This year’s Halloween Horror Nights debuted a brand-new water projection and laser show called “Marathon of Mayhem.” I was very excited to see this show, as it promised “iconic scenes from top horror films, cult classics and TV shows.” Of course, the featured franchises are also the subject of many of this year’s haunted houses.
You can observe this show from anywhere around the Universal Studios lagoon, but the best view is offered on the show’s designated amphitheater-like area near KidZone. This area is broken into three large row sections with railing between each row. It’s important to point out there is no seating offered. It’s standing room only. The electrical boxes in the area even have a pyramid design as to discourage people from sitting on them. There is a designated wheelchair accessible area towards the back of this space.
I arrived about 30 minutes before the 10pm showing. I chose a spot in the middle row. As it got closer to show time, the amphitheater filled up with hundreds of people waiting for the show to start. Having secured a spot right against the railing, I didn’t have to worry about someone coming in and blocking my view.
Right at 9:55pm, the lights around the lagoon dimmed and the show began. The impressive water effects created a massive water screen that displayed some of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights favorites. The laser show that accompanied this production allowed for a mesmerizing view of the iconic Universal Monsters and Killer Klowns from Outer Space. The coordination between the water effects, laser projection on nearby buildings and sound was perfect, and fans cheered loudly when the familiar sounds of their beloved Stranger Things and Ghostbusters soundtracks began to play. I expected the finale to include fireworks (as Universal Studios Orlando has done in the past with other lagoon shows), but there were none.
The show runs for about 10 ½ minutes and has 3 showings every night: 10pm, 11pm, and 12am. Due to the amount of people, it took about 10 minutes to leave this area after the show was complete. Be sure to allow 25-30 minutes for this experience when planning your evening.
If you love water projection shows or the big franchises that were included, you won’t be disappointed. If you are sensitive to loud sounds or can’t stand for a long period of time, I recommend either skipping this show or catch it in another location around the lagoon. Overall, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and hope it comes back with new thrills next season.
You can see the entire show in the video below. Warning: the killer klowns look pretty creepy – even in a YouTube video. 🙂
