How To Do Halloween in Orlando

By Susan & Simon Veness

Welcome to Halloweenland! Yes, for the month of October, Orlando is the next best thing to one gigantic, fully-fledged All Hallows Eve theme park, featuring all manor of ghouls, goblins and ghastly goings-on, plus candy. Lots of candy.

From the theme parks to notable neighbourhoods like Celebration and Lake Nona, this part of Central Florida is transformed into a pumpkin-tinged orange-and-black festival of epic proportions, with special events galore, an over-arching sense of fun and no small amount of horror. Because nothing says trick or treat more than chainsaw-wielding maniacs in the dark!

So, depending on your taste for Halloween high-jinks, there is definitely a way to celebrate this all-encompassing season in various ways and suitable styles. Bring your best costume, a large bag for collecting all that candy, and take your pick from this year’s extensive and highly creative selection of Hallo-haunts and horrors.

Fun in the Theme Parks

When it comes to this time of year, nothing beats the magnificent panorama of sheer Halloween-ness that fills Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Legoland, SeaWorld and Universal Studios – for completely opposite reasons. From horror hangouts to super-cute characters, these separately-ticketed evening events are the crown jewels of this October pumpkin-fest:

Magic Kingdom: Join a legion of classic Disney Characters for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and revel in the enchanting atmosphere of this limited-capacity event. The eerie entertainment includes the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular on the Cinderella Castle Stage, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show, Trick-or-Treat trails throughout the park, and a variety of Disney Characters in all-new outfits, plus the superb Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade. There are also more than 20 favourite attractions to try out, some of them with a Halloween twist. You’re also invited to wear costumes (with some restrictions). See more on this link. For our video of the wonderful parade from 2019, see this link.

Universal Studios: Get set for true mayhem and horror as the massively popular Halloween Horror Nights programme takes place in the Studios park on select nights through November 1. Here, the biggest names in horror will haunt your every step and fear will never be far away for what has been named the Golden Ticket Legend for Best Halloween Event by Amusement Today. It boasts fully 10 haunted houses, which this year include the big-name franchises of Stranger Things, Hellraiser and Sinners, as well as a special macabre tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. There are also four sinister scare zones, two street experiences and two scintillating live shows. Tickets and packages are on sale now. For our view of the 2019 event, see this link.

SeaWorld: Enjoy two totally contrasting experiences at this heavily decorated park, one especially for children and one that definitely isn’t! First off, the Halloween Spooktacular is included with general admission on weekends this month, and offers decorated trick-or-treat trails, colourful characters, a scarecrow dance party and children’s maze, plus a pumpkin garden and story time. Then, at night, the park turns into an all-out menacing panorama for Howl-O-Scream. This premium after-hours event offers five haunted houses, six scare zones and two roaming hordes, plus live entertainment, five all-new themed bars and some of the most terrifying roller coasters in Orlando!

LEGOLAND Florida: The annual Brick-or-Treat programme is part of regular admission at this Winter Haven favourite, and is tailor-made for younger guests with only light spookiness involved! Explore an all-new trick-or-treat trail, a glowing Halloween light experience and seasonal treats, plus exclusive LEGO character meet-and-greets throughout the day. End the night with drones, fireworks, music and more with the return of the Monster Skytacular. Allergy-friendly treat bags are also available.

Beyond the Parks

There is definitely more to Orlando’s Halloween scene than just Disney and Co, though. Way More. And it is just as immersive and eye-catching, including the likes of Gatorland, the Crayola Experience, SEA LIFE Orlando at ICON Park and even the Pirates Dinner Show.

At Gatorland, this home to all things reptilian offers trick-or-treating, themed activities, live shows and a child-friendly haunted house, plus all of the regular eye-popping shows, animal encounters and wildlife opportunities. Halloween festivities are included with admission on select weekend dates from October 10-25. Then the Crayola Experience at the Florida Mall adds colourful crafts and spooky fun in Screamin’ Green Hauntoween. Dig into daily themed crafts, embark on a ghoulish scavenger hunt and enjoy weekend activities, including trick-or-treating.

If you prefer the more sedate underwater world of SEA LIFE Orlando, this family-friendly attraction goes full Arrgh! on the Halloween scene with Pirates of the Haunted Seas, a special event packed with pirate-themed activities, hidden treasure, meet-and-greets, and more. Complete your quest to earn a gold costume coin and grab a candy bag filled with treats.

Want action, adventure and a Halloween feast all in one? Head to Pirates Dinner Adventure on International Drive for the return of Vampirates, a swashbuckling dinner show with a spooky storyline. You’ll witness daring stunts, dynamic duels and sensational swordplay, all during a full three-course meal. Looking for an outdoor adventure? Try the haunted Monster Truck ride through real orange groves that is the seasonal stuff at The Showcase of Citrus on Highway 27, along with animals, a country store and tasty Halloween treats. Watch out for monsters, zombies and even Bigfoot as you speed toward safety.

At the same time, Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures invites visitors to brave The Terror at Boggy Creek, a unique haunted experience that combines elements on land and water. Brave an after-hours airboat tour through genuine Florida swampland, then travel by military truck into the heart of a failed containment zone. You’ll explore on foot from there, with an optional blaster arena for a truly heart-pounding experience.

And there’s more!

Away from the big set-piece events, you’ll also discover various Halloween-themed bars, stage shows and community events, especially on the night of October 31 itself.

The Disney-inspired town of Celebration is definitely the place to go in the build-up to October 31 (but not the 31st itself, which can be too crowded to navigate), as it is absolutely full of elaborate Halloween decorations, some of the most amazing kind. Or you can get up close and personal with the faces of Halloween at Spooky Empire, a two-day horror convention hosted at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in I-Drive featuring more than 200 vendors, a film and tattoo festival, celebrity appearances, and more thrills and chills for diehard aficionados.

Children are the target of Central Florida Zoo’s Zoo Boo Bash, held on October 17-18, 24-25 and 31. This family-friendly event offers treat stations, Fall Festival games, DJ Darren’s Dance Party, character meet-and-greets (Spiderman, Captain America and Black Widow) and a fun pumpkin decorating contest. Kids can also get into the Halloween spirit with The Best Halloween Ever, a family-friendly stage show hosted at Orlando Family Stage in downtown Orlando.

Finally, if you’re fascinated by historic homes and the mysteries that lie within them, don’t miss the Halloween Tours at Wonder House in the small town of Bartow in Polk County. This architectural wonder was built in the 1920s by a man with a mysterious past. The house itself is a marvel of design, but it’s the stories of eerie occurrences that make it a must-visit during Halloween season.

Simon & Susan’s “Don’t Miss” suggestion: For all the excitement of the theme parks, nothing quite says Halloween for us than a luscious Pumpkin Spice Latte from our local coffee shops of Foxtail Coffee, made with a special mix of spices, real pumpkin and rich espresso, alongside their seasonal treats like pumpkin cinnamon rolls. Yum and double yum!

Simon and Susan Veness are Orlando-based travel experts and guidebook authors writing exclusively for Debbie’s Villas.