By Yasmene Warren
Halloween is coming to town, and all your favorite Orlando theme parks are getting ready to “freak” out!
We’ve got Universal Orlando, Disney World, and SeaWorld, and we know they’ve got big plans for this spooky season.
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty with a breakdown of your 2024 Halloween theme park event lineup.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights
If there’s one thing Universal Orlando is known for, it would be its killer annual Halloween Horror Nights event. Halloween Horror Nights is ticketed separately from standard park admission and typically starts later in the evening around 6 p.m.
Halloween Horror Nights is held in Universal Studios Florida and includes 10 horrific haunted houses and five spooky scare zones, as well as access to live entertainment and the park’s thrilling rides. One way or another, you’ll be doing some screaming!
Each year, Universal holds themed haunted houses, all of which the park describes as being inspired by “the biggest names in fear.”
One haunted house is inspired by the film Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Team up with the Ghostbusters to save the world from a second ice age and the chillingly wicked new specter, Garraka.
Silence your screams at the house inspired by horror franchise A Quiet Place. You’ll need to stay deadly silent as you travel from the farmhouse through the woods to the foundry; if you make a sound, monstrous creatures will hunt you down and “silence you for good.”
The Monstruos house features the Monsters of Latin America, like the blood-sucking Tlahuelpuchi, the bone-ripping El Silbón, and the owl-faced witch La Lechuza.
Slaughter Cinema is a troubling love letter to B-movie horror films. You’ll head over to the Carey Drive-In as you brace yourself through grindhouse gore, creature features, and other iconic scary scenes.
The Museum: Deadly Exhibits house is a breathtakingly scary folklore museum exhibit where an evil escapes from within the museum confines.
Other haunted houses include Major Sweets Candy Factory, Goblin’s Feast, and Triplets of Terror.
This year, you can attend HHN on select nights beginning Aug. 30 through Nov. 3. Single-night tickets start at $82.99 per person.
Disney World’s “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party”
This fall, once Disney’s Magic Kingdom comes to a close, guests will get the chance to join in on the annual Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This event is also separately ticketed, even if you’re already in the park during normal operational hours.
As the season creeps closer, Disney continues to release new information regarding this year’s event.
Expect to be bewitched with the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular as the three sinister sisters terrorize the people of Magic Kingdom.
The new DescenDANCE Party, inspired by the upcoming Disney Original Movie “Descendants: The Rise of Red” invites guests to show off their best moves at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland.
Watch your favorite Disney characters march in Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and view iconic parade floats inspired by scenes like Haunted Mansion. Plus, this year, the parade is starting a whole hour earlier (at 8:15 p.m.) so guests with little ones can enjoy the spooky fun before bedtime.
Expect to be bewitched with the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show as the three sinister Sanderson sisters terrorize the people of Magic Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom loves its fireworks display, and that won’t change this spooky season thanks to Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular. This display will feature Disney characters and will be hosted by The Nightmare Before Christmas’ own Jack Skellington.
Kids can fill up on sugary delights on a variety of trick-or-treat trails throughout the park.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party runs on select nights from Aug. 9 to Oct. 31. Tickets for adults and children will be as low as $119 and $109 respectively and as high as $199 and $189 respectively, depending on how early or late into the season you choose to attend.
SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream
If you think you have what it takes to face your fears, then try your hand at SeaWorld Orlando’s annual Howl-O-Scream.
Returning for its fourth year, this chilling event will feature 5 haunted houses, 7 scare zones, and terrifying shows. 4 of the Haunted Houses are brand new in 2024, including Farm 51 which transports you to an abandoned farmhouse and an ominous rustling in the cornfield. Can you escape the threat of unfriendly extraterrestrial visitors?
Another new Haunted House at Howl-O-Scream is D3LER1UM666, which invites you inside the headquarters of a government mercenary group to counter the threat posed by dangerous Sirens. Spoiler alert: you won’t be alone on your tour through the facilities.
There will also be a variety of exciting new Scare Zones and themed interactive bar experiences, such as Space Gate 3, Sacrificial Spirits, Tormented, CarnEvil Curiosities, and more.
Howl-O-Scream is best suited for a mature audience and contains violence, gore, and blood. It’s a separately ticketed event.
On select nights from Sept. 6 to Nov 2 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., you can take on the terrors that Howl-O-Scream has to offer for as low as $32.99 with certain promotions.
Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld
If you’re looking for something more family friendly at SeaWorld, then you’ll want to jump into the park’s Halloween Spooktacular.
This event is included with park admission and runs from Aug. 31 to Nov. 03 during the daytime from 11 a.m. to one hour before the park closes.
Before you venture off on your fun-filled Halloween adventure, enjoy Count von Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast with your favorite friends from Sesame Street!
Let your kids trick-or-treat at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular. Trails throughout the park will be decorated and filled with plenty of colorful characters. Guests who purchase a reusable bag are welcome to trick-or-treat along the trail.
Guests can also sit in on the Sesame Street Halloween Parade, as well as Halloween Storytime with Big Bird.
Make your kid’s dream come true and let them meet SeaWorld’s friendly Halloween mermaids in the park’s Key West area.
There will also be a Halloween scavenger hunt, a Halloween cookie decorating and kids’ crafts event, a scarecrow Halloween dance party, a pumpkin garden with a pumpkin queen storyteller, and a costume contest.
Scary-Good Stays at Rosen Centre
Once you’ve had your fill of Orlando’s frightening festivities, come kick back and relax at Rosen Centre. Our luxurious amenities like our full, inclusive spa will help soothe all your fears away. At the least, our chic accommodations will leave you with an experience you won’t forget.
