Halloween Horror Nights is here and I am so excited! This is Universal’s 33rd celebration (but it’s HHN 32) and it is one awesome event! You’ll find great haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment, and attractions to experience as well! If you love anything Halloween-related, this event is for you!
There is so much to see and do during Halloween Horror Nights! This event is a separately ticketed event. This means if you plan to visit Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure but also want to experience Halloween Horror Nights, you’ll also need to purchase a separate nighttime ticket for Halloween Horror Nights.
The park officially closes at 5 PM to all guests not staying for Halloween Horror Nights. If you plan to be in the park earlier in the day before Halloween Horror Nights starts, there are a couple of “Stay and Scream” areas where you’ll be able to wait before the event starts. The park will close and all non-ticketed guests have to exit the park. If you’re in the park and you have a valid HHN ticket for that night, you will be able to stay in the following areas so that way you don’t have to leave the park and can wait for the event to start at Universal Studios. This is a great benefit because you are in the park before all other HHN guests and will actually get to be in the houses first which gives you more time to get through the houses if you need it.
Stay and Scream Locations Are:
Delancey Street (New York)
The houses it lets out to: Stranger Things, The Exorcist: Believer, Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate
Springfield (Simpsons Area)
The houses it lets out to The Last of Us, Universal Monsters: Unmasked
The houses it lets out to Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count
It is important to note that resort guests will have a dedicated priority entrance to HHN, so if you are coming later in the evening and won’t be inside the park before the event opens, you will see signs out front directing resort guests where to go. This entrance will be located in front of the Old Blue Man group theater and will begin scanning tickets around 5:30 PM.
I recommend taking the day off from the parks and spending it at the resort pool and CityWalk if you can so that way you have fresh legs and are ready for a long night at Halloween Horror Nights. Halloween Horror Nights runs from 6:30 PM to 2 AM, so it can be a long night and you don’t want to be totally exhausted and able to enjoy the event. Spending the day earlier in the park and then into the night can be a long day. You are already spending so much money on tickets that you’ll want to be able to enjoy it!
Stranger Things 4 Posted Wait Time: 60 minutes
Express Pass Line Wait Time: 12 minutes
Dueling Dragons:Choose Thy Fate Posted Wait Time: 40 minutes
Express Pass Line Wait Time: 10 minutes
YETI: Campground KillsPosted Wait Time: 70 minutes
Express Pass Line Wait Time: 32 minutes
Universal Monsters: Unmasked Posted Wait Time: 100 minutes
Express Pass Line Wait Time: 25 minutes
Bloodmoon:Dark Offerings Wait Time: 45 minutes
Express Pass Line Wait Time: 8 minutes
The closer you get to Halloween, the busier it seems to get. You’ll see the more popular houses had longer waits, which caused the Express Pass line to be a bit longer as well. We could have gotten through every house had we wanted to, but there were a few houses I didn’t want to go into because I was too afraid (lol). We also experienced torrential downpours of rain for a few hours which flooded 3 different houses. They weren’t able to open the entire night so we did not get to go through them. Needless to say, we did A LOT during our short time and it’s all because of the express passes!
Since your express passes are good for one-time use through each house and attraction, I suggest if you plan to start the event early, use your passes at the beginning. If you are going to be at HHN the entire time, the crowds will start to lower the later it gets. Usually, you can walk through the lines later in the evening (around 11/12), so use your express passes earlier in the evening. I also suggest heading toward the back of the park (toward the Mummy or Men in Black) since a lot of guests start with the houses toward the front of the park first. If you start toward the back, those wait times will definitely be lower.
Haunted Houses
Stranger Things 4
The Exorcist: Believer
The Last of Us
Chucky: The Ultimate Kill Count
Universal Monsters: Unmasked
Dr. Oddfellow’s Twisted Origins
Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate
YETI: Campground Kills
The Darkest Deal
Bloodmoon: Dark Offerings
Scare Zones
Dr. Oddfellow’s Collection of Horror
Dark Zodiac
Jungle of Doom: Expedition Horror
Vamp ’69: Summer of Blood
Shipyard 32: Horrors Unhinged
Live Entertainment
Halloween Nightmare Fuel: Revenge Dream
This show returns for the 3rd year in a row. I have seen it all 3 times now and each time, it gets better and better. This year, it’s a bit different. There is a new dreamer’s nightmare that is fighting back against the Fuel Girls and Queen of Nightmares. The show is amazing but definitely more for adults. It’s spicy and so good!!
Death Eaters Encounter
You’ll find the Death Eaters on the streets of Diagon Alley.
M3gan Horde
You’ll see their dance routine in the Hollywood section of Universal Studios.
Food and Drinks
Halloween Horror Nights has many great food and beverages that are not normally found throughout the parks during the day. There are special food and beverage booths and stands set up throughout HHN for your enjoyment. Be sure to try the twisted tater or pizza fries! You won’t be disappointed!
Attractions Available During HHN
Rip Ride Rockit
Revenge of the Mummy
Transformers the Ride- 3D
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Men in Black Aliens Attack
Other Great Tips
- Eat before the event. You don’t want to spend time eating a meal when you could be going through haunted houses or riding rides. There is also event-exclusive food and drinks (Hello, twisted taters and pumpkin beer!!) you’ll want to try when you’re here. Speaking of pumpkin beer…
2. Bring your ID! Universal checks all IDs when making any alcohol purchases.
3. Remember, scare actors can’t touch you! If you touch them, you will be banned from the park. Universal takes the safety of the scare actors very seriously and you don’t want to jeopardize your time in the parks All ticket purchases are nonrefundable!
4. Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking!
5. If you can, plan to visit HHN during a weekday, like Wednesday or Thursday. The crowd levels and wait times for the houses and shows will be much lower and the ticket prices are usually cheaper.
6. EXPRESS PASSES. Did I say buy express passes? Yep, buy express passes.
If you’re looking to visit Universal Orlando and want to visit Halloween Horror Nights for 2023, there is still time to book! If you want to start planning for next year, September and October will be the best months to visit with HHN running mid-September through October!
Contact me today for a *free* no-obligation quote to get you booked for 2024!
Love and Travel Dust,
Molly
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