The Scare Zones of Halloween Horror Nights 18 & Wrap-Up

This is a continuation of my previous review of Halloween Horror Nights 18.

Scare Zones

The scare zones of Halloween Horror Nights 18 are some of the best I have ever seen. While they may not be the scariest ever, they arrive packed with incredibly detailed costumes and inventive surroundings.

Here’s a video showing a few short clips of four of them (the other two were too dark for video):

Below is my ranking of all six zones, accompanied by photos.

1. Asylum in Wonderland
Scare Factor: 3/10
Entertainment Factor: 8/10

While not terribly scary, the Alice in Wonderland-turned-even-crazier theme brings uniquely nutty variations on classic characters in a fun atmosphere.

2. Fractured Tales
Scare Factor: 5/10
Entertainment Factor: 6/10

This zone brings the Scary Tales house into the streets, continuing the theme of twisted fairy tales through elaborate costumes that are a delight to look at.

3. Streets of Blood
Scare Factor: 6/10
Entertainment Factor: 6/10

The “body collectors” make the streets outside their haunted maze into one of the darker scare zones, bringing along a few of their more lively Victorian-era victims who make for very entertaining characters.

4. The Skoolhouse
Scare Factor: 7/10
Entertainment Factor: 5/10

This is probably the most scare-inducing scare zone of them all this year simply due to the fact that there’s an actual building to walk through (above), like a mini-haunted house. Add to that a street filled with fog and hundreds of glowing pumpkins and it becomes a visual feast.

5. American Gothic
Scare Factor: 6/10
Entertainment Factor: 3/10

This zone has a lot of hidden scareactors waiting to pounce but the area is small and not very interesting.

6. The Path of the Wicked
Scare Factor: 3/10
Entertainment Factor: 7/10

Be sure to approach this zone from the front of the park, not the back, as the above-pictured Wicked Witch greets you before entering it. Overhead, flying monkeys make this area fun to watch for a while.

Overall
I did not get a chance to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show Tribute this year, nor did we see magician Brian Brushwood perform, so I can’t comment on those shows. However, the eight houses and six scare zones combine to create one of the best Halloween Horror Nights experiences I’ve had in a long time.

Last year’s introduction of the New Line Cinema characters (Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface) was entertaining, but I was happy that they didn’t simply rehash those ideas again this year but instead replace them with all-new ideas throughout. While several of the houses fell short in the scare department, none were short on impressive design and creativity. Stepping into one of Halloween Horror Nights’ mazes this year is like stepping into a Hollywood film, as all of the sets, costumes, make-up, and effects are movie-quality, if not higher, and are delightful to see in-person.

MouseFanTravel

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