What: Eternal Rest package
Where: Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando
When: Through Nov. 2, 2002
Includes:
- One-night stay for two in a "guaranteed" haunted hotel room
- One-night admission for two to Halloween Horror Nights at Islands of Adventure
- A souvenir photo
Info: 888-467-7677, Halloween Horror Nights
One of the advantages of staying on-property at the Disney and Universal resorts is that the parks' themeing extends into the hotels, restaurants, and other amenities. It's a non-stop immersion into a fantasy world.
Universal takes the concept to a new level by bringing some of the zombies, scary illusions, and other scream-inducers from its Halloween event to Hard Rock Hotel guests. Those who purchase the hotel's "Eternal Rest" package get an extremely personal--and freaky--encounter with the horrormeisters. Unlike reputed "real" haunted hotels in places such as New Orleans or Salem, Massachusetts, which probably won't deliver the chills on demand, the Hard Rock promises in-room haunted happenings.
Things that go bump in the night
Among the features of the specially rigged haunted hotel room--at least the ones the resort is willing to divulge--are coffins propped up in the corner, body parts stuffed into the drawers, and, yes, skeletons in the closet. Also, the mirrors mysteriously break, the bathtub's water flows red like blood, and the bed appears to be possessed.
Perhaps the most jarring event is the unannounced ghoul who enters the room at some point during the evening. Despite the "Eternal Rest" name, I don't think there is much sleeping going on.
The haunted hotel rooms fit right in with Universal Orlando's reputation for in-your-face, frenetic attractions and fun.
