ORLANDO — For those who like to travel around Halloween week, you might want to consider tickets to Orlando International Airport. A new study indicates that the City Beautiful ranks high for Halloween mayhem fun.
Orlando’s theme parks remain a big drawn for tourism year-round, but the study by Neo Designs indicates the special Halloween thrills offered at Universal Orlando Resort and Seaworld Orlando keep the visitors lining up to get scared. Halloween Horror Nights 2026 and the more kid-friendly Howl-O-Scream at Seaworld have the tourists smiling as they shiver, and the box office receipts rising.
How Many Tourists Travel Around Halloween?
While it’s not clear exactly how many tourists make a regular habit of traveling around October and the Halloween season, PR Newswire notes that “Scare-cation Travel” has definitely become “a booming trend where traveling to experience America’s bona fide best haunts for fright-filled nights that pack in extraordinary memories.”
When certain destinations — such as Salem, Massachusetts or New Orleans — develop a reputation as a spooky favorite to visit, “These legendary haunts don’t just scare — they transport,” the website notes. “Travelers build entire trips around them, complete with overnight stays, associated escape rooms within the haunted attractions, fright‑night street or park entertainment, and Instagram-friendly terror photo ops. In an era when unique, shareable experiences drive travel, these haunted hotspots deliver.”
The Conversation notes that with Halloween candy alone being a $3.9 billion industry, Halloween tourism has been on the rise, and it can mean major economic benefits for host cities.
“The day’s appeal and its marketability extends beyond a one-day ‘holiday’,” the magazine notes. “Many people are drawn to carefully curated encounters, seeking thrilling yet sanitized experiences that allow them to engage with the macabre and mortality from a safe distance.”
And in addition to Salem, New Orleans, Sleepy Hollow N.Y. and others, Orlando is a top spot as well for those fear-and-horror seeking tourists. Curiously, the top spot was Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., with its sister park Walt Disney World right behind it.
Why Is Orlando So Popular Around Halloween?
The Neon Designs study analyzed Tripadvisor reviews “to find America’s best theme parks for a spooky season trip.” The neo sign specialists note that Disney’s Magic Kingdom ranked second in the study, and Universal Orlando and Seaworld Orlando came in 7th and 8th.
“Disneyland and Magic Kingdom are familiar names for a trip like this,” notes Austin Colasanti, CEO of Neon Designs.
That’s especially true for attractions that appeal to children “who can be very excited about Halloween until something actually jumps out. Having a night that everyone enjoys is worth more than getting through every haunted attraction,” he notes.
Because of the enormous popularity of these Halloween events at major theme parks, they can get very crowded very quickly, Colasanti notes, so he recommends doing some advance planning.
“Before booking, check the details for the night you’re going,” he notes. “A photo of a Halloween party on a park’s website doesn’t mean it’s included in your ticket, or even running that evening. Look at the age guidance too, and leave a bit of room in the schedule. It’s still a night out, and nobody wants to spend all of it rushing to the next line.”
Of course, another big question is why millions enjoy being scared around Halloween. Clemson News notes that studies show fear can be quite fun when it’s basically a safe scare.
“According to Clemson University psychology professor Cynthia Pury, who studies courage, fear and anxiety, the answer may come down to one important factor: knowing we’re actually safe,” the article notes. “One explanation comes from a psychological concept called benign violation theory, which suggests people find something humorous when it violates their expectations without presenting a genuine threat.”
If that’s the case, enjoy those scares at Halloween Horror Nights or Howl-O-Scream!
Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright, and author of the book A Christmas Eve Story. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.
