In Orlando the haunting season tends to start a little early. The spooks at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) kicks off on select nights from August 30- November 3, 2024. The spooky Halloween season begins early around here, and this year is another special moment for Halloween Horror Nights.
Horror Nights 2024 Tips
- View the full lineup ahead of time
- Visit on a weeknight
- September is less crowded than October
- Plan extra time to enjoy the scare zones
- Take a break and hydrate
- Save time with early admission
- Fuel up with signature food and drinks
- Don't forget to ride some rides
- Talk about your expectations and comfort level
- Splurge on an Express Pass
- Book a guided tour
Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Houses
You can explore 10 houses this year, including one based on the hit horror movie franchise “A Quiet Place.” And all the original themed houses have been announced including one based in Carey, OH – the scene of many HHN houses over the years. And another bringing a character of from a scarezone of a previous Halloween Horror Nights year to his very own house.
A Quiet Place
Silence your screams if you want to survive the terrifying post-apocalyptic world, where creatures hunt down anyone who makes a sound. You'll encounter familiar scenes like the farmhouse, and even the famous bathtub labor scene.
And guess what? Scareactors will incorporate American Sign Language for the first time, ever!
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
An ancient artifact has released a chilling new entity, Garraka. Try not to freeze in fear as he freezes people before your eyes. Only the Ghostbusters can stop you from getting iced.
Insidious: The Further
Step through the iconic red door, where many of the tormented spirits and demons from the franchise await – determined to ensnare humans and steal their souls. Fans will come face-to-face with The Red-Faced Demon, who will attempt to lure them into his lair; the grim KeyFace, hoping to lock his victims in this dark dimension; the ghastly and dangerous Bride in Black; and the vengeful spirit of the Man Who Can’t Breathe.
Slaughter Sinema 2
If you’re dying for a b-movie horror marathon, head to the Carey Drive-in. Scream through scenes from creature features, grindhouse gore, spaghetti westerns and more.
Goblin's Feast
Head to the Goblin's Feast Tavern and visit the goblin village where a lavish feast is being prepared for goblins, orcs, hobgoblins, and witches…and you're the main course.
Major Sweets Candy Factory
Imagine you're invited to chaperone a field trip to a candy factory except the deadly delicious treats turn the kids into sugar-fueled fiends. Based on a scare zone from a previous HHN event.
The Museum: Deadly Exhibit
You decide to visit the new folklore museum exhibit, The Rotting Stone, when an evil escapes from within, destroying everything in its path.
Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America
¡Ten cuídado! With La Muerte as your guide, you’ll be asking for piedad from these three terrifying monsters: the blood-sucking Tlahuelpuchi, owl-faced witch La Lechuza and bone-ripping El Silbón.
Triplets of Terror
You're invited to the Barmy triplets' birthday bash. But beware, they celebrate by recreating their family's murders. Prepare for a gory gathering.
Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines
Get caught in an epic battle as Saskia Van Helsing and the Bride of Frankenstein go up against Dracula’s daughter and her monstrous mavens.
Keep reading to check out what they did last year to give you an idea of what you might be able to expect this year. Tickets are available now, including single-day and R.I.P. Tour tickets.
Scare Zones 2024 Halloween Horror Nights
Duality of Fear
As soon as you enter the gates of Halloween Horror Nights, you must choose a path: follow SINIST3R, the manifestation of visceral horror. Or follow SURR3AL, the incarnation of unearthly terror.
Located at park entrance
Torture Faire
Come one, come all, to the Renaissance fair. Brave the gloriously gory medieval torture devices ‘til you’re put out of your misery.
New York Area
Swamp of the Undead
In backwaters Louisiana, you’re about to be swamped by zombies borne from the bodies of trespassers killed and dumped in a nearby bog.
Central Park Area
Enter the Blumhouse
Run a terrifying gauntlet of Blumhouse characters. From The Grabber to M3GAN dancing into your nightmares, this is a new kind of horror.
Demon Queens
Get caught in an otherworldly hellscape ripped from the darkest corners of your mind. Four merciless queens loyal to SURR3AL rule, surrounded by hordes of fanatical followers.
Hollywood Area
Read on for our guide on making the most of a date night, or should we say dare night, at Halloween Horror Nights 2024.
Note: Admission to Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights is NOT included with regular park admission. You will need a separate event ticket in order to attend. Also, parking is NOT free until after 10pm, so be prepared to pay full price.
Can Teens Attend Halloween Horror Nights? How to Know if They’re Ready (from Orlando-Parenting.com)
Check out the full Halloween Horror Nights lineup
The headlining houses are worthy of the buzz, but you won't get the full experience if you overlook the incredible scare zones, shows, and original concept houses. Be sure to review the full list of Universal Orlando's HHN houses, scare zones, shows and rides in advance.
Viewing the 2024 Halloween Horror Nights Map will give you an idea of where you can find your favorite haunts.
LIST OF 2024 HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS HOUSES
- A Quiet Place
- Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
- Insidious: The Further
- Slaughter Sinema 2
- Goblin's Feast
- Major Sweets Candy Factory
- The Museum: Deadly Exhibit
- Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America
- Triplets of Terror
- Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines
STAGE SHOW
“Nightmare Fuel Nocturnal Circus”
Nightmare Fuel is a running theme for Halloween Horror Nights stage shows in recent years. 2024 features a new dreamer confronting a dark circus and a sinister curse.
How to save time at Halloween Horror Nights
The lines for the most popular Universal Orlando HHN houses can get as long as three hours, with average wait times around at least an hour or more for popular houses based on movies and TV shows. Alternatively, the original concept houses are full of detail and unique experiences, and tend to have lower wait times – not a bad Halloween Horror Nights shortcut!
Halloween Horror Nights officially kicks off at 6pm on most nights and generally runs until 1am.
Take breaks, enjoy the experience, and show those scary fiends they are no match for the power of love!
EARLY ADMISSION
You can purchase early access! Start the thrills early at Universal Studios Florida from 3-5 pm. At 5 pm you’ll wait in a Stay & Scream area until the event begins. Event admission for the same day is required and not included.
To use the early access you must arrive to Universal Studios Florida before 5:00PM and present proof of a valid 2024 Halloween Horror Nights Event ticket at time of redemption.
The cost is $55 per person.
Guests who arrive at Universal Studios after 5 pm forfeit their Scream Early Ticket.
It is wise to map out the event ahead of time and determine which part of the park has one or two houses you want to see the most so you can utilize the proper holding area. You should be able to get through one house right away and then get in line for your next house with little wait time.
2024 EXPRESS PASSES
The alternative to early admission is the Halloween Horror Night's Express Pass – and it is going to cost extra. The prices start at $129.99. The question always is “is it worth it?” And there’s no easy answer to that. Will you get through more houses in less time? Yes. Will it eliminate all waits at all the houses completely? Not so much.
A few important notes: Halloween Horror Night Express Passes do sell out on peak nights, including weekends and dates in mid to late October, so make your decision about purchasing Halloween Horror Night Express Passes well in advance. If you choose to go on a peak night, some wait times can be as long as 2 hours or more for the most popular houses. An Express Pass for Halloween Horror Nights 2024 does not guarantee you won’t have to wait in line. On peak nights, the line for the Express Pass can still be up to half of the posted wait time.
READER TIPS:
“As a team member, express passes are the way to go. They have hundreds of people that do the stay and scream and get in early (they open certain houses 15 minutes early). When the event actually starts, many lines can be longer than an hour.” -@atlippold
2024 GUIDED TOURS
If you're able to splurge, Universal offers a special R.I.P. Tour where you'll join fellow fans on a guided VIP tour of Halloween Horror Nights 2024. The tour includes VIP entry to all houses along with other perks. R.I.P. tours begin at $359.99/person and require separate event admission.
If you can swing it, this is a pricey but fun way to ensure you won't have to wait in line and will be able to see all of the houses.
VISIT ON A WEEKNIGHT
I recommend visiting Halloween Horror Nights on a non-peak night (such as a weeknight and in September or early October) and that you take advantage of early admission if eligible. It is also recommended that you enjoy the scare zones and shows and a ride or two to get the full value of your event ticket.
Fuel up on signature HHN food & drink
Over the years the good people at Universal Orlando have learned that special events require special food and drinks. The Halloween Horror Night food and beverage should not be overlooked. There are multiple food and beverage kiosks throughout the park.
Can't wait to try? 2024's menu is not yet released, but you can get an idea of the type of offers based on last year's Halloween Horror Nights Food and Drinks
Ride some Horror Nights rides
Take a break from the horror to ride some rides. Some of Universal Studio's top attractions are open during HHN. This is a great way to experience rides with very low wait times and without having to pay regular park admission.
The following four rides are usually open during Halloween Horror Nights:
- Revenge of the Mummy
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley (Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts)
- Men In Black Alien Attack
Pro-tip: Type the code “666” into Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit for a special spooky song to play while you're riding this roller coaster.
Also while you're enjoying Diagon Alley, keep an eye out for some dark characters. An ominous presence returns to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort this fall as Death Eaters appear for the first time ever in Diagon Alley select dates September 1 through November 4.
OTHER HELPFUL HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS TIPS
Talk about your HHN comfort level
Perhaps one of you is more enthusiastic about being scared. Perhaps you're both a little hesitant. Or maybe you're both brave and ready to face the Halloween Horror Night scare zones and dark, loud houses together. Whatever your tolerance level for scary stuff may be, it is best to get it out in the open upfront. This way you're both on the same page and prepared to be supportive of each other if needed.
It is fun to push yourself and conquer your fears, but you also don't want to end up making each other uncomfortable without realizing it. The best way to have a date night at Halloween Horror Nights is to be supportive and understanding of each other’s comfort level.
Map it out
Halloween Horror Nights is a different experience and layout even if you've been to Universal Studios. In order to maximize your time, it is best to review the official Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights map – which is available to view on the Halloween Horror Nights ABOUT page.
Take note of the location of your must-see houses and scarezones. Start in the back of the park and work your way back to the front.
Make it a getaway
Consider making your trip to HHN an overnight getaway. Universal Orlando has a great variety of resorts that are perfect for couples. Last year all eight of Universal Orlando’s hotels offered exclusive activations and experiences for hotel guests inspired by HHN.
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort usually has lots of photo opportunities and some decorations, including a pop-up that is open from 2-10pm during Halloween Horror Nights, and is free for Universal Orlando hotel guests. Guests must show their room key. Cabana Bay guests will receive priority access, and guests staying at other Universal Orlando hotels will wait in a standby line.
Feature image credit: Jodi Caballero