Dark Harbor - The Queen Mary’s Annual Halloween Haunt - Long Beach, CA

DARK HARBOR - September 27, 2018 - November 2, 2018

Dark Harbor is the Queen Mary’s annual Halloween haunt featuring 6 haunted mazes, a 4D theater experience, immersive attractions and live entertainment including hundreds of monsters.




A Darkness descends upon the Harbor in Long Beach, CA at the haunted Ship, Queen Mary. Starting September 27th, 2018. The Ringmaster's corrupt control of over 200 wicked monsters has them emerging from the darkness to inflict her will upon those brave enough enter the gates.

You'll have 23 nights, over 5 weeks to experience terror: September 27th – November 2nd, New mazes, nightly live entertainment, and haunted bars bring you an immersive experience.

Time Magazine has named Queen Mary as one of the “Top 10 most haunted places on Earth”. So you will be mixing theatrical encounters of the event with the possibility of a truly ghostly experience.

General Admission

Admission includes six terrorizing mazes and access to the nightly shows. Prices vary by date, but start at $29 Pre-Sale Online. Upgrades available.

Tickets on sale now! Use promo code EARLYRISER for 30% off before August 31st.

Stay Aboard the Ship for an Added Adventure

Book Now

If You Dare and stay aboard the Queen Mary during Dark Harbor Halloween event!

Stateroom B340 has a number of recorded paranormal activity with many stories of ghostly encounters noted, reports of Haunted Encounters date as far back as the final ocean voyage in 1967. These accounts include guests claims of someone knocking on the door in the middle of the night, bathroom lights turning on by themselves, faucets turning on and off on their own, and bathroom doors shutting. Some guests have even reported the blankets of their bed being pulled off while sleeping and waking to see a dark figure.

Use promo code NIGHT for rates starting at $85/night*
Valid online only at Queenmary.com
 Valid Sunday - Thursday, September 27 - November 2, 2018
*While availability lasts

Address: 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90802

For additional haunting information see their FAQS page.

Winter WonderFest at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, AZ

Winter WonderFest

Bring the entire family to Winter WonderFest and experience Chandler, AZ's own North Pole at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

You and your children can write a letter to Santa, create ornaments for your tree in Santa's Workshop and relax by a campfire and roast marshmallows while enjoying a s'more.

Shop holiday vendors at Front Porch Pickens Vintage & Handmade market.

2PM-10PM Every FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY from November 24th to December 24th 

Admission: Ages 3+  $20
Children under 2 are free

Purchase Tickets 

Parking is not included in the ticket price and is $5 per car.

Admission price includes a visit with Santa in his house, a visit with the Queen in her Ice Castle, a ride on Santa's sleigh, writing a letter to Santa, and a light display. There are also various free backyard games like giant Jenga, giant Connect Four and Corn Hole Bean Bag Toss.

Southwest Digital Photography will be onsite to capture your memories with Santa and the Ice Queen at an additional cost. There is no obligation to buy, your child is free to see Santa or visit with the Ice Queen without purchase. No photos with personal devices are allowed.

S'mores: for $10 dollars get  a s'mores kit that makes 4 s'mores while sitting at a fire.

Participation Tickets for additional attractions not included in the above admission can be purchased; 25 tickets for $20. Extra attractions are 1-9 tickets.

• Including a 45 foot high inflatable slide and 185 foot long inflatable obstacle course.
• Zip Line: $9 (9 tickets) - Use the spiral staircase to get to the top of a 34 foot zip-line tower and then zip-line 300 feet.

Consider a VIP ticket ($49) to cut costs. VIP package includes a commemorative lanyard, grants you access to private area with tents, private portable toilets, tables, and seating.

• Private fire pits and s'mores for everyone (save $10) 
• The VIP area will also have its own Santa.
• 1 drink ticket good for soda, water, coffee, or hot chocolate (save $3 -$5)
• 1 ticket for food at one of the food vendors (save approx $11)
• Kids get access to all five craft tables (save $10) 
• write a letter to santa
• roll out clay and stamp out and customize a gingerbread man
• create a snowflake glitter ornament
• create a custom chalkboard ornament
• make your very own Christmas stocking
• 1 ride on both the Ferris Wheel and carousel (save $7)
• 10 tickets for inflatable attractions (save $10)

Winter WonderFest
WILD HORSE PASS MOTORSPORTS PARK
20000 S Maricopa Rd, Chandler, AZ 85226

My two Cents

First I want to say, we did have fun and it was the first day of the event, but in the end price VS value was lacking compared to Lights of the World 2017 or Illumination - Holiday drive-thru light show.

Pros

It is spread out and so when it gets crowded it does not feel like you will lack personal space. We also did not have an issue finding a place to sit and eat. Overall both the kids (tweens) and adults enjoyed themselves.

Cons

Overall the website in my opinion oversells the event and what is available as well as what you get for basic admission and I was underwhelmed when we arrived. Most pictures on the website are not of the actual event.

"Walk down Candy Cane lane and explore a life size Gingerbread House light display unlike anything you've ever seen. Candy Cane fences will tempt you to take a bite at each turn in this magical land. Become a Princess for the day when you enter the Ice Castle where you can visit and get your picture taken with the beautiful Ice Queen who has created an enchanting manor for all to experience. "

Be prepared to spend: parking, rides, food, drink, crafts,s'mores and gifts all cost extra. Food ranges from $7-$15 and drinks from $3 to $6, so for a kid to eat and drink will be about $10 and an adult up to $21. Rides are $1 to $9. We spent about $250 for a family of 5 for the kids to ride and us all to eat and would have got slightly more for the same $250 with 5 VIP tickets.

Read their FAQS page for more information: http://www.winterwonderfestaz.com/faq/

"With holiday music and local performances" Could not hear music except over by the adult beverages and no live performance.

"light display unlike anything you've ever seen" Display was about what most people have in their yards during December.

More like 30 vendors (including food trucks), not 50 and I counted 11 inflatable rides, not 20.

Again, this was opening night and there may be more to come.

________________________________________________________________
Winter Wonderfest posted an apology to guests who participated in opening night.

Illumination - Phoenix Arizona Holiday drive-thru light show

Illumination Symphony of Light invites you and your family to experience Arizona’s largest Christmas drive through holiday light show, fully synchronized to your favorite holiday music. Come enjoy the 1-mile long attraction featuring millions of holiday lights.

They are located in Phoenix right off the I-17 and Jomax; just minutes north of the 101 and within 30 minutes of Scottsdale, Phoenix and Glendale areas.

The attraction will run nightly from November 15th, 2017 to January 14th, 2018.  Enjoy 14 acres of, state of the art, holiday lights and displays. The holiday attraction cost is as little as $29.50 per car and a percent of the proceeds benefits local charities.

The fun doesn’t end there, after the 1-mile drive through experience, get your family and friends out of the car to stroll around the Holiday Boulevard; a park. Play and eat in the interactive walking area which includes bounce houses, food trucks, selfie stations and other holiday experiences to create unforgettable memories.

They have developed (4) 800 foot queue lines for when enter from the service road, this can handle approximately 300 cars at one time. The check-in Elves will scan your ticket and keep the lines moving, doing their best to keep wait times down to a minimum.

You can print your ticket at home and bring it or you can keep it on your phone to scan at the entrance. The journey through Illumination will take on average of 25 minutes in the car.  Once your journey through Illumination is complete, you can stay and visit the “Holiday Boulevard” where you park, play, eat and visit Santa’s Village.

Operation Hours:

Nightly From November 14th 2017 – January 14th 2018
Monday – Thursday: 6:00PM – 10:30PM
Friday – Sunday & Holidays: 6:00PM – 11:30PM

Location: 27701 N. Black Canyon Highway Phoenix, AZ 85085
Contact: 602-567-3618 or by email info@worldofillumination.com

Admission:

They recommend you purchase tickets online for $29.50, Only One Ticket Per Vehicle with up to 8 People!

All ticket sales are final and non-refundable and are valid only for the date designated on the ticket. Time slots are sold for 60 minute increments. Though you will choose a preferred time of attendance at check-out, your ticket will be honored anytime during our operating hours on the day it is scheduled for!

In the event of extreme weather (heavy rain, high winds, etc.) they may need to temporarily close the event for safety reasons.  If this happens they will reschedule your ticket to another date/time free of charge.

They cannot guarantee availability of drive-up tickets which cost $35.00 per vehicle.

Discount Tickets:

Every Thursday in November and December they will give you a discount for bringing nonperishable food items for St. Mary’s Food Bank. You will receive one dollar off your admission per item, up to $5. for every item you donate to .

They have also partnered with Phoenix Children’s Hospital this holiday season and plan on holding several on site fundraisers in efforts to benefit various other non-profits in the Arizona who need all of our help throughout the year.

Illumination Symphony of Light Holiday Giveaways

Enter to Win: The Illumination team will draw winners and announce on their Facebook page:

100 Free Tickets (November 15th – 30th)
4th Place $50 (November 22nd)
3rd Place $100  (November 29th)
2nd Place $250 (December 6th)
1st Place $500 (December 25th)

For more Fantastic light displays this Christmas Season, visit Lights of the World

Illumination, Symphony of Light is now World of Illumination

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