Comparing scaring 😨

Not-so-scary, fright done right, horror nights — when it comes to Halloween events at Central Florida’s theme parks, there’s a scale.

“Howl-o” subscribers, it’s Haley.

Last week, I attended the kickoff for SeaWorld Orlando’s fright fest. Though it wasn’t my first Howl-O-Scream, I went with one goal: to see how it measures up against other Halloween events aimed at adult audiences.

It’s the fifth-annual Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld, so I figure the park would be turning up the terror for a landmark year.

Naturally, I compared Howl-O-Scream to Halloween Horror Nights, since it was still top of mind.

I have to say, Howl-O-Scream out-scares Halloween Horror Nights. It comes down to the scare actors being more gritty in their roles.

That being said, I also saw a touching moment when a scare actor from the Ashes of the Forgotten scare zone gently approached a child to help calm their fear.

The scrapyard scare zone is the first thing guests encounter upon entry, serving as a strong introduction to Howl-O-Scream.

I also think theming a scare zone to a trailer park full of grumpy residents is a brilliant idea. Don’t skip Trailer Park Tragedy.

The number of families with young children that I saw at Howl-O-Scream was a little alarming. The descriptions for Howl-O-Scream and Halloween Horror Nights state they’re designed for mature audiences.

One other thing about Halloween Horror Nights, during my media outing, I caught a glimpse of someone wearing the newly-introduced Deathly Afraid necklace.

For $20, this red light-up accessory signals scare zone actors to avoid approaching you, but keep in mind it doesn’t guarantee a completely scare-free experience. It also does not apply to haunted houses.

I guess at some point, I should check out how the scares are at Scream-A-Geddon in Dade City, which has been praised for being the ultimate scare destination. Although I will admit, the interactive element sounds a little too nerve-wracking for me.

For a Howl-O-Scream guide, including a haunted house scream cam walk-through, click here.

Walt Disney World

Get into the groove again 🎶

Do you remember what’s special about Sept. 21?

If your favorite Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind song is “September” and if you took part in last year’s “September” all-day celebration, you’ll be happy to hear that Disney is keeping the tradition alive.

That will be the only song played if you ride the EPCOT roller coaster on Sunday, Sept. 21. There will be no chances of “Conga” playing, which is often the song I end up with.

Island H20

Nighttime water park events are all the rage right now, and Island H20 is putting on a show.

The Kissimmee water park will unveil a first-of-its-kind music stage directly over the wave pool.

Two concert nights are happening. Island H20 also tapped Grammy-nominated artists Quavo and Offset.

What is your favorite Halloween theme park celebration in Central Florida or beyond?

As always, keep me in the loop through my email or reach out to me on X or Instagram.