ORLANDO — Let the horror commence… Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort opens tonight, unleashing a new slate of frights and nightmare-inducing terror upon guests. Running 48 select nights now through November 3, the world’s premier Halloween event is back for its 33rd year with 10 all-new movie-quality haunted houses and five spine-chilling scare zones inspired by cinematic greats and eerie original stories created by Universal Orlando’s Entertainment team. And in-between the screams, guests can enjoy an energetic live show, fuel up for the next round of scares with delicious food and beverage items inspired by the event’s haunts, shop the latest merchandise at the highly-themed Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store, and so much more.
See below for an overview of the terrifying experiences that await guests at Halloween Horror Nights 2024:
10 CHILLING HAUNTED HOUSES
As guests brave this year’s lineup of 10 frightening haunted houses, they will:
- need to silence their screams as they enter a terrifying post-apocalyptic world in “A Quiet Place,” where they will follow the Abbott family as they try to escape monstrous creatures with a sharp sense of hearing – ready to hunt down anyone who dares to make a sound;
- be transported to New York City in “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” where fans will team up with Ghostbusters new and old to protect the city from a second Ice Age as the vengeful spirit of Garraka threatens to freeze everyone to death;
- travel deeper into a paranormal dimension of tortured souls and demonic entities as they follow in the footsteps of the Lambert family in “Insidious: The Further;”
- find themselves in the center of the ultimate battle between two unexpected alliances of classic female Universal Monsters – Saskia Van Helsing, Bride of Frankenstein, She-Wolf, and Anck-Su-Namun in “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines;”
- scream their way through six original haunted houses created by the twisted minds of Universal Orlando’s award-winning Entertainment team, including:
- “Slaughter Sinema 2,” where guests will head to the Carey Drive-in for a B-movie horror marathon full of spaghetti westerns, grindhouse gore and more;
- “Goblin’s Feast,” where hordes of bloodthirsty goblins, orcs, hobgoblins, and witches welcome new visitors to their village for dinner;
- “Major Sweets Candy Factory,” where guests join a field trip to a candy factory, only to realize the free samples have transformed the kids into candy-coated killers;
- “The Museum: Deadly Exhibits,” which will transport guests to the new folklore museum, The Rolling Stone, where there is evil lurking within, ready to destroy everything in its path;
- “Monstrous: The Monsters of Latin America,” home to the blood-sucking Tlahuelpuchi, owl-faced witch La Lechuza and bone-ripping El Silbón who can’t wait to prey upon guests;
- and “Triplets of Terror,” where guests will celebrate the Barmy triplet’s birthday and soon realize they celebrate by recreating their family’s horrifying murders.
FIVE TERRIFYING SCARE ZONES
This year’s event will introduce two new hosts of horror, SINIST3R and SURR3AL, who are reigning the streets of Universal Studios Florida and unleashing the horror that awaits within five scare zones. As guests navigate the park, they’ll try to evade hordes of menacing scareactors stalking their every move as they:
- choose a path between SINIST3R, the manifestation of visceral horror, or follow SURR3AL, the incarnation of unearthly terror in “Duality of Fear;”
- brave the gloriously gory homemade torture devices ‘til they are put out of their misery in SINIST3R’s renaissance faire, “Torture Faire;”
- get caught in an otherworldly hellscape in “Demon Queens,” where four merciless queens loyal to SURR3AL rule;
- wander onto private property in “Swamp of the Undead,” where they are surrounded by zombies borne from the bodies of other brave trespassers;
- escape a terrifying gauntlet of Blumhouse characters in “Enter the Blumhouse,” including M3GAN, sinister sadists from The Purge and Black Phone, and more.
ALL-NEW ENTERTAINMENT, SINFULLY DELICIOUS FOOD, AND IMMERSIVE RETAIL EXPERIENCES
In between the screams, guests can enjoy:
- Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus – an energetic live show featuring a new nightmare set in a dark circus, full of pyro and aerialists to the beat of rock rhythms;
- an all-new highly-themed Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store where guests can shop the latest Halloween Horror Nights merchandise as they are transported to the back alleys of New York Citywhere an ancient evil has been unleashed;
- an all-new food & beverage menu inspired by this year’s haunts, including items like Pork Carniceria (“Monstrous: The Monsters of Latin America”), Mini Stay-Puft S’mores (“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”), Abbott’s Farm Corn Chowder (“A Quiet Place”), and fan-favorites like Twisted Taters.
EXCLUSIVE HALLOWEEN EXPERIENCES AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO’S HOTELS
To complete the ultimate Halloween Horror Nights getaway, the horror will expand to all Universal Orlando hotels with Halloween-themed lobby décor – including a web of sinister roots and pumpkins that have taken over the lobby and the Swizzle Lounge at Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort; creepy driftwood structures and spirits from the dead sea haunting Universal Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites; the transformation of Loews Sapphire Falls Resort into a dark seaside gothic manor, and alien overlords have descended upon Universal Aventura Hotel. Guests will also enjoy spooky photo opps and specialty drinks during their stay, in addition to other benefits including access to a dedicated Halloween Horror Nights entrance gate exclusively for Universal Orlando hotel guests for faster entry into the event, plus free transportation to Universal Orlando’s theme parks and Universal CityWalk before and after the scares.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Antonio is back and scarier than ever! From haunted happenings to spine-tingling surprises, SeaWorld transforms into the biggest and scariest Halloween event in the state of Texas on select days from Friday, September 13 until October 27. As the moon rises, guests can immerse themselves in an unforgettable Halloween experience that includes six haunts, eight terror-tories (including one all-new!) and a new party zone.
SeaWorld has elevated every single element of Howl-O-Scream for 2024, creating an unmatched experience of eerie entertainment, hair-raising shows and a variety of delectably daring food and drink options. Around every corner, in every nook and cranny, are all-new and enhanced scares and scenes that will unsettle even the bravest souls. The frights begin as night descends on the park and are included with general SeaWorld admission.
New this year is Till Death Do Us Party, an eerie enchantment of a party zone where the celebration of a wedding takes a chilling turn. This whimsical party zone is set with a live band and a ghastly bar with a selection of elixirs for the 21 and up crowd. It’s the perfect spot for an eternal reception, where guests can toast and celebrate the newlyweds… or newlyDEADS.
The suspense and terror intensify this year as guests can also experience a new terror-tory, Colleen’s Dollhouse. The dolls emerge from their hiding places as the sun sets – eyes glinting with a disturbing gleam and their painted smiles twisted into grimaces of hunger. This spine-chilling street is where childhood nightmares come to life as a parade of porcelain figures lurk in the shadows.
Horrifying Returning Experiences Will Send Chills Up and Down Guests’ Spines
Back and scarier than ever are returning frightful favorites including Bunny Bradley’s Ice Cream Shoppe, Milton Creek Manor, The Swamp at Blackwater Bayou, Zombie Horde, Dis-Assembly Line and Atlantis-The Cursed Chasm. The pathways around the park aren’t safe from the scares as guests will encounter creepy creatures inhabiting eight different frightening terror-tories. Returning this year are Ripper Row, Vampire Point, SINdustry District, Blackwater Bayou, Water’s Edge and Nightmare Midway. These, combined with the new Colleen’s Dollhouse, ensure that pathways are full of suspense and terror, and feature blood thirsty vampires, mysterious water creatures, terrifying zombies, dark bayou mutants, deadly dolls, and a community of mysterious Victorian souls.
Howl-O-Scream also returns with the popular Monster Stomp, a sinister song and devilish dance show that will wrap guests up in murderous mischief, and features a live band, singers, and dancers!
Not-So-Scary Halloween Fun
Those not into frights can enjoy not-so-scary fun during the day starting September 12 during Spooktacular, SeaWorld’s kid-friendly event designed for the whole family! The not-so-spooky daytime fun includes a corn maze, Spookley the Square Pumpkin, Ports o’ Skull, in-park trick-or-treating, and the Sesame Street Halloween Parade! Available during both daytime and nighttime hours, Día de los Muertos celebrates a tradition close to the hearts of all in the South Texas region with sugar skull characters, traditional music, and an altar to honor those who have crossed over.
While parents enjoy the haunted thrills of Howl-O-Scream, youngsters are safe from the scares while playing games, crafting and learning about animals at Spook-Camp-ular! Parents can drop off their little ones with SeaWorld camp counselors, and they will steer clear of the scarier zones of the park. The evening will be filled with crafts and visiting sharks, stingrays, colorful fish and dolphins on a private tour. Campers will be provided dinner and a snack. Camp hours are from 6pm until park closing and is for children ages six to twelve.
Guests wanting to experience the Howl-O-Scream sights but not the scary startles can purchase a No Boo Necklace. These colorful light-up necklaces are Halloween themed and notify scare performers along pathways and terror-tories to steer clear and avoid startle scares. Park goers can also enjoy fun interactive necklaces that react to the environments by flashing and spewing an eerie watery mist!
Best Way to Play
The best way to experience Howl-O-Scream, Spooktacular, seasonal events, and all of the amazing animals and rides that SeaWorld has to offer is with the new 2025 Season Pass. For a limited time, guests who purchase a Season Pass will get unlimited admission for all of 2025, Aquatica (Texas’ best waterpark) for free, free parking, and the rest of 2024 for free, all for only $92.99 – the best price of the year! For even more unbeatable benefits, guests can upgrade to a SeaWorld Annual Pass for as low as $9.99/month. With an Annual Pass, guests will enjoy 12 months of visits with special benefits like free parking, free guest tickets, access to special VIP events, savings on merchandise and more!
ORLANDO — Ripley’s Believe It or Not! proudly announces the acquisition of a remarkable collection of nearly complete set of Olympic torches.
Ripley’s compilation of Olympic torches now stands as one of the world’s largest and most valuable private collections. It showcases a remarkable 116 torches with a more than $10 million combined value. The company’s most recent purchase of 45 torches from a private collector has further enhanced the existing Ripley collection.
“The Ripley collection of authentic Olympic Torches rivals any in the World. The Olympic Museum (founded by the International Olympic Committee) in Switzerland and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado feature ‘complete’ collections, including authorized replicas of Innsbruck 1964. “Many of the earlier games produced very small numbers of torches, most of which are in museums, making a complete private collection a challenging feat,” noted Ripley’s Director of Exhibits, John Corcoran.
Ripley’s collection remains unmatched, with rare highlights including:
- The 1936 Berlin Games torch, which is highly coveted and historically significant, as this was the first time the torch relay was introduced.
- The 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics torch, signifying the first time the Games were held in the U.S. and a new standard for Olympic presentations thanks to pageantry committee chairman Walt Disney.
- All seven versions of the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics torch. The creation of different versions of this torch was due to design flaws that caused burns on torch bearer’s hands.
- The most recent 2024 Paris Olympic torch.
- The most valuable torch in the collecting world, the 1952 Helsinki Olympics torch.
Ripley’s collection is now only missing the 1964 Innsbruck torch, of which only two were made.
Ripley’s plans to display this collection of Olympic torches – along with other Olympic and Paralympic items, including a torch signed by Muhammad Ali – at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! attractions around the world.
ORLANDO — LIVE! AT THE POINTE, Orlando’s highly anticipated dining, entertainment, nightlife and social destination opening at Pointe Orlando, has announced that it will open to the public on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 AT 9PM. The 73,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor destination is bringing an unmatched food and beverage, social, nightlife and special event experience to Orlando’s tourism corridor, creating a unique block party atmosphere for locals and tourists alike.
The multi-concept district will showcase nationally acclaimed and new-to-market brands when it debuts this September including Sports & Social, PBR Cowboy Bar, Houndsmen Lounge, and Shark Bar. The recently announced Palm Tree Club, a two-level restaurant and nightlife concept founded by globally renowned DJ and record producer, Kygo (Kyrre Gorvell Dahll) and his manager Myles Shear, will open in October.
The four-day grand opening celebration will include a full lineup of live music kicked off by national DJ and reality personality James Kennedy on Thursday and internationally recognized Dominican band Oro Solido on Friday, as well as special events, premier sports watch activations and more all weekend long. All grand opening festivities are free to the public. Parking at the Pointe Orlando parking garage will be validated with any purchase from a Live! at The Pointe Orlando business for grand opening weekend and ongoing operations.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — International Ride Training (IRT), a leader in safety training and operational consulting for the amusement industry, has been on an upward trajectory in the last year, adding new clients from around the world to its iROC Program.
iROC, which stands for International Ride Operator Certification, was designed by International Ride Training and includes all the tools and resources necessary for an attractions facility to succeed in implementing and maintaining compliance with the “Ten Critical Components of Ride Operator Safety”. iROC third-party certification helps with standardization, risk management, education, support, and communication, all to improve guest and operator safety.
“International Ride Training has seen significant growth over the past year, with new clients joining the iROC family of world-class facilities, the expansion of the program into Europe, the rollout of iROC Program materials in multiple languages, and the addition of new members to the IRT team,” said Erik Beard, Managing Member and General Counsel of IRT.
In just the past year, Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark, Kennywood Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ripley’s Super Fun Park and Mountain Coaster, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Rye Playland, Rye, New York, and Dreamworld and WhiteWater World, Gold Coast, Australia have all entered the iROC program, bringing the total number of certified facilities to 54 across North America, Europe, and Australia.
Beard added, “Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to see our growth continue both domestically and abroad. IRT views the iROC Program as a partnership with our clients and we strive every year to find innovative ways, from new services to new technologies to new training and accountability strategies, to provide them with the highest quality service to effectively manage their ride operations risk profile.”
Lou Axt, Rides and Aquatics Operations Manager at Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa, an iROC Facility since 2022, recently commented, “iROC has been transformative at Adventureland. The rides department is safer, more consistent and more professional as a result of IROC standards adoption.”
Kasper Schumacher, COO of Tivoli Gardens, has similar thoughts. “iROC has improved Tivoli’s already high safety standards to the next level and it is fantastic to experience how our ride operators have received the iROC program. Furthermore, iROC has structured our training so we ensure that all our staff are well trained and skillful ride operators that comply with the same standards. We believe that when our staff are resourceful and highly motivated it will result better guest experiences. We are increasingly seeing the results of the of our hard work and iROC.”
In 2024 alone, there are currently more than 3300 iROC-certified Instructors and Trainers and more than 12,600 iROC-certified operators throughout the world. IRT has also conducted 75 iROC Certification Facility Audits and approximately 800 individual ride certification audits so far in 2024.
“Our partnership with our clients provides a personalized level of service while maintaining consistent, safe operating standards that cross both corporate and national borders,” said Beard. “The iROC Standards of Performance have been developed and honed through a collaboration between IRT and its world-class clients for over a decade. They are not only safe, but practical in their execution regardless of the age or sophistication of ride operations staff. They are specifically developed to be flexible and adaptable as new ride technologies emerge. We enjoy long-standing relationships with our clients – a sign of the continuing support and partnership we have developed with each of them – and that is something that IRT never takes for granted.”
IRT will be holding its Annual “Ride Camp” Safety School on February 10-14, 2025, at the Historic Galveston Island Pleasure Pier in Galveston, Texas. Clients from around the world will send their teams to this one-week intensive training program, preparing Instructors and Trainers for the 2025 Summer Season.
For more information about International Ride Training, its services, and Ride Camp, please visit ridetraining.com.
IRVING, Texas — Chuck E. Cheese, the #1 destination for family entertainment, is thrilled to announce new developments in its ongoing partnership with the American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC). This collaboration aims to create more accessible and enjoyable experiences for all children, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
New Sign-Along Videos on Chuck E. Cheese YouTube
We are excited to announce the release of our first Sign-Along videos in American Sign Language (ASL), which will be rolling out during the month of September on the official Chuck E. Cheese YouTube channel and broadcasting across the Chuck E. Cheese in-store media platform. These videos are a testament to the brand’s commitment of providing accessible content for all kids to enjoy.
Fundraising for National Deaf Awareness Month
This September, in honor of National Deaf Awareness Month, Chuck E. Cheese locations will host national in-store fundraisers benefiting ASDC. From September 1-30, Chuck E. Cheese guests will be encouraged to donate by rounding up their purchases to the next dollar at registers at fun centers nationwide. On September 29th, Chuck E. Cheese will donate 20% of all sales made at participating locations to the 501(c)3 organization when guests mention ‘ASDC’ at checkout. This portion of proceeds will directly support ASDC’s mission of empowering children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Bring your family and friends to join in the fun while supporting a great cause.
Employee Training
In collaboration with ASDC, Chuck E. Cheese will launch a series of training videos for team members across all fun centers this Fall. These videos will focus on teaching basic deaf culture, a variety of greetings in ASL, plus best practices for serving and interacting with guests who are deaf or hard of hearing, ensuring a welcoming and accommodating environments for all.
“At Chuck E. Cheese, we believe in creating fun and memorable experiences for every child and family,” said Alejandra Brady, Sr. Director of Communications and DEI, CEC Entertainment. “Our partnership with the American Society for Deaf Children reflects our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. We’re excited about these new initiatives and look forward to continuing our support for the deaf community and beyond.”
“At the American Society for Deaf Children, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to experience joy and connection in spaces that embrace their unique needs,” said Cheri Dowling, Executive Director of the American Society for Deaf Children. “Our partnership with Chuck E. Cheese is a testament to our shared dedication to inclusivity and accessibility. We’re thrilled to work together on these exciting new initiatives and to continue advocating for environments where Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children can thrive and create lasting memories.”
HERSHEY, Pa. — Hersheypark, the largest amusement park in Pennsylvania, today announced the details of its all-new 2025 Twizzlers Twisted Gravity attraction. This high-thrill pendulum attraction will be the tallest Screamin’ Swing in the world when it opens in summer 2025.
The one-minute and 10-second experience begins as riders of Hershey’s height category (48-54”) and above ascend 137 adrenaline-pumping feet, defy gravity at speeds reaching 68 miles per hour and experience multiple mind-bending zero G moments as they swing high above Spring Creek in The Hollow region of Hersheypark.
Manufactured by S&S Worldwide, the all-new Twizzlers-inspired adventure is the newest candy to join the iconic Hersheypark skyline. Guests will sit in one of four branded zones across two gondolas, featuring the Twizzlers Strawberry, Cherry, Hershey’s Chocolate and Black Licorice-flavored designs.
Hersheypark is the only place where guests can snap a selfie with a Twizzlers Character, measure as a Twizzlers height category and ride in a Twizzlers-themed train on Candymonium hypercoaster.
“We continue to invest in attraction experiences that leverage unique Hershey brands, so we are thrilled to add a Twizzlers-branded Screamin’ Swing to our unmatched ride portfolio next summer,” said Vikki Hultquist, Vice President of Hersheypark & Entertainment Operations. “Twizzlers Twisted Gravity will provide our guests with the best of both worlds – the ultimate thrills and never-before-seen views of our Park’s beautiful 121 acres as they soar to a record-breaking height and leave gravity behind.”
Twizzlers Twisted Gravity will join more than 70 rides, a water park and a zoo included with admission as part of three parks in one. Following its summer 2025 debut, Twizzlers Twisted Gravity will be open for all four seasons, weather permitting.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay invites guests to take a final ride on the iconic Scorpion roller coaster before it takes its last run on the track. After thrilling guests for over 44 years, the final day of ride operation will be Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024. Scorpion holds a special place in the hearts of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay fans. Debuting in 1980, Scorpion became a favorite for its unique design, offering riders a thrilling experience unlike any other. In fact, Scorpion is the last stationary coaster of its kind in the world, making this the last chance to experience a legend.
While parkgoers will say goodbye to Scorpion, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is excited that this closure paves the way for exciting new future attractions, with more details about what’s coming to be revealed soon. Stay in the know about new announcements, events and special deals, plus learn more about the Annual Pass program’s benefits and monthly rewards by following Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X (Formerly Twitter).
Coaster lovers can visit BuschGardensTampa.com to purchase tickets and seize the opportunity to experience Scorpion before it’s gone.
ORLANDO — The Darker side of magic is back at Universal Orlando Resort this fall as the infamous Death Eaters return to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida on select dates August 29 through November 3.
This interactive live entertainment experience brings guests face-to-face with Lord Voldemort’s most loyal supporters, the ominous Death Eaters, as they lurk through London and into the shadowed streets of Knockturn Alley. These fanatic witches and wizards do not shy away from the practice of the Dark Arts and will challenge guests to join the Dark Lord alongside them.
Fans can also visit Borgin and Burkes in Diagon Alley to shop for Dark Arts-themed merchandise like t-shirts, accessories, and Death Eater masks – or check out the selection of Death Eater wands at Ollivanders.
CARLSBAD, Calif. — As the summer season draws to a close, there is no better way to bid it farewell than by singing and dancing along to the nation’s first LEGO World Parade at Merlin Entertainments’ LEGOLAND California Resort! With only five performance dates remaining, families can celebrate the final days of summer by rocking along as LEGO themed parade floats starring iconic characters make their way through the family theme park. The Parade will be marching away to make room for Halloween Season and the return of the epic Brick-or-Treat Monster Party, set to kick off on September 14.
Guests of the Resort can catch the final LEGO World Parade August 24 – 25 and August 31 – September 2.The Parade features a dazzling array of LEGO themed floats including a bright red LEGO City Firetruck, a swashbuckling pirate ship, and floats inspired by LEGO NINJAGO, LEGO City Deep Sea Adventure, and DUPLO. Accompanying these floats is an exclusive ensemble of LEGO characters and more than 50 performers, engaging with the audience as they march through the west side of the Park.
To experience all the fun of summer at LEGOLAND California including the LEGOLAND Water Park and SEA LIFE aquarium, the family theme park is offering $39 Kids Tickets for visits through September 13. This limited time offer ends on August 28.
Looking for a last minute summer vacation? Save up to 40% off rooms Sunday through Thursday nights at LEGOLAND Hotel. Voted in the top five Best Family Resort Hotels in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards, the LEGOLAND Hotel is just steps from the Parks’ entrance, offers exclusive entertainment like the brick-boogie kids nightclub and early access to the Resort’s newest land, Dino Valley.
