Orlando Welcome Center Blog

Best Orlando Theme Park Halloween Parties

OrlandoVacation — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:41:58 +0000

Halloween may be October 31 for the rest of the country, but in Orlando, the Halloween season kicks off in September. The theme parks at Universal Orlando, Sea World and Disney’s Magic Kingdom each offer special Halloween party events throughout the months of September and October. While the parties are very diverse, they share some of the same qualities.

Halloween parties at Universal and Disney require a separate ticket for admission. Buying a park pass isn’t enough; you’ll need to spend a little extra to attend one of these private events. Some parties offer after-hours access to select rides and attractions; all parties offer characters, sights and shows you won’t see at any other time. The parties are vastly different in terms of their overall feeling and the age groups they are intended for. Choosing the best Halloween party for your group is a matter of evaluating each event and selecting the one that suits the ages and interests of your family the best.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party:

One of the most popular events of the year at the Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is aimed at families traveling with children. While the Disney villains are out in force, strolling the park, hosting dance parties and signing autographs, the scares here are minor—or nonexistent.

Guests attending the party can don costumes, trick or treat or get extra time on some of the park’s most popular rides. It is not unusual to see entire families dressed in costume, trick or treating and having fun. The Haunted Mansion takes center stage for this event, with live characters, extra spooky décor and a spooky but fun ambience. If you enjoy the Magic Kingdom during a “regular” day, then the Halloween party is well worth a visit; many guests make this party a yearly event.

Sea World’s Halloween Spooktacular:

Sea World’s Halloween event is aimed at families with small children; the under-10 crowd will get the most from the offerings here. From cookie decorating to trick or treating and character greetings, this gentle and not scary party is a must-do for the preschool crowd.

The Halloween Spooktacular begins at noon on select days, allowing even the youngest preschoolers a chance to enjoy the fun before bedtime. Visit Abby Cadabby’s interactive Halloween Adventure, or trick or treat at designated stations throughout the park. Look for friendly fish, mermaids and other sea creatures when you head to this kid-friendly shindig. The Halloween Spooktacular is free with your park admission.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando:

This event features special effects and costuming that is truly movie worthy. Halloween Horror Nights is one of the most intricate and well planned Halloween events in Florida—or anywhere else. This event is designed for teens and adults; it is extremely scary, and children under the age of 13 will not be admitted. Parents are strongly urged to leave the kids at home and come out for a scary good time.

The special effects and costumes are gory and scary at Halloween Horror Nights; this event is a “don’t miss” if you enjoy a good scare or a frightening movie. Hundreds of performers take to the streets with one mission—to scare park guests. The 21^st annual Halloween Horror Nights season opens in September, and features themeing surrounding the idea of “luck”. You can be sure that all the luck with be bad on these dismal but thrilling evenings at Universal Orlando.

Remember if you are planning on visiting any of these theme parks in October, it is highly recommended that you make an Orlando hotel reservation prior to heading out on your vacation. While October is considered the off season for tourist, a lot of guests still flock to Orlando on the weekends.

FASTPASS To See Mickey Mouse!

admin — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:53:08 +0000

There are many reasons why people make Disney World their vacation spot. Sure, you and your family will have a great time on all of the rides and visiting all of the attractions that Disney is known for, but there is one reason in particular that make people of all ages flock to Disney World and that is to meet and take a picture with all of the most famous Disney characters. There is one character that draws the most attention and, yep, you’ve probably already guessed who it is, that is Mickey Mouse. For generations, visitors have scheduled their days around when Mickey Mouse will show his famous ears and when it will be their time to take a picture with the world’s most famous mouse.

If we know one thing about Disney World it is that certain times around the year, the park can get pretty busy and that makes for long lines, especially when you are waiting to meet Mickey Mouse. Well, those long waits may just become a thing of the past. We all know and love the FASTPASS option that the park gives us for their rides. With a FASTPASS, visitors can get a ticket and come back to the ride between a certain times and bypass the line. Now, visitors who want to see and take a picture with Mickey Mouse can do the same thing. All that you have to do is make your way to Mickey’s new sighting center, the Exposition Hall at Main Street USA, pick a time, grab a FASTPASS and come back at your time. This is going to make it much easier for you and your family to get all of the pictures and memories that you need and want out of your Disney World vacation.

Busch Gardens Tampa

admin — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:42:30 +0000

Busch Gardens is a thrilling African safari and a sun-soaked Florida vacation all rolled into one. Experience up-close encounters with wild animals, and explore fascinating attractions based on cultures and legends of far away lands.

Author: OrlandoWelcomeCenter

Duration: 53

Published: 2010-12-05 15:37:41

Busch Gardens Tampa Discount Tickets

Fun Spot Action Park Orlando

admin — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:32:15 +0000

Fun Spot has five acres of attractions include four multilevel go kart tracks, thirteen rides, including the Kid Spot for pre-schoolers, and more than 120 arcade games in two different locations.

Author: OrlandoWelcomeCenter

Duration: 69

Published: 2010-12-06 00:46:10

Fun Spot Action Park Orlando

I-Ride Trolley Orlando

admin — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:12:09 +0000

By using the area’s exclusive and convenient I-Ride Trolley service you can sit back and ride up and down the miles of fun that make up the International Drive Resort Area. Discover how this wonderful, cost-saving amenity takes the parking and driving hassles out of your vacation and lets you cruise the Drive in charming style. Staying or playing along International Drive? Park the car and hop on the I-RIDE Trolley to see the sites and save your feet.

Author: OrlandoWelcomeCenter

Duration: 53

Published: 2010-12-15 23:30:16

I-Ride Trolley Orlando

Mission SPACE at Epcot

admin — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:23:50 +0000

Mission Space is an ultimate interactive thrill-packed adventure at Epcot, is as close as you can get to blasting off into space without leaving Earth. Each member of your astronaut team has a challenging role in a dynamic and daring cosmic mission dodging meteors and navigating nebulae. Select exhilarating and intense training and join the Orange Team, or opt for a less intense galactic adventure on the Green Team. Both adventures are out of this world!

Author: OrlandoWelcomeCenter

Duration: 258

Published: 2010-12-16 12:28:34

Mission SPACE at Epcot

Epcot Illuminations

admin — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:05:04 +0000

A thrilling nighttime kaleidoscope at Epcot, as the sky erupts with over 1100 pyrotechnic bursts and the extraordinary Earth Globe floats across the lagoon, revealing wonders of the seven continents on its curved LED screens — the first ever of their kind. Revel in rousing original music as lasers turn the very sky into a work of art.

Author: OrlandoWelcomeCenter

Duration: 88

Published: 2010-12-15 19:06:20

Epcot Illuminations

Fountains Resort $37 Per Night

admin — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:58:08 +0000

Stay at the Fountains Resort for Only $37 Per Night. The Fountains offers everything you would expect from a world-class resort as well as the convenience of a central location. Orlando is famous for its amazing attractions, unbridled family fun and exquisite weather. Now, The Fountains has its own claim to fame Bluegreen’s Wakoola Springs. This 75000-square-foot tropical oasis sets itself apart from an everyday pool with two twisting water slides, a zero-entry pool, interactive water fountains, two hot tubs, two bridges and two fire circles for campfires.

Author: OrlandoWelcomeCenter

Duration: 70

Published: 2010-12-15 21:00:08

Fountains Resort $37 Per Night

Discovery Cove Orlando Florida

admin — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:30:29 +0000

Swimming with dolphins is the centerpiece of a daylong adventure at Discovery Cove, located adjacent to SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. Interacting with a bottlenose dolphin is just one of the several experiences in this exotic tropical oasis that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Author: OrlandoWelcomeCenter

Duration: 71

Published: 2010-12-17 21:20:54

Discovery Cove Orlando Florida

Disney Meet and Greet Characters

admin — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:32:24 +0000

Each of the 4 main parks (Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios) provide Times Guides that include character greeting times and locations.

Author: OrlandoWelcomeCenter

Duration: 39

Published: 2010-12-18 18:22:54

Disney Meet and Greet Characters