Fall is a fantastic time of year to make travel plans and if you happen to be an adventurer who loves Halloween, there’s no better place to find yourself than Orlando. Packed with exciting and inviting theme parks, Orlando is known as a destination where Halloween gets underway early and enthusiastically. At some of the major theme parks in town, locals and visitors alike can start partaking in Halloween-themed festivities as early as September. Whether the little ones are looking forward to filling up buckets with candy, or you’re in town with your friends and you’re looking for a spookier take on it all, there’s something inspiring and thrilling waiting for you here this autumn. Be sure to check out all of the Orlando Halloween events that will be happening at the major parks across the city, beginning with those listed below.
Enjoy Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando
Hosted on select nights starting September 8, 2023, Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando is a fan-favorite event that’s highly anticipated once again this year! The event runs through October 31st and invites guests to head over to SeaWorld for all of the traditional theme park fun as well as added spooks and thrills. The park will be brimming over with haunted houses to check out as well as scare zones and live shows to enjoy. This is an adult-focused event with fake gore included, so you’ll want to leave the little ones at home for this one. Tickets begin at $32.99 for single-night access.
If you are heading to SeaWorld Orlando with little ones in tow and they want to get in on the Halloween fun as well, you can participate in the SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular which is designed for kids of all ages to enjoy at SeaWorld! This event runs on weekends from September 16th through October 31st and is included in the cost of a general admission ticket. There will be plenty of delicious Halloween-themed food and beverages on hand across the park with this year’s theme revolving around “Fantasea.”
Participate in Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney World
When your Halloween travel plans have you park hopping across Orlando with an emphasis on time enjoyed at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, you’ll be right on schedule to make the most of the holiday fun. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party comes to town this time of year and will be hosted on select nights starting August 11, 2023, and running through November 1, 2023. This is a family-friendly experience that puts all of the fun into the Halloween celebration without the spooky details included. The event includes everything from costumed stage shows and themed food and drinks to a parade, fireworks, and more. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party is a limited ticket event, so you’ll want to be sure to purchase your entrance in advance. Ticket prices range from $99 to $189 depending on the day you choose to attend.
Make the Most of the Thrills at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios
Between September 1, 2023, and October 31, 2023, Orlando-bound visitors and locals alike looking for an event that promises to spook will find everything they’re hoping for at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. This is a top-rated event in the area each Halloween that’s designed specifically to scare and thrill guests. It’s a 13-and-up event that has been terrifying Halloween enthusiasts for over three decades. Guests who purchase tickets to Halloween Horror Nights can enjoy making their way through five scare zones as well as 10 themed haunted houses. There are live performances to enjoy during the event and plenty of fantastic food to try as well. From the exclusive merchandise to time spent on the rides, it’s a night you won’t soon forget!
Head Over to Haunting Nights
When you’re looking to balance out your theme park visits with something more off-the-beaten-path while still sticking to fun Orlando Halloween events and themed fun, you’ll find it at the Haunting Nights hosted at the Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando. Located at 1920 N. Forest Avenue, these gardens sprawl over 50 acres of terrain, and between late September and October 31, 2023, visitors can enjoy a set up designed to inspire Halloween vibes by Creative City Project. As visitors wander through the gardens, they’ll be magically transported into settings that feel like spooky forests complete with jump scares, and other fall-inspired encounters along the way. There are stations where you can make your own jack-o-lanterns, a neon-light maze to tackle, and hay pyramids as well. From meeting La Catrina in the Dia de Muertos world to trying the themed food and drinks, Haunting Nights is an event you won’t want to miss.
Book Your Stay to Enjoy Orlando Halloween Events
Whether you’re heading to Orlando over Halloween or enjoying time here another time of year, the team at Orlando Vacation Homes has the luxurious vacation rental you need to top off your stay in style. Reach out today to learn more! If you’re looking for budget-friendly vacation rentals in Orlando, we’ve got you covered. You can also explore options like rentals with themed bedrooms for kids or vacation homes featuring game rooms for a fun getaway!
When travelers are looking for a destination where they can let their imaginations run free and make the most of theme park fun, there’s no place on the map quite like Orlando, Florida. Filled with whimsical stops to enjoy and theme parks to explore, this city is one for the record books when it comes to thrills. Perhaps that’s never truer than in the fall when Universal Studios hosts its iconic Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando! This highly anticipated experience is not for the faint of heart and is designed for guests 13 and up who are looking for seasonal thrills that come with plenty of scares.
Experience the Thrills for Yourself This Year
Halloween Horror Nights 2023 is slated to be held September 1st through November 4th at Universal Orlando. This premier Halloween-themed event is one that’s greatly looked forward to by visitors and locals alike. It’s even been named the Best Halloween Event by Amusement Today’s Gold Ticket Award for the past 13 years! Visitors are advised to visit in groups of family and friends as this is an event designed to scare and thrill in the name of Halloween fun. If you’re someone with a passion for adrenaline-pumping experiences, this is the event for you in Orlando.
Enjoy 10 Haunted Houses
Travelers who make their way to Orlando in 2023 to enjoy Halloween Horror Nights fun will enjoy access to no less than 10 on-site haunted houses designed to terrify visitors. Guests will want to make time to trek through the Stranger Things-themed haunted house where you and your crew can work to resist Vecna’s gruesome curse. The Exorcist-themed haunted house tells a tale of two missing girls who have had terrifying encounters with evil. The Last of Us-themed haunted house has visitors stepping into a haunted video-game scene while the Chucky Ultimate Kill Count haunted house brings back the notorious doll and all his bloody hijinks. Other haunted houses added to the lineup in 2023 include Dueling Dragons, Yeti Campground, Darkest Deal, and Bloodmoon Dark Offerings. Whether you explore one or make time for all of them, it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.
Five Sinister Scare Zones to Experience
The thrills continue at Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando when guests move beyond haunted houses and into the open-air scare zones throughout the park. This year, there will be five areas designated as scare zones where street scare actors stalk guests in a haunting fashion. The five scare zones to make sure you walk through include Dr. Oddfellow’s Collection of Horror, Dark Zodiac, Jungle of Doom: Expedition Horror, Vamp 69 Summer of Blood, and Shipyard 32: Horrors Unhinged.
Live Entertainment to Check Out
While the haunted houses and scare zones at Halloween Horror Nights are always a thrill, guests will love the live entertainment that’s hosted during this one-of-a-kind event too. Be sure to make time to check out the show titled Nightmare Fuel Revenge Dream which combines pyro performers and aerial artists alongside metal and electronica backdrops.
Activities You Can Enjoy at Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando Beyond the Scares
It’s fair to say that the point of Halloween Horror Nights is very much to give guests a scare or two. That said, this event also comes with a lot of fun beyond those thrilling and chilling moments. Rides and attractions throughout the park are open for use during this time and guests can also make the most of access to themed foods and beverages. You won’t want to leave before picking up event-themed merchandise to commemorate your thrilling adventure!
Planning Your Visit
When you’re making plans to attend the Halloween Horror Nights event at Universal Orlando, it’s important to keep in mind that masks and costumes are prohibited in the name of guest safety. The event is ticketed and occurs rain or shine with options to purchase single-day or multi-day event entrances depending on preference. Passholders can save on single-night tickets while premier pass holders can get a night of free event admission. Using the Universal Orlando Resort app is highly recommended for navigating the event to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the shows, scary moments, or haunted houses. Guests can even place mobile food and drink orders through the app to ensure the experience is as delicious as it is daunting and thrilling.
Book Your Getaway to Orlando Today
No matter what time of year you decide to make your way to Orlando, the team at Orlando Vacation Homes has the vacation rental options travelers need to stay close to the fun and enjoy comfort, luxury, and style too! Whether you’re in town solo, as a couple, or in the company of family and friends, our vacation rental options near the theme parks offer impeccable space, style, and amenities for visitors to enjoy every day of their stay. Reach out to learn more about our exciting options available during the Halloween Horror Nights event and beyond! Make your trip magical with our Disney World Airbnb rentals or relax in comfort at our Disney World vacation condos. If you’re looking for budget-friendly vacation rentals in Orlando, we’ve got you covered. You can also explore options like rentals with themed bedrooms for kids or vacation homes featuring game rooms for a fun getaway!