Shoppers have become accustomed to seeing Halloween decorations on store shelves as early as August, but theme parks are getting in on the Halloween trend earlier than ever before.
Disney, Six Flags and Universal plan to roll out a variety of attractions, live performances, merchandise, food and drink offerings at their parks this summer to capitalize on Halloween's growing popularity.
Big theme park operators are promoting holiday-themed attractions to boost attendance, which has slumped following a post-pandemic surge in demand as inflation-hit consumers pulled back on spending.
Edithan Ramey, chief marketing officer at Six Flags He told Reuters. The theme park introduced attractions based on the horror films “Saw” and “The Conjuring” last year, which saw an increase in attendance and guest spending, the company said.
These initiatives have been so successful that theme park companies are investing more in these Halloween experiences, Ramey said.
“It's just exploded during this time,” Ramey said. “It's become a billion-dollar industry in the last five years.”
Jacob Wall, CEO of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, said Halloween-themed attractions have become a big selling point for theme parks marketed to children and families.
“Halloween events are growing every year, not just in North America but around the world,” Wall told Reuters.
Disney Parks kicked off the Halloween season earlier than usual this year.
Mickey's Not So Scary Party, which features trick-or-treating, spooky decorations throughout the park and a ticketed Halloween-themed party, began on August 9 and will run until the end of October.
Disney said Oogie Boogie Bash, named after the Boogeyman from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” sold out in just 11 days this year.
The company moved up the release date from the original September 5th to August 25th.
“Over the past few years we've found that our guests want us to join them in enjoying the seasons,” Tracy Halasz, creative director for Disney Live Entertainment, told Reuters.
Six Flags, which typically offers scary movies for adults, will introduce the “Saw: Legacy of Terror” experience on September 14.
Other new attractions opening this year are based on the Netflix series “Stranger Things” and horror films such as “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “The Conjuring.”
Fright Fest, which takes place over several days, is known for its “Scare Zones” featuring live entertainers.
Six Flags introduced “Fright Fest Extreme” at its Southern California and New Jersey parks this year.
“It's the busiest time of the year nationwide so we wanted to make a big investment to make it as exciting as possible.” Ramey told USA Today:.
Ramey said the extreme experience was designed for “true thrill seekers.”
Comcast-owned Universal Studios is also capitalizing on the holiday cheer, planning to run “Halloween Horror Nights” from Aug. 30 through early November, making it the company's longest season yet.
Universal also plans to add a new Ghostbusters-themed haunted house and an attraction inspired by the horror film A Quiet Place.
