Join us for a daytime, lights-on tour of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort.
Think you have what it takes to brave Halloween Horror Nights? Find out with the Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour, a daytime, lights-on, VIP guided experience that takes you behind the scenes of select Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) houses at Universal Orlando Resort. It’s an incredible value for HHN newbies and super-fans alike, delivering event lore, fun facts, Easter eggs and more, all without a theme park ticket.
Discover: Halloween Horror Nights Survival Guide
The Unmasking the Horror Tour is one of many unbelievably real experiences you’ll only find in Orlando. We recently joined a three-house Unmasking the Horror Tour to learn more, and I’m bringing you along for a fascinating look behind the scares. Spoilers abound below, but there are some things you’ll have to wait and see on your own Unmasking the Horror Tour.
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Getting Started: Unmasking the Horror Tour Basics
We checked in for our Unmasking the Horror Tour at Soundstage 18, located between Hard Rock Live & Cafe and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit in Universal CityWalk. Our small group of eight was primarily comprised of diehard Halloween Horror Nights fans like myself, some of whom had already been to the event multiple times. Others wanted a preview of the houses before experiencing the scares.
Discover: Things to Do in Universal CityWalk
As for me, I wanted to examine everything, learn the magic behind the scares, and discover nods to favorite Halloween Horror Nights houses from my past. I worked for Universal when I first moved to Orlando, and I still remember the thrill of walking through legendary houses like A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dreamwalkers and Dead Silence: The Curse of Mary Shaw as part of my Halloween Horror Nights training. Just like I learned about roller skating ghouls and mirrored walls and floors in 2007, I wanted to know more about how Universal Orlando Resort put the scares together for Halloween Horror Nights 33.
Back at Soundstage 18, we had an opportunity to purchase drinks and snacks, and our tour guide laid out a few basic ground rules. Stay on the path, don’t touch the props, and put your cameras away in scenes where photos aren’t allowed. Then we turned on our earpieces and entered Universal Studios Florida to begin the tour.
Unmasking the Horror Tour: Inside HHN 33 Houses
Houses may vary depending on availability, but during our three-house tour we got to see The Museum: Deadly Exhibits, Slaughter Sinema 2 and Triplets of Terror. All three are original content houses dreamed up by Universal’s Entertainment Creative team, as opposed to houses based off popular film and television series.
We started with a “fine arts tour” in the sprung tents, then moved on to Soundstage 24 for the final house of the day. And it so happens that this tour includes one of my favorite 2024 houses, so I was pumped.
The Museum: Deadly Exhibits
Our first stop was The Museum: Deadly Exhibits, where our tour guide set the scene for a local folklore exhibit gone wrong. We learned all about the Rotting Stone and the evil spirit within, which has escaped and possessed everything within the museum — including people, walls, desks, artifacts and more.
We learned so much in here, from code names used in the house planning stages to different types of scares and how they’re triggered. The Museum’s code name, if you’re wondering, was baklava — see if you can spot some in the house! We also learned about certain props, decor and set pieces that have been upcycled, plus new-to-me lore like the origin of a recurring character called HHN Bear.
For Halloween Horror Nights newbies, this might seem like a lot. Don’t worry, this tour has plenty for you as well. You’ll learn basic terminology like scareactor (the performer scaring you) and boo hole (where the scareactors lurk), plus see commonly used tricks like fabric that appears opaque until it’s illuminated from behind. And if you’re hoping for a sneak peek of the scares before people start jumping out at you, you can ask for that as well.
Slaughter Sinema 2
Next up, let’s all go to the movies. Slaughter Sinema 2 is a favorite of many Halloween Horror Nights fans, but newer devotees might not know that it’s actually a test house. The genre-spanning house covers everything from sci-fi to spaghetti westerns, and it’s all based on rejected house concepts. Ever wondered why Universal created more than one yeti house in recent years? Thank the original Slaughter Sinema from 2018. It all ties together in a delightfully campy romp through the sinema.
We got to walk through the house, and while photos weren’t allowed in most scenes, we did get to examine all the posters, search for Easter eggs, and learn more about the backstory of each mini movie. I won’t spoil too much, because you really should see this house for yourself, but it was a treat to slow down, turn on my flashlight and discover nods to past houses all over the place.
I spotted major names like Albert Caine and Jack Schmidt (two icons of HHN past), saw repurposed props and figures, and got so close to my favorite show scene, I walked away with fake snow on my skirt. I even gained a new, light-on appreciation for the scenes I initially didn’t enjoy, like Night of the Undead Clowns. Oh, and if you’re wondering, zyborg = zombie cyborg, and it was awesome to see this scene’s most jaw-dropping zyborg with the lights on.
Tip: While it was never featured in Slaughter Sinema, this year’s Goblin’s Feast is another once-rejected house. It’s another favorite house this year.
Triplets of Terror
Our final house was Triplets of Terror in Soundstage 24. Prior to the Unmasking the Horror Tour, this was one of my least favorite houses for 2024. House rankings vary wildly from fan to fan, and in my case, I just felt more scared or engaged in houses like Slaughter Sinema 2 or Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America.
This is where the Unmasking the Horror Tour can be a total game-changer. Our tour guide pointed out so many cool details and things that I’d missed, and now I can’t wait to go back and experience the house with new eyes. For example, a bag of doll heads that weirdly foreshadows a scene later in the house, or three little snails for three terrifying triplets. This is a pretty gory house, so if you thought you could bring kids along for the tour, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Triplets of Terror, as you may have guessed, is about three homicidal siblings who recreate a specific killing spree every ten years. We learned that the three titular triplets will always appear in the same scene, even if you only notice one or two. And our guide dropped some chilling real-life connections to Frostproof, Florida, where one of the triplets’ rampages took place.
This house also had some fantastic photo opportunities, so if you’re hoping for an iconic Halloween Horror Nights selfie or two, you won’t want to miss this tour. Get a peek at the action below:
I’m a huge Halloween Horror Nights fan and I expected a few surprises from the tour, but I was honestly blown away by our tour guide’s knowledge of all things Halloween Horror Nights. I learned so much about code names, prop origins, production secrets and the many people who bring this event to life, and it made me appreciate the event even more.
Whether you’re new to Halloween Horror Nights, a seasoned fan, or just want to experience the artistry of Orlando’s creative community, I can’t recommend this tour enough. In fact, I think I’ll be back to do it all over again next year. I’ll see you there.
Unmasking the Horror Tour FAQs
How much do Unmasking the Horror Tour tickets cost?
Unmasking the Horror Tour tickets start at $99.99 + tax for a 3-house tour and $179.99 + tax for a six-house tour. Halloween Horror Nights admission is not included, and pricing varies by date.
Do I need a Universal Studios Florida or Halloween Horror Nights ticket?
No, park tickets are not required to book the Unmasking the Horror Tour at Universal Studios Florida. Your tour begins and ends at Soundstage 18 in Universal CityWalk.
What’s included with the Unmasking the Horror Tour?
The Unmasking the Horror Tour is a guided walking tour. It’s priced per guest with a maximum of 12 people per tour. You’ll get a tour guide, headsets and daytime access to select Halloween Horror Nights houses. Not to mention, you’ll gain a ton of knowledge about the history, houses and inner workings of Halloween Horror Nights.
Do I need to bring anything?
Bring your confirmation number, photo ID and comfortable walking shoes for the Unmasking the Horror Tour. I recommend bringing water as well, but you’ll have a chance to purchase water and snacks before your tour departs.
Is the Unmasking the Horror Tour kid-friendly?
Just like Halloween Horror Nights, the Unmasking the Horror Tour is not recommended for children under the age of 13.
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