Is Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights Really That Scary?

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facade of a neoclassical building at night lit in green with a 2D fake city skyline behind it, lit in pink against a clear blue night sky. The letters HHN33 are projected in yellow onto the roof of the building.

How Scary are Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights?

Just how scary is Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando? Here’s a wimp’s guide to the scariest event of the season!

I recently attended my first-ever Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) at Universal Orlando. It was a night of pure fear: jump-scares, haunted houses, spooky attractions, and creepy characters galore.

Before I went, I was apprehensive. I’m pretty wimpy, almost never watch horror movies, and have been known to jump at my own shadow (I wish that was an exaggeration!). I was worried that HHN might be too much for me to handle.

My only previous experience with something similar was the (now-closed) Saw Maze at Thorpe Park (in South England). It used to terrify me – but I’d still go on again and again, because there’s something addictive about the adrenaline rush that comes along with genuine, full-body terror!

So I went along, hoping that the excitement and adrenaline would outweigh the fear. Which it did – for the most part. My heart rate was so high that my smartwatch logged a 2-hour workout – and I’ve honestly never screamed that much in my life. But the screams were followed by (slightly delirious) giggles, and I can genuinely say I had a great time – despite (or maybe because of) being so scared!

Below, you’ll find my take on just how scary the Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando really is, what to expect from the event, and some top tips for less fearless visitors (aka big fat wimps like me). Happy Halloween…

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando

Disclaimer – my trip to HHN was supported by Universal Orlando and Virgin Atlantic. As always all words and opinions are my own.

Diner at night lit in pink neon, there is a palm tree next to the diner and a large crowd of people seated outside. A pink neon sign on the roof reads Mel's Drive-in but the R and V are not lit so it looks like Mel's Die-In.

How Scary are Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights?

What to Expect at HHN

OK – so what exactly IS Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando?

This is a special event that runs every year throughout late summer and autumn, where the Universal Resort parks get a spooky makeover and open late till 2am for a serious fright fest.

There are designated “scare zones” throughout the park: special themed areas with scare actors, horrifying set pieces, spooky mist and unpleasant smells.

small wooden stage with a wooden wheel on which there is a fake corpse missing its arms and legs with bloody stumps as if they have just been torn off. there is a crow on the face pecking out the eyes. — *Torture Faire scare zone at HHN33*

But the main attractions are the haunted houses: brilliantly designed indoor horror mazes where actors are waiting in the darkness to jump-scare you at every turn. There are usually a few houses themed around recent or popular movies (this year includes A Quiet Place, Insidious and Ghostbusters) – plus several original houses designed by Universal’s creative team.

HHN is now in its 33rd year and it’s longer than ever: running on selected nights from 30 August to 3 November 2024. This year there are five scare zones, ten haunted houses, and a life entertainment show – plus the Death Eaters have returned to Diagon Alley!

How scary is Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights?

actor wearing a pink frilly dress and a horror style rabbit mask standing in a doorway holding a cord, the shadow of the bunny ears are on the wall behind her

Obviously this question is tricky to answer, as it’s all relative. But if you’re reading this, I’m guessing you perhaps have a slightly nervous disposition. Or you’re a full-blown unashamed chicken, like me!

The Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios are designed to be scary. That’s the whole point! And they do a great job: the haunted houses are not only packed with jump-scares, but each one is brilliantly designed to create an immersive storytelling experience – like walking through a live horror movie.

actor in a mummy costume reaching up with one clawed hand surrounded by dry ice and lit by orange light. In a haunted house at Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights

The fear is also similar to watching a scary movie. The anticipation of knowing that something is about to jump out at you, but not knowing when, makes the jump even worse when it eventually comes. Mix that with flashing lights, creepy smells, weird scenery, dense mist, loud noises and low lighting – and you have a truly terrifying experience.

That won’t do it for everyone. We were a group of about a dozen and only about 50% of us were screaming in every house. Some people are just fearless I guess! But if you tend to spook easily, then yes, you’ll likely find Halloween Horror Nights pretty frightening.

That said – it’s also fun! Much like watching a scary movie, the adrenaline rush and the feeling of “survival” at the end was a brilliant high. I’d shriek with fear one second, then burst out laughing the next. It was great!

Good to Know: Most of the houses feature some fairly narrow passageways. If you get claustrophobic they might not be suitable. Likewise, if you have any serious phobias, it’s probably worth checking they won’t be featured before you enter any houses.

Street in Universal Studios Orlando at night with green and pink lights catching on a fog of dry ice and several people siloutted against the light.

Is HHN suitable for kids?

Universal Studios says Halloween Horror Nights is not recommended for children under 13 (see the full warning below). However, there’s no minimum age to attend and I saw a few surprisingly young kids wandering around.

Honestly, I think this would have been too much for me at 13. There’s no way I’d let my 13-year-old niece attend, let alone my younger nieces and nephews. They’d never sleep again! But you know your own kid, so if you think they can handle it, by all means bring them along.

I’d suggest starting them out with a few of the scare zones and one of the less scary haunted houses. This year, that’s probably Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. See how they get on with that before moving on to the scarier stuff. And maybe give Insidious a wide berth unless you’re really confident in your kid’s fearlessness!

“WARNING: EVENT MAY BE TOO INTENSE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13. NO COSTUMES OR COSTUME MASKS ALLOWED.”

Can the actors touch you at Halloween Horror Nights?

actor in costume as a medieval queen with short black hair wearing a crown with two tall cones made of yellow fabric covered in black lace. she has her arms crossed and is looking off camera. The background behind is red with an image of a face on it.

I’ve already mentioned Thorpe Park’s infamous Saw Maze. On that, the actors could touch and grab the victims in the maze (us). I remember on one occasion a crazed zombie clung onto my then-boyfriend’s leg and wouldn’t let him go. Obviously, I abandoned him and ran for my life!

Thankfully, the actors in the Halloween Horror Nights houses cannot touch you. It’s against the rules. Pretty logical, really, since there’s no way of knowing if your fight-or-flight response will lead to an instinctive punch in the face!

Tips for Halloween Horror Nights

Below, I’ve shared my top tips to make sure you survive your first Halloween Horror Nights experience – without fainting from fear! For more great tips, my friend (and Universal expert!) Helen has a great guide to Halloween Horror Nights – click here to read it.

1. Research the houses and plan your night in advance

two large white barn style buildings at night lit up, the closest building is lit with green projections and the further one is lit in neon pink.

Pretty much as soon as the HHN event launches, people start posting photos and thoughts on social media. Press and influencers are invited to the opening nights – and unlike most visitors, they’re allowed to take photos and videos inside the haunted houses.

This means you can do some pre-trip research to see which haunted houses are the best, and which might be too scary for you. In 2024, the scariest house by far was Insidious: The Further. It was FAR too much for me (I covered my eyes and ran blindly through the last few rooms screaming), and even a lot of seasoned HHN regulars said it genuinely made them scream.

If you’re feeling nervous about your first Halloween Horror Nights, this would be the house to avoid this year – at least until you’ve gotten used to things. Take a look at the reviews to see which houses are being considered the scariest, so you can ease yourself in with a few of the less terrifying houses.

Personally, I avoided all spoilers because I wanted to go in as a complete newb to see exactly how scary the experience would be. The things I do for research!

Least and Most Scary Houses at HHN33

Most Scary:

Insidious: The Further – my heart rate spiked at 165 on this one!
A Quiet Place – possibly less scary if you haven’t seen the movies, but the idea that I mustn’t scream made this one feel REALLY bad.
Major Sweets Candy Factory – I’ve seen mixed reviews for this one but it really got me. I think it was the mix of loud noises, weird smells, and creepy children!

Less scary:

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire – fun, nostalgic, and designed to perfection.
Slaughter Sinema 2 – a few funny bits (like Stripper Mummies) help balance out the frights.
Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines – this one is very beautifully designed and really tells a story. There were still some good jumps, though!

2. Know where the scares will be coming

Without giving too much away – knowing the basic mechanics of the haunted houses may help prepare the uninitiated. Generally, the actors will hide around corners or behind “boo holes” – an adorable name for a decidedly un-adorable practice.

actor in costume as an evil looking wich with white face and white curly hair, leaning out of a window between curtains — *The Bride in Black in Insidious: The Further*

Boo holes are essentially something that looks solid, but has a gap to allow the actor to burst out snarling/shrieking/flailing/wielding some kind of horrific weapon. It might be a painting that’s actually a curtain, a piece of wall with a hidden seam, or a hidden door.

Looking around and ahead as you walk through the house, you may be able to spot a few of the boo holes coming and mentally prepare yourself. If you’re hunched over running in terror (like I was) they’re less easy to spot – although that’s more fun in a way!

HOWEVER – you can never see all the jump scares coming. Some actors have more than one boo hole to use so you’ll never know where they’ll pop out. Sometimes things that look like boo holes are actually just a distraction, and the real one is behind you or hidden around a corner. And the scariest house this year, Insidious: The Further, had a lot of terrifying tricks in place to make sure you never knew where the next scare would be coming.

3. Avoid the jump-scares in Scare Zones

close up of an actor wearing a white clown style mask with blue aroudn the eyes and big red streaks across the grinning mouth. She has long brown hair and a white frilly bonnet on, and is holding a bloody baseball bat over one shoulder. — *Enter the Blumhouse scare zone at HHN33*

Even if you do see them coming, the jump scares in the haunted houses are unavoidable. However, the scare zones are a bit different. These zones are outdoors, with fog, set pieces, and actors wandering around.

For the most part, they don’t really jump-scare you so much as leer ominously – though some will jump out at you. And I did get chased by a zombie with a chainsaw at one point!

If you want to explore the scare zones without jumping out of your skin, stick to the pavement (sidewalk). Apparently, there’s an unwritten rule that if you’re walking in the street you’re ready and willing to be jumped on. Most of the time, if you’re on the sidelines the ghouls won’t terrorise you!

4. Enjoy the park and rides after dark

loop the loop on a red rollercoaster at night against a clear dark sky, surrounded by silhouetted palm trees with a crowd of people in the foreground. — *Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit after dark*

If all the jump-scares and chainsaw-wielding zombies start to get a bit much, you can step away from the fear for a while and seek some thrills instead.

Outside of the designated scare zones, the rest of the park is dimly lit but otherwise relatively normal, so you can wander and explore without fear. The Diagon Alley area of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ is particularly atmospheric after dark. There will, however, be Death Eaters ominously wandering the area.

Many of the rides stay open during HHN, so make the most of the opportunity to ride them after dark. One of my faves, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit rollercoaster, is a blast at night – and gives some great views over the HHN action!

5. Don’t miss the themed food and drink

hand holding a brown card tray with a toasted marshmallow shaped like a man

Every year, the HHN houses are accompanied by a slew of pop-up food and drink stands serving limited edition snacks themed around each house.

We’re talking things like a Red Door potato-and-onion pie for Insidious, Abbott’s Farm Corn Chowder for A Quiet Place, and a Bloody Goody Bag for the Triplets of Terror. Click here for the full menu for HHN33.

Many of these spooky treats make great photo ops! The big hitter for 2024 is the Ghostbusters Stay Puft S’more: the loveable marshmallow man, toasted and served on a bed of melted chocolate and graham cracker. Don’t miss it!

6. Stay at a Universal Resort Hotel

view from a hotel window on a high floor with a cloud-shaped swimming pool below and a city skyline in the distance on a slightly overcast day with clouds in the sky — *Dockside Inn and Suites at the Endless Summer Resort*

Staying within the Universal Resort tends to be the best option at any time of year. Universal Resort Hotel guests get lots of benefits, including early park access* and free transport to the parks.

Halloween Horror Nights run from 6:30pm until 2am. Even if you don’t stay out that late, you’ll likely be pretty tired after a night of pacing around the park, standing in queues, and screaming your lungs out! The short journey back to a resort hotel – either on foot, or by shuttle or water taxi – will feel like a godsend when you make it out of the park!

I recently stayed at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and loved it – it’s one of the more mid-range hotels but feels very luxurious. It’s also a 15-minute walk (if that) from the park entrance – or you can hop on a boat for a scenic trip downriver! Alternatively, if you’re doing Universal Studios on a budget, the Endless Summer Resort is a short shuttle bus from the parks.

(*Early access does not include Halloween Horror Nights)

A Few More Tips

Wear comfy shoes – I cannot stress this enough!
Go with people you trust! You need friends who will look after you in the haunted houses – NOT friends who’ll ditch you at the first sign of trouble!
Get the right tickets. This event is ticketed separately to the main park so even if you’re there in the day, you’ll need to purchase a HHN ticket on top.
Dress up – costumes and masks aren’t allowed, so opt for a Halloween-themed t-shirt and/or spooky accessories. There’s a lot of fun merch for sale at the park shops, too.
Avoid peak times like weekends to benefit from shorter queue times.

hand holding a small square cake with purple icing and a cartoon of the Ghostbusters Stay Puft Marshmallow man printed on the top, in front of a yellow and red rolldercoaster.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando: Scariness Summary!

To sum up, then:

Yes, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando is very scary. They’re also great fun, with brilliantly immersive storytelling. And the thrill of escaping from the haunted houses is a genuine high!

The haunted houses are probably not suitable for those under 13 or for anyone with claustrophobia or other serious phobias.

If you’re feeling particularly nervous, my top tip would be to research all the haunted houses in advance so you have a rough idea of what to expect.

Otherwise – dig deep, find your inner movie hero, and GO FOR IT! I promise, if I can face these haunted houses, you can.

stage set of a swamp with light bursting through a tree and catching on thick fog. It is a very dark night and only the light and fog are visible, as well as a barrel and a stool. Scary theming at Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights — *Swamp of the Undead scare zone at HHN33*

How to Get to Halloween Horror Nights

Seven nights in Orlando with Virgin Atlantic Holidays starts from £1460 per person, including scheduled Virgin Atlantic Economy flights direct from London Heathrow to Orlando, a 3 Park Explorer Ticket, a Halloween Horror Nights single night ticket and room-only accommodation at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.

Price is based on two adults travelling and sharing a Standard Room and includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Price is based on a departure on 17th September 2024. Virgin Atlantic Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL-protected. Prices subject to change and availability. Virgin Atlantic Holidays terms and conditions apply.

To book: www.virginholidays.co.uk or call 0344 557 3859

How to do Universal Orlando on a Budget

Geeking Out at Universal Studios

I hope you found this guide to the HHN scary levels helpful! If you have a question, reach out in the comments below and I’ll try to help!