SeaWorld Orlando’s popular Craft Beer Festival has almost finished for the year, but not before the SeaWorld Spooktacular creates a special double-event weekend where both events overlap. This weekend is always busy, and when we visited yesterday for opening day it was no different! Let’s see what’s new this year for SeaWorld Spooktacular and enjoy the Craft Beer Festival one last time!
SeaWorld Spooktacular
The Spooktacular is SeaWorld’s family-friendly Halloween event and runs every Saturday and Sunday now through November 1st. The event continues to offer tried and true fan favorites with changes to accommodate safety measures. There are also a few new intriguing additions to this year’s Spooktacular. Let’s see what SeaWorld has conjured up this year.
In years past, this double-hitter weekend has always brought out the crowds to enjoy the last few days of summer with the Craft Beer Festival while kicking off Halloween at the Spooktacular. When we visited yesterday, it was the busiest day we have seen in the park this year by far. Arriving about 2 hours after opening, the line to get through the temperature screening was still rather long. Thankfully, it moved rather quickly.
UPDATE: BEER FEST EXTENSION!!!
Just after we published this article, SeaWorld announced that they’d be extending their Craft Beer Festival through November 1st! So, look for many more busy weekends of Festival and Halloween fun.
SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular
Now, on to the new boo . . . SeaWorld’s family friendly Halloween event.
Count von Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast
Count von Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast features some of your favorite Sesame Street friends in a pre-park fueling session. I did hear some good reviews and may check it out at a later date. This is a new addition this year and seems promising. Reservations are required.
The Trick or Treat Trail
The trick or treat trail is always a favorite Spooktacular activity. With the trail being capacity controlled, traffic flows in one direction— entering near Wild Arctic and exiting near the Dolphin Nursery. My son Johnny was super excited to check it out and get his first opportunity this year at collecting Halloween candy.
Stilt walkers in costume welcomed us at the beginning of the trail.
Before entering you must purchase one of SeaWorld’s reusable bags. Per the SeaWorld website: Guests must purchase a new reusable bag from the park to trick-or-treat in order to prevent contact between individuals.
I did see people being notified of the policy when entering the Trick or Treat Trail as well as turned away while trying to use other bags to get candy.
Getting candy was interesting, especially since candy dispension is usually close contact between guests and team members. Now, when it’s your turn to get candy, you walk up and the candy is dropped into a tube which then slides into your bag.
With this new method of candy delivery, it was strictly one piece per bag. While there are quite a few candy locations, you do not have anywhere near a full bag at the end. That said, there is nothing stopping you from going through the trail multiple times. Just be warned, it is a long walk to get back to the entry of the trail.
You can make a stop for some special Halloween themed merchandise.
Throughout the trail are various character photo locations. Cleverly placed decorations help maintain social distancing, and the costumes worn by the entertainers are quite creative. Even the face coverings help complete the outfit and do not look out of place.
New this year is the opportunity to meet a mermaid! This is located at the end of the trail. While the mermaid wasn’t there when we passed by, we probably wouldn’t have made the stop.
Carnival games are also available.
At the end of the trail is the pumpkin patch with a sea theme, of course.
Overall, the Trick or Treat Trail was not crowded. And while capacity controlled, there was no line when we entered (even though the park was otherwise very crowded). There was plenty of space for safe distancing and for kids to enjoy their excitement of trick or treating.
Halloween Maze
The Halloween Maze is another new addition this year, located near Sesame Street. It isn’t actually a maze in that there are no dead ends or wrong turns. Johnny, however, enjoyed it— even though he was done rather quickly.
Sesame Street
While not much changed with Sesame Street, there were some Halloween decorations to join the festivities.
The Count was stationed on his parade float with some festive decorations.
Cookie Decorating with Cookie Monster
Joining the connoisseur of cookies, Cookie Monster himself, in cookie decorating is a fun addition this year. Each cookie comes in a little Sesame Street container with your choice of water, plain or chocolate milk.
While we were decorating our cookies, a baker and Cookie Monster came out to entertain.
Offered various times throughout the day, this event includes a photo op with the big guy himself as well as a digital download photo key. This event was a winner in Johnny’s book. Reservations are required.
Flicks and Frights
The drive-in movie is back in spooky fashion with Flicks and Frights, Saturdays through October with additional nights Friday October 23 and 30. Offering double feature pairings like Hotel Transylvania and It, or Hocus Pocus and Halloween Face Your Fate, it’s sure to please families and adults alike. Movie times are 7:45pm and 10:30pm. Interestingly while now showing two movies a night, the price has dropped $10 to $40 per car from the summer offering which included fireworks viewing.
Last Weekend for Craft Beer Festival
With Spooktacular just beginning, the Craft Beer Festival is coming to a close. This was the place to be. There were some very crowded areas.
The booths had long lines with little social distancing. In fact, while we were consitently practicing social distancing, on more than one occasion it caused someone not recognizing the difference between social distance and the end of the line.
Other areas of the park were not nearly as crowded. You didn’t need to get that far away to avoid the crowds, just take your food and find a shady spot away from the congested areas.
A Visit with the Sea Lions
Before leaving, we attempted to see Sea Lion High. Unfortunately, the capacity for the show had been met, and we were turned away.
Instead, we made a quick stop at the Pacific Point Preserve. We were easily able to find adequate social distancing here for us.
To end our day we purchased some fish for Johnny to feed the sea lions, which was a fun experience for him.
While pleasantly surprised with the low crowds at Spooktacular, the full crowds and lack of social distancing with the Craft Beer Festival was concerning. I can imagine that next weekend the crowds will be shifting to the Trick or Treat Trail. While the park continues to operate at a lower capacity, there are some high-traffic areas that need additional consideration. I beg SeaWorld to please add additional social distancing markers in the crowded areas. Maintaining a 6 foot distance is hard for many guests to do unless it’s been marked out. That said, we still had an enjoyable time at SeaWorld. It really put us in the Halloween mood.
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Let’s Hear From You
Despite this year being beyond different, it’s good to see that SeaWorld is adapting to make Halloween possible in the park. Are you planning on checking out SeaWorld Spooktacular? What do you think of the Trick or Treat Trail’s method of dispensing candy? Will you be enjoying one last trip to the Craft Beer Festival? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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