How Theme Parks Are Celebrating Halloween in 2021

Among the many things skipped in 2020 were large-scale Halloween theme park events, but thankfully, the “boo!” is back in 2021.

“This has been a difficult year, but I feel a great sense of hope and optimism,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products. “I look forward to seeing the joy of families making memories together.” 

Indeed, clients of all ages can plan a memorable Halloween celebration, from the not-so-spooky to the super scary, at theme parks from coast to coast.

Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World

Halloween Time returns to Disneyland Resort on Sept. 3 to Oct. 31, including “Halloween Screams”  — a projection and special effects show (with fireworks on weekends)  — and Haunted Mansion Holiday inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” in Disneyland, and Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark and  Plaza de la Familia, inspired by “Coco,” in California Adventure.

“Halloween will once again come to life at the Disneyland Resort,” writes Donna Fisk, public relations manager, on the Disney Parks Blog. “Fans of frightfully fun family experiences … won’t want to miss the magic – from transformed Halloween-themed attractions and sightings of favorite Disney villains to seasonal decor and delightfully delicious treats."

This has been a difficult year, but I feel a great sense of hope and optimism. I look forward to seeing the joy of families making memories together.

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On select nights from Sept. 9 to Oct. 31, the separately ticketed “Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party” in California Adventure will feature immersive treat trails, the “Frightfully Fun Parade,” “Mickey’s Trick & Treat” show and Villains Grove at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Plus, Carthay Circle Restaurant’s facade will be illuminated with spell-binding Halloween projections.

Meanwhile, at Walt Disney World, clients can attend “Disney After Hours Boo Bash,” a new separately ticketed Halloween event that runs on select nights from now until Oct. 31 in Magic Kingdom Park.

The family-friendly fun will feature character parades, including “Mickey’s Happy Halloween Cavalcade,” “Disney Villains Halloween Cavalcade” and “Jack’s Nightmare Cavalcade” starring Jack Skellington, Sally and Oogie Boogie. Plus, foolish mortals of all ages can dress in costume and trick or treat around the park.

(Travel agents should note that Disney parks require reservations.)

Legoland

Brick or Treat —the kid-friendliest Halloween celebration in Orlando — returns to Legoland Florida on weekends this October with trick –or treating and meet and greets with exclusive Lego Halloween characters. Also joining the fun is newly opened Legoland New York, which will host a “bricktastic” month-long Halloween celebration featuring trick or treating, costume contests and special Lego characters. 

On the West Coast, every Saturday night in October is a Brick or Treat Party Night at Legoland California, featuring live entertainment, dance parties, costume contests and, of course, plenty of trick-or-treat stations.

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"It's been a long and challenging year, and we’re extremely excited that guests can [once again] build family memories, “ said Kurt Stocks, president of Legoland California.

Brick or Treat at Legoland parks is included with admission.

SeaWorld

To mark the return of Halloween festivities, SeaWorld parks in Florida, Texas and California are offering twice the fun with the family-friendly SeaWorld Spooktacular celebrations during the day and the horrifying Howl-O-Scream at night.

The not-so-spooky daytime SeaWorld Spooktacular offers trick or treating, a dance party and Halloween fun with Sesame Street pals, but everything changes when the sun goes down.

Marking its 20th year in San Antonio, Texas, (and its first year in San Diego, Calif., and Orlando, Fla.), the separately ticketed Howl-O-Scream nighttime event celebrates the dark side of Halloween, where guests seeking shelter from roaming haunts find themselves in houses of horrors. Extra-adventurous clients can double the chills with a two-park Howl-O-Scream ticket for one night each at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

“Howl-O-Scream provides the missing element we know guests will welcome,” said Kyle Miller, president of SeaWorld Orlando. “With this addition, we become the only theme park in Orlando to offer both a daytime family-friendly Halloween and a nighttime horror Halloween for thrill-seekers.” 

SeaWorld Spooktacular is included with park admission on weekends from Sept. 17 to Oct. 31 in San Antonio and Sept. 18 to Oct. 31 in Orlando and San Diego. Howl-O-Scream takes place on select nights from Sept. 10 to Oct. 31 in Orlando, and Sept. 17 to Oct. 31 in San Antonio and San Diego.

Agents should advise clients that Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience.

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Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood

After taking 2020 off, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) is back with a vengeance. The separately ticketed nighttime event will run on select nights from Sept. 3 to Oct. 31 at Universal Orlando in Florida, and Sept. 9 to Oct. 31 at Universal Studios Hollywood in California.

There’s so much to look forward to for the remainder of 2021, and at Universal Orlando, the return of Halloween Horror Nights tops that list.

To celebrate 30 years of fear, Universal Orlando announced the return of Jack the Clown — the most notorious icon in HHN history — who will infiltrate every aspect of the event, including terrorizing unsuspecting guests with surprise “Jack Attacks.” Plus, Beetlejuice — also known as the “ghost with the most” — will torment Orlando guests in a maze based on Tim Burton’s Academy Award-winning horror-fantasy film.

“There’s so much to look forward to for the remainder of 2021, and at Universal Orlando, the return of Halloween Horror Nights tops that list,” said Robyn Ryan, senior director of travel industry sales for Universal Orlando. “Our travel partners can expect a sinister lineup of 10 terrifying haunted houses, five twisted scare zones and two outrageous live shows based on the biggest names in horror and pop culture.”

On both coasts, clients will be horrified by new mazes based on the 1974 slasher film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” They will also come face to face with one of Universal’s most iconic monsters in “Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives” and recreate the dark journey of the Crain family from Netflix’s “The Haunting of Hill House.”

“We look forward to creating a unique experience that combines psychological and visceral twists from the [Hill House] series,” said John Murdy, executive producer for Universal Hollywood HHN. “The goal is to make guests feel as if they’re walking in the footsteps of the Crain family, reliving the horrors they experienced." 

Charles Gray, senior show director for Universal Orlando, agrees. 

“Hill House is a perfect fit for Halloween Horror Nights as it enters a new decade of fear,” he said. “It’s a nightmare come true to bring [it] to life for our guests.’”

Agents should advise clients that Halloween Horror Nights is not recommended for kids under 13 years old.