Orlando’s theme parks pull out all the stops for their Halloween events. Whatever you are looking for from your Halloween celebrations, you’ll find a theme park event to suit you.
Here’s our run down of which of Orlando’s theme parks will really give you something to scream about!
Scream for sweets at Disney’s Magic Kingdom
Disney’s Magic Kingdom is hands-down the best Halloween event for children. From the magical Halloween themed parade, magical Disney character meet and greets, to the Halloween Trick or Treat events, this is a special time of year to visit Orlando’s most popular theme park.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party runs on select nights between August 15 and October 31. Your kids can collect candy as they go through the park. And you get to enjoy special shows, including the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show, the Boo-to-You Parade and Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks.
Guests of all ages are welcome to wear costumes, which is a special privilege for this event. You must purchase a separate ticket for the party; regular park admission or an annual pass does not grant entry. Guests with a party ticket can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4pm, while Magic Kingdom closes to day guests at 6pm on party nights. Tickets do sell out, so you need to buy them early, especially for dates in October.
Scream for the jump scares at Universal’s Horror Nights
This is the Halloween event that most of the White Rose Villas team has been waiting for all year! Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is the biggest event in Universal’s calendar and if you’ve ever been, you’ll know why. The late night atmosphere, the in-costume characters, the haunted houses and the jump scares will definitely have you screaming – part in fear, all in fun!
This year, Halloween Horror Nights invites you endure ten different haunted houses – including Fallout and Five Nights at Freddies. There’s also live shows, rides, scare zones and more.
We’re especially looking forward to the This Circus is Fire live entertainment, where a once-vibrant circus has festered into an unending nightmare – a sinister spectacle of pyro, aerialists and illusions – and the Masquerade: Dance with Death scare zone. Universal says, “Your First Dance May Be Your Last! You’re invited to a masquerade ball where blood thirsty vampires lurk behind ornate disguises. When their masks fall, you’ll be their prey.”
If you just can’t wait, watch this preview from Universal about what else you can expect!
The World’s Premier Halloween Event runs on selected nights from 29 August until 2 November, with tickets and packages on sale now (an Express Pass is available for these specially ticketed events). We recommend getting to the park at least 45 minutes ahead of the official opening at 6:30pm to make the most of your time – often, gates will open early. The event finishes at 2am.
If you doubt the intensity of the event, please note that universal does not recommend it for children under the age of 13. No costumes or masks are allowed.
Scream for something different
If you’d like to get in the Halloween state of mind with a slightly more wallet-friendly price tag (especially for the early bird tickets), there’s another option for horror fans: Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld in Orlando. Howl-O-Scream runs on select dates between September 5 and November 1, 2025.
Howl-O-Scream is a relative newcomer to Orlando’s Halloween scene. Although it can trace its origins back to Busch Gardens Williamsburg in 1999, it didn’t come to SeaWorld until 2021. It’s a nighttime scare event with five haunted houses and six scare zones. We’re tempted by the new for 2025 Rave Yard. SeaWorld warns, “What looks like an abandoned cemetery is anything but quiet. The undead have taken over, turning crumbling tombstones into dance floors and mausoleums into neon-lit party zones. As the bass drops and the graveyard pulses with light, the dead rise for one reason only: to party forever. The music never stops. The dead never sleep. And if you’re not careful… you’ll be the next to join their eternal rave.”
You can also enjoy themed bar experiences and live shows. As with the Halloween special events at Orlando’s theme parks, Howl-O-Scream is not included within standard admission tickets. Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed night event. However, early bird tickets have big discounts applied. Note, no costumes are allowed at this event either.
Scream for more!
Our team is always happy to offer advice about things to do in Orlando during your stay with us. Feel free to chat with us online, email us at reservations@whiterosevillas.com or pick up the phone for a chat.
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