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Halloween Horror Nights 21 Updates

Meet real-life ghost hunters at Halloween Horror Nights halloween horror nights 20 news

Meet real-life ghost hunters at Halloween Horror Nights

Video Stories

• Meet "Ghost Hunters" stars

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“Ghost Hunters”

Halloween Horror Nights XX

ORLANDO --

“Ghost Hunters” has become one of the highest rated reality shows on SyFy Channel. You can meet a few of the stars!

Two real-life paranormal researchers will be at Universal Thursday, Oct. 7 for an autograph session. Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango will sign autographs at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in Battery Park, right across from Mel’s Drive-In.

Gonsalves is the TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) technology manager and evidence analyst. It is his responsibility to train all TAPS members on how to use the team's wide range of high-tech equipment.

Just so you know, TAPS is a group of fairly ordinary people -- office managers, factory workers, teachers and even psychic hotline gurus. They’re a part of this group because they want to understand more about the afterlife.

Gonsalves has also been a public speaker and educator about paranormal phenomena for more than 10 years.

Tango has been with the team for the past several years. He’s an investigator and evidence analyst. He co-hosts Ghost Hunters Academy with Gonsalves as they search for the next, top-notch paranormal investigator.

Tango also likes to perform magic shows, and has a fond interest in illusions.

If you can’t make it out to HHN to meet the duo, we’ve got you covered! We caught up with them Thursday. Just watch our interview in the video attached to this page. For our extended conversation, go to Ch. 300, Central Florida on Demand, Your Local Entertainment Channel. Click on Halloween and then Haunted Florida.

Central Florida on Demand is available only on Bright House Digital Cable.

Halloween horror nights news orlando oct 13 2010

Theme parks roll out Halloween thrills

October 13, 2010 7:58 a.m. EDT

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Theme parks across the nation are transformed into Halloween havens
• Disney and Universal Studios have events at their parks in both California and Florida
• Six Flags offers Halloween thrills at all of its locations

RELATED TOPICS

• Travel and Tourism
• Amusement and Theme Parks

This time of year, theme parks across the nation are transformed into Halloween hot spots.

If you're searching for a destination that has pulled out all the stops to give you a monstrously good time or an attraction that won't give the littlest trick-or-treaters nightmares, scare up your favorite costume and check out these amusement parks for Halloween fun.

Universal Studios

Universal Studios is scaring guests on both coasts during its Halloween Horror Nights, drawing hundreds of thousands of horror fans each year.

In Hollywood, California, guests can experience five new mazes based on the most popular horror themes and movies of all time, including "Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Friday the 13th."

Universal Orlando in Florida boasts eight new haunted houses and six scarezones at "Halloween Horror Nights XX: Twenty Years of Fear."

Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event. The price is $59 at the gate every night in California. Advance-purchase discounts are available on select nights.

In Orlando, general admission is $74.99. Guests may also add discounted Horror Nights admission to daytime park rates. Special Horror Nights rates are available for Florida residents: $34.99 Sundays through Thursdays, $49.99 on Fridays and $64.99 on Saturdays.

Cedar Fair Entertainment

Cedar Fair Entertainment operates such parks as King's Dominion in Doswell, Virginia; Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri; and Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, all boasting frightful Halloween events along with their usual jaw-dropping thrills.

Knott's Berry Farm, for example, is transformed into Knott's Scary Farm. Its annual Halloween Haunt features mazes, live shows, scare zones and 1,000 monsters roaming the park. Advance tickets are $33 to $50 based on the day of the week, in addition to park admission. Day-of tickets are $56.

Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, is offering a Halloween Haunt for $27.99 on Saturdays and $21.99 on Friday nights with online ticket purchase. Saturday tickets include all-day park admission and the Halloween event from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Although the Haunts are generally not recommended for kids under 13, many of the parks also offer daytime Halloween events for the whole family.

Snoopy's Costume Party at Knott's Berry Farm celebrates Halloween with a Monster Dance Party and Costume Parade, a Peanuts Halloween Spooktacular and, of course, trick-or-treating.

At Kings Island's Howl-o-Fest, guests can join the Peanuts gang in a spooky singalong and visit a pumpkin patch with free kid-size pumpkins.

Six Flags

Six Flags Amusement Parks offer Halloween thrills at all of its locations, with their annual Fright Fests turning parks into playgrounds for ghouls and goblins. Even the most frightening coasters look tame in comparison with what awaits you in the terrifying mazes and haunted houses.

At Six Flags Over Georgia in Atlanta, guests can experience the Last Ride, simulating being buried alive, or check out Dr. Fright's Frightorium and CarnEvil.

Families won't want to miss the daytime Halloween celebrations, including pumpkin painting, trick-or-treating and a kids costume contest at some locations. Fright Fest is included with park admission, although additional fees are required for some Fright Fest attractions. General admission is $49.99.

Sesame Place

For the youngest Halloween enthusiasts, Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, celebrates the Count's Halloween Spooktacular on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visitors are invited to come in costume, and there is a costume contest on October 31. Guests can enjoy hayrides, trick-or-treating throughout the park, Elmo's World Live! Halloween Show and Abby Cadabby's Magical Halloween Maze.

Don't miss the Count's UN-Haunted Castle Maze, which teaches children that things are not as scary as they appear.

Tickets are available for $33 for single-day admission during Spooktacular weekends.

Disney

Guests of all ages are encouraged to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes and collect candy while trick-or-treating around the Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, Florida.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a special event from 7 p.m. to midnight on select nights through November 1.

Guests can enjoy Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and Happy HalloWishes -- a spectacular fireworks show in which the Disney villains go trick-or-treating in the sky.

Mickey isn't celebrating only in the Sunshine State.

During Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland Park in California, guests can enjoy live music and embark on a three-hour Disney's Happiest Haunts tour to learn about the spookiest events in the park. Some rides are transformed into spooky attractions, like the haunting soundtrack and added visual effects to Space Mountain.

Purchase of an additional ticket is required at both locations. Tickets purchased on the day of the event cost $53.95 for ages 3 to 9 and $59.95 for ages 10 and up in Orlando. Advance-purchase discounts are available on some dates. At Disneyland in Anaheim, admission is $49 to $59, depending on the date.

Purchases can be made online or by calling (407) 934-7639 for Orlando or (714) 781-4400 for Anaheim.

halloween horror nights news oct 10 2010

I've been attending Halloween Horror Nights almost every night since the Team Preview in September. It's always a pleasure to see how the houses change and mature over time. Often my initial favorites shift and change as the event goes on. Twice, my least favorite houses early on became my favorites by the last weekend (Leave it to Cleaver and Doomsday).

This year, my top-house opinions are holding pretty so far, although there is some movement among the other houses. Here are my reviews (caution: containers some spoilers):

Catacombs: Number one with a bullet! It does not have elaborate costumes or effects, and it actually has an educational aspect (although no one stops to read the signs). But the scareactors are aggressive and stealthy and will double and triple team you in spots. Most houses have an off-night now and then, but this one has been spot on every time I've gone through it. It's an old-school haunted house for lovers of narrow passages, disorientation and things jumping out at you constantly.

Hades: Much like Catacombs in scare quality, but with some special effects and a lot of detail thrown in for good measure. The special effects are a matter of timing, so you might or might not see them. It really spoils some houses if your timing is off because the effects are what make it, but Hades has enough scareactor interaction to make it a great experience either way.

Havoc: A very solid house. Military themes are a dime a dozen, but this one is similar to Catacombs in how the scareactors make it work through their energy.

Zombiegeddon: This one has been low on my list, but I noticed vast improvement last night. Not sure if it was a different cast (each house has two casts) or they're just getting into their element now, but there was more comedic interaction as well as more scares. It will never come close to last year's comedy house, Leave it to Cleaver, but may move up from "meh" to enjoyable if it continues in the same vein as last night.

Hallow'd Past: I want to love this house because of all the memorabilia, but I've had some extremely boring runs through it that have caused it to drop like a rock on my list. Our first run-through last night fit that category, although the second time was much, much better. The Dead Exposure room tends to be a highlight, and when the Frightanic room is good, it's very, very good. They got me with a wicked triple teaming in there last night. I just wish it wasn't so hit or miss, and it often seems like there are (live) bodies missing. Click here for a lights-on tour of this house.

Psychoscareapy: I neither love nor hate this house, I wish it were a comedy version, but alas, it's just standard fare this year. I've never had a really terrible run-through, and sometimes there are stand-out scares. We got one last night when they somehow managed to triple team both my husband and I together. Usually just one of us get it, but they pulled off the perfect dual scare on us. Look for and press the red button in this one. Click here for a lights-on tour of this house.

Orfange: The one remains as a "meh" to me. No really good or shocking scares, and sometimes there is very little interaction. The fire effect is only impressive in the fact that it's the first time it's been done. I was expecting a lot more from a Cindy house. You're better off finding Cindy out in the scarezone (you can see her in the photo at left). She is a hoot to interact with.

Legendary Truth: I usually give this one a good rank for special effects, but last night it was a disappointment on both run throughs. The first time through (right at opening), the scareactors were mostly just standing around. Special effects only go so far; you need some live interaction too. The second time through many of the special effects, like the floor were just plain not working right and the interaction had not stepped up (this time it seems like people were missing). Usually I peg Orfanage in last place, but I'm afraid I have to put LT there last night. Click here for a lights-on tour of this house

Halloween Horror Nights News

10/5/10) A large photo review of HHN 20 can be found at WDW MouseTales this week. Speaking of Halloween Horror Nights, Rex and The Beast are holding a giveaway contest for a free ticket to HHN. Check out the details here.
(9/29/10) Amusement Insider and Orlando United have posted their own photos and review of HHN 20 for you to enjoy this week.
(9/27/10) Some early photo trip reports from HHN 20 are already in. Take a peek at them at Orlando Rocks and Theme Park Review.
(9/25/10) Universal Orlando has unleashed FEAR tonight… with the grand opening of HHN XX. I’ll hopefully have a full review of the attraction send in by our local man,

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Why you should visit multiple times

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando runs on select nights through Halloween. Many people only visit once, but Universal offers several ticket options that make multiple visits easy. Myself, I have the upgraded Frequent Fear pass that lets me visit on all non-peak nights and Fridays. You might not want to come that much, but here are some reasons why you should visit at least twice:

-Try all the houses and shows on your first visit and repeat favorites the next time around. A first visit is always hectic as you try to cram in as much as possible (hint: buy an Express Pass if it's a busy day). You won't get to see much of the detail as you hustle from house to house. You can slow down, relax and repeat favorites when you come back.

-Spend time observing details on subsequent visits. Most people focus on the haunted houses, and Halloween Horror Nights fans also love the Bill and Ted show. The scarezones are great too and there are so many small details throughout the park that get missed on hurried visits. Come back, take it slow, spend time watching people in the scarezones and notice all the amazing theming. Have a leisurely dinner at Finnegan's.

-Notice how things chance over the course of the event. This is an interesting thing to do if you are a local. Many people don't reallize that Universal tweaks things throughout the entire Halloween Horror Nights run. The last Bill and Ted show will have evolved from the first, and there might be more (or less) fog in one area or a new or different effect in a house. Come as much as possible and see how many changes you notice.

-Increase your chance of good weather. Usually the weather for Halloween Horror Nights is pretty decent because the rainy season is over. Sometimes there are still showers, which can ruin your visit if you only have a ticket for one day. The houses stay open in the rain, but the scareactors disppear. A multi-day pass gives you more chances for seeing things in good weather.

The crowds tend to take a toll on the houses as the season progresses. I took an insider tour early in the season, so click here to see lights-on photos with all the details inside the Legendary Truth house and click here for photos inside Psychoscareapy. Click here to read more of my articles, and click here to follow me on Twitter.

ghost hunters at usf orlando

Fans of the SyFy television series "Ghost Hunters" will be able to meet Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango during Halloween Horror Nights festivities at Universal Studios this Thursday night.

The duo and a group of paranormal researchers investigate haunted spots across the nation in the reality series. Gonsalves and Tango will sign autographs at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the Battery Park section of Universal -- across from Mel's Drive-In and near the Fear Revealed scare zone. The appearance is included in regular Horror Nights admission.

HHN is an extra-ticket, after-hours event that operates select nights through Oct. 31. For detailed ticket information, go to www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando

Halloween Horror Nights review 2

Halloween horror nights Hallow'd past was great loved the maze keep up the good work

the orfange that mazes was ok and some stuff in that mazes was good but not great its not worth 45 min wait

Halloween Horror Nights 20 info

Halloween Horror Nights 20 - (9/27/10) Some early photo trip reports from HHN 20 are already in. Take a peek at them at Orlando Rocks and Theme Park Review.
(9/25/10) Universal Orlando has unleashed FEAR tonight… with the grand opening of HHN XX. I’ll hopefully have a full review of the attraction send in by our local man, Keith, over the weekend to share. In the meantime check out the latest videos from Universal Orlando which include a number of special POV cameras as shot by a few of our fellow webmasters as well as a message from FEAR himself embedded below.

(9/23/10) A reader has sent us a copy of the preview version of Halloween Horror Nights XX, showing off all the final locations of the haunts, shows and scare zones. Pay not attention to the listing of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit… it will not be open this year.
(9/21/10) I’ve been awaiting FEAR to make itself known to me in a personal way this year and it happened today as another “special package” from Universal appeared at my home. What was inside? Check out our latest UNBOXING video below as we get our first full glimpse of FEAR who sends his regards.

Halloween horror night 20 maze ranks and scare zone ranks

maze ranks

1 Legendary Truth rank 10
2 Havoc rank 7
3 Catacombs rank 6
4 Zombiegeddon rank 8 but 10 at night
5 Psychoscarepy 6 it would get a 8 but you can here Hades
6 Hallow'd Past did not go in due to the rain going in next time
7 The Orfanage did not go in due to the rain going in next time
8 Hades: sucks rank 4 not a big fan of what that maze had to offer

scare zones

1 HHN: 20 Years of Fear = Hollywood
2 Saws 'N Steam = New York
3 The Coven = Shrek Alley
4 Zombie Gras = San Francisco
5 Esqueleto Muerte = Production Central?
6 Fear Revealed = Mel's

New terrors and twists as Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights turns 20

Story posted 2010.09.24 at 11:36 AM EDT

It wouldn't have been shocking for Universal Orlando to turn its Halloween Horror Nights event into a "greatest hits" package this year. Like a hungry vampire lurking around a darkened corner, many fans expected a "best of" theme to swoop in and mark a milestone — the theme park's 20th edition.

Instead, the Horror Nights creative team opted for all-new programming — with a few nods to its heritage.

"It's not just this big Carol Burnett special of Halloween. … It's not a clip show," says Jim Timon, senior vice president of entertainment at Universal. "That would have been the easy thing to do — a let's-rest-on-our-laurels Halloween. There was no desire creatively to do that."

Yet two decades of chills could not be ignored totally.

"We want to make sure we touch on, in some sort of house form, some sort of street form, something that bases us in the 20 years of Horror Nights … But then that's it," says Mike Aiello, show director. "Everything else about the event, we want to make sure we are pushing this event forward, establishing a groundwork for the next 20 years."

The common thread of the previous 19 sets of Horror Nights, the creative team determined, has been fear itself.

From all that fear springs Fear, a character who has been the mastermind behind the big badness every year, according to Universal lore.

"Fear is going to show himself this year," Aiello says. "The one thing we've been growing and bringing to the guests every year is going to physically manifest itself this year and be that sort of puppet master or string puller. He's been the one entity that's been pushing this event year after year to create fear to feed him."

Previous icons of Halloween Horror Nights — Jack, the Storyteller, the Director and company — were integral in bringing Fear to life, the Universal team says.

"These icons were a piece to the puzzle that all had to exist physically in order to bring fear, to open that lantern and bring Fear into existence," Aiello says.

Take a peek at the 8 haunted houses

Terror will loom at the event but in new ways in the eight haunted houses, show director Patrick Braillard says. Each house presents an element that Universal hasn't attempted before, such as an open flame and a guest-triggered effect (watch for the red button), he says.

There's also a more subtle switch in tone: All "scare actors" in the houses portray aggressors. No one plays the victim, Braillard says.

"Every single person is out for blood," he says.

Fortunately, there were no scare actors around when Braillard guided me through a daylight tour of the houses. Here are some details Universal revealed about this year's mazes.

Ghost of a chance

First of all, another first. "We have never in our last two decades ever done an actual haunted house. We've never gone the ghost route," Braillard says.

Looking for those spirits is the story behind Legendary Truth: The Wyandot Estate. Inside, expect an alarming amount of wiring to be used for a broadcast from the estate — said to be one of the most haunted spots in the country.

Outside, expect an actual house.

"You walk into the soundstage and see that we built a house. It's not that we built a façade — we didn't build just one wall. You see a house, and you walk into this gigantic estate," Braillard says.