Halloween Horror Nights 33 is underway at the Universal Orlando Resort, and we’ve compiled a guide to help first-timers (and maybe even some pros) know what to expect this year.

What is Halloween Horror Nights?

Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed haunt event held on select nights in the fall at Universal Studios Florida. This year’s event features 10 haunted houses, 5 scare zones, and live entertainment.

A ticket to Halloween Horror Nights includes access to all the haunted houses, zones, and entertainment, as well as select attractions around the park. The only attractions open during the event are Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (until 11 p.m.), Revenge of the Mummy, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and Men in Black Alien Attack. Keep in mind that attractions are subject to change without notice.

Food and beverages, including alcohol, can be purchased at the event. No outside food or beverage can go through security after 5 p.m. on event nights, except for one (1) sealed bottle of water per person. Empty water bottles can be brought into the event and refilled for free from the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines throughout the park.

How Scary Is It?

Unfortunately, there’s not an easy answer to this question. The haunted houses and scare zones rely heavily on jump scares to make guests scream, but also use more innovative ways to bring the fear. Many of the sets are elaborate and overwhelmingly detailed. Houses often use different scents to add to the immersion, and these smells can be overwhelming at times. Halloween Horror Nights can simultaneously be gory and gross.

If you’re not one to be spooked in the theater during a horror movie, you’ll probably be okay. If wounds, disembowelments, or graphic violence make you squeamish, or you’re not a fan of tight, dark spaces, you might not have the best time.

Universal recommends that children under the age of 13 do not attend, as it may be too intense for young children.

Dates & Ticket Information

Dates

This year’s event will take place on select nights from August 30 through November 3.

The dates for the event this year are:

• August: 30, 31
• September: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
• October: 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24, 27, 30, 31
• November: 3

Tickets

Single-night tickets start at $82.99 per person. Multi-night passes offer a better deal if you want to visit more than once. Compare to last year’s multi-night offerings here.

Ticket prices vary by date. A breakdown is available below.

• $83: September 18, 19, 25, 26; October 2
• $86: September 22, 29; October 3
• $88: October 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31
• $93: October 6, 20, 27; November 3
• $96: September 20, 27
• $98: November 1
• $103: October 4, 11, 13, 18, 25
• $107: September 21, 28
• $108: November 2
• $118: October 5
• $123: October 12, 19, 26

Express Passes & VIP Experiences

Express Passes

Express Passes allow guests to use a dedicated line, avoiding the standby queue. They are available starting at $159.99 per person, with variable date-based pricing.

It should be noted that the Express Passes do not guarantee “front of the line access” but rather a shorter wait. Typically, half of the posted stand-by wait time can be expected.

Single-night Express Passes can be used once per house and attraction. Team Members will scan your pass at the entrance.

VIP and Behind the Scenes Tours

Halloween Horror Nights features two special VIP tour options.

R.I.P. Tours

R.I.P. Tours gives you a tour guide and direct access to houses and shows. The tour includes the following:

Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tours

Unmasking the Horror is a daytime tour of a selection of houses. It does not include admission to Halloween Horror Nights. Admission to Universal Studios Florida or Halloween Horror Nights is not required to attend an Unmasking the Horror tour.

There is a 3-house tour and a 6-house tour. See the full lineup for both tour options.

The tours start at $109.99 for the 3-house tour and $179.99 for the 6-house tour. Guests are permitted to take photos only in select areas of the houses, as indicated by their guide. Behind-the-scenes information and details will be given for each house on the tour. Some photos are allowed, but video recording is not permitted.

Check out our report from the 3-house tour, which was available to guests prior to the start of Halloween Horror Nights this year.

HHN Stores

Tribute Store

The Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store is open to all guests during the day in the New York section of Universal Studios Florida. This year’s store, while unrelated to the event overall, depicts “a dystopian city where an ancient evil is wreaking havoc.”

The exterior is a graffiti-covered shipping container, and inside are urban-themed locations, including an abandoned warehouse and a creepy subway station. A serial killer is “on the loose” in the store, a large bat creature you might recognize from Halloween Horror Nights 32 — Batilda.

This year’s Tribute Store also has lore connections to the nearby Sahara Traders gift shop at Revenge of the Mummy, bringing the Museum of Antiquities into the story.

All Hallows Eve Boutique

The All Hallows Eve Boutique is a year-round Halloween shop in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. It gets new decorations each season. This fall’s theme is Boardwalk Lil’ Boo-tique, featuring carnival props.

Early Entry – Stay and Scream

Daytime park admission is not required for Halloween Horror Nights, but guests who do have valid admission can stay in “Stay and Scream” areas in the park between regular hours and Halloween Horror Nights. There are designated areas in the park where HHN guests can wait while the park is cleared of day guests. Typically, Universal Studios Florida closes to regular guests at 5 p.m. on event nights, with gates opening for HHN after 6:00 p.m.

Guests who choose to wait in Stay and Scream areas won’t have to exit the park to go back through the turnstiles, which can be a time saver. Valid Halloween Horror Nights admission is required to enter the Stay and Scream areas, so you will have your ticket scanned to enter. Guests often line up in advance outside the gates, so starting the night in the Stay and Scream area can offer an advantage.

Stay and Scream areas also let guests have access to select houses before the event officially begins, sometimes as early as 5:30 p.m. Each Stay and Scream area has access to different houses, so guests will typically choose their Stay and Scream location based on what houses they’re planning to line up for first. Here’s this year’s list:

• New York (Minion Cafe): “A Quiet Place,” “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” “Insidious: The Further,” and Major Sweets Candy Factory.
• Today Cafe: Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America, Opening Scaremonies
• San Francisco (Lombard’s Seafood Grille): Triplets of Terror, The Museum: Deadly Exhibits, Slaughter Sinema 2, Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines, and Goblin’s Feast.

If you don’t have daytime admission, you can also purchase an add-on Scream Early ticket for $55. This allows you to enter the park at 3 p.m., enjoy attractions, and take advantage of the holding areas.

Some areas also have access to food venues and restrooms. The New York Stay and Scream has several different food booths open early. Louie’s Italian Restaurant and Finnegan’s Bar & Grill also stay open.

Opening Scaremonies

Halloween Horror Nights kicks off each evening with the Opening Scaremonies, a short performance beyond the Universal Studios Florida gates. Guests waiting outside the park can view the show. This year, it’s led by Icons Sinist3r and Surr3al, sisters who rule over dominions of pain (physical and psychological, respectively). The scaremonies are in the Duality of Fear scare zone. Watch our video below.

Houses

The event has 10 haunted houses. The map below highlights the entrances of each house as corresponding to the list below. Our review for each house is linked, but beware; they do contain spoilers.

A: Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America

“Resist the infernal rider El Charro or he’ll take your soul. Don’t turn your back on the devil dog El Cadejo or you’ll be lost forever. And you’d better behave or the boogeyman El Cucuy will get you.”

B: A Quiet Place

“Silence your screams if you want to survive the terrifying, post-apocalyptic world. Like the Abbott family, you must keep quiet as you travel from the farmhouse to the woods, to the foundry. As soon as you make a sound, monstrous creatures who can hear the slightest noise, will hunt you down and silence you for good.”

C: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

“A bone-chilling new specter has escaped from an ancient artifact, and he’ll stop you cold. The Ghostbusters must team up to save you and the rest of the world from a second Ice Age.”

D: Insidious: The Further

“Don’t get trapped in The Further as terrifying demons try to ensnare you. Enter the Red-Faced Demon’s lair behind The Red Door. And try to keep away from KeyFace, so he can’t lock up your spirit.”

E: Triplets of Terror

“You’re invited to the Barmy triplets’ birthday celebration. But their kind of party involves recreating the murders of their entire family.”

F: Major Sweets Candy Factory

“You’re chaperoning a field trip to a candy factory when the free samples transform the kids into candy-coated killers.”

G: Goblin’s Feast

“Enter a goblin village, where a feast is being prepared for goblins, orcs, hobgoblins, and witches. And you’re the main course.”

H: 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.”

I: Slaughter Sinema 2

“It’s time for another horror movie marathon at the Carey Drive-in! Scream through scenes from creature features, grindhouse gore, and more.”

J: The Museum: Deadly Exhibits

“A folklore museum’s newest exhibit, The Rotting Stone, has released an evil spirit that decays everything. And it’s coming for you.”

Read our ranking of all 10 HHN 33 houses.

Scare Zones

Scare zones are themed areas around the park where Scareactors roam. Some of them have short shows, such as a ritual or the “murder” of a “guest” (a Scareactor in plain clothes). In houses and scare zones, Scareactors are not permitted to touch guests and vice versa. They can, however, creep up behind you for a scare.

The zones are labeled as follows on the above map.

K: 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.”

L: Torture Faire

“Come one, come all, to SINIST3R’s Renaissance faire with the devious theme of medieval torture. Brave the gloriously gory homemade torture devices ‘til you’re put out of your misery.”

M: Enter the Blumhouse

“Escape a terrifying gauntlet of Blumhouse characters. From sinister sadists from The Purge and Black Phone to M3GAN dancing into your nightmares, you’ve never known horror like this.”

N: Swamp of the Undead

“In backwaters Louisiana, you unwittingly wander onto private property, where you’re swamped by zombies borne from the bodies of other trespassers who were killed and dumped in a nearby bog.”

O: 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.”

Read our ranking and see videos of the HHN 33 scare zones.

Live Entertainment

Death Eaters

Death Eaters are appearing in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley again (DE on the map). They perform a short show on the Carkitt Market stage before roaming the land, ready to duel and recruit guests.

Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus

“Step right up to a dark circus, a new nightmare that carries with it a sinister curse. It’s a thrilling spectacle of pyro and aerialists.”

This show is on the former Fear Factor stage near Men in Black: Alien Attack, at P on the HHN map. It’s performed at 8 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 11 p.m., and 12:30 a.m. on event nights. Read our review of the new “Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus.”

Food & Drinks

Many of the park’s regular restaurants are open during Halloween Horror Nights. These include The Simpsons’ Fast Food Boulevard, Minion Cafe, Finnegan’s Bar and Grill, Louie’s Italian Restaurant, Richter’s Burger Co., and Today Cafe.

Souvenir “blinky cups” for alcohol can be found at most bars and themed food locations. You get a discount on cocktails when using your Halloween Horror Nights 2024 blinky cup.

HHN-themed food and beverage booths are throughout the park. Check out the full menus:

Lombard’s Fanta Bar

Beverages:

• Ghoul Juice
• Surr3al Soda
• Surr3al Soda Mocktail
• Sinist3r Spritz
• Black Cat’s Reprieve
• Black Cat’s Reprieve Mocktail
• Premium Cocktail
• Cursed Cranberry Vodka Spritz
• Voodoo Brewing Co. Lacto-Kooler (5.5% ABV)
• Miller Lite (4.2% ABV)
• Nütrl (4.5% ABV)
• Modelo (4.4% ABV)
• Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon (13.5% ABV)
• Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay (14.5% ABV)

Transformers Fanta Bar

Beverages:

• Ghoul Juice
• Surr3al Soda
• Surr3al Soda Mocktail
• Dead Meridian
• Dead Meridian Mocktail
• Creepy Cola
• Creepy Cola Mocktail
• Premium Cocktail
• Crooked Can Bloody Murder IPA (5.4% ABV)
• Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale (7% ABV)
• Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest (5.7% ABV)
• Bud Light (4.2% ABV)
• Cursed Cranberry Vodka Spritz
• Miller Lite (4.2% ABV)
• Nütrl (4.5% ABV)
• Modelo (4.4% ABV)
• Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon (13.5% ABV)
• Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay (14.5% ABV)

Fanta’s Bridge Bar

Beverages:

• Ghoul Juice
• Eye of Otis
• Eye of Otis Mocktail
• Soured Sunshine
• Premium Cocktail
• Cursed Cranberry Vodka Spritz
• Crooked Can Bloody Murder IPA (5.4% ABV)
• Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale (7% ABV)
• Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest (5.7% ABV)
• Bud Light (4.2% ABV)
• Voodoo Brewing Co. Lacto-Kooler (5.5% ABV)
• Miller Lite (4.2% ABV)
• Nütrl (4.5% ABV)
• Modelo (4.4% ABV)
• Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon (13.5% ABV)
• Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay (14.5% ABV)

Fanta’s Fear Factor Bar

• Ghoul Juice
• Sinist3r Spritz
• Fanta-Rita
• Premium Cocktail
• Crooked Can Bloody Murder IPA (5.4% ABV)
• Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale (7% ABV)
• Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest (5.7% ABV)
• Bud Light (4.2% ABV)
• Cursed Cranberry Vodka Spritz
• Voodoo Brewing Co. Lacto-Kooler (5.5% ABV)
• Miller Lite (4.2% ABV)
• Nütrl (4.5% ABV)
• Modelo (4.4% ABV)
• Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon (13.5% ABV)
• Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay (14.5% ABV)

The HHN Bar

Beverages:

• Ghoul Juice
• Murder-ita
• Quick to Die Margarita
• Premium Cocktail
• Cursed Cranberry Vodka Spritz
• Voodoo Brewing Co. Lacto-Kooler (5.5% ABV)
• Miller Lite (4.2% ABV)
• Nütrl (4.5% ABV)
• Modelo (4.4% ABV)
• Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon (13.5% ABV)
• Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay (14.5% ABV)

Twisted Taters

Food:

• Twisted Tater

Beverages:

• Cursed Cranberry Vodka Spritz
• Voodoo Brewing Co. Lacto-Kooler (5.5% ABV)
• Miller Lite (4.2% ABV)
• Nütrl (4.5% ABV)
• Modelo (4.4% ABV)

A Quiet Place

Food:

• Abbott’s Farm Corn Chowder
• Millbrook’s Baked Beans
• Wooden Board Éclair

Beverages:

• Raining Blood

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire #1

Food:

• Slimer’s Korean Corndog

Beverages:

• Class-V Concoction
• Garraka’s Icy Breath

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire #2 (Ivan’s)

Food:

• The Frozen Death Chill
• Mini Stay-Puft S’more

Insidious: The Further

Food:

• Eggs in the Further
• “Last Key” Pop
• The Red Door

Beverages:

• Veil of Shadows
• Beyond the Veil

Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines

Food:

• Into the Fog Fish ‘n Chips
• Forbidden Falafel
• The Bride’s Cake

Beverages:

• Sarcophagus Spiced Cider
• Cursed Cranberry Vodka Spritz
• Voodoo Brewing Co. Lacto-Kooler (5.5% ABV)
• Miller Lite (4.2% ABV)
• Nütrl (4.5% ABV)
• Modelo (4.4% ABV)

Slaughter Sinema 2 (The Carey Drive-In)

Food:

• Summer Camp Dog
• Ropa Vieja Walking Taco
• Vegan Walking Taco
• Rocks From Hell
• Sinema Popcorn

Beverages:

• Shirley Black
• Cursed Cranberry Vodka Spritz
• Voodoo Brewing Co. Lacto-Kooler (5.5% ABV)
• Miller Lite (4.2% ABV)
• Nütrl (4.5% ABV)
• Modelo (4.4% ABV)
• Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon (13.5% ABV)
• Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay (14.5% ABV)

Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America

Food:

• Heart “Beet” Tostada
• Spinal Column Pinchos
• Pork Carniceria
• Chocolate Tres Leches

Beverages:

• Depredadora
• Cursed Cranberry Vodka Spritz
• Voodoo Brewing Co. Lacto-Kooler (5.5% ABV)
• Miller Lite (4.2% ABV)
• Nütrl (4.5% ABV)
• Modelo (4.4% ABV)
• Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon (13.5% ABV)
• Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay (14.5% ABV)

Major Sweets Candy Factory

Food:

• Poison Apple
• African Lentil and Potato Sambusa Coffin
• Cyclops Cup

Beverages:

• Sour Cherry Lemonade Boba

Goblin’s Feast

Food:

• Harissa BBQ Turkey Wing
• Pumpkin Guts
• Goblin Pie

Beverages:

• Ghoul Juice
• Cursed Cranberry Vodka Spritz
• Voodoo Brewing Co. Lacto-Kooler (5.5% ABV)
• Miller Lite (4.2% ABV)
• Nütrl (4.5% ABV)
• Modelo (4.4% ABV)

Triplets of Terror

Food:

• Say “Cheese” Burger
• Bloody Goody Bag
• Slashed Siblings Sweet Sampler

Beverages:

• 3 Daughters Brewing Flight (6 oz. serving of each of the following)
• 3 Daughters Brewing A Wake Coffee Blonde
• 3 Daughters Brewing Florida Orange IPA
• 3 Daughters Brewing Rod Bender Amber Ale

57 Scare

Food:

• Pepperoni Pizza Skulls

Read our review of every Halloween Horror Nights 33 food and beverage item. Also, check out our ranking of the 7 best and 7 worst menu items.

Merchandise

Check out our full list of Halloween Horror Nights 33 merchandise. Collections include Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, A Quiet Place, Insidious: The Further, Major Sweets Candy Factory Artist Signature Series, Major Sweets Candy, Blumhouse, Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines, Lil’ Boo, Chucky, Mel’s Die-in, Atomic Goth Punk, Where Horror Lives, Studio Screamers, House and Scare Zone Lineup, and Batilda.

An updated Chucky popcorn bucket says new phrases and has stitches on his face.

There is also a new Lil’ Boo popcorn bucket.

In addition to Halloween Horror Nights merchandise, there is also Minions Halloween merchandise.

Where to Stay

Any preferred lodging will do, but there are certain advantages to staying at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel.

The biggest benefit is the convenience. There is continual bus service from each resort hotel and back through the end of the event each night. If you’re planning on indulging in cocktails or pulling a full day at the park before HHN, the complimentary bus is a relief.

While some Universal Orlando hotels offer daytime Express Pass, it should be noted that these are not valid during Halloween Horror Nights. Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event that requires its own Express Pass.

If you’re not planning to Stay and Scream, resort guests have a dedicated entrance to the event, which may save time at the turnstiles. The entrance for hotel guests is by the Hard Rock Cafe in CityWalk, to the left of the Universal Studios Florida archway.

The hotels are also decorated for Halloween Horror Nights. At Universal Aventura Hotel is an alien bar and photo op. Swizzle Lounge at Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort has once again been taken over by the Pumpkin Lord. The Sapphire Falls lobby resembles a haunted, decrepit manor.

Bayliner Diner at Cabana Bay stays open with grab-and-go meals through the end of the event (but we do not recommend the pizza).

Tips and Tricks

• The Universal Orlando app will show you wait times for the haunted houses.

• A few attractions are open during the event. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Revenge of the Mummy, and Men in Black: Alien Attack are open until the end of the night. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is open until 11 p.m.

• An Express Pass for after 11 p.m. is sometimes available for purchase inside the park.

• If you’re planning to purchase alcoholic drinks in CityWalk, be aware you cannot bring them inside Universal Studios Florida with you. You’ll need to finish them before entering the park. You also cannot take drinks into the houses (but you can drink them in the queues).

• Crowds tend to die down at the end of the night. When the crowds are at their worst, we suggest taking a break at Dead Coconut Club in CityWalk. The club features some old HHN scare zone props.

• Do NOT touch the Scareactors, and always be respectful! Universal does not tolerate guests behaving badly during Halloween Horror Nights!

• Premier Annual Pass valet benefits are not valid on event nights. Parking can be an absolute nightmare, so we suggest you arrive early!

• Premier Annual Passholders receive a complimentary ticket for a select night. This ticket is non-transferable and can only be used on select nights.

• There is a lot of walking during Halloween Horror Nights. Wear comfortable shoes! The queues are very long, and they’re outdoors, so prepare for all weather. Pack a poncho and umbrella for rainy nights. Scare zones may not have Scareactors during inclement weather, but haunted houses will remain open.

Halloween Horror Nights Lore: Know Before You Go

Halloween Horror Nights is fun no matter what, but it helps when you’re familiar with the subject. Original concepts are a core part of the event, but sometimes, it can feel like you’re missing something. Fear not! (Until you’re in the fog, at least). We’re going to give you a brief rundown of everything returning this year.

SINIST3R and SURR3AL

Icons are characters created by Universal for Halloween Horror Nights. They serve as a mascot and usually feature heavily in the marketing and the event itself. This year, the Icons are Sinist3r and Surr3al.

SINIST3R and SURR3AL are sisters from another dimension. They rule over realms of horror (physical pain and psychological terror, respectively). For the last 32 years, the screams and fear of Halloween Horror Nights guests have been feeding an overgrowth beneath the park. It tore a rift between our world and theirs, and now they are here to collect from us directly at the event.

Both can be found in Duality of Fear throughout the night. SINIST3R also appears in Torture Faire and SURR3AL in Demon Queens. Their individual symbols are both versions of “33” and can be seen projected on buildings and the ground around the park.

Lil’ Boo

Lil’ Boo is a jack-o’-lantern prop first created for the Trick ‘r Treat scare zone at Halloween Horror Nights 27. He became an internet sensation during HHN 30, when he was on the facade of The Wicked Growth: Realm of the Pumpkin house. He’s continued to return as a fan-favorite character.

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