All Work And No Play – Halloween Horror Nights 27 – Take A Break

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Remember when Joey put The Shining in the freezer so he could stay safe? I’d be willing to bet this year’s Halloween Horror Nights 27 would scare the pants off of him. The Shining is just one of the heart-stopping haunts you’ll find waiting for you at Universal Studios Orlando. This year there are 9 houses, 5 scare zones and let’s not forget Bill and Ted’s farewell tour. Like every year it is a can’t miss event so keep reading while I tell you about my favorites and moments you can probably skip.

Tim and I visited Halloween Horror Nights 27 about two weeks ago and were frightfully amused by the evening. Being a huge fan of Blumhouse I couldn’t wait to get inside the Horrors of Blumhouse haunt. Tim was as always itching to see what they did with American Horror Story. It seems however that each year our favorite house is one of Universal’s original ideas (or intellectual properties as they call them).

Halloween Horror Nights 27 Houses

Horrors of Blumhouse

It seemed to me they tried to fit way too much into this house. It was still scary and Insidious and Sinister were spine-chilling, by far the scariest house of all. However, I could have gone for a house with just Sinister all the way through. Don’t skip this one by any means, but be prepared to take in a lot all at once.

The Shining

You know what they say about all work and no play and they are keeping Jack busy. So busy in fact he’s about the majority of the scares in this house modeled to look like The Overlook Hotel. We see the twins, the woman from the bathtub, Wendy and more of the characters but there is a ton of Jack. I personally could have done without this house but Tim really liked it. I think if you are a big fan of this book or movie it is one of those magical moments to see the hotel come to life. Universal did a fantastic job with the decorating. I just think they spilled a bit of blood…

American Horror Story

14 rooms of memorable frights. They cover a few seasons in this house, I believe Coven, Roanoke, and Asylum. This house is always a favorite because of the way they bring the story to life. I felt like I was inside that Roanoke house in more than one moment. It’s the one house where I can’t look away from the scares, even jump scares. No matter how much they freak me out I want to see if they nailed the room or the costume. Of course, the creative team at Universal Orlando always does.

Dead Waters

This is an intellectual property created by the team at Universal. I wanted to do this house twice and so did Tim but there wasn’t time. The house sinks and the floor will get soggy y’all! It’s a Voo-Doo style house so if this isn’t your cup of tea you might want to sit it out. Plenty of skulls and chanting.

Scarecrow: The Reaping

If you aren’t terrified of scarecrows like Moi this may not bother you as much as it did me. Basically, these scarecrows come up from the earth and scare your pants off. I don’t like bag headed creatures of any sort that are meant to scare away birds. No matter how they are supposed to look they give me goosebumps. Remember in Jeepers Creepers when the lady says “That’s not my scarecrow.” I lost it. One of the scariest movie moments for me. The scarecrow house is all depression era with the dirt and the sadness. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

These are the houses I think you should visit if you must choose. A few people have asked me about Saw and I’ll just be honest and say I think they took a wrong turn with this one. It wasn’t a favorite of mine. I didn’t find it especially scary or interesting to look at. However, my friend loved it so please make educated decisions after reading your map or the Halloween Horror Nights 27 website.

Scare Zones

As you walk through the park you find yourself stalked by the scareactors in each scare zone. Some are better than others. This year they did such a good job and it is hard to choose which to venture through. I would not miss The Purge and please leave yourself time for an auction. Just trust me. It’s something I’ll remember forever. After that, I personally love Trick r Treat with little Sam. I mean what isn’t to love about that rule following demon? He and his friends will kill you if you don’t follow the rules of Halloween so be sure to brush up before the day comes. Invasion! is a can’t miss creative masterpiece. An absolute work of art. Not as much scary (okay kind of scary) as it is impressive.

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure

Although I’ve recently been hard on our good friends Bill and Ted I hate to see them go. But they are leaving after about 26 years. I’ve been lucky enough to see a large percentage of these shows and it’ll be a shame for their hijinks and hit music to move on. Make sure to leave time for their farewell tour which I promise isn’t all about Donald Trump, which I feared. He’s part of it but not all of it. There are many other phenomenal pop culture icons to enjoy and a special video at the end.

I’ll never stop stressing the importance of Halloween Horror Nights Express so that you can get the most out of your evening. These lines get to be 120 minutes+ long. If you have the ability gather a group of friends and do a private tour, that’s the best way to see the park. Even better, purchase a Frequent Fear Pass so you can visit over and over throughout the month and a half the event is open. It is worth every penny.

I look forward to Halloween Horror Nights every year and Halloween Horror Nights 27 is no different. I was in no way disappointed and I don’t think you will be either. Go into each house with an open mind and a deep breath and be prepared to scream, jump and be scared. I certainly was.

*Thank you for the tickets Universal Studios!

Orlando’s #1 Recommended Child Friendly Halloween Event

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My family looks forward to Cauldron Skittles all year long and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party always delivers. Disney’s special event party is my #1 recommended child friendly Halloween event in Orlando. Here are some of the fun things you can expect while attending:

Characters in costume
Boo to You Halloween Parade
Happy Hallowishes Dessert Party (extra price)
Trick or Treat throughout the park
Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular show
Shorter (much shorter) ride lines

And let’s not forget all the collectible Halloween merchandise that only comes out once a year. You may or may not be able to find it next year and it does go fast. I have plenty of friends who are kicking themselves for missing out on Oogie Boogie popcorn buckets from this year alone. This year!

Orlando’s #1 Recommended Child Friendly Halloween Event

This isn’t all the entertainment you’ll encounter. Unfortunately Spencer and Jason are too old to dress up, or so they say, but you can participate. They are in it for the candy and the Disney goodness. Space Mountain on a 15 minute wait? Yes please!!!

I personally love the adorable photo opps throughout the park. Any chance I can get a few extra pictures thrills me. Look at these pumpkin shots and the M&M guy is simply too much. You can find the M&M guy and bronze statues off to the right of Main Street when you first walk into the park. The pumpkins are inside Cosmic Rays. There are a few to choose from.

Purchase your tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween before it sells out. Don’t forget to get your spot for the Boo To You Halloween parade early and same goes for the Hocus Pocus show. You can arrive at Disney a few hours before the special event begins and that way you’ll be able to eat or get a few rides in. Don’t forget to stay hydrated. Have a great time.

*I’d like to thank Disney for the tickets in order for me to provide a review.

Finding Neverland – Dr. Phillips Center June 6-11th – Purchase Tickets Now

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Have you ever wanted to know the story behind the beloved Peter Pan? Finding Neverland weaves a beautiful tale about J.M. Barrie and the Llewelyn Davies family, the inspiration behind the classic. Finding Neverland is playing at the Dr. Phillips Center June 6th-June 11th and it’s a superb musical for all ages.

I had the pleasure of seeing Finding Neverland on Tuesday night and it was beautiful. The scenery was my favorite from any of the musicals so far, 3 dimensional and with beautiful watercolors. The costumes were period perfect and especially beautiful on Mrs. Barrie. The costumes for the scenes in the actual acting troupe were more than I would have expected with rich fabrics for such a short amount of screen time.

I especially enjoyed Rory Donovan (NOT pictured above) who play the dual role of Charles Frohman and Captain James Hook. He was funny, had a strong voice and knew how to play to the audience. If nothing else you should purchase a ticket to see him live. The children were all an absolute joy and I wish them the best in their careers.

Finally my only real gripe about the show was the lack of songs to remember. While the director did an outstanding job putting together the show, even adding a slightly terrifying Pink Floydesque number that sent some chills down my spine, I can’t remember the song today. Their were dramatic moments in Finding Neverland, especially near the end, but I didn’t find myself singing along which is always a disappointment.

Purchase tickets to Finding Neverland now at the Dr. Phillips Center website. The show is acceptable for all ages though as I mention there is one number that was slightly scary. Nothing ridiculous though so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I think the humor and the doggy will be the part that kids take away.

Universal’s Volcano Bay Dining – It’s Anything But Basic

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Universal’s water theme park was a great time and now I want to tell you about the Volcano Bay dining. A lot of thought was put into this park and the food is one of the biggest pieces of proof. Numerous restaurants are available to serve you to keep lines and crowds to a minimum and there are even bars if you just want an island beverage. Keep reading but be prepared to get hungry!

I had two favorite meals at Volcano Bay. I’ve had not one or two but three chances to try this delicious fare and the Coconut Curry Chicken and the Island Chicken Salad are the types of meals you crave. I always talk to you about craveable food, where you can’t wait to go back for more and this is what the chef who dreamed up these dishes were thinking. Smart. The creamy coconut taste with just a touch of spice is everything. And if you need to cool down the chicken salad has grapes. Just the way my Grandmother made it and for whatever reason no one else does.

There are the staples such as burgers and chicken nuggets and they are tasty. If you have picky children they will be perfectly happy with the menus. Volcano Bay dining also offers more exciting burgers such as a Quinoa Edamame Burger for vegetarians. There are also numerous salads, Bbq, seafood meals and fantastic pizzas. The list goes on.

Here is a list of the Volcano Bay dining restaurants you’ll find while visiting:

Bambu
The Feasting Frog
Kohola Reef Restaurant & Social Club
Whakawaiwai Eats

The good news is most meals can be found at each restaurant. Not all, so be sure to check before you go or once you arrive if there is a certain item you must try. Meals cost between $9-17 on the regular some, like burgers, including sides. The prices are most commonly set around $12 and below.

I think the most important things is that the food at Volcano Bay is well made and filled with flavor. While I might not recommend the sushi there were others around me who loved it. Otherwise I heard little complaint about any dish. I do not recommend trying to eat on the beach as any amount of wind turns your yummy food into a sand-wich if you catch my “drift”. Haha. Know that coolers are not allowed at Volcano Bay, so most likely you will be eating while visiting. Also wear shoes when you walk to the restaurants, your feet get exceptionally hot and the restaurants flooring isn’t exactly cool.

Get yourself over to Volcano Bay and let me know your favorite thing to munch on! I love to chat about food, just not cook it myself. 😉

Universal’s Volcano Bay – Perfect End Of The School Year Celebration

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Volcano Bay is open to the public now at Universal Orlando Resort! If ever you were looking for a way to celebrate the end of school in Orlando this new water theme park would be a perfect choice. There is so much to experience including wild water slides, a wave pool that has a few tricks up its sleeve, two lazy rivers both offering different levels of thrills and more.

Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park

I was on site this past Thursday when Maori entertainers opened the brand new water park. Volcano Bay will offer guests four different areas in which to play. Each has something marvelous you’ll not want to miss. Below are an example of one of two things per village I really enjoyed (or saw others enjoying) while I was there.

The Volcano

Ko’okiri Body Plunge. Heck no I didn’t even attempt this. Quite honestly I didn’t want to look at it. This is the terrifying “straight down slide” each water park offers. Ko’okiri starts near the top of The Volcano and ends at the wave pool. It’s clear so people can see you fall if they can catch you quickly enough.

Krakatau Aqua Coaster. You certainly get wet on this ride but you are inside a hard canoe type thing which holds 4 people that is more like a ride vehicle than tubes. I found this ride to be scary for me, but others weren’t as bothered. It’s a roller coaster on a water slide so there are drops and you go around and around. But I think kids could even handle it.

River Village

Kopiko Wai Winding River. Although I didn’t take the time to do the “lazy river” I wanted to let everyone know there is one. I swear it smells like the ocean but when I mentioned this, no one knew what I was talking about. Apparently it has some places that spray you with water along the way and even a fancy cavern you’ll want to check out.

Tot Tiki Reef and Runamukka Reef. These are the kid’s areas. Although they were shut down while I was visiting they looked to be the most fun children’s water park play place I’ve seen in Orlando. Other water parks have the same design, one big climbing adventure which is awesome. But Volcano Bay has spread it out and allowed for more slides as well. These are two separate areas so your littlest children won’t be trampled by the bigger kids.

Honi Ika Moana. Dear Baby Jesus, please don’t let the scary raft ride take my friends. This is what I was praying while everyone but me jumped on for a ride of exhilaration and terror. This is a group ride where at the end you are literally gravity thrown up to the top of this bowl/funnel thing and then just hang there until you somehow safely come back down. Why is this fun? I’m not sure but they all loved it and my husband and kids can’t wait to visit for this purpose.

Wave Village

Waturi Beach. The wave pool. This is where I spent 85% of my time during the event. Although I still give Typhoon Lagoon the best wave pool in Central Florida award, this comes in a strong second. What I enjoyed is that each wave series is different than the last. However none of them were as wowing as I wanted them to be and I felt like it took quite a while to get to the next. I’m incredibly picky about my wave pools though since I choose to spend well over half my time visiting them during a water park experience.

Rainforest Village

Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides. Remember when I told you the previous family raft ride seemed terrifying? Apparently this is actually the terrifying raft slide. I didn’t ride it and I didn’t talk to anyone who did, but I know my readers have families and want to know what you can do together. Have fun. This raft carries six people, goes up on its own (all do btw) so you don’t have to carry anything, and spins you and drops you galore.

Taniwha Tubes. These are the “basic water slide” rides that even people like me can enjoy. I mean I get sick or scared by everything. You start out inside the tube and it opens up at times for some surprises and then turns into a tube again. It’s a bit high in the air though. Wow, I’m seriously showing you what a scaredy cat I am aren’t I!

So that was my rundown of a fraction of the Volcano Bay attractions. I can’t begin to tell you about everything. Although I chose to tell you about slides I didn’t enjoy myself and not tell you about slides I did, I felt I gave you a good representation of the park.

Volcano Bay’s TapuTapu Wearable

Another neat bit of information is that included with each admission is the TapuTapu wearable which is more like a huge men’s watch so beware of big tan lines. It’s worth it though because it grants you the ability to play for the day with little to NO ATTRACTION LINES! It’s kind of like a Fast Pass in that you schedule your time to ride in for the day and come back later. What you do is walk up to the TapuTapu machine and “tap” your device and it will tell you when to come back. It does the waiting so you don’t have to. There are also supposed to be interactive enjoyments throughout the park, totems that sing to you and such, but I didn’t experience this. I’m sure it is delightful though, the entire park is delightful. It also allows you to connect your credit card so you don’t have to carry anything for the day.

Universal Orlando is excited about their new water theme park. Volcano Bay opens news doors for them and they are opening those doors for us. I love water parks, they are my favorite and this one is fresh and ready to be seized. I’m going to come back and tell you about their delicious food and add-ons later this week. For now I say Volcano Bay is the perfect end of the school year celebration for your children. Let me know what you think, which slides or attractions were your favorite and even share some pictures if you are willing!