Megan Padilla
Whether you like your Halloween lightly frightful or a full-on zombie apocalypse, Orlando's theme parks have plenty of spooky fun in store for this fall.
Universal Orlando Resort taps into some true terror, as its designers and special effects wizards have crafted nine themed haunted houses, five scare zones and two live shows as part of its Halloween Horror Nights extravaganza. It is a separately ticketed event that takes over Universal Studios Florida, one of the resort's three theme parks, on 34 select nights through Nov. 4. Ticket holders also have access to a half-dozen rides and attractions, including Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and Transformers: The Ride-3D. Halloween Horror Nights is not recommended for children under the age of 13, and guests are not permitted to wear masks or costumes.
"The Shining" is a new addition to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort.
New haunted house themes for this year include The Shining and Ash Vs Evil, while the Saw series, American Horror Story and the Horrors of Blumhouse return for this fall. As for the "scare zone" thrills, Orlando Sentinel's theme park writer Dewayne Bevil gave a thumbs up to what he said was a "genius combination of maniacal clowns and chainsaws roaming the park."
RIP walking tours (starting at $160 per person) grant VIP access to all of the haunted houses, reserved seating for one of the two live shows Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure, which takes its final bow this year an Express Pass for entry to rides and attractions following the tour and valet parking.
Agents can book packages and tickets directly through the Universal agent portal. A featured package includes three nights' hotel accommodations; one night admission to Halloween Horror Nights (to be used Sundays through Fridays); and a 3-Park 2-Day Park-to-Park with 2 Days Free Ticket for daytime admission to Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal's Volcano Bay and is priced from $229 per night, per adult (including tax). Commissionable bookings are through Universal's agent portal site.
Parents with smaller ones are better off heading for the other three major theme park resorts. Walt Disney World mounts its ticketed-event Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party from 7 p.m. through midnight for 32 select nights through Nov. 1 at the Magic Kingdom, starting at $74 per person. Regular park attendees must leave prior to the event, and only those with an event wristband are permitted to stay for the party. Parts of the park are transformed into a Halloween party extravaganza, but most of the park's iconic rides remain open, which means shorter wait times than during regular park hours.
In addition to trick-or-treating and character dance parties, the evening is built with a live show, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and a themed fireworks display, Happy HalloWishes. Your clients can add on the Happy HalloWishes Dessert Party, which takes place at 9:15 p.m., an hour before the fireworks begin. Reserved standing area tickets are $59 per person; priority seating tickets are $79 (adult ticket prices). The location provides premium fireworks viewing for all.
Guests can interact with costumed characters at Penelope's Garden Party at the SeaWorld Orlando Halloween Spooktacular.
SeaWorld Orlando invites kids to come in costume and enjoy its Halloween Spooktacular, a daytime event that takes place every Saturday and Sunday from Sept. 23 to Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. until the park closes. The sea-themed celebration is included in admission.
In addition to trick-or-treat stations throughout the park, two of the park's popular shows stage Halloween editions: "Sesame Street's Countdown to Halloween" and "Pets Ahoy Halloween," which is filled with pet tricks and whose stars are all rescue animals. Penelope's Garden Party is a huge tented area where DJs spark dance parties and kids can circulate through craft stations.
Parents can add on the Count von County's Spooktacular Breakfast, a SeaWorld character buffet that starts at $9 for kids and $19 for adults.
Legoland Florida Resort's Brick or Treat event will take place weekends Oct. 14-29 and Halloween day.
Legoland Florida Resort's Brick or Treat takes place during all open hours across the last three weekends in October as well as on Tuesday, Oct. 31. No additional ticket is required for kids to collect fistfuls of candy along the Brick or Treat Trail throughout the park, win costume prizes as singled out by roaming Legoland Model Citizens, take selfies with Halloween-themed Lego brick models and enjoy pop-up performances and demonstrations such as a "vampyre" magician and Master Model Builders who share some building tricks. Each weekend night ends with a new show featuring the "Tale of Pirates' Cove" and a Halloween fireworks display in the skies above Lake Eloise. Guests wear complimentary viewing glasses to enjoy a Lego twist.
A VIP upgrade ($95 per person, plus regular admission) to the "lightly frightful" event includes a Lego character dance party, souvenir photos, face-painting and premium reserved seating for the fireworks show.
The Legoland Florida Hotel and Legoland Beach Resort invite kids to stay and play for free with a package for stays through Nov. 16. It's not valid on Saturday nights during Brick or Treat but works for families who want to attend Brick or Treat and who can visit on a Fridays/Saturdays or Sundays/Mondays.