After 10 years of haunting the west coast, the team behind Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor brings their unique brand of scares to the Orlando area. Orlando is no stranger to Halloween-themed events, but with the advertisements that Dark Horizon was going to be the first “west coast-style haunt on the east coast,” it seemed like guests were in for a new and exciting experience to check out. Dark Horizon is located in the backlot of the Holiday Inn Suites Orlando Resort – Waterpark (formerly where the Nickelodeon Hotel had been). I did wonder exactly how they’d take guests out of that “hotel-feeling” location, but the second that the intimidating gates swing open, guests are immediately swept up in the ambiance of the place, surrounded by a bunch of characters – whether it be threatening pirates looking for new recruits, or the Voodoo Queen herself enchanting another helpless victim.

It’s easy to see that Dark Horizon wants guests to explore and enjoy the entire experience. In addition to their haunted attractions, they have several themed bars (Walk the Plank is my particular favorite, featuring the delicious Killigrew’s Punch), many stage shows (the aerial show is worth watching multiple times), and a myriad of characters roaming the grounds. It’s easy to spend a ton of time walking around and exploring everything they have to offer. Of course, after all that fun, there are the three haunts to check out.

Ghostship

Ghostship is the first haunted house when entering Dark Horizon. As soon as guests climb aboard the phantom ship, they are met with Captain Killigrew’s crew. Some are just drunk buccaneers, but others are vicious cutthroats looking to make unworthy guests walk the plank. As guests are led through the space, the tight wooden corridors and raucous crew really enhance the feeling of being aboard a pirate ship. One of the main attractions of Ghostship is the secret bar inside its bowels. To gain access, guests will need a special coin found around Dark Horizon – particularly by interacting with the scare-actors, who can give clues to its whereabouts. The bar has special themed cocktails, including the “Point of No Return” named after the event. The other extremely fun element in Ghostship is near the end – a slide at the top of the ship. I suggest staying at the top for a few minutes to interact with the Captain, and watch a few people take the plunge. It’s a good time.

During my time at Dark Horizon, this was the only time I witnessed the “Terror Up” experience. This upgrade in interactivity is offered to random guests, who are given an amulet that encourages scare-actors to pay extra attention to them, as well as unlocks new situations. During Ghostship, as we were walking through the brig, we saw a Terror Up participant locked inside one of the cells. This is likely just one of many extra experiences that the amulet grants.

Vodou

Vodou welcomes guests into a fog-covered marketplace where fish vendors hawk their wares. From there, guests travel to the spirit island of Vilokan. Vodou is the least scary of the three haunts, focusing more on atmosphere and mood rather than loading it with numerous jump-scares. The lingering fog and special effects expertly combine to evoke the feeling that voodoo spirits could be lingering and waiting around every corner. While we didn’t see Mambo Cecile, the priestess associated with Vodou, within the haunt itself, every guest’s experience is likely to be different. However, the maze could definitely benefit from more scare-actors. This is a very strong house aesthetically, so guests would be wise to go through a few times to take in all the little details.

Murder Island

Murder Island was easily my favorite haunted house of the night. After entering the maze, guests are quickly guided into the Everglades, the site of killer “Bloody Ed Watson’s” murders. Here, park-goers are met with other murderers calling for guests’ heads, and the victims of Ed Watson begging for help in stopping the killer’s evil deeds. Murder Island has the most frightening and brutal scenes of the three houses, and the most engaging scare-actors; they get up close and personal, providing for some exceptionally spooky moments. The final scene, with Ed Watson himself, provides the scariest and goriest moment of Dark Horizon. Multiple trips through Murder Island will ensure that guests see everything this attraction has to offer.

Final Thoughts

Dark Horizon: Point of No Return might be small, only having three mazes, but it brings a level of interactivity that is new to the area. With the additional stage performances including fire-breathers and DJs, themed cocktails, secret bars, and entertaining scare-actors, Dark Horizon is a truly unique experience. Guests might even be chosen for the “Terror Up” experience, giving them even more interactivity. It is certainly a memorable and special experience, especially if guests interact and play along with the scare-actors. With the specialty cocktails and party atmosphere of Dark Horizon, it seems like an event that’s geared more toward the 21+ group, though with all of the different events and interactions going on, Dark Horizon would be just as much fun for brave teens as it is for adults. 2019 is the inaugural year for Dark Horizon, and I can only hope that it returns to Orlando next year, bringing even more scares and fun with it! This is a must-see experience for anyone in Florida!

Dark Horizon: Point of No Return runs now through November 2nd. For more information, and to purchase tickets, check out their website, Instagram, and Facebook page. Check out our Event Guide for more Halloween and horror entertainment throughout the year.

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