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2020-10-23 03:33:33 UTC
I got to visit several haunts and haunt/Halloween park events in Florida this season. Here are some thoughts on each:
13th Floor (Jacksonville)
This was the first one we did in mid September, on their second night. It’s located in a shopping center and is quite a large footprint. This haunt was very long and had some great elaborate scenes. We can’t compare to other years since we’ve never gone to this one before. While briefly talking with someone at the exit, apparently there were less scare actors than usual and it was about 1/4 shorter walk than usual. It seemed pretty long though in my opinion. They handled social distance quite well. Price was also less than most years because of it. Their t-shirt designs were good. Definitely recommend this haunt if you’re in the area.
Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream (Tampa Bay)
The event this year is less expensive, but has no haunted houses. Instead there are 10 scare zones, 2 of which are setup like haunted trails. The Shortcut and the Junkyard are the two trails. There are 8 other scare zones, some which returned from previous years. All the zones were well done, and while social distance restrictions are noticeable, it doesn’t make them any less fun. They also have the Fiends show, this year performed at the concert stage, and a Fiends bar is next door where a haunted house typically is most years. The park doesn’t have a Shop Of Horrors this year, but do have merchandise available. No photo spots with any characters this year either. Coasters, Carousel Caravan, and Falcon’s Fury are rides open this year (no scare actor Bumper Cars, unfortunately).
Scream ‘N Stream (Kissimmee)
This is a new drive through experience located at Boggy Creek Adventures (where airboat rides are offered). This is a cool theatrical experience where you drive your car past the show scenes. There are no jump scares for safety reasons, but it’s more of telling a story of high schoolers being chased, very typical horror movie storyline. I thought it was fun and different. Afterwards, you can walk around the small park where there’s an alligator exhibit and some decorations and roaming characters. Night airboat rides are available as well.
Universal Studios Florida (Orlando)
Universal opened 2 haunted houses originally built for Halloween Horror Nights, which was cancelled this year. They are “Revenge Of the Tooth Fairy” and lBride Of Frankenstein”. They are open daily during park hours and rarely have any kind of wait, even on days when the park hits The current modified capacity. Both are average hhn type houses, and the scares are socially distant usually with a plastic barrier, that’s not very noticeable unless you’re looking for it. Operations team members space the groups out very well with glow wands. Universal also has a Halloween tribute store with a lot of throwback type merchandise. They also have scarecrows set up in several shops as a scavenger hunt. Next door, Islands Of Adventure offers trick or treating.
SeaWorld Spooktacular (Orlando)
Scaled down event this year, only one official photo op, with a mermaid. Some other witches and dressed up characters and sets are also present. Trick or treat locations are done at stations with a chute to send the candy into a trick or treater’s bag. No seasonal show this year.
Undead In the Water (Tampa)
We tried out this haunt for the first time. It’s located on an old ship behind the Florida Aquarium. Storyline is that people were infected and are now zombies, and we’re trying to find the antidote that went missing. This haunt was very long, but really only featured socially distant zombies, so it wasn’t very scary. Also featured a lot of stairs. Walking through the ship was the best and most unique part of the experience.
Scream A Geddon (Dade City)
We had visited this one in 2016 and enjoyed it. This year not so much. There are still 5 houses, no more hayride (paintball replaced that). Guests were not social distancing and most were not wearing masks. They were still doing the glow stick experience for some houses, which we did not opt for. Scare actors did wear masks, but were not following social distance procedures. The Blackpool Prision themed one was the worst offender. The Rage 3D house was probably the best. The Woods, Demon’s Revenge, and Ravenhill Asylum were the other 3 houses. We likely will not return to this one for a long time.
Morrow’s Nightmare (Riverview)
We decided to do this last minute (day of, really) on the same night we went to Undead In the Water (it was less than 30 minutes away by car). This is brand new for 2020 haunt. It’s a very small place, located at Morrow’s Pumpkin Patch. They have 5 small outdoor haunts, each with different themes. You can visit each haunt as many times as you want to. One of them is “Snap N Scream”, which is only animatronics with no scare actors. Another haunt is a short one in the dark called “The Dark”. There’s also a vampire themed one “Vampire Junkyard”, a clown themed one “Clowning Around”, and a witch one “Stitched Nightmares”, all with scare actors. There were some actors roaming the common area “Focal Point” as well. In the common area, they had several games and fun attractions to experience at no extra charge - Halloween themed Ring toss games, an inflatable slide, an inflatable jump area, bowling. A nice bonus. The workers were all very nice and seemed to be giving their best effort for a small place with a “backyard haunt” feel to it.
13th Floor (Jacksonville)
This was the first one we did in mid September, on their second night. It’s located in a shopping center and is quite a large footprint. This haunt was very long and had some great elaborate scenes. We can’t compare to other years since we’ve never gone to this one before. While briefly talking with someone at the exit, apparently there were less scare actors than usual and it was about 1/4 shorter walk than usual. It seemed pretty long though in my opinion. They handled social distance quite well. Price was also less than most years because of it. Their t-shirt designs were good. Definitely recommend this haunt if you’re in the area.
Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream (Tampa Bay)
The event this year is less expensive, but has no haunted houses. Instead there are 10 scare zones, 2 of which are setup like haunted trails. The Shortcut and the Junkyard are the two trails. There are 8 other scare zones, some which returned from previous years. All the zones were well done, and while social distance restrictions are noticeable, it doesn’t make them any less fun. They also have the Fiends show, this year performed at the concert stage, and a Fiends bar is next door where a haunted house typically is most years. The park doesn’t have a Shop Of Horrors this year, but do have merchandise available. No photo spots with any characters this year either. Coasters, Carousel Caravan, and Falcon’s Fury are rides open this year (no scare actor Bumper Cars, unfortunately).
Scream ‘N Stream (Kissimmee)
This is a new drive through experience located at Boggy Creek Adventures (where airboat rides are offered). This is a cool theatrical experience where you drive your car past the show scenes. There are no jump scares for safety reasons, but it’s more of telling a story of high schoolers being chased, very typical horror movie storyline. I thought it was fun and different. Afterwards, you can walk around the small park where there’s an alligator exhibit and some decorations and roaming characters. Night airboat rides are available as well.
Universal Studios Florida (Orlando)
Universal opened 2 haunted houses originally built for Halloween Horror Nights, which was cancelled this year. They are “Revenge Of the Tooth Fairy” and lBride Of Frankenstein”. They are open daily during park hours and rarely have any kind of wait, even on days when the park hits The current modified capacity. Both are average hhn type houses, and the scares are socially distant usually with a plastic barrier, that’s not very noticeable unless you’re looking for it. Operations team members space the groups out very well with glow wands. Universal also has a Halloween tribute store with a lot of throwback type merchandise. They also have scarecrows set up in several shops as a scavenger hunt. Next door, Islands Of Adventure offers trick or treating.
SeaWorld Spooktacular (Orlando)
Scaled down event this year, only one official photo op, with a mermaid. Some other witches and dressed up characters and sets are also present. Trick or treat locations are done at stations with a chute to send the candy into a trick or treater’s bag. No seasonal show this year.
Undead In the Water (Tampa)
We tried out this haunt for the first time. It’s located on an old ship behind the Florida Aquarium. Storyline is that people were infected and are now zombies, and we’re trying to find the antidote that went missing. This haunt was very long, but really only featured socially distant zombies, so it wasn’t very scary. Also featured a lot of stairs. Walking through the ship was the best and most unique part of the experience.
Scream A Geddon (Dade City)
We had visited this one in 2016 and enjoyed it. This year not so much. There are still 5 houses, no more hayride (paintball replaced that). Guests were not social distancing and most were not wearing masks. They were still doing the glow stick experience for some houses, which we did not opt for. Scare actors did wear masks, but were not following social distance procedures. The Blackpool Prision themed one was the worst offender. The Rage 3D house was probably the best. The Woods, Demon’s Revenge, and Ravenhill Asylum were the other 3 houses. We likely will not return to this one for a long time.
Morrow’s Nightmare (Riverview)
We decided to do this last minute (day of, really) on the same night we went to Undead In the Water (it was less than 30 minutes away by car). This is brand new for 2020 haunt. It’s a very small place, located at Morrow’s Pumpkin Patch. They have 5 small outdoor haunts, each with different themes. You can visit each haunt as many times as you want to. One of them is “Snap N Scream”, which is only animatronics with no scare actors. Another haunt is a short one in the dark called “The Dark”. There’s also a vampire themed one “Vampire Junkyard”, a clown themed one “Clowning Around”, and a witch one “Stitched Nightmares”, all with scare actors. There were some actors roaming the common area “Focal Point” as well. In the common area, they had several games and fun attractions to experience at no extra charge - Halloween themed Ring toss games, an inflatable slide, an inflatable jump area, bowling. A nice bonus. The workers were all very nice and seemed to be giving their best effort for a small place with a “backyard haunt” feel to it.