SeaWorld Orlando’s Howl-O-Scream has returned, this year with a ‘90s vibe that dovetails with a haunted house based on the 1997 film “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
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The after-hours/separate-ticket event features five houses plus multiple scare zones, shows, bars and themed dining options. It is held on select nights through Oct. 31.
Note that the event entrance is not the same as the theme park proper. Howl-O-Screamers use an entrance on the south end of the parking lot, which leads to a themed entry area/scare zone, and that funnels into Howl on a bridge that leads to the backside of Bayside Stadium.
When parking on that end of the lot, folks also can get a clear look at the large show building for the upcoming SeaQuest: Legends of the Deep, a submersible-inspired attraction. Its opening date has not been announced.
Here are notes from Howl-O-Scream’s opening weekend.
’90s flashback
Although the event promotions present a “Rot Runs Deep” theme along with the Havoc and Pestilence characters, that competes with the 1990s atmosphere sprinkled across the park. There’s a specialty bar near the entrance called the Rewind, with nostalgic props/photo ops, and the “Dead Air” show, which is oh-so-Orlando with a boy-band theme. The gift-shop exit is video store-like and called Howl-O-Flix. You’ll notice ‘90s songs piped in, although the playlist does stray to other decades.
The Nekrosis scare zone is set in the Y2K era, so consider that a transition.
Crawling with creepy
Raveyard is a returning house that understands the ‘90s assignment, with lots of solid cemetery theming, spray paint and a rave in action. There were lots of lurkers in this house, though their glowing mesh ensembles — hot or scary, you make the call — can be giveaways.
The original Everything Must Stay house, featuring an abode that Realtors just cannot move, was notable for its creepy doll overpopulation. The positioning of scare actors within the walls was effective and was a detail of different rooms. We choose not to discuss the toilet in polite company.
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Scream machine
Halloween events depend on scary sights and sounds, and Howl-O-Scream got our attention with actual screams — not prerecorded voices — in houses and scare zones. They range from startling to bone-chilling … and surely a bit exhausting to performers. There was a repeated plea for us to hurry up and get out there, creating effective (if faux) urgency.
One seemingly scripted line in the Everything Must Stay house lingered in our heads: “Get back into your hole!” Also creating humor were ad-libbed interactions with the inhabitants of the Trailer Park Tragedy scare zone.
Show time
It may be counterintuitive that there are almost as many shows (four) at Howl as there are haunted mazes. In addition to “Dead Air,” there’s “Throttle” with Havoc on Lakeside Patio and “Hellzapoppin Presents: The Grave Digger Thrill Show” at SeaFire Grill.
Also returning is “Monster Stomp” at Nautilus Theater, a show that dances and slashes, using knives as percussion. Performance level was high, though sound levels were low
‘Summer’ time
The buzzy house of the year, the one with the longest queue, is I Know What You Did Last Summer. The seaside locale suits the SeaWorld atmosphere, and the maze has lots of dangling obstacles and tight spaces. There are moments of genuine hook fear — someone could lose an eye? Can there be too many fishermen? SeaWorld is testing that theory.
Non-terrifying tidbits
Four rides are open during Howl-O-Scream, including Mako, Pipeline, Ice Breaker coasters and the newish Expedition Odyssey: Fire & Ice. … The guide map is your friend at Howl-O-Scream, which can be scoped out in advance at seaworld.com/orlando. … Not a blood-and-gutser? SeaWorld’s Spooktacular, which the guide maps calls “the sweeter side” of Halloween, runs on select days through Nov. 1, and it’s included with park admission.
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