Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) is a haunted after-hours event voted the Best Halloween Event by the Golden Ticket Awards for over a decade. Read on for everything you need to know about whether or not this event is for you.

Further Reading:

• History of Halloween Horror Nights
• What is a Haunted House?
• What is a Scare Zone?
• How to Enjoy Halloween Horror Nights When You Are Scared of Everything

What Is Halloween Horror Nights?

Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed nighttime event after Universal Studios Florida closes to day guests. Once the park closes, Universal Team Members transform USF into a huge Halloween party with ten haunted houses, five scare zones, and several shows. Dozens of unique food booths serve devilish, delicious items like fried Oreos, pizza fries, themed food items, and lots of alcohol. Universal embraces its horror roots with this edgy, adult-oriented event.

How Scary is Halloween Horror Nights?

The event is a non-stop blast of loud music, startling sounds, gruesome imagery, and actors tasked with scaring the bejesus out of you. Expect to see simulated violence, fake blood and guts, scantily clad men and women, startling imagery, loud noises, strobe lights, chainsaws, thick theatrical haze, and more. Other haunted attractions use more startling scenes and scares than Universal would use, like touching guests, while Universal uses grand, elaborate movie-style sets with scare actors and limited engagement. Most Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party fans find Halloween Horror Nights terrifying and loud, but there is an overlap of fans who appreciate both.

Should You Bring Kids to Halloween Horror Nights?

Universal says the event is not for those under 13; we suggest using parental discretion up to age 18. Only you know what your child can handle, but if you are pausing to wonder if your child can handle HHN, the answer is probably no. To gauge their reaction, consider going to a Horror convention or a local haunted house first; simply watching a scary movie might not be enough to see if they can handle actors in prosthetics (to this day my 30-something sister is scared of the Best Buy tag and will not go to HHN). Some kids can handle it, some cannot. A babysitter might be a better option for your money than an expensive event ticket. We recommend Kids Night Out in-room sitters if you want to get your horror on without the kiddos.

Tickets and Where to Stay

Single-day Halloween Horror Nights Orlando tickets are now on sale and grants guests entry to the event on one selected day. Single-night tickets start at $82.99 and run up to $122.99 per person plus tax. The event runs every Wednesday through Sunday except for opening weekend running Friday through Sunday and Tuesday, September 16th replacing Thursday, September 18th as an event night.

Frequent Fear Passes to Halloween Horror Night Orlando are not yet on sale. Frequent Fear passes grant guests access to Halloween Horror Nights several times over the length of the event, from the Rush of Fear valid for the first three weeks of the event to the Ultimate Fear Pass which includes all event nights. In previous years Passes went on sale in late July or early August, watch the TouringPlans Blog for more information.

Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass and RIP Tours allow guests to skip the standby line and experience more houses in a shorter amount of time. HHN Express Pass starts at $139.99 and runs up to $249.99 per person plus tax. RIP Tours are private guided groups that immediately access the front of the lines at all haunted houses plus HHN Express and a pre-tour reception. Prices start at $369.99 and run up to $459.99 per person plus tax.  (Note: The complimentary Express Pass included with select hotels is not valid at HHN).

Tickets are available online or by calling (407) 363-8000.

Save Money and purchase tickets online before your visit. Prices are anywhere from $20 to twice as expensive at the gate.

Halloween Horror Nights Add-Ons

Want to see the houses without the scares, or discover the hidden details behind the event? Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror tours offer 3 or 6 lights-on haunted house tours that provide an inside look at the creation of the houses. Guides direct guests through the houses and provide behind-the-scenes information, facts on how the houses work, and more. Tickets are available online or by calling (407) 363-8000.

Premium Scream Night at HHN returns on August 28, 2025, with a one-night-only event! This premium event features low crowds, free food, spaced entry into the haunted houses, and even the option to dress up! Tickets are $375 per person plus tax and are available online or by calling (407) 363-8000.

Best Hotels for Halloween Horror Nights

TouringPlans recommends staying on-site at Universal for HHN; trust us you don’t want to be driving back on I-4 at 2:00 a.m. There are several hotels on Universal property that we can suggest within several price ranges, all have free transportation back to your hotel after a night of scares.

Hard Rock Hotel – The Closest

If money is no object, the number one hotel for Halloween Horror Nights is the Hard Rock Hotel. In addition to the wonderful restaurants, lounges, and pool, the resort has one important x-factor: LOCATION. Hard Rock Hotel is the closest hotel to Universal Studios Florida. Most rooms are within a ten-minute walk to the park, with some as close as four minutes. Because of this the hotel frequently books out on event weekends and any remaining rooms are priced at a premium; rates for weekends in September 2025 are around $700 a night.

Universal Express Pass Note: The Complementary Universal Express Passes offered at Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Resort, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort are not valid for Halloween Horror Nights. Universal sells a separate Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass for the event.

Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort – HHN HQ

Cabana Bay Beach Resort built a dedicated fandom with its two pools, relaxing lazy river, spacious family suites, bowling alley, and a plethora of bars offered at an incredible value. The hotel then raises the bar for Halloween Horror Nights with two exclusive amenities for Universal hotel guests with a holiday overlay to the Sizzle Lounge and HHN displays in the lobby. Room rates vary

Universal’s Endless Summer – Affordable

Looking for a place to lay your head for a lower price? Check out the Endless Summer Surfside and Dockside hotels for one-bedroom and two-bedroom rooms. The hotel has on-site dining (including till late at night), a pool, a game room, a fitness center, and more. With prices in the mid-$100s to $200s this is a great affordable option for tourists and locals alike.

What Is There To Do at Halloween Horror Nights?

Halloween Horror Nights features over 20 attractions for guests, from highly themed haunted houses to outrageous shows, and immersive scare zones to Universal Studios Florida’s hottest attractions.

Haunted Houses

Universal Orlando builds brand new, E-Ticket-level walkthrough experiences called haunted houses each year. The haunted houses are based on existing films, games, and TV shows (“IPs”) plus original creations (“originals”). These walkthroughs are grand in scale and execution, on par with or surpassing the most elaborate attractions designed by Disney or Universal. Make no mistakes, these houses can be scary!

Note: Photography of any kind is prohibited in haunted houses. Open food, alcohol, and light-up items are also not allowed inside. Team Members are positioned inside the house for guest flow and assistance. If you need any assistance, talk to them or wave.

• Fallout – Put down the controller, it’s time to explore the wastelands from the iconic video game franchise and hit Amazon Prime television show Fallout. Escape from the Vaults and wander around a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles where you’ll run into Ghouls, rad roaches, and even the paramilitary organization The Brotherhood of Steel.
• Jason Un1v3rse – Jason Voorhees is back in an all-new haunted house inspired by the complete Friday the 13th franchise. Escape Camp Crystal Lake through the woods, but Jason is always coming. This house will be a mashup of all your favorite Jason moments and kills, including your own.
• Five Nights at Freddy’s – Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF for short) clocks you into the midnight shift at a children’s entertainment center as a security officer to watch over the place. You’re not there to prevent people from getting in, but instead to avoid the mechanized creations from getting out.

Stay tuned for more information on 2025’s haunted houses here as they are announced!

Scare Zones & Shows

Universal Studios Florida’s existing lands transform into spooky, startling, or bizarre new locations called scare zones. These themed spaces are found at the front of the park, Hollywood, New York in front of Revenge of the Mummy, San Francisco, and Central Park. Scare zones use fog, lighting, sound, scare actors, and special effects to startle and scare guests. People-watching in scare zones is an attraction in and of itself and we suggest taking some time out to enjoy the actors’ skill. We love to grab a snack and drink from a booth and watch the action from the sidelines. Universal removes actors from scare zones during sustained rain or lighting, but the special effects and lighting remain operational. Scare zones typically close between 1:15 am and 1:30 am.

Stay tuned for more information on 2025’s scare zones here as they are announced!

Rides

Universal Studios Florida also operates some of its most popular rides during Horror Nights, such as Revenge of the Mummy, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, and Men in Black Alien Attack. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is closing on August 18th, 2025, and will not operate this HHN; we expect Universal to operate Transformers the Ride or The Simpsons Ride instead. Wait times for rides are frequently longer than

Halloween Horror Nights Food, Drink, & Merchandise

In addition to existing restaurants being open, the event also opens a dozen unique food stands serving unique items just for the event. Most items don’t return year-to-year, but popular annual favorites include Pizza Fries (think poutine, but pizza), twisted taters (a spiral-cut potato on a stick dusted with one of several seasonings), elaborate desserts, and sinful fried foods. For a meal less inspired by Fear Factor, you can dine at the full service Finnegan’s Bar & Grill or quick service locations like Today Cafe, Minion Cafe, Fast Food Boulevard, Mel’s Drive-In, Richeter’s Burger Company, and The Leaky Cauldron. If the lines or crowds get to be too much bail to CityWalk for their dining.

Alcohol is readily available in the event from existing dining locations, new temporary bars throughout the park, and beer carts in haunted house queues. We suggest avoiding pre-mixed drinks (they are too sugary) and sticking to the beer or cider. Remember to hydrate and pace yourself, the heat and walking will dehydrate you faster than normal even at night!

Officially branded apparel, licensed character merchandise, housewares, and even seasonal candles are available for Halloween Horror Nights. All the Universal Studios shops feature an assortment of Horror Nights shirts, mugs, and lanyards, but the best selection is found at the Universal Studios Store in Universal Studios Florida, CityWalk, and the All Hallows Eve store in Islands of Adventure. The biggest and most comprehensive shop for all HHN merch is the Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store.

Touring Tips for Halloween Horror Nights

The big day is here and you are ready to get spooky. So where to first? What is there to see? How do you effectively tour the park? How are some guests already in the park? Are there any attractions open? This section will answer all of those questions and provide a touring plan for the event.

One thing to discuss: food. You will need to fuel up for a full night of touring the park, locals prefer to eat before arriving at the parks (the TGI Fridays and Miller’s Ale House on Kirkman are popular) but that might not be a choice for you. If you’re already at the park or staying on site instead consider a meal in CityWalk before the event or dine in the park before Stay & Scream begins. Your time during the event is more valuable touring than eating.

Event Entry

Halloween Horror Nights opens at 6:30 p.m. every night, but gates usually open approximately 15 minutes early. We suggest arriving at least 45 minutes before the official opening on weekdays and at least 90 minutes on weekends and weekdays in mid to late October. If you are already in the park for the day or want to get a leg up on others, we suggest participating in Stay and Scream.

Stay and Scream is sort of like Early Park Admission for HHN but is available to all guests with a daytime and HHN ticket. Select haunted houses open between 5:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. for early access before the park opens. We suggest participating in Stay & Scream as most guests can experience two houses and be in line for a third before the park opens. It is your best way to see all the houses at HHN without purchasing an Express Pass. Here is how it works:

• Have a daytime admission ticket or a Scream Early Ticket, and be inside the park before closing at 5:00 p.m.
• Find the Stay and Scream areas in New York at Minion Cafe, World Expo at Lombards, Today Cafe, or in Simpsons by the Central Park Crepes stand.
• Follow Team Member directions and scan your HHN ticket, then wait in the holding areas after the park officially closes at 5:00 p.m.

General Tips for Touring Halloween Horror Nights

The popularity of the houses and house entrance locations changes yearly, making it hard to develop a touring plan before the event starts, but follow these touring guidelines to avoid crowds.

• Arrive at the park gates at least 45 minutes before the event starts or 90 minutes on busy days. Stay and Scream guests must be inside the park by 5:00 p.m. at the latest.
• Save Time and develop a plan before you arrive. Most guests enter the park and swamp the houses in New York. You should swerve and go to the back of the park first.
• An Express Pass that is valid after 11:00 pm is sold for half the cost at kiosks in the park. Look for Express Pass kiosks and ask for the half-price Express Pass availability.
• Guests in line at the park’s closing time will be allowed to experience the haunted house, but Universal will inflate wait times to discourage entry into the lines. Ignore the inflated wait times, this is a great time to see the large IP houses.
• Wait times for rides during HHN are often longer than during the day. We don’t advise experiencing USF’s rides during HHN unless the posted wait time is 10 minutes or less.
• Raining? Go anyway, the haunted houses operate rain or shine with shorter waits. Ponchos are allowed in the haunted houses, but umbrellas must be put away before entering.

TouringPlans Touring Tips: Stay & Scream

• Prepare for the sun and heat while waiting during Stay & Scream – stay in the shade, bring an umbrella, and hydrate as queues are outside.
• House opening times on the placards, pick one with a short line and an early opening. Avoid the large IP houses until immediately before the park opens.
• Cycle through the haunted houses until the park opens, then move to the house at Fast & Furious: Supercharged once the park opens.
• Arrive at 7:30 pm for the 8:00 pm Nightmare Fuel show. If you miss the show join a queue for any of the houses located in the back of the park.
• Continue touring the houses at the back of the park till wait times reach the hour mark. At this time enjoy the scare zones, rides, and sample any food offerings you are interested in.
• Wait to finish the haunted houses within the last two hours the park is open. Lines will dramatically drop within the last hour of the event.

TouringPlans Touring Tips: Main Gate Entry

• Most guests enter the park and swamp the houses in New York. At opening, the queue will already be full of Stay & Scream guests.
  • IPs at the front of the park will have the longest lines of the day.
  • Proceed to the original concept houses at the front of the park and experience if the lines are 15 minutes or less. If none are present go to the next step.
  • Next, proceed to the back of the park now and experience the houses at the back of the park by Men in Black.
• Arrive at 7:30 pm for the 8:00 pm Nightmare Fuel show. If you miss the show join a queue for any of the houses located in the back of the park.
• Wait times should be increasing for all houses and crowds are picking up in the streets. Escape to CityWalk or the hotels for a break. Return to the park by 10:30 pm.
• Wait times will drop after 11:00 pm for houses at the front of the park. Return to New York and Production Central to experience the original concept houses.
• If you missed Nightmare Fuel arrive at midnight for the 12:30 am show.
• During the last hour of the event visit the remaining houses at Men in Black and New York or return to your favorites. Universal will overestimate wait times to discourage guests.

Are you excited for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!