Real Halloween

Universal Orlando Resort is out with its tour options for Halloween Horror Nights as well as some new online games which may give hints and insights into this year’s theme.

The annual Halloween event, now in its 21st year, kicks off Sept. 23 at Universal Studios Florida.

After publishing 2011 prices for tickets and express passes in recent weeks, Universal has now published information on guided tour options.

Guided RIP tours let guests both learn about the story behind each house and scare zone but also let guests use a special, shorter VIP line. Pricing starts at $150 per person plus event admission.

Universal also has three Behind the Screams tours. Its “Unmasking the Horror” tour takes guests into houses during the daytime before the event. A “Face the Fear-Makers” tour lets guests ask questions of Universal’s Art & Design team, who’s responsible for creating the scary moments each year.

Universal also now offers an “Arcane Insights” tour, where fans of fear can spend a night at HHN with an event designer as they experience the houses and scream zones.

Pricing on Behind the Screams tours runs from $55 to $225.

Meanwhile, Universal has added several games to its HHN website. The lead up to Universal’s anticipated announcement of the event’s theme for the year. Click here to visit the HHN website.

While sparkler sticks are still cooling and ice cream cones are still melting, haunted attraction owners, operators, actors, makeup artists and special effects gurus have been working through the summer months to make this year’s Halloween season well worth Americans’ precious time and money.

According to the Haunted Attraction Association (HAA), most member haunts gear up for the peak Halloween season well before the typical haunt enthusiast has even thought about their costume. This year, HAA member haunts reported they are adding more special effects and technical aspects than ever before to fulfill the expectations of tech-savvy teenagers and young adults. A recent member survey revealed that 50% of haunts have increased their budget devoted toward special effects. HAA expects the 2011 turnout to boost the industry, which is approximately $6 billion in size and includes an estimated 2,500 haunted attractions worldwide.

“Despite an obvious attachment to social media and other mobile communication, teens continue to hang out in groups and flock to haunted attractions. Our members know we need to stay on the cutting edge to be able to create alternate realities and elicit those blood-curdling screams from haunt-goers year after year,” said Amber Arnett-Bequeaith, HAA Spokesperson.

Most venues plan to open around October 1st. For more information visit the Haunted Attraction Association website.