What other Florida Halloween event to do?

[BarryH]

I had planned out my "Horror Vacation" this year and my plan was:

 

10/20 HHN

10/21 HOS

10/22 Phobia

10/23 MNSSHP

 

Then I read several reviews for Phobia and they all agreed on one thing: it's terrible. It sounds like a "ghetto Halloween" to me. So I'm not sure if I want to go, so I'm looking for an alternative. Here's what I'm thinking...

 

- Zoo Boo at the Lowry Park Zoo

- VIP tour at HHN (pricey)

- Sea World Spooktacular (Platnium pass gets me in free, but I did it last year and not sure if I want to do it this year)

- Skull Kingdom and Orlando Ghost Tours

- Kiss from robb (very scary!)

- Get drunk (who wants to be my designated driver?)

 

I could go to Phobia anyway and just see how bad bad is. I have an AP at Cypress Gardens anyway.

 

So what would you do?

[Erik Johnson]

Go to Cypress Gardens anyways and do a Photo TR for the site.

[freestylenut]

i went to Lowry Park's Zoo Boo this year, it was great! I went ona dead-ish night (no pun intended) which was the sneak preview night on 9/24. 6 haunted houses...2 which are VERY kiddie, but still set up real nice.

 

here's the site: http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/zooboo/index.html

 

3 of the 6 houses are pretty darn long to get through too. I urge you to dress cool that night since most of the houses are these wooden shacks that really trap the heat throughout the day & it can feel like an oven in there.

 

Factory of the Living Dead is the best one, Cemetary and Curse of the Mine are also on par with anything Howl-O-Scream has done (and I've gone to HOS for the last 3 years, so I know from experience). Don't expect a whole lotta scare actors though...but they more than make up for it with their robotic props which have sensors for the passer bys, they got me a handful of times.

 

For a pretty cheap $14 you could do a lot worse.

 

I've wanted to check out Phobia, but after everything I've been hearing, I dunno....did someone on this site review the houses & such? I'd like to see a link if possible.

[Slacking]

freestylenut- I posted a link to a couple reviews (including my own) over in the Phobia thread. One of the reviews (not mine, lol) even has some photos of the event.

 

I also saw that you stated you were skipping HOS this year, correct? I know that there are only 2 brand new houses (there were 2 in '04, and only 1 in '03) but the 2 new additions are suppsoed to be to of the rgeatest houses HOS has ever seen. Also, the remaining houses have each received there share of changes. Deathly Departed for the most part is the same as Til Death....., but some new rooms have been added, scares has been changed, the ending is new, and there seems to be more scareactors in the house than last year. With your pass, a ticket should be $25-30, right? If your bored anytime this month, I do recommend a trip over at HOS, and avoid Phobia at all costs! (I do work at HOS, but I am not trying to be biased, I just want to keep people away from crappy haunt events.)

 

Zoo Boo does sound fun though, but I doubt it'll be going on any nights I don't work at HoS.

[BarryH]

Here's a review of Phobia on HHN Vault:

 

http://www.hhnvault.com/your_terror/articles/100305cyprophobia.html

[Erik Johnson]

LMAO! Oh that is so sad. I guess you can go to anything other than Phobia Barry. Unless you like to go, point, and laugh at things.

 

 

Make sure you check out that link all, funniest thing I have seen or read all month.

[ECZenith]

Instant classic...

 

 

"This house was the most detailed house of the evening. Don’t get me wrong, it was still bad. Way bad. At one point an actor popped out of a mirror and screamed, suddenly realizing no one was there, he said “Oh…” and went back into his hole."

[CoasterJunkie]

I have done both Skull Kingdom and Orlando Ghost Tour...IMHO...do the Ghost Tour.

 

Skull Kingdom sucked. We paid a crap load of money for about a 10 min experience. It was really lame.

 

The Ghost Tour though is really cool. They have a guy who loads that walks around downtown Orlando with a lantern, telling all kinds of stories about Church Street, Lake Eola and other buildings. It was a nice way to spend an hour.

[BarryH]

I was thinking of going to Phobia anyway. I will keep an open mind, but if it turns out to truly be a ghetto Halloween, I can make a funny video about it. I even have the music picked out -- Dynamite Hack's "Boyz in the Hood."

[freestylenut]

Here's a review of Phobia on HHN Vault:

 

http://www.hhnvault.com/your_terror/articles/100305cyprophobia.html

 

Dude, I just read the review & from what I've seen & read, I'm NOT going to Phobia! Geez alot of those masks & props in the pics I've seen at plenty of Spirit stores in my area. Its sad they did such a "ghetto-fabulous" job. I as really looking forward to 3 major Halloween events a year (4 if I include Zoo Boo). For shame!

[Imhotep]

I really found that review funny.. On the other hand, you have to give CG some credit for even attempting to put on a halloween event at all. Yes it is definately below par, and it definately cannot compete with the likes of HHN or HOS. But hopefully, those that do go decide to offer some feedback to the park on what they could do to improve the event, rather than soley diss on it.

[J-Man]

i went to Lowry Park's Zoo Boo this year, it was great! I went ona dead-ish night (no pun intended) which was the sneak preview night on 9/24. 6 haunted houses...2 which are VERY kiddie, but still set up real nice.

 

i work at zoo boo....its pretty kew this year, better than the last two years i can say...i work there for service hours for school...i hav one day left that i have to work tho...oo and freestylenut i was working on 9/24...i was being moved from spot to spot all day tho..they ened putting me at the exit of "curse of the mine" for the last couple of hrs......

[BarryH]

I was thinking of doing Zoo Boo, but I will be out 1 night hotel's stay in Orlando. I booked a room on Priceline for $25/night from 10/20 - 10/24. But I found a cheap Motel 6 in Tampa, so I suppose leaving my stuff in the Orlando room for 1 night won't be that bad.

 

Anyway, for those who went to Zoo Boo, do they allow videotaping in the houses? I checked the website and I didn't see anything in the rules, FAQs, or maps. I also assume Zoo Boo has less drunks then some of the other Halloween events? I just don't want to get spewed on by drunks.

[J-Man]

Anyway, for those who went to Zoo Boo, do they allow videotaping in the houses? I checked the website and I didn't see anything in the rules, FAQs, or maps. I also assume Zoo Boo has less drunks then some of the other Halloween events? I just don't want to get spewed on by drunks.

 

When i work inside the houses and scarezones i always see poeple with video cameras..so yea they are allowed....

[freestylenut]

Don't worry about Drunks at Zoo Boo, if I recall correctly, they do sell alcohol, but since its the ads appeal to mostly "family", your not gonna see even close the amount of drunks you see at HHN or HOS.

 

between last year & this year, I've seen 0 drunks!

[AllisonY2K]

go to Phobia anyway, then do a TR and video highlighting how bad it is for the rest of us.

 

...or you could always go trick or treating dressed as a giant crab.

 

edited to add:

after reading the Phobia review. uh, I'd only go if you had an AP or something so you didn't have to pay to get in.

[J-Man]

when i was working at Zoo Boo i only saw 3 or 4 drunks all night long...

[BarryH]

I think I will go to Phobia AND dress up like a crab!

 

Zoo Boo will have to wait until next year...