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2011 Theme Park Insider Tournament preview: Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights vs. Busch Gardens Tampa's Howl-O-Scream

By Robert Niles
Published: March 11, 2011 at 8:00 AM
On Monday, we'll be kicking off the first round of the 2011 Theme Park Insider Tournament: America's Best Theme Park Event. So starting today, we'll start previewing the match-ups. We'll preview two match-ups each day for round one, and you'll get to vote on those match-ups the following weekday.

In each preview thread, we'll offer some links to past coverage of the events here on Theme Park Insider, and invite you to add your thoughts in the comments. This is your chance to campaign for your favorites - and against their competition. ;^)

Post links to your online photo albums and videos from the events. Submit a trip report in the comments. Give your fellow readers the information that they need to make a decision. You don't need to have attended both events to vote - just pick the one your fellow readers have made sound most interesting to you.

Okay? Let's get it started, then. Up first, we've got a biggie: Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida versus Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa

Theme Park Insider's Domenik Jost visited both events last year. Hear are his reviews for Halloween Horror Nights and Howl-O-Scream. Or, you can watch his POV and RPOV videos from the two events, HHN first:

Voting starts on Monday morning at 10 Eastern, 7 Pacific, on the Theme Park Insider home page and will be open for 24 hours. Let the campaigning begin!

Update: And here's the link to vote.

Readers' Opinions

From Andy Milio on March 11, 2011 at 4:13 PM
Wait...where do we vote?
From 71.48.5.11 on March 11, 2011 at 8:27 PM
was really dissipointed in Horro Nights last year, they were noramlly so much better. Howl-O-Scream out did themsleves. So, now lets see what happens this year
From 24.94.118.20 on March 14, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Halloween Horror Nights vs. Howl-O-Scream: I believe both parks do very well for the product at hand. Clearly Universal has the budget to build new houses each year. The details of their sets are amazing, especially when they us themes from horror movies. However, Howl-O-Scream might use a lesser budget for their sets but concentrate on their scare actors. My opinion is the talent behind the scare is more important than the beauty of the haunted house. Yes, Busch repeats some haunted house but scares are effective. Universal have new houses but scares lack some energy by hind it. Yes, sometimes standing in long lines for NO scare experience can be upsetting, but the idea of Halloween isn’t competing theme park vs. theme park.

I don’t favor one park over another. It’s "to have fun" no matter what park you go to.

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