You’ve heard the expression, “Do one thing that scares you every day.” When you attend SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream, you can cross that task off your list for life.
This year, SeaWorld’s Halloween event is geared toward an older crowd (13 years and up) and it’s scarier (and more fun) than ever. The Howl-O-Scream experience is included in your park admission. And, even if you don’t have a Season Pass or Fun Card, you can still get into all of the after-dark haunted fun (shows, haunted experiences, rides, and more) for just $25 a ticket (when entering the park after 6:00 p.m. on Fri. and Sat. nights from Sept. 27 – Oct. 27).
After attending Howl-O-Scream as SeaWorld’s VIP guest* for opening night, my voice is gone (from all that screaming!) but I walked away (Alive! Intact!) with wisdom to guide you through this horrifyingly hilarious adventure:
1. Don’t take little kids. Seriously. They will never sleep again and, ergo, neither will you. SeaWorld recommends that kids under 13 not stay in the park after 7:00 p.m. Kid-appropriate shows run during the day from 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. but the spooks come out at 7:00 p.m. sharp.
If you do take kids, beware: they’re younger and can probably run faster than you, leaving you vulnerable to random zombie and scary clown chase attacks. You’ve been warned.
2. Dress up. Get silly. Get scary. But remember: only kids 10 and under are allowed to wear masks.
3. Know your Scare Zones (the red areas on the map). This is where all of the spooky fun takes place (and where the freaky freaks hang out). Although, even if you don’t know your Scare Zones, when you enter one it will become apparent. IMMEDIATELY.
4. Have a plan. When entering one of the four haunted experiences (Frightmare Forest, Den of the Departed, Prey, and S.O.S. Clowns in Control), be sure your friends flank you on both sides. Even more desirable, have your friends’ significant others positioned in front of and in back of you too, creating your own personal, mobile, no-scare zone. If that doesn’t work, look down at the floor and run like the wind because, clowns? Yikes!
Had to hold onto @SensiblySara so hard I think we’re now legally married in some states. #fangme #FrightmareForest
— Colleen Pence (@colleenpence) September 28, 2013
5. Seek out the least scary (and most attractive) creatures. The vampires at Blood Thirsty (SeaWorld’s new creeptastic cocktail bar) are the least scary creatures at Howl-O-Scream. This isn’t surprising given my theory: vampires are attractive and charming and you can reason with them, unlike zombies who lack good personal hygiene and conversational skills (unless you count moaning, “Mmmmmm. Brains!” as they stumble toward you). Although the vamps may strap you above the bar, drain your blood and play with you like a cat about to devour a mouse, you’ll probably enjoy it more than running from a drooling clown on stilts. Or maybe that’s just me?
6. Try a drink in a souvenir cup at Blood Thirsty. Your nerves are gonna need it. But don’t tip the vamp servers with cash. They only accept gratuities of blood, thankyouverymuch.
7. Never show weakness. While strolling running through Scare Zones, don’t make eye contact, show fear of any sort, or even so much as giggle or you’ll have a band of freaks chasing you. And, if you feel like someone is following right behind you, THEY ARE. Don’t move. Don’t look back. Just act bored and get the heck out of there!
8. Heed the warnings. When the signs say, “Inhabitants/freaks/clowns/monsters may invade your personal space,” they ain’t kidding. They won’t touch you but the anticipation that they might could send you right over the edge. Muah-hahahahahaha!
9. Splurge on a Quick Queue pass. When the icy cold chill of fear runs down your back, the last thing you want to do is stand in a long line. You want to KEEP MOVING! Buy one of three different Quick Queue passes, starting at $14 each, to run to the head of the line for haunts and rides. Get your scare on even faster.
10. Don’t miss Jack. Although not as prominently featured as in previous Howl-O-Scream events, the deviantly charming Jack the Pumpkinhead is Howl-O-Scream’s closing act. See his Jack is Back show at the park’s exit at 10:00 p.m. Where else are you ever gonna see a pumpkin twerk?
Above all, be ready to freak out, scream your head off, and have a hilarious time making fun of your scaredy cat friends. Halloween is just one night a year but Howl-O-Scream runs all month long!
Visit Flickr for a full set of my Howl-O-Scream photos and videos…if you DARE.
* Disclosure: As a VIP guest, I received free admission to Howl-O-Scream, a Quick Queue pass, and dinner. All opinions are mine.
Definitely RUN through the haunts!!
Thank goodness for you and your patient husband, Sara. You’re the only reason I survived!
I’m such as wuss that just reading about your frightening fun experience has me hiding under my laptop. But I know some more adventurous souls that will LOVE the blood sucking, screaming, howling fun! Great recap.
Oh, Kristin, you would LOVE Howl-O-Scream. It should be called Howl-O-Laugh-Your-Ass-Off because getting that scared with your friends is just about the best time EVER.
That was the best blog post ever! 🙂 Could I just proceed directly to the bar? Flanked by protective friends, of course? 🙂 It almost sounds too scary for me, but I have definitely enjoyed it vicariously through all your social media! I bet my two older kids would love it!
YOU, oh, Halloween Queen, are too scared? You would love this so much. And, yes, you can get to the bar and stay there with the handsome vamps. Just grab a barstool and watch the weirdos moan and stumble past. It’s really not that different from other bar experiences when you think about it.
Love this! So cute and funny post! It was so awesome to finally meet you in person! I can tell how much fun you had and it really was a lot of fun this weekend!
Alvina, it was wonderful to finally meet you in person after all this time. You really do have the most adorable little boy ever. I could just pinch his sweet dimples all day long.
Howl-O-Scream was so much fun. I’m not sure my heart could take it again but I will never forget that crazy night!
I didn’t even know Sea World does this. We have a teenager so this is something I know he and his friends would like. Thanks for the tips.
Mary, I’m sure this is an event teenagers will love. It’s the perfect mix of super scary and hilarious fun. Enjoy!
GREAT pics. And now I am officially CREEPED out!
Off to pin…
So, you’re not a haunted house fan? LOL. Neither was I and I had zero intention of actually going inside any of the haunted experiences. But my friend was with me and she insisted. I couldn’t let her down. It *was* creepy. But so much fun too.
Your face cracks me up in this picture!!
Thanks. I guess my face is pretty expressive when crazy clowns are coming near me. LOL
Clowns? I’ll pass.
Aw, c’mon. If I can do it, you can do it!
Looks so funny and scary jeje I Have to try it!
Thanks for sharing!
I hope you come down to San Antonio for the SeaWorld Halloween festivities, Brenda. It’s so much fun.