Halloween Vacation Deal at Universal Orlando with Southwest Airlines

Anyone with kids knows that it’s never too early to start thinking about Halloween. Even older kids and teens (especially teens!), college students and those of us who are technically adults love to get into the spirit — get it, spirit? — of the spooky season. Now, there are plenty of fun Halloween casino events in Las Vegas, and more child-friendly Halloween activities in Minnesota, but it’s the theme parks that really pull out all the stops for entertaining Halloween-themed travel activities. Case in point: Orlando, Florida. The theme park capital of the world has great Halloween activities and attractions at its theme parks. One very popular Orlando theme park Halloween event is Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando. This year, Southwest Airlines has partnered with Universal Orlando for a notably good Halloween travel package deal.

The Halloween vacation deal is called the Halloween Horror Nights Combo Ticket Package: Book a package with Southwest Airlines Vacations and Universal Studios Orlando any time between now and October 27, 2011, and you’ll get an — ahem — thrilling travel experience. The package entails a flight plus hotel for 2- or 3-day Park to Park passes at Universal Orlando. Park to Park passes are like Disney’s Park Hoppers, for the smaller scale that is Universal Studios Orlando. That is to say, you’ll be able to travel freely between Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, which is where Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights lives during the most frightening season of the year.

Even better, guests who book this travel package and stay at one of the three on-site hotels can save up to 25% on the hotel portion of their Halloween vacation package, and as is always the case with guests of those property hotels, get first crack at the rides. Early park admission is part of the deal for those staying at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando, Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, and Loews Royal Pacific resort at Universal Orlando. I’ve done this before and believe me, it’s GREAT to be able to get there ahead of the crowds. During peak travel seasons, in fact, it’s the only way to reliably shave a significant amount of time off your wait to get into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Not for the faint of heart, Halloween Horror Nights events nights are September 23, September 29-30, October 2, October 6-7, October 10, October 13-14, October 16, October 19-21, October 23, October 26-28, and October 30-31 this year. The Park to Park combo tickets start at $205.

Since this is Southwest offering the vacation package, that means that first and second checked bags fly free — even golf bags. Free checked luggage is getting to be quite rare among airlines; thanks, Southwest. For complete details on this offer, please go to Southwest Vacations Deals. Happy haunting!