Halloween in Florida 2007

After Christmas, Halloween is one of the largest holiday seasons in Florida. It is reckoned some 300,000 people go to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights alone.

All the major theme parks in Florida put on special shows and events for Halloween and some stay open late but check the dates carefully as the parties are on selected days/nights only (see the miniature calendars).

For 2007, Universal Studios have introduced the characters Jason, Freddy Krueger and Leatherface from the films "Friday the 13th", "Nightmare on Elm Street" and the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre".

Halloween 2007 At a Glance

Magic Kingdom Dates
September-November

Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom

Disney have their family-orientated Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. This year, the party runs on 20 selected nights for September 14, 21, 28 and 30, October 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30 and 31 and November 2.

This is a separately ticketed event (2006 prices: Ages 10 and over: $42.95 plus tax, ages 3-9: $35.95 plus tax) and the park re-opens at 7 pm and closes at midnight.

Costumes are allowed and the entertainment includes an expanded Mickey's "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade with the new "Goofy's Candy Factory" finale and Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular.

Children can trick-or-treat for candies and goodies from the Disney characters.

Disney Halloween celebrations [Courtesy of Walt Disney Company]

Universal Studios Dates
September-November

Universal Studios

In marked contrast, at Universal Studios, this year's Halloween Horror Nights - Carnival of Carnage, celebrates the 17th year of bringing the deepest and darkest nightmares to life including Jason, Freddy Krueger and Leatherface.

It just runs at Universal Studios (not Islands of Adventure) for 23 nights, September 29 and 29, October 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 24-28 and 31, November 1-3 and opens each night at 6:30pm. It close at 2:00am on October 12, 13, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, November 2 and 3 and at 12pm on all other nights.

This is a separately ticketed event at $64.95 (plus tax) for a single night or you can buy a Frequent Fear Pass for the same amount which gives you access to every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday plus the first Friday and Saturday and Halloween Night itself.

Florida residents can buy a one night ticket for $34.95 (plus tax) for Sunday to Thursday, $39.95 for Friday and $54.95 for Saturday through a Coca-Cola® promotion.

Preferred Annual Passholders can get savings and pay $25.95 (plus tax) for September 28 or 29 or any Sunday through Thursday, $37.95 for Friday, $49.95 for Saturday or $49.95 for a Frequent Fear Pass.

For 2007, Universal have introduced eight new haunted houses including "A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dreamwalkers" which brings you face to face with Freddy Krueger at 1428 Elm St. You can also find yourself trapped inside Hewitt family home with the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface at "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Flesh Wounds".

If that is not enough there is also "Friday the 13th: Camp Blood" where you get to tour the abandoned remains of Camp Crystal Lake in the company of Jason Voorhees.

A new house called "The Thing: Assimilation" marks the 25th anniversary of John Carpenter's horror/science-fiction film.

The other houses are "Dead Silence: The Curse of Mary Shaw" with a tortured ventriloquist in a decrepit theatre, "Psychoscareapy: Home for the Holidays" where the inmates of a local hospital break out of an overturned bus in the Shadybrook Estate, a rave at Club Vampyr at "Vampyr: Blood Bath" and "Jack's Funhouse in Clown-O-Vision".

There are also four new shows with "Jack's Carnival of Carnage" starring Jack the Ringmaster and his assistants, Tiny and Chance, as they bring guests a terror-filled show. Just hope you don't get picked to play same of his gory carnival games.

Then there is the "Freak Show" where you can see the Enigma, a tattooed contorsionist whose body is a canvas of torture and the all time favourite, "Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure" with Bill S. Preston and Ted Theodore Logan with notorious celebrity guest stars.

Lastly, the "Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute" with live performers singing and dancing plus there is audience participation and on-stage guest involvement.

There are also sideshows including the Rat Lady, the Chainsaw Drill Team, Motormaniacs, Killer Carnies, and the Troupe Macabre! plus over 1,000 actors hired to frighten even the bravest guests.

Some children may find some of the attractions too intense. Note that there are no children's ticket prices and no costumes are allowed.

Click here for the dates of all the seasonal celebrations in Florida in 2006 and 2007.