A First Timer’s Guide to Halloween Horror Nights
When it comes to scary stuff, how brave are you? I’m about medium. I can make it through a scary movie without being severely traumatized and handle a good haunted house but I’m pretty jumpy. I got the opportunity to check out Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort so I’ve put together this first-timer’s guide so you can decide whether or not it is for you.
I was hosted by Universal Orlando Resort and covered the event for She Buys Travel. You can read my breakdown here.
What is Halloween Horror Nights?
Halloween Horror Nights happens at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort. From what I understand, the two events are pretty identical but I can only speak to the one in Florida.
Halloween starts early at Universal – the event opened in August and it runs through November 2. It’s a ticketed event that is held on select nights after the park’s regular programming closes. A day ticket doesn’t entitle you to stay in the park for Halloween Horror Nights (HHN.)
This year’s event has 10 haunted houses, four scare zones, two shows and seasonal merchandise and food. It is recommended for 13+.
Halloween Horror Nights has an almost cult following
I felt a little out of place and behind the power curve as a first-timer. That’s not to say I felt unwelcome – most veterans I encountered were gracious and 1000 percent willing to share their knowledge with me once they knew I was a newbie. That said, this is no ordinary haunted house and doing a little research before you go is a good idea.
Knowledge of pop culture is a plus (But not necessary)
Five of the 10 haunted houses at HHN are based on pop culture, i.e. movies and video games. I’d never heard of Terrifier, Five Nights at Freddy’s or Fallout. And that’s OK. Creepy clowns and disturbing animatronic animals come to life are creepy as heck no matter what. But, if you’re a fan of the movies or games that inspired the haunted houses, you’ll probably enjoy it in a more robust way and maybe even spot an Easter egg or two.
Haunted Houses and Scare Areas
HHN admission includes entry into the 10 haunted houses. The scare areas are exactly what they sound like – designated areas inside the park where themed “scareactors” will try to make you jump and squeal.
The haunted houses and scare areas change from year to year and if you’re a superfan of the event, you know that you’ll see new and different things every year. I’m sure that’s what contributes to Halloween Horror Nights having such a robust following.
You’ll wait in line for haunted houses – you can see the wait times in the Universal Orlando Resort app – but the scare areas are just parts of the park you’ll traverse through. The scareactors will do their best to intimidate you as you walk through the scare areas – they’ll lunge and run at you, with diabolical laughs and frighteningly realistic fake chainsaws, but they won’t put their hands on you.
Deathly Afraid
You can purchase a “Deathly Afraid” light-up necklance for $20 that will give the wearer a less-intense experience in the scare areas but they don’t work inside the haunted houses. Honestly, if you need a necklace to get through the scare areas, you don’t belong at this event in the first place.
Haunted houses
- Five Nights at Freddy’s: Get ready for the night watch at a creepy, abandoned pizzeria, where nothing is what it seems and possessed animatronics are lurking.
- The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks: Go head-to-head with The Wyatt Sicks as they lure you through the ominous doorway to their shadowy realm. You’re about to meet your match.
- Terrifier: Try your luck against Art the Clown in the Terrifier funhouse. You’ll witness his grotesque handiwork of torture and be exposed to the spatter of his victims. It’s a whole new level of gore!
- Jason Universe: The iconic horror villain Jason Voorhees is coming for you. Step into his terrifying world, from his sinister shack in the woods to the summer camp where it all began. Evil doesn’t stay dead.
- Fallout: Face your fears in post-apocalyptic LA. Escape from the vaults to the wasteland and confront the formidable bounty hunter The Ghoul.
- Hatchet and Chains, Demon Bounty Hunters: In this Old West town, all hell is breaking loose. Red-hot lava demons are trying to possess everyone, melting everything in their path. Your only hope: Hatchet and Chains with their mystical weapons.
- Dolls: Let’s Play Dead: You’re about to become doll-sized and witness the unnatural creations of a twisted little girl. You’ll be hunted by burnt fashion dolls, toys she’s melded together and undead horrors in her dollhouse.Grave of Flesh: Welcome to your funeral, where things are about to go from bad to worse. You’ll enter your grave and then the underworld, where flesh-eaters who feed on the dead will hunt you for all eternity.
- Gálkn: Monsters of the North: In a remote northern village, a wicked being rises from the dead, bringing a horde of monsters and demons from the fjords to wreak havoc on the townspeople. Try to escape the belly of the beast.
- El Artista: A Spanish Haunting: In 19th-century Spain, a tortured artist moves to an isolated country manor to seek inspiration. Instead, the art comes alive and possesses him. You’re about to be part of the permanent exhibition.
Scare areas
- The Origins of Horror: Enter a decaying conservatory of twisted vines where artists carve tributes to Halloween Horror Nights 34. You’ll encounter monstrous crows, gargoyles and more.
- Masquerade: Dance with Death: You’re invited to a masquerade ball where bloodthirsty vampires lurk behind ornate disguises. When their masks fall, you’ll become their prey..
- The Cat Lady of Crooked Lane: Travel down a spooky winding path to a mysterious home, where trick-or-treaters are transformed into feral felines. Be careful or you’ll be next.
- Mutations: Toxic Twenties: In a bustling 1920s neighborhood, a BuzzCon truck with radioactive cargo crashes into a mobster getaway car sending the city into toxic pandemonium. It mutates everyone in its path, including you.
Outrageous live shows
There are two shows for 2025:
- Nightmare Fuel: Circus of Decay features a once-vibrant circus that has festered into an unending nightmare. It’s a sinister spectacle of pyro, aerialists and illusions. The show is a jaw-dropping display of dance moves, acrobatics and music you can feel in your heart. This loud and fiery spectacular had the packed house gasping, cheering and singing along throughout the 30-minute show. The costumes and dancing are very risque and spicy. The dancers are incredibly talented and I don’t recommend skipping this show but it might make you blush
- Haunt-O-Phonic is a ghost story rising from its watery grave to haunt the Universal Studios lagoon, featuring towering water screens and eerie music
So how scary is it really?
My recent haunted house experience has been confined to SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream or Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ Fright Fest, both of which I think are pretty scary. There’s a lot of hype around HHN and I was honestly a little afraid to go through the haunted houses and was mentally making plans to opt out of some of them.
If A+ was heartstoppingly scary and F was a Disney cartoon, I’d give HHN a solid B. The haunted houses were more intense than the ones at SeaWorld and Six Flags but that was mainly due to the exquisite crafting of the houses and the huge emphasis on the jump scares. The deeper themes were probably more disturbing than I realized. I wasn’t familiar with the movie franchises or video games some of the haunted houses are based on so any creep factor that the backstories would lend was lost on me.
If you’re more timid, you’ll probably find it scarier than I did but overall, the Universal does a good job at bringing the fright.
Halloween Horror Nights Food and Beverage
The food is cleverly designed to align with the themes of the haunted houses and is widely available in kiosks around the park. There’s also standard theme park fare, like churros and turkey legs.
Some of my favorites include:
- Clown Cafe Bloody Popcorn – popcorn topped with popcorn chicken, pepperoni, marinara “blood sauce” and parmesan cheese.
- Pumpkin Seance Mousse – This light, fluffy vegan mousse is not very sweet and that’s probably why I liked it. It definitely gives off fall flavors.
- Why Not Have Both Pizza & Pasta – Pizza topped with spaghetti and meatballs. Basic but hearty and good.
- Cram Tots & More – Spam fries and giant homemade tater tots with a chili glaze. These tater tots were more like delicious clouds of fried mashed potatoes with cheese. Probably my favorite thing.
- Mr. Cupcake – I’m not a fan of this much icing but the aesthetics of this dessert earn it a spot on this list. It’s also a huge cupcake and can be easily shared.
Halloween Horror Nights Merch
I am not a huge merch person but HHN loyalists clearly are. I saw a ton of tee shirts from past events in the park on opening night. This year’s merchandise is themed to align with the haunted houses and is available at a pop up shop and in kiosks around the park. You’ll find the usual assortment of shirts, caps, backpacks, plushies, shot glasses, pins and so on.
Getting Tickets
As mentioned before, HHN isn’t included in the cost of a regular park ticket. Universal will herd out all of the daytime visitors before the event starts.
Prices range from $86 to $131 per person (+ tax) depending on the date. An Express Pass that allows the ticket holders to skip the line once at each of the haunted houses and participating rides and attractions is $169. There’s also a VIP tour that starts at $389 and a behind-the-scenes, lights-on tour that starts at $100 per person. If you want extra time in the park before the frightening stuff starts, an additional $55 will get you in at 3:00 pm. You can keep track of all your tickets on the Universal Orlando Resort app.
I strongly recommend getting the Express Pass or the VIP tour if your budget will allow. While this does get pricey, the add-on will give you the best chance of getting through everything, especially if you visit on a busy night.
2025 HHN Dates
This new season of scares begins on August 29 and runs through November 2 with select dates: August 29-31; September 3-7, 10-14, 16-17, 19-21, 24-28; October 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, 29-31; and November 1-2. The event begins at 6:30pm each day, but ending hours vary by date.
Halloween Horror Nights Hot Takes
- If you want to get the most mileage out of your ticket, plan to arrive early so that you’re in line when the event opens and plan to stay until the end.
- Don’t try to do a full day of theme parking before you go to HHN – it is a long night and you’ll need to rest up, if you can.
- Stay at a Universal Orlando Resort Hotel – I stayed at Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort and took the free resort transportation to City Walk to enter the park. Easy peasy.
- Dress for comfort, especially your shoes. I saw a lot of chunky boots and clubwear on opening night, which I’m sure looked great in photos but you’ll be walking a lot and it will probably be hot. Sturdy shoes and breathable fabrics are the way to go.
- Prioritize the haunted houses over the rides. While there are a limited selection of rides open during HHN, the lines for the haunted houses can be long and if you don’t have an Express Pass, you’ll be hustling to knock out all the haunted houses. That said, if you’re set on a particular ride, ride it early because they may close before the HHN event ends.
- If you don’t have an Express Pass, queue up for the Nightmare Fuel: Circus of Decay show at least 30 minutes early.
