| Halloween Horror Nights Orlando attraction | |
|---|---|
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| Midway of the Bizarre | |
| Attraction type | Scarezone |
| Events | Halloween Horror Nights V Halloween Horror Nights VI Halloween Horror Nights VII Halloween Horror Nights VIII Halloween Horror Nights IX Halloween Horror Nights XI |
| Park | Universal Studios Florida |
| Area | Amity |
| Years | 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 |
| Housed in | Amity |
| Based on | Original |
| Preceded By | Midway of the Bizarre (1993) |
| Followed by | Midway of the Bizarre (2004) |
Midway of the Bizarre was a scarezone that was featured during many different years of Halloween Horror Nights Orlando. It first appeared in 1995 in Amity and appeared there from 1996 to 1999. In 2000 it was replaced by Midway of Dr. Morose, but returned the following year in 2001. It was succeeded by two versions that had the same name, but very different presentation.
History and Location[]
Due to the success of the concept of a scarezone from Halloween Horror Nights IV, Universal decided to add an extra scarezone the following year. This scarezone would be located in the Amity area of the park, which was an area modeled after the fictional island in which the first two JAWS films were set. The scarezone would feature many different clowns and carnival freaks. The scarezone proved to be a huge hit with guests, and would return for many years afterward.
After The Festival of the Dead Parade was added in 1996, this scarezone became the only scarezone at the event for four years, as it was away from the parade route.
After going through a few minor changes from 1996-1999, the scarezone was renamed toMidway of Dr. Morose in 2000. This scarezone would largely be the same as the Midway of the Bizarre.
In 2001, the scarezone would return, but due to the 9/11 terror attacks, the scarezone was reduced in scale. This scarezone would also be the last official scarezone to be located in Amity.
The name Midway of the Bizarre would return in 2004, this time located in The Boneyard. This scarezone was relatively different than the original ones, as it featured parade floats and a story influenced by the movie "Something Wicked This Way Comes".
Description (1995)[]
Evil is everywhere! You're at the mercy of this fiendish carnival of "scareactors"!
Description (1996)[]
Take a walk on the wild side of a sinister traveling carnival filled with killer clowns and crazed sideshow freaks gone wild.
Description (1997)[]
Beware the knife-wielding clowns and horrifying sideshow acts. Try your luck and win a prize, or lose your life.
Description (1998)[]
Hurry, hurry, hurry! Step right up and try your luck! Win a prize or lose your life! Enter the world's most stupendous collection of horrifying games of skill. Come one, come all. Win a prize and take it home to Mummy!
Description (1999)[]
Enter the world's most stupendous collection of horrifying sideshow acts and game of skill.
Step right up and try your luck on the most sinister sideshow games of skill ever created. Win a prize or lose your life! Hurry, Hurry, Hurry!
Experience[]
This scarezone was modeled after a carnival, with scareactors portraying carnival misfits. According to some sources, guests could actually win prizes here. Many bright colors appeared in this scarezone for a disorienting effect.
In 1995, Baron Samedi and a variety of skeletons appeared in this scarezone. There was also a ringmaster and various "pitch and kill" games.
The 1996 edition was reportedly very similar to the 1995 one.
The 1997 version added carnival games.
The 1998 version was said to have been bigger than the previous incarnations. Also, the entrance sign changed from just the words "The Midway of the Bizarre" to a banner depicting the top of the event mascot's (the face pushing its way through a yellow curtain) face in which guests enter below its upper jaw.
In 1999, one of the performers was a tall contortionist fitting himself into a 3x3x3 cube and remaining in there for some time. There was also a carnival game where the goal was to thrown an alien embryo to knock over milk bottles.
In 2001, the scarezone would become much smaller in scale due to the 9/11 terror attacks. A giant banner indicating the entrance to the scarezone was created and hung in Amity. Most of the clowns would hold cans that they would shake in order to make a rattling noise.
Pictures[]
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Website Pictures[]
Videos[]
- Video of the 1996 Scarezone 25:19-26:41
- A Video of the 1998 Scarezone 14:30-18:11 and 23:17-25:50
- Another Video of the 1998 Scarezone 11:30-14:00
- 2001 Home Video 1 (23:55-24:42)
- 2001 Home Video 2 (38:00-40:10) and (1:05:35-1:06:50)
Soundtrack[]
Trivia[]
- This scarezone is the first and last scarezone that was located in Amity.
- The theme from the Italian horror movie Suspiria would play in this scarezone.
| Halloween Horror Nights V |
|---|
| Characters: The Cryptkeeper |
| Haunted Houses: Cryptkeeper's Dungeon of Terror • Terror Underground: Transit to Torment • Universal's House of Horror |
| Scarezones: Horrorwood Blvd • Midway of the Bizarre |
| Shows: Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure IV • Rock of Ages • The Price is Fright • Crypt Keeper's Revenge: The Knights of Hell |
| Halloween Horror Nights VI |
|---|
| Characters: The Cryptkeeper |
| Haunted Houses: The Crypt Keeper's Studio Tour of Terror • Toy Hell: Nightmare in the Scream Factory • Universal's New House of Horrors |
| Scarezone: Midway of the Bizarre |
| Shows: Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure • The Crypt Keeper's Festival of the Dead Parade • Tricks, Treats, & Trances • Welcome to My Nightmare |
| Halloween Horror Nights VII |
|---|
| Characters: Eyegore |
| Haunted Houses: Hotel Hell • Tombs of Terror • Universal's Museum of Horror |
| Scarezone: Midway of the Bizarre |
| Shows: Abra-Cadaver • Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure VI: The Final Frontier • Festival of the Dead Parade • Frightmares |
| Halloween Horror Nights IX |
|---|
| Characters: The Mummy (Event Icon) • Norman Bates |
| Haunted Houses: Doomsday • Insanity • The Mummy • Psycho: Through the Mind of Norman Bates • Universal's Creature Features in 3-D |
| Scarezones: Midway of the Bizarre |
| Shows: Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure VIII • Festival of the Dead Parade • Deadly D'Illusions • Tricks or Treats: Dead Man's Party |
| Halloween Horror Nights XI |
|---|
| Characters: Jack the Clown (Event Icon) • Eddie Schmidt (Scrapped Icon) |
| Haunted Houses: The Mummy Returns: The Curse Continues • Pitch Black • Run • Scary Tales • Superstitions |
| Scarezones: Midway of the Bizarre • Nightmare Alley • The Unknown |
| Shows: Boogeymen • Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure • Dangerous D'Illusions • Nightmares on Parade |
| Other Entertainment: The Ooze Zone |