Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 23: ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ comes to life

As much as I love the sunshine of summertime, I would have to say that Halloween is one of my most favorite holidays. Haunted houses,devious decorations, perfectly themed settings and being scared senseless are all at the top of my list for an entertaining evening. When else is it perfectly acceptable to scream your head off for no apparent reason?

From spooky family fun to all-out terror fests, theme parks are my favorite haunted hangouts. I’ve seen some amazing displays over the past few years, and am starting to hear about the upcoming season. And, I must say, it sounds like one of the best yet.

Universal Orlando Resort, famous for bringing movies to life, has announced that it is turning the 2012 horror film “The Cabin in the Woods” into its newest haunted attraction at the 23rd annual Halloween Horror Nights event.

Universal’s Entertainment team has partnered with LIONSGATE and film director and co-writer Drew Goddard to deliver this brand new movie-quality haunted house experience that will put guests in the middle of an ancient fight for survival.

Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights has a more than 20-year history of creating an incredibly entertaining and horrifying Halloween experience that is consistently rated among the nation’s best. The event features highly-themed, disturbingly real, haunted houses that are based on everything from hit movies to your worst nightmares and phobias. The streets of the Studios become overrun with hundreds of specially-trained “scareactors”  to up the ante on the thrill and chill factor.

Available on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download, “The Cabin in the Woods” was directed and co-written by filmmaker Drew Goddard, and co-written and produced by sci-fi and horror icon Joss Whedon. The film follows five friends on a college break getaway to a remote cabin. Their fate is sealed the moment they walk through the door as they become pawns in a ritual sacrifice that demands blood.

At Halloween Horror Nights 23, guests will step inside the menacing cabin from the movie and try to fend off a malicious family of zombies. Just like in the film, guests will flee from the cabin and enter a hidden facility where a secret operative is plotting their sacrificial demise. Suddenly, a crew of blood thirsty monsters is released, putting everybody in the middle of all-out chaos.

From the press release …

“This is a twisted dream come true for me,” said Goddard. “The Universal team has done an amazing job making all the terrifying aspects of ‘Cabin’ come to life, and horror fans will not be disappointed. Also, they said they’d let me dress up like a merman and sacare people, so I’ll see you guys there.”

Halloween Horror Nights takes place on select nights from Sept. 20 to Nov. 2, 2013 at Universal Studios.

Tickets and vacation packages are on sale now and can be purchased at Halloweenhorrornights.com/Orlando.

Special Offers for Halloween Horror Nights:

* Gory Getaway (packages starts at $299 per adult, tax inclusive)

• Three-night accommodations at a Universal Partner Hotel
• Two-day base ticket for admission to both Universal Orlando theme parks
• One-night admission to Halloween Horror Nights
• Admission to select live entertainment venues at Universal CityWalk
• Upgrade to one of three AAA Four Diamond Award deluxe on-site hotels at Universal Orlando to enjoy priority access to a special Halloween Horror Nights entry gate each event night until 8:00 p.m.

 * Stay and Scream (starts at $38.99 plus tax)

• Guests visiting the parks can add Halloween Horror Nights 23 to any Universal Orlando theme park ticket
• Prices vary per night

“’The Cabin in the Woods’ took the horror film genre and turned it on its head, and it’s a perfect fit for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights,” said Michael Aiello of Universal Orlando’s Entertainment Team. “We’re collaborating with LIONSGATE and Drew Goddard to bring the iconic monsters from the film to our event. Guests will be assaulted by terrifying beasts taken right from the big screen – including the Hell Lord, the Dollfaces, the vicious Sugarplum Fairy, the Doctors and more.”

Expect even more all-new and horrifying haunted houses as additional details about Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights will soon be revealed.

I’m getting really excited about the upcoming haunt season. How about you? For a fright fix, check out last year’s Halloween happenings – Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Haunt at Kings Dominion.