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Getting Spooky in Kissimmee: 5 Hair-Raising Vacation Activities

Halloween is extra scary in Kissimmee! Discover spooky Central Florida fun from amusement parks to haunted houses.

People entering Mortem Manor, a haunted house in Old Time Kissimmee

Mortem Manor, a haunted Victorian mansion in Old Town Kissimmee

It doesn’t take a ghostly guide to know that there are many thrills and chills in Central Florida. While Halloween is one of the most fun holidays to experience here, these thrills are here year-round. If a little fright is your idea of fun, check out these hair-raising activities during your upcoming Kissimmee vacation any time of year! 

Step Inside Mortem Manor

Do you have what it takes to creep your way through one of the scariest haunted houses in America? Then pay a visit to Mortem Manor in Old Town Kissimmee. But be warned, you’re in for a fright with every step in this two-story villainous Victorian. Witches, warlocks, and chainsaw-wielding weirdos haunt the darkened halls here, so carry a flashlight. (Don’t worry, the folks at the Manor will provide one. They’re not monsters, after all.) If you manage to make it out alive — or, at the very least, undead — take the terror a step further and experience Last Ride, Mortem Manor’s buried-alive simulator. Get ready for a ghoulishly good time!

Make Your Heart Zip a Beat

Does the idea of hanging around above a pool of prehistoric predators get your pulse pounding? Then strap into the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line at Gatorland. There are plenty of gators, and you’re sure to be screaming!

The zip line takes you over some of Gatorland’s biggest stars, including the Cuban and Nile crocodiles, but that’s just the appetizer. The main course comes when you soar over the alligator breeding marsh, where just about 130 alligators will be watching you from below.

Check Out the Ghosts With the Most

If you’re in the mood for an iconic thrill, stop by the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park. Here, nearly 999 happy haunts are on hand to welcome you — from the Phantom Five singing quintet in the graveyard to Constance Hatchaway. There are even a few hitchhiking ghosts who would love nothing more than to follow you home.

You’ll see them all while cruising through the mansion in a special “doom” buggy. At some point, the Ghost Host guiding you through the mansion might even suggest there’s room for one more. You’ll have to be on your way though, there are just so many more thrills to have here in Kissimmee!

Cross Over to...The Twilight Zone

Looking for a (literal) hair-raising chill? Check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel, better known as The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Tower of Terror will take you on an unforgettable experience on a most uncommon elevator. Keep an eye out for spooky specters, strange phenomena, and a powerful lightning storm, as you strap in and hold on tight. The journey to the Twilight Zone may just send you on the ride of an (after) lifetime!

Oh, and if you decide that maybe the Hollywood Tower Hotel isn’t the right spot for you, we have plenty of (ghost-free) accommodations to choose from here in Kissimmee.

Revenge is a Dish Best Served Fast

High-speed scares, pitch-black plunges, and ancient evils: When it comes to serious thrills, “Mummy” knows best. Inspired by The Mummy film series, Revenge of the Mummy takes you away from Universal Studios Florida for what appears to be a friendly tour of a film set. Looks can be deceiving, however, when you quickly find yourself on an exhilarating ride through the Tomb of Imhotep — a mean-spirited mummy whose main interests include stealing souls and putting curses on visitors (maybe we should have mentioned that before the ride began).

As you make your way through the tomb, be prepared for marching mummies, scary scarab beetles, and some seriously frightening fog. Or is that smoke? And is that...fire? Buckle up and consider holding on tight to "somemummy" you love.

Take a Ride on the Wild Side

If you want to get a little bit wild on your thrilling vacation, try Wild Florida. After all, “wild” is right there in the name! Here, you’ll be spirited away on an awesome airboat tour of Central Florida’s famed swamps, marshes, and rivers. Along the way, you might just see a few Florida residents in their natural habitat, including gators, eagles, and more. For a truly special (and maybe even spooky) experience, head out on a nighttime airboat ride to catch a glimpse of Kissimmee’s nocturnal animals.

Thrills, chills, fun, and frights — it’s all just another day in Kissimmee! Whether you’re looking for a seasonal scare or a little year-round fear, you’re sure to find it here. For more delightfully thrilling vacation ideas, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.