Are You Brave Enough for Halloween Horror Nights?
Caitlin White
9.16.21
Halloween Horror Nights, known as HHN to its devoted fans, is a scary specially-ticketed event that happens on select nights during September and October at Universal Orlando Resort. 2021 marks HHN’s 30th anniversary and Universal has some terrifyingly fun things planned!
If you are considering attending HHN, here’s what to expect-
- It is a separately ticketed event. You will purchase a ticket for your specific event date- even if you already have tickets to the Universal parks during the day. Universal Studios Florida closes early on HHN nights. Guests who are in the parks during the day and have an HHN ticket can wait inside specific areas of the park while the changeover to HHN happens. Express Passes from the Premier resorts do not work at HHN- although you do have the option to purchase Express Passes for the event.
- It is SCARY- like terrifyingly scary! This is not a cute, young child friendly Halloween party. Universal Orlando states right on their website that this event may be too intense for children under the age of 13. That said, I’ve seen horror movie fans younger than 13 who loved it. Just use your best judgement for what the kids (and adults!) in your party are comfortable with. There will be bloody, violent, gory sights all around.
- There are Haunted Houses and Scare Zones. Universal transforms backlot stages into elaborate Haunted Houses that each have their own theme. Some Houses will be themed around scary favorites like Universal Monsters, Stranger Things, Haunting of Hill House, or Beetlejuice. Some will just be terrifying interpretations of folk stories, like the Yeti, or spooky places, like a graveyard or an underwater mining facility attacked by sea monsters. The Haunted Houses are incredibly elaborate, horrifying, and- for horror buffs at least- absolutely amazing! The good news is that the Houses are all in the backlot areas so you are choosing to walk into them. You can skip any that don’t appeal to you or sound like they may give you nightmares.
Scare Zones take place throughout the parks. Areas that during the day resemble different cities- New York, Hollywood, San Francisco, even Springfield- are transformed into scary themed areas. These are only slightly less intense than the Haunted Houses and you must walk through them to get anywhere in the parks. The best part (or worst- depending on your perspective) is that there are scare actors walking among the crowds as well. You may walk up next to someone who appears to be a tourist only to find out they are really a zombie carrying a chainsaw!
- You can skip every Haunted House and still have a great time. Sounds counter-intuitive, right? Hear me out… besides the Haunted Houses, the other big appeal about HHN is the lower crowds that come with a limited-attendance event. That often means lower wait times for rides or smaller crowds wandering Diagon Alley. Plus, there are special HHN themed food and drinks available only during the event.
My Experience with HHN
I attended my first HHN in 2019, visited Universal Orlando for the modified daytime Haunted Houses in 2020, and will return for HHN30 in 2021. I have a love/hate relationship with horror movies- I’ve always been fascinated with them but then late at night regret watching them when I’ve managed to spook myself. I feel the same way about Haunted Houses! I love the idea of them and always realize when I’m halfway through that I’m not really brave enough to be there. Yet, I always end up going again.
My favorite part of the event is the overall feel of the parks. I love the spooky jump scares, the scare actors creepy presence, the elaborate decorations that didn’t feel nearly as ominous during the day. I could be perfectly happy to just walk the parks, try the HHN treats, and ride a few rides without ever stepping foot into a Haunted House.
If you love horror movies and scary stories- Halloween Horror Nights is a must-do event!
Ready to plan your Universal Orlando Resort adventure? I’d love to help! Reach out to me by email at caitlin@wishesfamilytravel.com or phone at 443.299.9197. I share lots of tips and photos about Universal Orlando (and other destinations) on Instagram or Facebook.
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