FEATURES
, September 5, 2008
Universal Orlando hoped its "Bloody Mary" campaign turned heads on Interstate 4. But a group called Metro Orlando Mommies doesn't like what it sees, reports the Orlando Sentinel. Moms to Universal Orlando: 'Bloody Mary' billboards too horrible The Mommies are pushing to get the company to tone down the ads for Halloween Horror Nights festivities -- particularly the violent, sometimes bloody images. Don't expect Universal to shrink with fright from the complainers. People are talking.
NEWS
, October 21, 2005
Halloween is just around the corner. Most teens have grown out of the trick-or-treating stage. The new and exciting thing to do is go to the "famous" Halloween Horror Nights at Orlando's Universal, which continue through Oct. 31. Halloween has become a huge deal at many amusement parks throughout the country having elaborate haunted houses, spooky shows, and Halloween-themed rides. Universal Orlando's 15th annual Halloween Horror Nights are cued to the eerie music of Tales of Terror. The moment guests enter the theme park they will be engrossed in a horror-filled environment.
NEWS
, October 28, 2005
You walk slowly and carefully, with a clump of frightened friends, dreading the next turn. Cobwebs are dangling from every ledge. You link arms with your friends and keep moving. Suddenly, you hear a strange noise. You turn and scream at what you see: A man in a metal mask is wielding a chainsaw right in front of you! This fright was brought to you by none other than Universal Studios in Orlando as part of its annual Halloween Horror Nights spectacle. And the chainsaw man? A paid actor.
TRAVEL
, September 28, 2008
There's just something about Bloody Mary. Maybe it's her blank eyes. Maybe it's her stage-whispery voice or her ghostly complexion. Most likely it's her omnipresence. Bloody Mary, the icon of this year's Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, appears everywhere - from the entrance to a 30-foot apparition on the Men in Black building. Mary has her own haunted house, and she makes cameos in others. It's all key to the theme park's "total immersion" plan for the event, which began Friday.
NEWS
, September 17, 2006
Halloween at Central Florida's theme parks has it all: haunted houses, gruesome goblins, ghosts and other otherworldly characters, scare zones seemingly without end, and in one case, coasters in the darkness of night. Some parks present nightmarish events sure to scare the bravest visitors; others feature family-friendly festivities. Universal Orlando This park is set for the most petrifying Halloween Horror Nights in its history -- an event not for the faint of heart. In its 16th year, Halloween Horror Nights is outdoing itself with chilling new haunted houses to spook even the most intrepid guests; more intense, skin-crawling scare zones; scores of "scare actors" roaming around; and themed shows.
NEWS
, October 25, 2008
Not one sip. That's Universal Orlando's policy toward underage drinking - a zero-tolerance stance that is getting hundreds of people banned from the resort this month during its annual Halloween Horror Nights festival, which takes place evenings every weekend. Robert Viands of Plantation learned the hard way last Saturday after he bought an alcoholic Jello shot from a roaming vendor - then let his 17-year-old daughter, Ashley, have a taste. He said the two of them and his daughter's friend, Sergio Jacas, 18, were quickly escorted out of the park and given trespass warnings that prevent their return.
TRAVEL
, September 13, 2009
This year, Halloween conveniently lands on a Saturday - so why not spend a couple of days celebrating? If you are busy that weekend, no worries: In Florida, Halloween festivities begin in early September and spill over to Nov. 1. Key West The Last Key puts on one of its biggest celebrations of the year during Fantasy Fest, Oct. 23-Nov. 1. Some events are free, others have fees, some are family-friendly, several are decidedly not. Goombay, a Bahamas-themed street fest on Duval and Petronia streets, is Oct. 23-24, and a Royal Coronation Ball will crown the festival King and Queen on Oct. 23. At the wacky WKEY Pet Masquerade & Parade (Oct.
TRAVEL
, August 30, 2009
It's a season of transition in theme-park land. A few summertime features are winding down, but there are many fall events that get going after Labor Day. Goodbye Labor Day will be the last day of SeaWorld AfterDark, the extended-hour offerings at Shamu's place. A special version of the Clyde and Seamore show called Sea Lions Tonite and the big Shamu Rocks show are highlights. The evening ends with the "Reflections" fireworks show, which has guest seating available in Bayside Stadium.
NEWS
, October 25, 2008
Not one sip. That's Universal Orlando's policy toward underage drinking - a zero-tolerance stance that is getting hundreds of people banned from the resort this month during its annual Halloween Horror Nights festival, which takes place evenings every weekend. Robert Viands of Plantation learned the hard way last Saturday after he bought an alcoholic Jello shot from a roaming vendor - then let his 17-year-old daughter, Ashley, have a taste. He said the two of them and his daughter's friend, Sergio Jacas, 18, were quickly escorted out of the park and given trespass warnings that prevent their return.
TRAVEL
, September 28, 2008
There's just something about Bloody Mary. Maybe it's her blank eyes. Maybe it's her stage-whispery voice or her ghostly complexion. Most likely it's her omnipresence. Bloody Mary, the icon of this year's Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, appears everywhere - from the entrance to a 30-foot apparition on the Men in Black building. Mary has her own haunted house, and she makes cameos in others. It's all key to the theme park's "total immersion" plan for the event, which began Friday.
TRAVEL
, September 21, 2008
Universal Orlando warns Halloween Horror Nights "may be too intense for young children." Nowhere is safe as ghoulish creatures make their presence felt. Halloween Horror Nights run Sept. 26-27; Oct. 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 22-26, 29-31; and Nov. 1. single-night admission is $69.99 (other tickets are offered). Gory Getaway includes two nights' lodging and tickets (from $232). Info: halloweenhorrornights.com. Next week in Travel: Get a glimpse of the ghoulish fun. Georgina cruz
FEATURES
, September 5, 2008
Universal Orlando hoped its "Bloody Mary" campaign turned heads on Interstate 4. But a group called Metro Orlando Mommies doesn't like what it sees, reports the Orlando Sentinel. Moms to Universal Orlando: 'Bloody Mary' billboards too horrible The Mommies are pushing to get the company to tone down the ads for Halloween Horror Nights festivities -- particularly the violent, sometimes bloody images. Don't expect Universal to shrink with fright from the complainers. People are talking.
BUSINESS
, September 23, 2006
Start with about 1,000 actors, then ponder their roles, and you might get a sense of what Universal Orlando's makeup and prosthetics shop has to deal with every fall. They need wigs, fake teeth, masks and makeup jobs by the hundreds, and many of them are not reusable from one night to the next. A few need fake arms and legs. A couple of actors even get fake abdomens, so that their bodies can be cut open, exposing organs. "And it's got to be something that looks good from a few feet away," said makeup and prosthetics supervisor Michael Burnett.
TRAVEL
, July 20, 2008
It may be too early to plan your Halloween costume (Amy Winehouse, anyone?) but it's not too early to examine the ticket options for Halloween Horror Nights. The 18th edition of the after-hours event at Universal Studios runs 23 select dates between Sept. 26 and Nov. 1, but some of the more popular evenings (weekends, generally) have sold out in advance. The basic price for one night of horror is $69.99, about five bucks more than last year. But there are many perfectly legit options that allow you to beat that price.
