Howl-O-Scream Busch Gardens

[Latel]

I'm not sure if I am posting in the correct place or not but thought I'd give it a try.
Has anyone been to this? Is it worth it? I will be staying in Orlando on I-Drive and hear they do the shuttle especially for this.
I have been to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal and loved it, and am doing it again this year but was wondering if it was worth adding HOS in aswell.
Any advise or tips on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[2BigKIdz]

I haven't been to the one in FL but have been several times to the one at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. While it is not as scary as HHN it was still a lot of fun and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys those types of events. I think the one in FL is probably better than the one in Virginia also since it competes with HHN. I am hoping to go this year as well but will be in Orlando for the first two weeks of October so I might not make it.

 

[Metro West]

I've never been but I can tell you one thing...their website blows the HHN website out of the water.

 

[brooker]

It looks like a lot of fun too. I wish there was something around that was a little less intense. My boy is 4 months from 12 years old and while he would like to get scared to a point and see some cool effects I think this as well as HHN would be way too intense for him. Anyone know of anything similar but less intense to take in during our October visit?

 

[Slacking]

I am actually a big cheerleader for HOS (disclaimer- I worked at HOS for 3 years, but would be saying the same things even if I didn't), I love the event and I personally feel that it out does HHN in several aspects. It may not have the budget or the following that HHN has, but I feel that the houses and the scares are actually more intense at HOS. I can walk through a HHN house and virtually be ignored (partly due to the crowd, and partly due to scare techniques), but get the opposite effect when I go through most HOS houses.

So yeah, the sets/costumes/make-up may lack compared to HHN due to budget (people also complain that they recycle houses), but I think it is definitely worth a visit if you're a Haunt fan.


Plus, they've got an evil sorority house this year.

 

[Metro West]

It looks like a lot of fun too. I wish there was something around that was a little less intense. My boy is 4 months from 12 years old and while he would like to get scared to a point and see some cool effects I think this as well as HHN would be way too intense for him. Anyone know of anything similar but less intense to take in during our October visit?

The main events at the theme parks would be MNNSHP and the Sea World Spooktacular...those are both aimed towards younger children and are not intense at all. You might want to check those two out. There will be lots of haunted attractions in the Orlando area during October but those are all in non-tourist areas around town. If you will have a car, you could check those out too but nothing has been added yet.

 

[vinvader]

Latel try this link for the Howl-o-scream shuttle...

http://www.attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk/busch-gardens/howl-o-scream.htm

I've missed HOS the last two years because I had no idea that there was a late shuttle for the event. I'm definitely going this year though, can't wait!

 

[DOOM1001]

Even though Horror Nights is still the premier Halloween event in the country,Howl-O-Scream is right behind.As someone else said,many of the houses at HOS have been as good or better than HHN.Also Busch Gardens being a much bigger park there is a lot more walking but they have scare zones throughout the park and these are also very good,there's also shows just like at HHN.HOS is definitely worth doing

 

[Marquibiri]

I've never been but I can tell you one thing...their website blows the HHN website out of the water.

Did you see that website! It was awesome!! I wanna see a comeback from HHN!

Marquibiri

 

[2BigKIdz]

It looks like a lot of fun too. I wish there was something around that was a little less intense. My boy is 4 months from 12 years old and while he would like to get scared to a point and see some cool effects I think this as well as HHN would be way too intense for him. Anyone know of anything similar but less intense to take in during our October visit?

I think they rate the scariness of their houses at HOS, at least they do in VA. You could avoid the scariest houses and enjoy the others and the scare zones. He may enjoy the less scary houses and want to try the others!

 

[Slacking]

I could be wrong, but I think HOS here in FL did away with the Skull Rating system last year.


As for an almost-12 year old, I would say that there wouldn't be enough at Spooktackular and Mickey's Not--So-Scary to hold their interest. I actually think that that age wouldn't necessarily be too young for HHN and HOS depending on the child, but thats a whole other discussion (argument? lol)

 

[Latel]

Thanks for the advise everyone, it sounds like it is worth doing.
The only thing that is putting me off is the one and a half hour shuttle trip to and from Orlando! I am a bit unsure about being dropped off at a deserted Premium Outlets at 1.30am. Anyone done this before?

 

[getready]

we did howl o scream last year, and booked to go again this year - in addition to the scarey stuff, all the rides are open also
Nit sure if the scarey stuff is too scarey for a 12 year old though??

 

[lauren5406]

So for those of you who have been...what are the crowds like? My HHN trip is all set in stone but we just started throwing around the idea of starting our trip one day earlier, start in Tampa, and attend HOS on a Thursday. I was just going to get a general admission ticket and no upgrades. I always get the express for HHN but just didn't know if it is needed at HOS. Will I have time to do all the houses and ride the most popular coasters? We have never been to BG period.

Thanks!

 

[brooker]

Can anyone describe the busch Garden or HHN in a little more detail...We watched the opening night shows on youtube and my son laughed at it. I assume the scare zones and houses are much more intense? Do you see a lot of displays of bloddy scenes or a lot of gore?

 

[Slacking]

lauren- If you go on a Thursday, you shouldn't need any upgrades (possible exception is if there is no school the next day). Most Thursdays are quite slow, and you should be able to do all houses multiple times.

brooker- most zones are not very gory, just outside pathways with actors hanging around ready to startle guests. As for the houses, some are gorier than others (usually each even has one or two houses that are gorier than others), but again it is mainly dark passageways with actors hiding in all nooks and crannies looking for scares.

 

[angelfaerie52]

I have a ticket that I bought at the beginning of the year for BG that was buy one day, get in all year. Can that ticket be used to get in for free to Howl o Scream, or is it a separate admission? Also, my boyfriend has an annual passport. Can he get in for free? Thanks.

 

[donaldduck352]

I have a ticket that I bought at the beginning of the year for BG that was buy one day, get in all year. Can that ticket be used to get in for free to Howl o Scream, or is it a separate admission? Also, my boyfriend has an annual passport. Can he get in for free? Thanks.

No you still need to buy the hard ticket for the event.I'll give you the website with prices.Sounds like your Florida residents.

http://houseofvayne.com/tampa/tix-residents.html

 

[DOOM1001]

I have a ticket that I bought at the beginning of the year for BG that was buy one day, get in all year. Can that ticket be used to get in for free to Howl o Scream, or is it a separate admission? Also, my boyfriend has an annual passport. Can he get in for free? Thanks.

Howl o Scream is a separate ticket event just like HHN,as far as your boyfriends annual pass,what kind is it?If it's Platinum he can go in free the first two nights Sept. 25th and 26th,they call these two nights the Freaky preview.I have the Platinum and have gotten in free like 4 years,this year I won't be able to make those dates since I already have a trip planned for the following week.But even if he doesn't go those two nights passholders do get a good discount.

 

[lauren5406]

lauren- If you go on a Thursday, you shouldn't need any upgrades (possible exception is if there is no school the next day). Most Thursdays are quite slow, and you should be able to do all houses multiple times.

Thanks so much, I'm pretty sure we've decided to give it a go!