New Horror Nights Scare Zone a Sneak Peek?

There is only one week of Halloween Horror Nights left. The popular Halloween attraction is in its 19th year of production over at Universal Studios Orlando and it keeps drawing a massive amount of fans every year. Weekend dates sell out quickly since horror fanatics wait all year for this awesome event. This year’s “Ripped from the Silver Screen” event brought back classic horror icons like Chucky, Wolfman, Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, Jigsaw and more. With great scare zones, haunted houses and the always fun Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure show which pokes fun at the year’s craziest pop culture moments, you’re guaranteed to have an awesome time.

This year’s scare zones featured WW2 zombie soldiers, circus freaks, wandering horror movie icons, contaminated people and the classic chainsaw guys. While the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit wasn’t open for rides when we checked out it, The Simpsons and Revenge of the Mummy were two of the attractions that were open for the night. But we just heard something quite strange from the Orlando theme parks world. Apparently, Halloween Horror Nights just created a brand new scare zone a week before its final days!

Back towards the New York section of Universal Studios, a dark alleyway has been converted into a scare zone. The details are scarce, but the Universal camp posted an ominous message on their Facebook page talking about spooky shadows and creatures of the night. Universal Studios is doing this as a test for fans lucky enough to get a peek at what’s to come for next year’s 20th anniversary event. At times Halloween Horror Nights has been held in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, but the recent years have seen it at Universal Studios only. As for next year’s theme we’re already hearing wedding bells…could a “’Till Death Do Us Part” theme be in the minds of the Halloween Horror Nights creators? If you went to the event this year make sure you fill out the survey Universal Studios sends you to give your feedback on the event. We’re already psyched for the 20th year of this awesome event in 2010!

Trick or Treat & Get Sweets at Orlando Theme Parks

Orlando is undoubtedly one of the best places to have spooky Halloween fun, with great October events like Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Howl-O-Scream. However, what can kids do for some good old-fashioned trick or treating on Halloween, especially if these events are sold out or too scary for young ones? Never fear, for Orlando theme parks always have you covered. Families can always throw on their costumes and head down to Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney or Universal Studios CityWalk for some trick or treating in a safe and friendly environment. And boy, will they score some candy!

On Halloween, Downtown Disney always has something going on unofficially for families and children to enjoy. From 5 pm to 9 pm, enjoy an evening of “Happy Haunting”; explore the myriad of Disney shops and restaurants, and you’ll be rewarded with special gifts and treats. Be sure to hit up Goofy’s Candy Company, Once Upon a Toy, World of Disney, Team Mickey, Pooh Corner, Disney’s Days of Christmas, World of Memories, Disney’s Pin Traders, Mickey’s Pantry, Mickey’s Groover, Pin Cart West Side, and DisneyQuest Emporium to fill up your Halloween candy bag. Before you head out, stop by the pumpkin patch set up in the town center to snap some memorable Halloween 2008 pictures.

There’s also usually plenty of other entertainment on hand; this year, you can look for storytelling at the iron gate near World of Disney throughout the evening, and magicians and performers near the Earl of Sandwich. Throughout the night, a DJ will spin for a dance party at the Fountain Stage, and skeleton stilt walkers will be surfing through the crowd.

And over at CityWalk at Universal Studios, a similar event called “Big Treats for Your Little Monsters” will be underway on Halloween from 4 pm to 8 pm. Children ages nine and younger can visit their favorite CityWalk shops and restaurants for candy and treats. And for adults who are never too old for Halloween, the groove nightclub is hosting a costume contest for prizes beginning at 9 pm. And you never know what characters you might spot prowling the CityWalk streets – in past years, SpongeBob SquarePants, Scooby Doo, The Incredible Hulk, and Woody Woodpecker have been known to make appearances.

Trick or treating at CityWalk and Downtown Disney is a great alternative to door-to-door trick or treating because it’s much safer and more convenient. Kids can get a lot of candy all in one location, and best of all, it’s free! Downtown Disney and CityWalk have no charge for admission, and Downtown Disney offers free parking as well. Parents will also have the comfort of knowing that their children are getting their candy from a safe source – although you will still want to practice good trick or treating safety and not let the kids take any candy that isn’t wrapped.

So for a boo-tiful Halloween with lots of candy goodness and fun for the kids and young at heart, make Downtown Disney and CityWalk your trick or treat destinations this year. And check out Halloween Horror Nights and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party if you get a chance – there’s still time to get discount tickets to these great Orlando theme park events at DWTickets.com. Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is Actually Quite Fun

This Halloween, the party of the season is definitely Mickeys Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World. Held in Magic Kingdom, the party is the perfect way to celebrate the year’s spookiest holiday in an event filled with fun, candy, costumes, and your favorite Disney characters.

Some of the highlights of the event are the Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade and the Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular, where Disney Villains go trick-or-treating in the sky, as well as some special live shows and dance parties. And no matter how old you are, you’re never too old for some trick-or-treating, which you can do throughout the park with candy stations posted at numerous locations. In addition, many of the restaurants and rides are open during the event, so you can enjoy some of your favorite attractions sans lines, since Disney caps attendance for each day at a reasonable number.

And one of the best parts of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party is the costumes! Nearly everyone comes to the park decked out in the most creative, unique, and spooky Halloween costumes, and half the fun is simply looking at what everyone is wearing. Even some of your favorite Disney characters are in disguise too – so make sure you’re not left out when you join the party and come in your full Halloween gear. There are some costume guidelines to remember though; costumes that are too scary or gruesome are not allowed, as well as costumes that feature a mask.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party is a great alternative to more horror-filled events such as Busch Gardens Howl-o-Scream and Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. These events, while very fun, can be too frightening and inappropriate for children – which is where Mickey comes in. The Disney party is more silly and fun than scary, so kids will definitely have fun and parents can be worry-free. But that doesn’t mean that it’s only for kids – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party is fun for all ages, even teenagers and adults.

In order to have the most fun at Mickey’s party, be sure to wear comfortable shoes with your costume – you’ll be walking all over the park! Also be on the lookout for Halloween Trick or Treat bags as you come into the park – these run out pretty early. And finally, take advantage of the special Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Photo, a 5x7 picture which is taken for free.

You can catch the party on October 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, & 30, from 7 pm to midnight. The party on October 31st, Halloween, is unfortunately sold out, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Halloween all month long with Mickey! You won’t want to miss out on this fun Disney event, so don’t wait until the last minute to get your discount Magic Kingdom tickets right here at DWTickets.com.

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights of the Past

Universal Studios Orlando has always been one of the best places to celebrate Halloween in spooky style, so we decided to pay tribute to some of the Halloween Horror Nights themes of the past. You have been petrified, you have been haunted, and you have loved every second of these frightening themes.

Halloween Horror Nights X – Not Afraid of the Dark? You Don’t Know Jack

Jack the Clown was the terrifying host of the tenth Halloween Horror Nights. Jack was an evil clown and mass murderer, a carnival performer in “Dr. Oddfellow’s Carnival of Thrills.” On Halloween 1920, the police were closing in on Jack and he revealed his secret to Dr. Oddfellow hoping that he would hide him. In an effort to protect himself and keep his own crimes secret, Dr. Oddfellow murdered Jack and hid his body within a traveling carnival as an exhibit. Years later, a television crew came upon the carnival and discovered a large wooden box with a crank. After turning the crank, out popped the decomposing body of Jack. His body was taken to the coroner’s for examination, but on Halloween, the van carrying the box disappeared – and later that week, the film crew was discovered dead!

It’s said that Jack is on a search for Dr. Oddfellow and will reward anyone who releases him from his box. During Halloween Horror Nights X, Jack hosted a haunted carnival and a scarezone taken over by clowns, and he appeared in the Jacked Up show.

Halloween Horror Nights XII

In 2002, the mazes revolved around the imagination of Dr. Albert Caine, otherwise known as the Caretaker. Dr. Caine was a tall and withered old mortician of a cemetery where he and his family used the town’s deceased citizens to conduct unnatural and twisted experiments. Eventually, he began using live specimens by luring victims to his Victorian mansion, so that he could then perform experiments on them to capture their soul – while his family used their body parts for meal ingredients! The Caretaker’s mansion was the main scream house of Halloween Horror Nights 12, and he starred in a show where guests got to see him torturing victims with his signature claw in one of his horrific experiments.

Halloween Horror Nights XIII - The Director Will See You Now

The Director was the star of “The All Nite DIE-in Theater,” one of Halloween Horrror Nights 13’s six haunted houses. The European director was a demented creator of slasher films who liked his actors to do their scenes in one take! In films that were banned in almost every country, he would torture his actors and murder them in brutal and violent ways. Upon entering his haunted house, guests would see him on screen editing one of his bloody movies, only to walk through the screen and into some of the most horrifying movie sets!

With all the many great past Halloween Horror Nights themes, you can be sure that this year’s is going to be just as terrifying, if not more so! At the current Halloween Horror Nights, you can see Dr. Mary Agana, or Bloody Mary, who faces her fear of death by watching you experience yours! Catch Halloween Horror Nights now through November 1st, and get your discount Halloween Horror Nights tickets here at DWTickets.com.

Howl-O-Scream: Doubling Your Fun This Halloween!

Appearing for its 9th season, Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa plans to double the screams and double the fun this time around. As the sun goes down, the evil spirits, ghosts, goblins, creatures, and more come out to play throughout the park. Busch Gardens changes from a happy go-lucky park to an amusement park of inescapable fear! For 17 select nights, Howl-O-Scream will run from October 2 – November 1, with two Freaky Preview nights on September 26 and 27. Loaded with six haunted houses, three scare zones, three shows, and the best roller coasters in Florida to keep you on your toes, you will not want to miss this event.

But, beware! There is a reason that Busch Gardens promises double the fun and scares this year…the Raven Twins! Born conjoined at the head, Laura and Lana Raven grew up as any other children would. As they grew up they started to develop unique personalities, but they still could agree on one thing and that was their love for the same boy. But, the young boy wanted nothing to do with the twins! He mocked and joked about them, just as the rest of the town did. This heart break LITERALLY tore the twins apart. The twins forcefully separated themselves, ruining their faces forever, looking for revenge to all of those who caused them cruelty and pain. Beware of these girls if they are to cross your path. They are dieing to meet you…

Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream tickets must be purchased separately from Busch Gardens Park Admission tickets. This event is intended for mature audiences and may prove to be too intense for young children. The event contains adult content of violence, gore, and blood.

Dates:

• Freaky Preview: September 26 – 27
  (7:30 pm – 1 am)


• October 2 – November 1
  (Thursdays 7:30 pm – 1 am; Fridays & Saturdays 7:30 pm – 2 am)