It may be hot in Central Florida, but September brings a major spooky season kick-off in the Orlando area. Among the Halloween classics is Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando, a haunted event that has been taking place at Busch Gardens for years, but only made its way to SeaWorld in 2021. It's a top Halloween event in Orlando and has earned its place among the top haunted houses in Orlando.
At Howl-O-Scream, an after-hours ticketed event after SeaWorld closes to day guests, you and your sweetie can explore haunted houses and scare zones, visit themed bars, and more. Read on for our guide to all the spooky fun happening at Howl-O-Scream 2024, plus important time-saving tips.
While this scary event contains adult themes, it can be considered one of the Orlando haunted houses that are okay for older kids. There's even a way to let the performers know you'd prefer not to be scared!
About Howl-O-Scream 2024
Howl-O-Scream started this year on September 6, 2024, and runs on select nights through November 2.
Tickets range from $34.99 for a one-night ticket to $109 for an unlimited admission ticket, which allows guests to visit as often as they want.
SeaWorld annual passholders get special ticket discounts, and there’s an option for any guest to purchase a ticket that allows for daytime park admission in addition to the Halloween event for $132.
The event runs from 7 p.m. through midnight. In September, Howl-O-Scream only takes place on Friday and Saturday, but in October, Thursdays, Sundays, and October 31, 2024 Halloween night get added into the mix.
I’ve attended Howl-O-Scream with my husband for the past two years, and I truly found the jump scares and spookiness to be among the best in the Orlando area. If holding onto your partner and braving a bit of Halloween chills and thrills sounds like your idea of a great date night, you'll be in good company at Howl-O-Scream.
Tips for Howl-O-Scream 2024
- Review the map beforehand
- Check out the descriptions to decide your must-do experiences
- Purchase a “No Boo” light-up necklace in the park for $15 if you'd like to signal to the performers you'd rather not get scared (no guarantees but it helps)
- September is less crowded than October
- Plan extra time to enjoy the scare zones
- Take a break and hydrate
- Talk about your expectations and comfort level
Read on for our guide on making the most of a date night at SeaWorld's Howl-O-Scream 2024.
Note: Admission is NOT included with regular park admission. You will need a separate event ticket in order to attend.
Howl-O-Scream 2024 Haunted Houses and Scare Zones
At SeaWorld Orlando's Howl-O-Scream, there are five thrilling haunted houses to walk through. A whopping seven scare zones add to the scary fun!
Haunted Houses
- Farm51 (NEW)
- D3LER1UM666, returning from previous years
- Ultimate Gamble (NEW)
- Water's Edge Wellness Center (NEW)
- Atlantis Journey Below (NEW)
Farm51
In Farm51, you stumble on an abandoned farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. The air is thick with dread, and the silence is broken only by the eerie rustling of the cornfields. Suddenly, you realize you're not alone. The chilling whispers of extraterrestrial visitors echo in the darkness. They've crash-landed, and they're not friendly.
Ultimate Gamble
An all-new haunt Ultimate Gamble, the stakes are life and death, and every step could be your last. This house offers a chilling blend of high-stakes thrills and ghastly terror. Will you beat the odds and escape with your life, or will you become just another ghostly patron trapped in the casino’s eternal game? Face your fears and place your bets at “The Ultimate Gamble,” where the house always wins.
Water's Edge Wellness Center
Nestled at the edge of the misty, foreboding Central Lake, the Water’s Edge Wellness Center once promised serenity and rejuvenation. Today, it stands as a chilling reminder of a past shrouded in mystery and dark secrets. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable journey into the macabre, where the line between the living and the dead is blurred, and the horrors of the past come to life. Will you escape unscathed, or will you become another lost soul within the haunted halls of the Water’s Edge Wellness Center?
Atlantis Journey Below
Step into the depths of the unknown with Atlantis: Journey Below. As you encounter the sunken city of Atlantis, you’ll find a realm shrouded in mystery and dark legends. Descend into the eerie underwater world where the air grows thick with anticipation and the haunting whispers of sinister sea creatures. Dare to explore “Atlantis: Journey Below” and experience the terror that lies beneath the waves.
Delirium666 Laboratories
Rounding out the scary line-up is the returning Delirium666 Laboratories house, where a tour of a government facility goes very, very wrong.
Scare Zones
- Seeds of The Coven (NEW)
- Paradise Palms (NEW)
- Cannibal Harbor (NEW)
- Blood Light District
- Toxic Turmoil
- Terrors of the Deep
- CarnEvil Pier
One of the best things about SeaWorld Orlando's Howl-O-Scream is the use of aquatic themes that fit the park. Each scare zone plays off of the area it is located – elevating the fun and spookiness.
There are also scare zones throughout the park, where guests walk through spooky scenes and actors who like to jump-scare. There are seven in total: Bloodlight District, Toxic Turmoil, CarnEvil Pier, Terrors of the Deep, Seeds of The Coven, Paradise Palms, and Cannibal Harbor.
In addition to scare zones, there are roaming haunts dressed as sirens who will try to lure you in with their scary performances and beautiful costumes. An added jump scare this year came in the form of several scare actors wearing knee pads that would let off a display of sparks when they slid along the park’s pathways.
By the end of the evening, hearing the sliding sound of knee pads on concrete instantly made me scream and jump.
Shows
No spooky Halloween event would be complete without a chilling stage show, and at Howl-O-Scream, the returning Monster Stomp is sure to give guests their dose of creepy entertainment. Jack the Ripper stars in this scary don’t-miss musical. Siren's Song provides a great way to take a break without missing out on the spooks, but unlike Monster Stomp, which takes place inside a theater with seating, this siren-fueled show takes place outdoors and guests must stand to watch it.
Themed Bars
The event also features five themed Halloween bars: Tormented, Longshoremen Tavern, CarnEvil Curiosities, along with two new bars for this year – Space Gate 3 and Sacrificial Spirits. While some spots to grab a libation are simply a kiosk or cart, multiple bars are inside immersive venues.
There are popular cocktails served in pouches, adding playfulness to the grown-up fun. There is an overall lack of mocktails or zero-proof alcohol options. While I craved a non-alcoholic beer or a specialty drink made sans alcohol, I ended up being relegated to sipping bottled water or Diet Coke, a disappointment as a non-drinker.
Don't forget to fuel up on food too! There are multiple booths around the park, adding to a festival atmosphere. Among our favorite eats this year were spicy Cheeto-topped cheese fries in the CarnEvil Pier area of the event and giant skull-shaped pretzels available near Howl-O-Scream entrance and exit gates.
Rides
In addition to the spooky activities that are exclusive to Howl-O-Scream, some SeaWorld Orlando attractions — like the new Pipeline surf coaster — are open for guests to ride. Experiencing these thrilling rides in the dark only adds to the spook factor, and the wait times when we visited were less than five minutes throughout the entire event.
Availability is subject to change and weather permitting. On the night we visited Howl-O-Scream, for example, it was raining at the start time for the event, so guests weren’t being allowed into most sections of the park pending an improvement in the weather. We stood around for about an hour waiting for the weather advisory to lift — something that can’t be helped in Central Florida’s rainy season — but a good thing to be aware of, nonetheless.
Front Line Fear Upgrades
If you’d prefer to avoid long lines, there are two options to skip wait times at Hall-O-Scream. For $60, guests can purchase a Front Line Fear pass, which allows them to skip the line once at each of the five haunted houses. The $80 Front Line Fear Extreme pass allows for skipping haunted house lines and the park’s major thrill rides. The extreme pass also gives guests reserved seating for the Monster Stomp show.
While pricey, these types of upgrades can be a great way to help your scary date night run more smoothly. After all, you’ll want to have time to visit those spooky-themed bars.
Featured image by Terri Peters