SeaWorld San Diego is splashing into the scarier side of the Halloween season for the first time with Howl-O-Scream. Sure, you may be used to cute creatures and Sesame Street characters that SeaWorld has featured in previous fall-time festivities, but this time the terrors of the deep have come out to play. With 3 mazes, 6 scare zones, and 4 roaming haunts— all of which are brand-new— there is nowhere to hide. For SeaWorld San Diego’s first foray into the haunt world, it was a solid effort. There were some highlights, but the overall experience left was wanting more. Here’s a look SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream 2021.
Mazes/Houses
There are 3 mazes (that SeaWorld calls “houses,” which is how it’s run for the east coast version of this event) for Howl-O-Scream. For a first-time event, this is a decent number. We hope that this is expanded in years to come. Here are the mazes you can find this season:
Nightmare Experiment – “You are the subject of a secret, an experimental project run amok. Find safety before The Doctor finds you.”
Themed as an insane asylum, you walk through the corridors and experience some of the residents— both living and dead. While this house was strong with scare actors for the beginning, there were many rooms that just felt empty towards the end. At one point there was an entire room filled with electrical panels and no one in sight until the next room. It felt unfinished in parts, and we couldn’t tell if that was the intent or not.
Death Water Bayou – “Escape the black, murky waters of your nightmares only to fall under the curse of the evil Swamp Witch”
Probably the strongest house of the three, this featured multiple twists and turns while exploring the bayou. Located in the Wild Artic queue, this house takes you on a tour of the swamp, including walking on a rickety bridge into a cabin and some fun laser water effects that we have seen at other haunts. While this was the first year at SeaWorld San Diego, it felt very similar to Bush Gardens in Tampa— it is a sister property after all. The actors in this house were by far the most “in character” and would help in moving you through the area. While the strongest of the houses, there was still a feeling of something missing. Something about the atmosphere didn’t quite hit the mark.
Simon’s Slaughterhouse – “An abandoned meat-packing plant with a sordid history serves up your worst fears”
This was the weakest of the three houses. It felt like it was trying to be the Texas Chainsaw Massacre but on the lowest budget possible. There were a few jumps scares that got us but overall this house was mostly open spaces which left nothing to the imagination to increase the fear. At one point you walk into the butcher shop and there is so little to see you think you are just in a wooden fenced area. The chainsaw wielder at the end gave us a good scare, but otherwise, this maze was really not worth visiting. I think the attendees agreed as we never saw a line for this house while the other 2 did.
Here’s our tip: Do the houses from the back of the park forward. Simon’s Slaughterhouse is by the Penguin Encounter just outside the Events Center. Then move to Death Water Bayou in the Wild Artic Queue. Lastly, hit up Nightmare Experiment by the Ocean Explorer Café towards the front of the park. People seemed to do these in order as they came into the park, which made for long lines at the mazes at the front. Later in the night, most were a walk-on (walkthrough?)
Scare Zones
All of the scare zones had great actors that were working hard to get you to scream. Despite there being 6 scare zones (which is pretty generous for a first-time haunt event), they seemed a bit too spread out. Although the scare zones took up about 3/4ths of the park, they were a bit sparse. We’re not sure if it was a matter of low attendance or a lack of scare actors that made these areas seem a little empty. Some of the scare zones were off the main path as well, which led to some zones being avoided or accidentally missed. Here are the scare zones for this year:
Deadly Toys – “These aren’t like the dolls you grew up with. Playtime starts now, and it’s not over until they’ve had their fun.”
The Deadly Toys was the highlight of the scare zones; watching the monsters go from scares to selfies was an interesting view throughout the night. Friendlier than some of the other areas, it seemed as the night went on they were more okay with photos and less about the scares. Still, this was one of the creepier areas.
Graveyard – “There are evils that can’t stay buried forever. Some of this cemetery’s long-term guests are dying to meet you.”
With only 3 actors all night in this area, it felt like it was a last-minute decision to include this scare zone. That said, this was the best-themed area with a huge gothic castle built for it.
The Sirens – “Their allure is powerful. Their motives are terrifying. Steer clear…this is one call you don’t want to answer.”
This was quite possibly the worst scare zone of the night. Most of the mermaid/vampire creatures were stationary on rocks in the Explorers Reef area making this almost a safe zone. There were a few pirates around but really didn’t invoke any real scares.
La Llorna – “Don’t believe the legend? Just ask the deadly beauty who wanders here, dragging victims to a watery grave.”
Personally, this was the best scare zone in my opinion. The creepy all-black dresses and baby buggies blended in with the dark surroundings and fog. Located under the large trees of the Sky Tower (which is still under construction…) this creepy area was also near a dead-end, making you pass through at least twice!
First Fright – “Clown, skull, or snake? The choice is…not yours. Subject yourself to a triple dose of horror right out of the gate.”
Located in the entrance as well as the touch pools (which are covered so no one goes into them), this area felt like a last-minute plan to just throw “whatever we can” to try and scare. There were some great actors who were able to hide behind corals and rocks to provide some jumps but the theme here was off. One cool factor at the beginning of the night was the use of a live snake for display.
The Hauntings – “This forest is not what it seems. Evil is watching…hiding in plain sight. You’ll need more than luck to avoid being taken.”
The darkest of the scare zones— literally! There was a lack of lighting here which should have allowed for some good scares but once again the lack of actors provided fewer scares than expected. One amazing element was a ghillie suit on stilts hiding within the bushes. This was one scare we did not expect and finally let out a scream.
Roaming Haunts
There are 4 roaming haunts yet we only saw 3 of the 4 out and about. They are The Vampires, Clowns, Chainsaw Gang, and the Butchers. We did not see the Butchers during our visit. Obviously, the highlight here was the classic chainsaws roaming wherever they wanted. The gothic vampires were nothing frightful at all and the clowns were… well clowns.
If you are not looking to get scared in the Scare Zones, you can purchase a light-up lanyard to ward off the scare actors. This will not work in the houses as they will scare you regardless! Pick one up for $15 at the SeaWorld Store or the Howl-O-Scream Shop.
Food and Drink
The food and drinks here left a lot to be desired, which is pretty surprising for SeaWorld. While not terribly overpriced for a theme park, these “bars” were just food stands with minor theming. We did appreciate the employees being in themed costumes and makeup for each one though!
AmBARlance – “After escaping Nightmare Experiment, the AmBARlance is there to cure all guests’ ailments. The boozy “medications” will be administered via IV bags and syringes as well as Vodka soaked “vitamins” in medicine cups. For a more intense treatment, the Pop Rocks rimmed “ElectroShock” cocktail will be sure to make their brain pop.”
This had the longest lines all night which may have meant it was popular (or perhaps just had slow service). We skipped it during the event but were able to try the Nightmare Mac & Cheese and Brain Bites at the VIP preview. The Mac & Cheese lacked real flavor, though the added meat did give it more substance. The Brain Bites were a rice and onion mix (maybe there was more but that is all we tasted) coated and deep-fried in a breaded batter.
Simon’s Screamatorium – “Guests are on the menu at Simon the Butcher’s Screamatorium. Bartenders will serve up the hottest drinks from within Simon’s human-sized smoker, including ‘The Bloodiest Mary’ and ‘Vomit Shots’.”
We sampled the Smokehouse drink, and if you are one to enjoy Mezcal, this one is for you! The Bloody Lucy Slider was filled with red cheese which oozed out for a gruesome effect. The graveyard mousse was a pass for us — think worms and dirt for this one.
Murder She Float – “Pulled from the depths of the murky swamp, this abandoned Mardis Gras float was brought back to life and is glowing with the ‘spirits’ of the Mardis Gras dead. Guests will feast on grasshoppers and worms in a scoop of ‘mud’ and wash it down with cursed concoctions, served up on Ouija boards, in fishbowls and the skulls of those who have crossed the Bayou Witch.”
I wish this bar had the theming promised above. Nowhere were the Ouija boards or fishbowls. We did get the Poison Apple in a collector’s light-up skull cup which was almost too sweet to enjoy until the ginger ale hits you on the backend. In our opinion, you should skip the Creepy Cannolis; put that $5.99 towards another drink.
Merchandise
While a lot of this merchandise is the same as Bush Gardens and SeaWorld Orlando’s Howl-O-Scream, we appreciated some of the specialty shirts and cups available with the SeaWorld San Diego logo. From collector mugs to spirit jerseys, there was a nice selection to look at.
Other Attractions and Entertainment
The Vampire Circus – “Full adrenaline dark comedy and cabaret fusion. A spirited journey through an abandoned cemetery where an extraordinary circus comes back to life.”
Honestly, this was worth the price of admission alone! While a bit long at 45 minutes, it is a great experience with a few scares involved. The Vampire Circus arrives once every 500 years and they bring out some amazing performances. From aerial stunts, clowns, contortionists, and muscle men— this show is not to be missed and may be the best one currently being offered in a theme park Halloween event.
Other attractions are available as well including Manta, Journey to Atlantis, and Electric Eel. While these were announced as “in the dark,” it’s really just a nighttime ride— which can still be fun! There is also a DJ and live band near the entrance. Music is always an atmosphere booster, but they didn’t always provide that spooky feeling by playing the top hits of today.
Overall this is a strong start for what we hope will become a yearly offering at SeaWorld San Diego. While the houses left much to be desired, it is clear there is a passion for wanting to bring the spooky season here. We look forward to seeing how this event evolves and builds upon its first year offerings.
Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego runs select nights now through October 31st. It is a separately ticketed event outside of the normal day operations and is not included in any pass. Tickets run from $39.99 currently with the option to upgrade to a front-of-the-line pass (which from our experience is not needed). You may also purchase an Unlimited Ticket for $99.99 allowing you to attend every night the event is available.
Theme Park Travel Deals & Contest!
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Let’s Hear From You
Have you been looking forward to a scary Halloween event at SeaWorld San Diego? For the first attempt at Howl-O-Scream on this coast, how do you think SeaWorld did? Are you planning on visiting Howl-O-Scream this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
More Howl-O-Scream
Still curious about Howl-O-Scream? We’ve got you covered. Take a look at what’s being offered on the other side of the country out at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay below:
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