The arrival of October in central Florida brings to an end the long wait for Orlando to turn once more from the Theme Park Capital of the World to the Halloween Vacation Capital. Larry Talbot transforming into The Wolf Man and Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde have nothing on Orlando when it comes to monstrous alter egos. With the return of the scary season, Orlando offers not just one opportunity for spooky celebrations but nearly 20! For that reason alone fall is great time to visit the area, and if you are planning an October visit to Orlando, the Villas at Regal Palms in nearby Davenport is a great place to stay.
An exclusive townhouse community offering uncommonly comfortable accommodations, the Villas at Regal Palms is noted for its spaciousness, amenities and tastefully-appointed décor. Villas townhouses have full kitchens, granite countertops, wood flooring and stainless steel appliances in addition to full-size washer-dryers, flat screen TVs and outdoor terraces. You’ll also enjoy an aquatic pavilion featuring a relaxing lazy river and thrilling water slide. The Villas can easily accommodate large travel parties and provide all the comforts of home.
Best of all, the Villas at Regal Palms is just a short drive from all of Orlando’s major theme park attractions and Halloween attractions that attract millions of people every year. Book a visit today!
The following list of Orlando’s Halloween events and attractions come from VisitOrlando, Orlando’s official visitor resource. We’re sure you’ll have a great time scaring yourself silly.
THEME PARK HALLOWEEN EVENTS
Halloween Horror Nights 29, Select Nights Sept. 6 – Nov. 2
Fear fills Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights with 10 haunted houses, five scare zones and live entertainment. Returning in 2019 are the fan favorites “Stranger Things” house and the original concept “Nightingales: Blood Pit” house. New this year is “Depths of Fear,” where deep-sea nightmares prepare visitors for a watery grave, and the “Ghostbusters” house.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Select Nights Aug. 16 – Nov. 1
Join Mickey, Minnie and all their friends as Magic Kingdom Park comes alive with jack-o-lanterns, not-so-scary surprises and spirited entertainment for the whole family. Encouraged to come dressed for the occasion, guests can trick-or-treat throughout the park, celebrate with their favorite costumed characters at the Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and sing along at the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. New this year is an inventive projection show and fireworks display featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald as they trick-or-treat through a mysterious haunted house.
SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, Weekends Sept. 21 – Oct. 27
SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular is a daytime event where families are immersed in an underwater “fantasea” with ocean-themed trick-or-treating, live shows, whimsical sea creatures and the chance to celebrate with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends like Elmo, The Count and Cookie Monster. Costumes are strongly encouraged for little ones.
Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Select Nights Oct. 5 – 27
Families can Master Build a Halloween celebration with all fun and no frights at LEGOLAND’s Brick or Treat. Complete with Halloween LEGO decorations, guests can collect candy along the Brick-or-Treat Trail, celebrate with exclusive LEGO characters like Lord Vampyre and Rockin’ Frankenstein and get their groove on at the Monster Bash Dance Party. The night ends with a fireworks spectacular at Pirates’ Cove.
SCARES BEYOND THE PARKS
NEW: Cocktails & Screams is Orlando’s first year-round Halloween-themed bar. Opening the first week of October, the new speakeasy-style downtown haunt is very immersive, featuring spooky scenes from Dr. Frankenstein’s lab to a hallway straight out The Shining, with themed cocktails to match.
American Ghost Adventures offers a wide variety of year-round paranormal experiences. With tour options venturing all over Orlando, from the haunted pub tour “Spirits with Spirits” to the “Dining with the Departed” meal in a haunted restaurant, these frightful experiences are perfect for a Halloween scare.
The City of Orlando’s Moonlight Walking Tours (Oct. 11) take guests on a frightful stroll through Greenwood Cemetery filled with restless spirits. Trek four haunted miles and visit the final resting places of prominent figures in Orlando’s history. The tour is free, but sponsored by rotating charities that accept donations.
NEW: Dark Horizon: Point of No Return (select nights, Oct. 10 – Nov. 2) is a seasonal Halloween attraction offering three blood-curdling haunted houses and four immersive bars, including a secret bar hidden within one of the houses. The night club atmosphere also accompanies two live stages, themed food and hundreds of monsters lurking around every turn.
Enzian Theater’s 13 Films of Halloween (select nights, Oct. 1 – 29) will showcase a series of scary movies throughout the month of October. The lineup features programs for all ages and includes a free outdoor screening, parties, themed drinks, midnight films and cult classics. Enzian is Orlando’s only full-time, not-for-profit alternative cinema and cafe.
Gatorland unleashes a brand-new Halloween treat this year, called “Gators, Ghost and Goblins” (Oct. 19, 20, 26, 27 and 31). Fun and spooky adventures await the whole family, from specially themed shows, to ghoulish selfie zones and “Frank & Stein’s” Octoberfest Pavilion. Visitors should also beware of monsters rumored to haunt the park.
Maitland’s Historical Haunted Tours (select days in October) invite curious history buffs and ghost hunters alike to explore the haunted grounds of the Art & History Museum’s Maitland Art Center or the Waterhouse Residence Museum, known as two of the most paranormal places in Central Florida. Two separate tours offer guests ghost stories, creepy Victorian artifacts and even the chance to do some real paranormal investigation.
The Orlando Science Center is hosting two unique Halloween events this year. On 5, Science Night Dead puts an eerie spin on the museum’s recurring adults-only events, featuring access to museum exhibits, a Wheel of Torture game, a murder mystery to solve and a monstrous giant-screen film. On Oct. 25, the After Dark party offers more 21+ fun. Guests can don their costumes and dance amongst dinosaur bones with live music and entertainment, a costume contest and festive food.
Screamin’ Green Hauntoween at The Crayola Experience (Sept. 21 – Oct. 31) celebrates the Halloween season with monster-ific crafts and spooky surprises for the entire family. Dance parties and trick-or-treating are offered on weekends, while weekdays include scavenger hunts, live slime shows and SLIME TIME, a spooky, sticky art class.
Mortem Manor Haunted Attraction at Old Town features year-round terrors with two spooky stories, state-of-the-art animatronics and live actors. Ranked one of the “Scariest Haunted Houses in America” by the Travel Channel, guests can explore the haunted house, be buried alive in a coffin or both. Frightening fun starts at $5.
A Petrified Forest (select nights, Oct. 4 – Nov. 2) features two outdoor scare trails for groups of six or less to venture through, in a dark, haunted forest filled with terrifying beasts. On special Total Eclipse Nights – which require a signed waiver for anyone under 18 – monsters can even touch the guests, and each group is given only one glowstick to light their path, regardless of if it is dropped or stolen by a creature. The event is PG-13 and not recommended for guests under 12, but Kid’s Nights and Special Needs Nights are scheduled. Wheelchair assistance and other accommodations can be made for any visitor with special needs on Oct. 16.