The fog rises over another Halloween Horror Nights season, and among the vines are a new set of haunted houses and scare zones. This year brings several changes to the event’s operation and new offers that they could fill a whole blog post… so that’s what we did! Below are eight changes to the event, from a new stay and scream operation to a loss of cup illumination.

Free-Range Stay & Scream

Stay in the park and scream a little early with Stay & Scream. In previous years, Universal held guests in set pens for S&S before letting them into the haunted houses, then the park. This year, Universal has ditched the pens and now embraces free-range Stay & Scream-ing, where guests can roam the park during the transfer from USF daytime operations to HHN. Here is how the new system works:

• Have a daytime admission ticket or a Scream Early Ticket, and be inside the park before closing at 5:00 p.m.
• Starting at 3:00 pm, HHN event Team Members will begin scanning your tickets and distributing wrist bands at Lombards across from Fast & Furious Supercharged, Minion Cafe, and Villain-Con.
• Guests will be allowed to roam the park past the 5:00 pm park close and before the event officially starts at 6:30 pm.
• Haunted House queues will open at 4:00 pm for guests to enter. Select Haunted Houses will open early for Stay & Scream, such as Fallout and Terrifier, so check the house wait time sign to see when the house will open. (Note: Due to technical issues, some houses might open late. Pack your patience pants.)

Soundstage House Hub

Universal has made several operational changes due to the ongoing demolition of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and one of the biggest is a new house hub located in the covered soundstage area. Previously, the house entrances were located along Production Avenue with queues in areas that are now under construction. Similar to the hub located behind Men in Black, the new hub has entrances to four of the five soundstage houses with access from walking paths located next to Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Race Through New York starring Jimmy Fallon. Queues are now located in soundstages, which is a nice reprieve from the heat (and rain) found during HHN.

No More Blinky Cups

We’re devastated. The classic blinky cups have been found for decades at Halloween Horror Nights, are now a thing of the past. This year, the souvenir cup is a non-blinky type of cup. I don’t know what else to say, #ReleaseTheBlinkyCups.

Twisted Taters Loses the Stick

Ok, hot take: I like this change. Previously, when I’d order a Twisted Taters on a stick, I’d wait forever to get one, and when I’d receive my starch stick, they’d be either overdone or underdone! It’d be just the biggest disappointment ever, and that’s before I nearly impale myself with a pointy stick while eating chips. The new chips come in a paper cone and come in two flavors: vinegar & ranch or spicy cheddar.

Art the Clown is Everywhere

Art the Clown from the Terrifier series of movies is everywhere. No really, he’s everywhere: the Universal Studios Store, Finnegan’s Bar & Grille, the New York 2nd story sets, the queues, and HE’S RIGHT BEHIND YOU NOW (just kidding). Art roams the park looking for his next victims or someone to prank. So keep an eye out because you might find him anywhere…

New Tribute Store Location

Just as the soundstage house entrances and queues changed due to Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’s demolition, the Tribute Store location has changed for this year. Last year’s store was located to the left of the Revenge of the Mummy lockers in what is the Mummy’s extended queue, but this year it moves to the Palace Theater arcade space with a cursed Museum theme. The tribute store is significantly smaller than previous years due to the size limitations, but the Universal Visual Merchandising Team did a great job with the lemons handed to them.

Deathly Affraid Necklace

Deathly Afraid of Horror Nights? If your friends or family drag you to the event, then consider one of the new Deathly Affraid Necklaces. This light-up pendant glows red and hangs off your neck via a lanyard. Universal only promises to “limit” scares in the scare zones and other public areas, not a promise of no scares, and it will not work in the houses. Pendants are $20 per plus tax.

Street Experiences

One of the largest complaints about last year’s event was a lack of action and Halloween atmosphere in large swaths of the park. Universal listened and came up with a new plan: the five scare zones get turned into four, with a larger focus on each one. Two new street experiences, a zombie bellhop hoard in front of Mel’s Dine-In and a sexy dance party at Club Horror in San Francisco, flesh out the event, and we welcome the return of the chainsaw clowns in Springfield.

What changes are you excited for, and which are you dreading? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!