Scream N’ Stream: a Socially-Distanced Halloween Event

So, what does a drive-thru haunted house actually look like? We got to visit Scream N’ Stream’s media night to find out! Scream n’ Stream is one of Orlando’s first drive-thru haunted attractions. Designed as a socially-distanced alternative to traditional haunted houses, all characters are wearing masks and your car provides an additional physical barrier for maximum comfort and safety. Scream N’ Stream also provides a food and drink area, meet and greets with the Fog Queen, and a large outdoor space for distanced socializing.

Night At The Die-In

When we arrived at Scream N’ Stream, we followed the signs and cones to find the check in area. We remained in our car and waited to be approached. A team member asked to see my driver’s license and directed us where to enter the haunt. (All drivers must have their license and current insurance information available for Scream n’ Stream’s inspection.)

When it was our turn, we were led into a white tent where an employee explained the rules. These rules include but are not limited to:

• All cars must maintain a speed limit of 3mph.
• No honking or engine revving. This is seen as aggressive behavior.
• You must have a valid license and active vehicle insurance enter.
• If your windows are down, your mask must be worn properly (covering the nose and secured underneath the chin).
• Stay in your car during the entire experience.

The only time you could get out of your car, we were told, was to take a picture with the giant “movie screen” gateway. We were offered one of these photos and accepted. It ended up being a pretty confusing experience, however. We were instructed to drive as close to the movie screen as possible and park our car. We thought that the photographer would meet us there, but we weren’t able to find her once we arrived at the screen. Eventually, we gave up and continued to drive inside the haunt to begin our journey.

Don’t worry. NO SPOILERS will be given in this review.

From the Scream ‘N Stream website, here’s the story of Night At The Die-In:

The year is 1997. A group of teenagers break into the abandoned Lakeside Drive-In Theater on the edge of town on a dare. They’ve heard rumors that people go missing at the abandoned Drive-In, but they dismiss these as urban legends. After a few hours of goofing around, they head back to their car to discover that it won’t start. The fuel line has been cut. The group of teens realize they are not alone. Hours from town on foot, with no way to get help, the teenagers are forced to work together to escape. Except someone is out there, lurking in the shadows. Watching them. Waiting for a chance to terrorize their victims.

Driving through the haunt was a little confusing. There are red and green lights to signal the driver when they are expected to stop and when it is ok to move forward. However, there weren’t clear markings as to exactly where your vehicle was supposed to stop within the scene. Overall, I found it pretty stressful and confusing to navigate the show. ​​

Logistics aside, I was impressed by the acting, sets, and costumes throughout the haunt. All of the actors were super into their roles. You could tell they were giving it their all, and they sold it! Despite some weather-related challenges earlier in the day (at least three effects weren’t working during our run due to damages from a storm and technical difficulties), the actors remained in character and adapted their scenes as necessary.

We spent about twenty minutes driving through the haunt. There were a variety of different scenes that worked together to move the story forward. While I’ll admit I had a hard time following all the details, I think part of that was due to the damage the sets and effects sustained earlier in the day. It was still a sufficiently creepy and a pandemic-friendly alternative for those uncomfortable visiting walk-thru haunted houses!

A Tale of Two Drive-Thrus: Scream n’ Stream vs The Haunted Road

Meet The Fog Queen

After enjoying Night At The Die-In, we parked our cars (As an added bonus – parking is complimentary!) and headed into the Boggy Bottom BBQ Restaurant to see their food offerings and meet the fog queen. Most of the food and drink was done when we arrived (though I hear they serve their own version of Pizza Fries), but we did get to experience a short audience with the Queen. Here she is explaining some of her backstory and character:

The Fog Queen looks amazing! She stayed on stage for several minutes, actively trying to interact with the audience. While she is not featured in the Night At The Die-In, her story and presence add a creepy vibe to the “stationary” portions of the event.

Haunted Air Boat Rides

It was too windy to run the boats during our visit. Under normal circumstances, however, guests will be able to purchase tickets to a 20-minute, haunted airboat ride. During this journey, you’ll find nocturnal animals – like alligators- and listen to ghost stories and legends of the lake. Tickets are $25 per person. While you will probably need to ride with other parties, social distancing will still be in effect.

Freaky Thoughts: Scream N’ Stream

Scream N’ Stream was a super fun, socially-distanced option for Halloween. Especially for those uncomfortable going through an indoor or walk-thru haunted house, it’s a satisfying pandemic alternative. As an added bonus, a percentage of Scream n’ Stream’s profits will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank. So a night at Scream N’ Stream is fun AND benefits the local community!

Scream N’ Stream tickets start at $57 per car. Cars can have a maximum of 8 passengers, but every person is required to have a seatbelt. Buy your ticket, and find more information at their website!