The Walking Dead House Terrorizes at Halloween Horror Nights

 

If you’ve ever been to Halloween Horror Nights you know the streets are not a safe place to recover from the horror of the haunted houses. But this year, the horrific creatures seemed to be everywhere you turn. In fact, we were half expecting them to jump behind pillars and walls while we waited in line for rides and even sneak up on us as we ordered tater tots from the “Twisted Tater” station. And while we scurried into ride lines to avoid the evil beings who relentlessly popped up in our faces or secretly stood behind us in a creepy fashion before we noticed them, it was one particular haunted house that really made us jump, and scream, and dig our nails into each other’s arms. It was The Walking Dead haunted house.

The Walking Dead house seems like the most popular haunted house this year and rightly so. The wait times can vary throughout the night, but if you find them to be too long; you can always wait until near closing time and enter the queue, so you don’t spend valuable HHN prime time in line. If you can get into a queue line before closing, you can finish that house. As we anxiously wait to encounter “walkers,” we were entertained with bloodied nurses offering Jell-O shots in blood bags, the ability to watch the 20 Penny Circus in the next area and scenes from the first two seasons of The Walking Dead as it projected off of the top of a building. Half way through the line we were treated to a sneak peak of the “walkers” as more than a dozen shuffled past us in what we could only conclude was a “walker” shift change. The makeup was incredible! Gaping holes, bloodied hands and faces, scratches, rotten teeth, and tattered clothing made up the majority of the undead and most kept in character, dragging their legs and feet, snarling at us as they passed. Even without the background of a post-apocalyptic world, it was terrifying to watch them and many of us backed up, bumping in to each other as they passed us. Finally, it was our turn to test out our speed and dodge the undead and we did so successfully but not without hurt vocal chords, racing hearts and even a few bruises on each other’s arms from holding on too tight. 

Just outside and right before you enter the house lay several bloodied bodies in body bags, hinting that we’ll first walk through a hospital just like Rick does in the first season of The Walking Dead. Once you enter the horror starts immediately as you are ushered into a hospital overrun with “walkers” and see the words “Don’t Open Dead Inside” spray-painted on the double doors. It looks eerily like the set from the movie as you fight off the undead popping out from every turn. As you shuffle through you’ll come across the iconic “bicycle girl” who was often the “walker” used for a The Walking Dead commercial as she dug herself on the ground without legs desperately trying to reach Rick as he past her. You’ll also encounter scenes from the Department store and rooftop where Rick and his crew try to hide out from the “walkers.” Here there are touches from Season 1 to make this portion of the haunted house even more real including Rick's Sheriffs' bag full of guns, bunny slippers in the department store (same pair the little walker girl Rick encountered in the pilot episode,) Merle's severed hand, a bloody saw from when Merle cut off his hand, the rest of Dale’s tools, and a chopper that looks like Daryl’s ride.

The next thing you know you’re walking past the iconic RV that also looks like it’s from the set where you hear gunshots and screams echoing from within, and eventually you make your way into Hershel’s “walker”- infested barn from Season 2 where “walkers” lunge for you through fences and behind haystacks trying to desperately evoke blood-curdling screams from you. They tend to succeed. Also, keep your eyes peeled for the famous Well Walker! 

After your escape through Hershel’s barn, it’s the end of the house, but there are still a few more surprises.  You’ll come across a school bus and the supplies for Sophia left on the hood of a station wagon. There will also be walking lurking around in this area. They’re fun for photos, scares, and just overall awesome ambiance. 

Check out some more photos in the area:

Some never learn to play nice.

No place is safe; be careful who you sit next to.

They’ll get right in your face.

They are always hungry for more.

They’re quick when they want to be.

Be careful on the way out.

The crew from BestofOrlando.com had a chance to become scareactors during the opening weekend of the event and have all the details as they take you behind the scenes. Be sure to keep an eye out for our Ultimate Guide to Halloween Horror Nights 2012 to get all of your burning questions answered. And if you’re looking to test your scare threshold, pick up discounted Halloween Horror Nights 2012 tickets right here on BestofOrlando.com.