, one must purchase a separate ticket from the regular daytime admission as bash attendees get to have Magic Kingdom to themselves from 9 p.m. to midnight. However, Boo Bash ticket holders are allowed to enter the park as early as 7 p.m.
Those who visit Magic Kingdom throughout this time will get to enjoy Main Street U.S.A. covered in the cutest Halloween decor, colorful foliage, and frightful tunes.
Event attendees can wear costumes but must follow a set of rules regarding their attire.
Select attractions will operate with much shorter wait times than the ones daytime visitors endure due to the event’s limited capacity. Rides that guests can expect to see open include ‘The Haunted Mansion,’ ‘Space Mountain,’ ‘Seven Dwarfs Mine Train,’ ‘Jungle Cruise,’ and many more.
Special cavalcades pop up throughout the park, including one that features characters like Sally, Jack Skellington, and Oogie Boogie riding down the parade path to “This Is Halloween.”
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased on the Walt Disney World website or by calling 407-939-4240. Several dates are already sold out, including Halloween night. Prices start at $129 per person.
Halloween Horror Nights
After skipping its 29th year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights will be back in action on Friday, September 3rd. The terrifying event will run through Sunday, October 31st, giving those who dare to visit almost two months of fright nights.
Universal Orlando Resort said that there will be ten haunted houses and five scare zones this year. Then, when it’s time to take a little break from running and screaming, Universal Orlando announced that they will offer two brand new shows to enjoy. These include Marathon of Mayhem: Carnage Factory, which features several icons from Halloween Horror Nights’ past, including the beloved Jack the Clown. Halloween Nightmare Fuel features aerialists, fire performers, and nocturnal creatures performing to the beat of rock and electronic music.
A separate ticket from daytime admission is required to attend the event. Single-night tickets are on sale and start at $70.99. Prices fluctuate based on the attendance date.
Those interested in attending multiple nights can purchase a multi-day ticket. These include:
- Rush of Fear Pass: Admission to Halloween Horror Nights for the first 16 nights of the event. $129.99 per person plus tax.
- Frequent Fear Pass: Admission to Halloween Horror Nights for every Sunday through Thursday and the first weekend. $159.99 per person plus tax.
- Frequent Fear Plus Pass: Admission to Halloween Horror Nights for every Sunday through Friday and the first and last Saturday. $189.99 per person plus tax.
- Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass: Admission to every night of Halloween Horror Nights. $284.99 per person plus tax
Visit the Universal Orlando website to make a purchase.
Howl-O-Scream
For the first time in Halloween history, Howl-O-Scream will be held at SeaWorld Orlando!
The nighttime event is usually held at Busch Gardens in Tampa, but this year it will be hosted at both parks.
Those attending the event will have a variety of haunted houses, shows, scare zones, and themed bars to choose from.
This year’s terrifying houses include Water’s Edge Inn, Beneath the Ice, Captain’s Revenge, and Dead Vine.
Guests must purchase a separate ticket from regular daytime admission to attend the event. Single-night tickets start at $31.99 and vary depending on the date of visit. There are also ‘Unlimited Visit’ tickets, which cost $89.99 with block-out dates. Without the block-outs, they are $99. Ticket options to visit the Tampa Howl-O-Scream event are also available for purchase.
Visit the SeaWorld Orlando website to purchase tickets.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.