{"id":523639,"date":"2025-10-24T02:18:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T02:18:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/523639\/"},"modified":"2025-10-24T02:18:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T02:18:21","slug":"albatross-mini-golf-greenspan-blends-tech-storytelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/523639\/","title":{"rendered":"Albatross mini-golf | Greenspan blends tech & storytelling"},"content":{"rendered":"

Speaking to Graham Speak for blooloop in 2024<\/strong><\/a>, Martin Goymour<\/strong>, owner of Roarr! and PrimEvil, Norfolk\u2019s award-winning scare attraction, said: \u201cHalloween has turned October into a month for increased income and profitability.”<\/p>\n

\"scarefest <\/p>\n

\u201cIt allows us to extend our operating and busy season by attracting a whole new customer base who normally wouldn\u2019t visit the park.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cPeople love to be scared; Halloween provides the platform to create worlds that stimulate fear. It allows us as a tourist attraction to break the rules and defy boundaries, creating a fully immersive horror experience with blood, guts, and gore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Major UK operator Merlin Entertainments has also reported that Halloween is a key revenue driver. Via the Independent<\/strong><\/a>, the month of October now accounts for around a fifth of its yearly profit.<\/p>\n

Expanding eerie operating days and nights<\/p>\n

In the US, Halloween has been arriving earlier than ever<\/strong><\/a> before as operators like Disney, Six Flags and Universal attempt to up spooky season sales. Zoos, too. Namely, ZooAmerica<\/strong><\/a> in Hershey, Pennsylvania has added more dates to its Creatures of the Night event this year, which is running for longer than ever before.<\/p>\n

Jakob Wahl<\/strong>, IAAPA’s chief executive, told Reuters<\/strong><\/a> in 2024: “We actually see a growth every year in terms of Halloween events, not only North America, but across the world.”<\/p>\n

\"universal <\/p>\n

Universal and Disney parks regularly extend their events. At Walt Disney World in Florida, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party now starts in early August. In 2024, the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland in California sold out in 11 days, prompting Disney to open the event earlier.<\/p>\n

“We’ve seen from our guests in years past that there’s a demand for them to come and enjoy that season with us,” Tracy Halas<\/strong>, creative director of Disney Live Entertainment, told the publication.<\/p>\n

Over at Universal\u2019s parks, Halloween Horror Nights<\/strong><\/a> has evolved over more than 30 years into one of the most influential and innovative seasonal events in the global themed entertainment industry.<\/p>\n

Halloween in the US: demand for a longer spooky season<\/p>\n

In Orlando, Universal Studios Florida\u2019s Halloween Horror Nights has started earlier for several consecutive years. This year it began on 29 August, last year on 30 August.<\/p>\n

The event has grown in multiple ways for 2025, Lora Sauls<\/strong>, Universal Orlando<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s assistant director of creative development and show direction for art, design and entertainment, told blooloop:<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re never going to feel like you’re outside of that Horror Nights vibe. There’s more theming, more lighting, different audio, more textures \u2013 maybe more characters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"kennywood <\/p>\n

Another park in the US to add more dates<\/strong><\/a> to its event is Kennywood in Pennsylvania, now owned by Herschend. And in addition to its longest Phantom Fall Fest season to date, Kennywood debuted a new haunted house \u2013 its most extreme yet.<\/p>\n

Via CBS News<\/strong><\/a>, Kennywood general manager Ricky Spicuzza<\/strong> said the park is “taking terror to a whole new level in 2025 as we debut our newest and most horrifying haunt ever during Phantom Fall Fest”.<\/p>\n

He added, “With the longest event run in Kennywood history and the debut of Detached, we’re delivering next-level horror and thrills you won’t find anywhere else in Pittsburgh.”<\/p>\n

Wet or dry path: extreme experiences<\/p>\n

Speaking of extreme, while some parks are selling No Boo necklaces<\/strong><\/a> for scaredy-cats (and children), others are attracting guests by offering the most horrifying scare of their lives.<\/p>\n

To illustrate, Art the Clown from Terrifier<\/strong><\/a> is new to Universal parks for this year\u2019s Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando and Hollywood. The \u201ctwisted funhouse\u201d is inspired by the slasher film franchise created, written, and directed by Damien Leone<\/strong>. It\u2019s “one of the goriest experiences” in the history of Halloween Horror Nights.<\/p>\n

Guests are treated to “an unfathomable level of gore” as they avoid becoming Art’s next victim, “overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, smells and dread of Art\u2019s grotesque kills, gleefully displayed for all to see”.<\/p>\n

\"terrifier
<\/a> <\/p>\n

They can meet characters including Vicky and the Little Pale Girl, and witness hideous scenes from the Terrifier franchise. Other highlights in Universal\u2019s new haunted house include the Clown Caf\u00e9, a revolting bathroom, and a Christmas nightmare.<\/p>\n

Terrifier: Art the Clown at Universal parks<\/p>\n

Sauls told blooloop: \u201cThese films are gore fests. This house might be the wettest, goriest house we’ve ever done in Horror Nights history. We’re supercharging all our water effects, which, obviously, is not real blood, but it’s going to look like it. It’s Art the Clown\u2019s most disgusting kills in a funhouse environment. He\u2019s everywhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s great is that he\u2019s a mime. Doesn\u2019t speak. Just a bag full of tricks. One of my favourite scenes is the Tunnel of Love \u2013 he’s decapitated everyone and put them on the little floats. And at the end, there\u2019s his Symphony of Blood. You get to choose whether you want the wet path or the dry path.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"halloween <\/p>\n

In Grave of Flesh, one of Universal Orlando\u2019s original haunted houses<\/strong><\/a> for Halloween Horror Nights 2025, guests can go to their own funeral, get buried, and experience the underworld as the Universal Creative team imagines it.<\/p>\n

Sauls told us: \u201cIn this house, you\u2019re attending your own funeral. You go to the cemetery, get buried, and above you, you see your gravestone, you feel the dirt falling on you, and you smell it. It\u2019s that visceral.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the demise and burial of Universal Orlando\u2019s guests, \u201cThese flesh-eaters come and rip the dead from their graves, dissecting them, tearing their flesh off,\u201d Sauls said. \u201cThe further you go, the deeper underground you get, and they\u2019re just everywhere. It\u2019s intense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little horror movies<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Six Flags has released an actual short horror film<\/strong><\/a> to generate buzz around its Fright Fest event for Halloween. The nearly 8-minute film titled Come Out and Play was shot within Six Flags theme parks and introduces a creepy character named Smiley.<\/p>\n

\u201cHalloween is a huge cultural moment that just keeps growing,\u201d said Christian Dieckmann<\/strong>, chief commercial officer at Six Flags.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFor us, the time was right to raise the stakes \u2013 bigger, better, and scarier. Just as we are \u2018serious about fun\u2019 throughout the year, we are also serious about fear when it comes to Halloween. We dare viewers to Come Out and Play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Similarly, Universal Studios Hollywood<\/strong><\/a> has introduced a short horror film to its physical event this year with Chainsaw Man: The Chaos, based on the hit Japanese manga and anime series. The original film is playing within the park\u2019s DreamWorks Theatre and tells the tale of Denji and the Devil Hunters as they battle the Halloween Horror Nights Devil and his army of zombies, according to the park.<\/p>\n

Investing in brand experiences<\/p>\n

Besides entertainment giants like Disney and Universal, which have vast libraries of IPs at their disposal, operators such as Six Flags are investing in brand collaborations.<\/p>\n

Edithann Ramey<\/strong>, Six Flags’ chief marketing officer, told Reuters last year that the company enjoyed attendance gains and increases in guest spending in 2023 when it introduced attractions inspired by Saw and The Conjuring. The experiences were so successful that the theme park company has been investing more in brand-inspired Halloween experiences, Ramey said.<\/p>\n

Six Flags keeps upping its game with its Halloween offering. Last year<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s event included new haunts inspired by blockbuster horror franchises from Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures, Netflix, Legendary Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Discovery.<\/p>\n

\"six <\/p>\n

These included attractions themed to the Saw franchise, Stranger Things, Army of the Dead, The Conjuring, Annabelle and The Nun, and Trick \u2018r Treat.<\/p>\n

“It’s become this time of the year that’s grown in explosive ways,” Ramey said. “It’s become a billion-dollar industry in the last five years.”<\/p>\n

For 2025, Six Flags has expanded its IP experiences to legacy Cedar Fair parks, providing The Conjuring: Beyond Fear<\/strong><\/a> at Cedar Point and Kings Island in Ohio, Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario, and Carowinds in North Carolina.<\/p>\n

\"Six ‘Come Out and Play’: Six Flags debuts new horror short for Halloween
<\/a> <\/p>\n

The new “Screamium” experience is not included with a daily ticket or season pass, instead requiring a separate purchase. In return, guests are plunged \u201cdeeper than ever before into The Conjuring universe\u201d, the Carowinds website says, achieved via state-of-the-art effects, “screen-to-scream environments”, and various interactive challenges.<\/p>\n

The Conjuring, Saw, Trick ‘r Treat at Six Flags parks<\/p>\n

This year also marks Six Flags\u2019 biggest Halloween season<\/strong><\/a> to date, with new experiences themed after The Strangers (2008) and Blumhouse’s first original Spanish-language horror film. Additional brands to feature are The Conjuring universe, the Saw franchise, cult horror Trick ‘r Treat (2007), Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022), and Army of the Dead (2021).<\/p>\n

“For the first time in history, we’re uniting the very best Halloween thrills that our parks have to offer,” said Dieckmann.<\/p>\n

\"trick <\/p>\n

“It’s an unbeatable lineup of innovative, immersive entertainment, including iconic Hollywood horror franchises and original, next-level terror. Our haunted mazes, scare zones, live shows and world-class rides will create unforgettable memories this fall.”<\/p>\n

On a much smaller scale, but no less ambitious considering, the UK\u2019s only official Texas Chain Saw Massacre<\/strong> experience<\/strong><\/a> is featuring at the new Halloween Haunt Fest event at the Hertfordshire Showground from 17 October through 1 November. In this scare maze, fans of the 1964 horror classic can explore a blood-soaked labyrinth where Leatherface and his deranged family are waiting for their next victims.<\/p>\n

Halloween Haunt Fest also boasts the first-ever scare maze based on the 2023 British slasher film Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, as well as two original concepts. Across the spooky site, there are special acts, street food, and a themed bar, as well as rides and creepy carnival games at the Phantom Funfair.<\/p>\n

\"texas <\/p>\n

Remaining in the UK, Alton Towers\u2019 brand collaborations for its Scarefest<\/strong><\/a> experience have increased visitor footfall and sales. In 2024, Larry Roles<\/strong>, then marketing director at the resort, told Graham Speak<\/a><\/strong>, for blooloop.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen the benefit of IP and brand partnerships firsthand, adding value, credibility, and appeal to Scarefest,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhilst not a new concept for us, the type of IP partners we have engaged has broadened to help us expand our reach, awareness, and loyalty among our guests. Endorsement from influential brands and media partners is key to increasing our visibility and reputation among our existing and potential guests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Themed food, beverage and retail<\/p>\n

Themed F&B and retail is another way to drive revenue via Halloween events. Operators like Disney and Universal already provide a wide selection of themed and branded food, drinks and products during the autumn months. Disney parks<\/strong><\/a>, for instance, release a range of limited-edition drink sippers, popcorn buckets and more, allowing guests to accessorise their F&B purchases.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, both companies continue to enhance their offerings in a competitive market. This year, Disneyland Paris has added a new F&B experience to its Halloween event with the Unlucky Nugget Saloon<\/strong><\/a>, inspired by the iconic Phantom Manor attraction.<\/p>\n

\"disneyland Disneyland Paris unveils Phantom Manor-themed F&B experience for Halloween <\/p>\n

Thomas Levert<\/strong>, graphic designer at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, said: “We aimed to reflect the signature style and essence of Phantom Manor through festively haunted d\u00e9cor, an unsettling lighting mood, and a soundtrack inspired by the attraction\u2019s iconic melodies \u2013 rearranged specially for the occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n

At Universal Studios Hollywood, a new Slash-themed F&B outlet<\/strong><\/a> has joined the Halloween Horror Nights lineup. The bar is serving cocktails based on Slash’s music, including the Danse of the Dead and Beautiful Dangerous drinks, while the menu includes some of Slash\u2019s favourite foods, plus a cake based on his signature top hat.<\/p>\n

\"halloween <\/p>\n

In the UK, \u201cdemand for limited-edition merchandise can be strong\u201d, Roles told blooloop. \u201cFor example, our partnership with [YouTuber] Daz Games last year drove merchandise sales far beyond our expectations. This is a great insight for our future developments,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Blending trends: fear meets wellness<\/p>\n

If extra dates, extreme experiences and brand activations aren\u2019t cutting it, operators might consider a distinctive concept, like SeaWorld Orlando did with its Howl-O-Sprint 5K run<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now in its second year, Howl-O-Sprint 5K combines two major trends in the attractions industry \u2013 enhanced Halloween events and wellness experiences. SeaWorld describes the race as \u201cthe only nighttime terror run of its kind\u2026 where relentless creatures stalk your every step and whispers of curses hang in the air\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"seaworld <\/p>\n

“Race past roller coasters haunted by unspeakable horrors. Navigate eerie landscapes and harrowing scare zones lurking in the park\u2019s darkest corners,” SeaWorld Orlando\u2019s website says. <\/p>\n

“Every stride is a fight-or-flight moment… and the finish line may be your only escape.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Speaking to Graham Speak for blooloop in 2024, Martin Goymour, owner of Roarr! and PrimEvil, Norfolk\u2019s award-winning scare…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":523640,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4106],"tags":[146710,106752,15080,116898,4022,1583,2826,79,138086,16,15,659],"class_list":{"0":"post-523639","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-golf","8":"tag-active-play","9":"tag-attraction-design","10":"tag-attractions-technology","11":"tag-competitive-socialising","12":"tag-design","13":"tag-gaming","14":"tag-golf","15":"tag-sports","16":"tag-themed-entertainment","17":"tag-uk","18":"tag-united-kingdom","19":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115426748255596778","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=523639"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523639\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/523640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=523639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=523639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=523639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}