Central Florida’s fall event calendar gets busier tonight, with SeaWorld Orlando opening its separately ticketed Howl-O-Scream season while Disney and Universal operate their own after-dark Halloween events. The weekend also brings a useful planning deadline: Disney’s next Hollywood Studios experience opens Monday, and both major resorts have new dates or ticket offers that may change how visitors budget the rest of 2026 and early 2027.

Five things to plan around

• SeaWorld Orlando’s Howl-O-Scream begins tonight, Sept. 11. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the event starts at 7 p.m.; daytime admission does not include the event.
• The Magic of Disney Animation opens Monday, Sept. 14. The Hollywood Studios project adds several animation-focused experiences inside the reworked courtyard.
• Universal has a new $255 Florida resident ticket. It covers three nonconsecutive days at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe through Dec. 23, subject to the offer’s terms.
• Three major Halloween events are in play tonight. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Halloween Horror Nights and SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream all require separate admission.
• Early-2027 planning has started. Disney has released new lodging offers, After Hours sales windows and EPCOT festival dates, while Universal has placed several fall and winter dates on the near-term calendar.

Walt Disney World

The most immediate daytime change is at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where The Magic of Disney Animation is scheduled to open Monday, Sept. 14. The reimagined Animation Courtyard’s outdoor areas are already open, but Monday is the date for the main slate: Drawn to Wonderland, Off the Page!, Olaf Draws! and a Once Upon a Studio theater presentation. Families visiting this weekend should treat Monday as the first operating day, not assume a soft opening. Our full Disney World update has the experience-by-experience breakdown.

For tonight, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party runs at Magic Kingdom from 7 p.m. to midnight, with party-ticket entry beginning at 4 p.m. It is a separately ticketed event. Day guests should check the official operating calendar before heading to Magic Kingdom late in the afternoon, because party nights change the rhythm of the park and compress regular admission hours.

Disney’s newly released 2027 information matters most to travelers pricing winter and spring stays. Current offers include savings of up to $250 per night on select four-night, four-day packages for stays from Jan. 3 through July 28, plus room-only discounts on select dates. Resort guests can already buy tickets for announced 2027 Disney After Hours dates; general sales begin Sept. 22. EPCOT has also placed the International Festival of the Arts on Jan. 15–March 1 and the International Flower & Garden Festival on March 10–May 31. Availability, qualifying hotels and blackout dates vary, so compare the offer against the room and ticket mix you actually need.

Universal Orlando

Florida residents now have a three-day, three-park ticket priced at $255 plus tax, valid through Dec. 23. The days do not have to be consecutive, and the offer includes Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe. Universal is also advertising savings of up to 35% on select hotel stays through Dec. 24. The practical comparison is not simply the headline price: check eligibility, excluded dates, parking and whether your preferred three days are covered before buying. See today’s Universal Orlando update for the offer terms and the rest of the fall calendar.

Halloween Horror Nights 35 continues tonight at Universal Studios Florida with 10 haunted houses, four scare zones and two shows. It is separately ticketed and is scheduled on select nights through Nov. 1. Guests trying to do both daytime parks and HHN should leave time for the transition into the event rather than building a plan around a last-minute cross-resort transfer.

Looking farther ahead, Universal Nights at Epic Universe is scheduled for Oct. 3, 17 and 24 and Nov. 6 and 20, with the Oct. 17 date reported sold out as of Sept. 2. Event hours are 9 p.m. to midnight, with entry beginning at 7 p.m. Universal has also announced Nov. 2 as the final day for Animal Actors on Location, while Rock the Universe returns Jan. 22–23, 2027; ticket sales are set to begin Sept. 15.

Around Central Florida

SeaWorld Orlando’s official Howl-O-Scream page lists select nights from Sept. 11 through Oct. 31, five haunted houses, six scare zones, two roaming hordes, five themed bars, nighttime rides and live entertainment. The event is intended for mature audiences, costumes are not permitted, and re-entry is prohibited. SeaWorld also bars bags larger than 8 by 5 inches at the event entrance, except qualifying medically necessary items in a clear bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches. The page currently displays single-night tickets starting at $47.99 under an offer ending Sept. 13, before taxes and fees; prices and availability can change by date.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opens its own Howl-O-Scream season tonight as well. The event starts at 7 p.m., with event-ticket access beginning at 5 p.m., and lists six haunted houses and six scare zones. Visitors considering both parks can compare individual tickets with the currently advertised $189.99 two-park unlimited option; it does not include daytime admission, parking, taxes or service fees.

What to know before you go

Check near-real-time posted waits across Florida parks before committing to a route. Select Walt Disney World, Universal or another individual park for a shorter, park-specific view. During Halloween Horror Nights, choose the dedicated “Universal Studios — HHN” selector to see available haunted-house waits rather than mixing them with daytime attraction data.

For the latest regional reporting in one place, visit The American Quorum’s Orlando Parks hub. Event details, prices and operating hours can change; verify the operator’s calendar and ticket terms on the day of your visit.

The American Quorum is an independent publication and is not affiliated with Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.