{"id":10664,"date":"2010-10-13T13:00:18","date_gmt":"2010-10-13T18:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=10664"},"modified":"2021-11-19T15:11:42","modified_gmt":"2021-11-19T21:11:42","slug":"orlando-vacations-universal-studios-halloween-horror-nights-celebrates-20-years-of-feartwenty-years-of-fear-at-universals-halloween-horror-nights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2010\/10\/orlando-vacations-universal-studios-halloween-horror-nights-celebrates-20-years-of-feartwenty-years-of-fear-at-universals-halloween-horror-nights\/","title":{"rendered":"Halloween Horror Nights celebrates “20 Years of Fear”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Scary clowns, chainsaws and more at Univeral’s Halloween Horror Fest. Credit: D.Begley.<\/p><\/div>\n

By Maria Mora<\/em><\/p>\n

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Every fall for the past twenty years, Universal Studios Florida<\/a> has electrified Orlando vacations<\/a> with Halloween Horror Nights<\/strong><\/a>. This year, as the event celebrates its 20th anniversary — “Twenty Years of Fear” — when Fear himself will descend upon the theme park for 24 terrifyingly fun nights. Universal Horror Nights sets the standard for theme park Halloween scare-fests, and every year, the festival comes alive with a completely new and frightening experience.<\/p>\n

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The first time I went to Halloween Horror Nights, I spent almost the entire time with my face burrowed in my boyfriend\u2019s tee shirt. When they say horror, they are not joking.<\/p>\n

The details<\/strong>
\nHalloween Horror Nights take place in the evenings at the Universal Studios Florida theme park. They clear the park out and transform it into a giant, live-action haunted house with themed scare zones and haunted houses.<\/p>\n

Halloween Horror Nights requires a separate admission. To get the most bang for your buck on your Florida vacation<\/a>, grab a 2-Day Park-to-Park Halloween Horror Nights combo ticket<\/a>. This deal includes 2-day admission to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure on top of one night of Universal Horror Nights.<\/p>\n

The scary<\/strong>
\nGuests are welcome to experience most of the normal attractions during Universal Horror Nights, but the elaborate haunted houses<\/strong> are where the real thrills are. While haunted houses scare me out of my wits, I actually have more fun in the \u201cscare zones.\u201d These are areas of the park where you have no choice but to walk through dark, misty areas hiding even darker characters. I have one word for you: Chainsaws. I\u2019ve never screamed as much in my life as I have walking through those scare zones.<\/p>\n

The fun<\/strong>
\nHalloween Horror nights isn\u2019t exclusively about terror. The live shows are all about the laughs. Don\u2019t miss Bill and Ted\u2019s Excellent Halloween Adventure — a show that comes back year after year for a reason.<\/p>\n

This year I’ll be at Brian Brushwood\u2019s bizarre magic act, Menace and Malice. Even the haunted houses and scare zones tend to have some playful elements. I expect to get a breathless laugh or two out of the zombie-infested Mardi Gras scare zone.<\/p>\n

More spooky Halloween parties<\/strong>
\nWalt Disney World Resort<\/a>\u2019s Mickey\u2019s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party<\/strong> is a gentler alternative for kid-friendly Orlando vacations. Taking place from 7 p.m.-12 a.m. on select dates in September and October, the Disney party features a Halloween-themed fireworks show and Mickey\u2019s \u201cBoo-to-You\u201d Halloween Parade starring the Headless Horseman.<\/p>\n

Outside of Florida, Six Flags Fright Fest 2010<\/strong> takes place in Six Flags Park in Georgia<\/a>, Six Flags Magic Mountain in California<\/a>, Texas and more. In California, family-favorite Knott\u2019s Berry Farm<\/strong> transforms into Knott\u2019s Scary Farm<\/strong> with haunted mazes and special costumed characters.<\/p>\n

Related resources<\/strong><\/p>\n