Let terror reign with our ghoulish guide to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort.
Updated June 16, 2025
Get ready for a spine-chilling good time in Orlando with our guide to Halloween Horror Nights (HHN), one of the top-rated Halloween events in the world. Hosted by Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando Resort, this after-hours nightmare boasts terrifying haunted houses, sinister scare zones, pulse-pounding entertainment and more, available on select nights from Aug. 29 – Nov. 2, 2025.
But be warned: Halloween Horror Nights is not for the faint of heart. Read on to learn more about this terrifying Halloween event and see if you have what it takes to master the mayhem — I know I do!
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.
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The Legend of Halloween Horror Nights
Voted the world’s best Halloween event for 14 years by Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards, Halloween Horror Nights isn’t your average haunted house attraction. It’s the stuff of legend, with a world-class creative entertainment team, incredible immersive environments, decades of interwoven backstory, and a dedicated fan base across the globe.
I’m one of those fans, a self-identified horror addict who first attended HHN back in 2007. I met Jack the Clown, screamed my way through headliner houses themed after iconic slasher films, and even caught a glimpse of the magic behind some of the event’s most compelling scares. I’ve been to almost every Halloween Horror Nights event in Orlando since.
There’s something about the adrenaline rush, the music, the costumes, the incredible storytelling, the sets and yes, some very creative blood and guts that thrill me to the bone. It could be perhaps that unlike in the real world, here I know I am safe. I can immerse myself in stories of cinematic proportions — including some ripped directly from the silver screen — and walk out smiling, laughing, nodding. “Now who’s hungry?”
And clearly, I’m not alone. Halloween Horror Nights is one of Orlando’s most highly anticipated events, with thousands eagerly lining up night after night to be horrified, entranced and scared out of their pants. It’s been that way since 1991, when the first-ever “Fright Nights” debuted at Universal Studios Florida. Since then, the event has grown, taking on a new name, new fans and new scares across 43 nights. Let’s see who’ll be haunting our nightmares this Halloween season.
New Scares at Halloween Horror Nights
With all-new houses, scare zones and shows every single year, you can almost guarantee that you’ll never have the same experience twice. Stay tuned for a peek at some of the new Halloween Horror Nights experiences coming in 2025.
New Haunted Houses
Stick with your group and get ready to scream your way through haunted houses based off of iconic film and TV productions, plus all-new haunts directly from the twisted minds of Universal Orlando’s in-house creative team. The only way out is through.
In 2025, new houses at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort will include:
- Fallout: Face your fears in post-apocalyptic LA, devastated by nuclear war, based on the hit show and game franchise Fallout. You’ll travel into the vaults and be attacked by raiders alongside Lucy. You’ll escape to the wasteland and confront the bounty hunter, The Ghoul. You’ll even encounter Maximus with the Brotherhood of Steel and see T-60 power armor.
- Jason Universe: The iconic horror villain Jason Voorhees is coming for you. Step into his terrifying world, from his sinister shack in the woods to the summer camp where it all began.
New Scare Zones
Not even the streets are safe in this immersive horror experience, which features multiple scare zones to haunt your dreams.
New Shows
Stay tuned for more details on new shows and entertainment for Halloween Horror Nights 34.
Halloween Horror Nights Survival Tips & Tricks
Buy Tickets in Advance
Avoid crowds at the ticket windows by buying your Halloween Horror Nights event tickets well in advance. Select tickets will be available directly through Universal Orlando Resort. You can also save on daytime and Halloween Horror Nights tickets through Visit Orlando powered by BestofOrlando.com. (Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event and is not included with day admission to Universal Orlando Resort.)
Save on discount tickets: Universal Orlando Resort
Scream Early
Get a head start on your night by arriving early. If you have a Halloween Horror Nights ticket and a Scream Early or daytime ticket for Universal Studios Florida, simply head to a designated Stay & Scream zone before the park’s 5 p.m. closing time. When the park re-opens for Halloween Horror Nights, you’ll be among the first guests released into the park. Each zone offers early access to a different area of the park, so choose your path wisely.
Discover: Things to Do at Universal Studios Florida
You can also scream early with the return of Premium Scream Night, an exclusive preview event which gives you access to all the scares one day before Halloween Horror Nights officially begins. Enjoy free self-parking, staggered entry, lower house wait times, limited capacity, an unlimited selection of food items, souvenir event credentials, and more brag-worthy goodies. You can even get into character yourself by wearing a costume, something normally prohibited during Halloween Horror Nights.
Spend Less Time in Line
There’s nothing more frightening than spending half your night waiting in line — so don’t! There are several ways to bypass the standby line for your favorite haunts, or to at least reduce your wait time.
One of the most popular paid options is the Universal Express Pass, which can be used once per house and at participating attractions for reduced Express wait times. You can also book a guided R.I.P. tour to enjoy front-of-line access to each haunted house. Choose from private and non-private options to suit your preferences.
How to Navigate Halloween Horror Nights Without Express
No Express Pass? No worries. Brave Halloween Horror Nights by arriving early, staying late and prioritizing your must-do’s. The houses in the front of the park and those based on popular film and TV productions tend to remain busy most of the night, while those spread throughout the park enjoy a slower start to the night. No guarantees, of course, but in my experience, wait times typically start to drop around midnight. With that in mind, you can create your own custom itinerary, start checking things off, and make the most of time spent in line with friends.
Shriek on Pulse-Pounding Rides
Select Universal Studios Florida attractions are open throughout Halloween Horror Nights, giving you a whole new way to scream. Wait times for high-octane rides are often lower after hours, so check them out between houses to keep things interesting. Pay attention to special operating hours, as some of these rides may close before the event ends.
Minimize the Scares With These Scaredy-Cat Tactics
If it’s your first time at Halloween Horror Nights (or your braver friends dragged you into going again), you might be a little nervous about what lies beyond the park gates. Fear not. Try some of these tricks to keep your cool when it all gets to be too much.
- Wear earbuds or earplugs to dull any loud noises.
- Stick to the sidewalks to enjoy most — but certainly not all — of the scare zone action from afar.
- Take in a show. They’re pulse-pounding good fun without the jump-scares.
- Let your friends go first in the houses and hang on tight.
- DON’T RUN. Seriously, do you want them to chase you?
Eat, Drink & Be Scary
All that screaming and running around is guaranteed to make you hungry. Satisfy your appetite with themed treats and diabolical drinks inspired by this year's houses. Highlights pictured here from 2024 include the Mini Stay-Puft S'more, The Bride's Cake, the Heart "Beet" Tostada and the Poison Apple, with many more menu items. Try them if you dare.
More Ways to Celebrate Halloween at Universal Orlando Resort
Looking for even more spooky fun? These events and offerings are also available at Universal Orlando Resort throughout the Halloween season. Universal also has several spooky spots that are open all year long, perfect for Halloween ghoulies like me who’ve been listening to HHN-inspired playlists since last season ended.
Discover: Year-Round Halloween Haunts in Orlando
Unmasking the Horror Tour
Go behind the screams on a guided, lights-on tour of select Halloween Horror Nights houses. Choose between 3- or 6-house tour options to get a closer look at the props, sets, stories and illusions that form the heart of this incredible Halloween event. If that wasn’t cool enough, here’s the kicker: You don’t need a Halloween Horror Nights or a daytime park ticket to enjoy the tour. It’s perfect for seasoned, detail-obsessed HHN fans like myself and those who are curious but not quite ready to commit to a full night of scares.
Discover: Unmasking the Horror Tour
Halloween Tribute Store
Shop for exclusive Halloween Horror Nights merchandise at the Halloween Tribute Store, a themed, limited time offering in Universal Studios Florida. It’s open all day long, so you can even check it out while you wait for the event to start. Stay tuned for details on the 2025 tribute store.
Halloween Offerings at Universal CityWalk
The spooky fun doesn’t stop when you leave Universal Studios Florida. Enjoy bewitching food and beverage items at select Universal CityWalk restaurants, and don’t leave without visiting one of my favorite stops: The Dead Coconut Club. This spooky version of the Red Coconut Club is perfect for a pre- or post-Halloween hangout, with ghoulish cocktails, live entertainment and maybe even a familiar horror icon or two.
Discover: Things to Do at Universal CityWalk
Hotels of Horror
Finally, keep the fun going all night with festive Halloween decor at various Universal Orlando Resort hotels. You'll find plenty of ways to keep the adrenaline rush going, from themed specialty drinks to spooktacular lounges and photo ops.
Discover: Universal Orlando Resort Hotels
Stay Connected to Orlando
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