I don’t know about you, but I still don’t know if I’m adjusting to this so called “new normal”. Maybe I’m just smiling and bearing it, while biding my time waiting for the old normal to come back. Either way, 2020 is ticking by just as fast as any other year and the holidays are quickly approaching. That means it’s the time to start planning on how to do Halloween in Orlando this year.
We call Halloween the kick-off holiday because it’s the start of so many fun family events. As moms and dads we are trying to keep all that fun and excitement for our kids as normal as possible in an abnormal world. Since theme parks like Disney World Orlando and Universal Studios cancelled their big Halloween events (sigh, a moment of silence for the Hocus Pocus show) our usual go-tos seem to be limited. Never fear, Halloween is still here and it’s time to explore what to do during your Orlando vacation for a fun, spooky (or not so spooky) Halloween!
As locals we know all the secrets and we are here to help you plan your perfect Orlando trip this fall. Here is our list of hair-raising things to do for Halloween in Orlando. Don’t forget to book your Orlando vacation rental!
Halloween at Disney World
Sure, we’re all disappointed that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party won’t be happening this year. But the Magic Kingdom will still have those awesome Halloween decorations around the park. There will be fall treats, including the amazing Pumpkin-spiced Waffle Sundae (!), plus all that Halloween themed merch.
Plus…this is HUGE! For the FIRST time, Disney World Orlando guests will be allowed to visit Magic Kingdom wearing costumes during regular park hours. Kids 13 and under will be allowed to wear Halloween costume masks, but remember everyone over 2 years old must wear approved face coverings. Click here for Disney’s guidelines for costumes.
See all your favorite Disney characters dressed for Halloween! You may have already seen posts on social media on the Halloween-themed cavalcades, and they are awesome.
With the limited attendance at Walt Disney World parks in Orlando, smaller crowds are keeping those lines down for most of your favorite rides. So enjoy the rides and the Halloween spirit at Disney World before taking those tired kids home to your Orlando vacation rental.
SeaWorld Spooktacular
SeaWorld is still holding their fun Spooktacular Halloween event this year. This is a great way for kids to get all decked out in their costumes and go trick-or-treating. Oh, and you festive adults can dress up too! They offer a “Spooktacular Breakfast” with Count von Count (the famous vampire Muppet), a Halloween maze, and even some mermaid encounters along the trick-or-treat trail. On certain nights you can partake in “Flicks and Frights” which is a drive-up movie where you can purchase dinner from local food trucks and watch a Halloween classic from your car.
Keep in mind that SeaWorld operates on a reservation system so plan in advance. For all the scary details you can go to the SeaWorld Spooktacular page by clicking here. So pack your costumes, get the kids changed in your vacation home and head on over!
The Haunted Road
For some family Halloween fun you can visit The Haunted Road in East Orlando. This is a unique drive-thru theatrical Halloween experience. Go during the day (on select weekends) for a not so scary drive through an enchanted forest with your littles. Your kiddos will enjoy meeting some favorite fairy tale creatures along with storytelling and dancing.
For those who dare, there is also the main event that takes place at night. The older kids (me included) who have a thirst for adrenaline and a curiosity of the unknown can quench both with a drive through a spine-chilling world of frightening encounters. You’re sure to get a few screams and maybe even couple of laughs.
Tickets must be purchased in advance on their website at thehauntedroad.com and be sure to look at all the haunting information.
Scream n’ Stream Haunted Tour
While we’re on the subject of kid-friendly haunted trails, Scream n’ Stream is another option for a daytime, haunted, socially distanced tour from your car. The Drive-Boo Trick-r-Treat experience lets kids safely fulfill their candy craving provided by tubes and pipes right to their window. Your kids will have tons of laughs screaming trick or treat and letting the local ghouls hand over some sugar infused treats. Then head back to the safety of your favorite vacation rental in Orlando. Again, capacity is limited so it’s best to order tickets online before you go (it’s cheaper too)! You can find details about the screams and book tickets by clicking here.
Showcase of Citrus Pumpkin Ponderosa
This place is a family favorite and just last year they started fall themed activities which are great for your next Orlando vacation. Showcase of Citrus is a family owned business just down the road from Disney. Your kids can wander through the pumpkin patch to find and paint their own ghoulish gourd. They also have other fall arts and crafts, outdoor games, and a hay ride.
You can purchase food to feed their farm animals (think llamas and ponies) and even go on a monster truck ride to see some more exotic critters. They have a country store on-site (stock up your Orlando vacation home kitchen!) You can also buy snacks and sodas for the kids, and they even have beer, wine, and spooky fall themed adult beverages.
These activities will be daily starting October 1st and the best part is that admission and parking is free! For information on this spooky event you can click here.
Pumpkin and Ponies Festival
Enjoy all the fall festivities offered by Painted Oaks Academy starting on October 3rd. During the week they are an equestrian training facility, but on the weekends they transform into a fall festival of fun.
They offer a drive-thru pumpkin patch (this is open all week long) where the kids can pick out the perfect pumpkin to turn into a scary jack-o-lantern. There will also be live entertainment, food, hay rides, pony rides, and train rides. Lastly, there is a corn maze that you can enter if you dare, day or night.
Be prepared and buy your tickets in advance. For any additional spookish information you can visit their website here. A helpful detail is this is located close to The Haunted Road. So if you wanted, you can plan to visit both the same day.
Legoland Brick or Treat
On select days in October Legoland is offering their Brick or Treat activities. This event is filled with fall Lego built decorations. The kids can wear their costumes and enjoy a neighborhood-like trick or treat trail and fill their bags with sugary goodness. Legoland also offers some character encounters and a Groovin Graveyard show full of kid friendly gruesome entertainment. For some interactive fun there is a candy-corn scavenger hunt and a competition Lego build.
You can get all the gory details by visiting their Brick or Treat page here.
I hope this list has given you some great ideas on how to do Halloween in Orlando. Dust off that witch hat and broom stick and get out there and have some fall Florida fun! Remember, by staying in a vacation rental you can have a safe and socially distanced Halloween in Orlando. The only thing you need to worry about now is how many times your kiddos will change their minds about what to be for Halloween! You might just want to add a few extra costumes before packing the car and heading to your vacation home in Orlando for Halloween this year.