Halloween Horror Nights Orlando: My Latest Experiences and Tips!

Introduction

Welcome, thrill-seekers, to an electrifying journey through the spine-tingling realm of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando! Join me as we delve into the heart-pounding excitement of one of the most iconic Halloween events in the world.

In the last post, I showed you all the info you need for Halloween Horror Nights Orlando 2023. And also snips of the celebration last year in 2022. But that was not the first time I went to this event. Back in 2021 I also went and had a lot of fun. In this post I am aiming to share with you what you can find during Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Orlando Resort and other parts of Orlando during your trip.

Thank you for joining me on this haunted adventure – let’s dive into the excitement and make memories that will send shivers down your spine!

The entrance

I always go to this event with company, and this time it was a big group, all of us with Express Passes. And again, if you want to know more about these tickets, just go read my latest post.

With Early Access Tickets, you are able to enter the park a few hours before, enjoy the attractions, and then wait in the Scream and Stay areas around the park, when it closes to transform into Halloween Horror Nights.

There is usually a show to start the event, right at 6:00 PM. And the gates on the main arches by the medallion in Universal Studios Florida, would be open for the crowds. If you stay inside during this time in one of the wait areas, you might miss this mini-show.

Scare Zones

The first thing you will see when entering the park is the Scare Zone, probably by the Minion’s Land. Although I think in 2023 this land is untouched and the Scare Zone is moved a bit up. Regardless, be aware that scare actors are going to try to scare you, by yelling, appearing out of nowhere or coming to you with the infamous chainsaws.

Fog is another constant for these areas, so be aware there might be low visibility, and some of them are pretty loud. Usually, if you want to avoid getting scared, some will have sidewalks next to them to help you go through without getting scared (sometimes you just want to go from point A to Point B).

Haunted Houses

But the main attraction of this event are the Haunted Houses, and even though there are always 3 or 4 out of the 10 usuals that are to look forward to, do not underestimate the other ones. I had been impressed in the pass with the craftmanship and ability to scare of the non-IP, original ones. For example, back in 2021, The Wicked Growth: Realm of the Pumpkin house was definitely one of my favorites.

Another time to have into account during the Haunted House walkthrough is that most of your senses will be stimulated, including smelling disgusting smells, and hearing loud noises. Flashing lights and pitch black darkness are other things to consider.

Also, try to get Express Pass if possible if you are only coming for one night. I knew someone who came for a night with no Express Pass, and only was able to do 3 out of 10 houses. That is very disappointing, especially if you are coming from out of town.

The lines are LONG. Even with Express Pass, and this is one of the complaints, since there is no way to sparce the crowds (or at least they have not figure this out yet), everyone goes to a line, and the popular ones are hours long.

So, be ready to stay in line for a long time. Download some videos to watch, or games if you are coming with somebody.

Something important is the rain. Be ready to get wet, since Halloween Horror Nights has a fame of being rained on, especially the first days of the event, when the Hurricane Season is still on. Try to bring another pair of shoes and socks, a poncho, umbrellas, whatever you need. Especially if you are determined to stay in line.

The food and the drinks

Pizza fries is definitely the famous option for this event, and you can get them in Kidzone Pizza Company, by the Spongebob Storepants in the future Dreamworks land. But there are many other options, including more healthy ones, and actually Universal Studios Florida has a limited event called Halloween Horror Night: Taste of Terror, where you can try many types of food.

Now, regarding the drinks. Be aware that this event is usually for 13 years old and up, and there will be a lot of adults, and many of these adults will be drinking through the night. I personally had an experience of a drunk group harassing me and my group, pushing us on the lines, and ruining our night.

There are also fights, since it seems logical for them to happen when you mix crowds, young people, the need to wait in line and DRINKS. This is one the fights that happened during my 2021 visit.

Tribute Store

It seems like the Tribute Store in 2023 will be back in the New York Area, and I really, really recommend exploring it, and seeing what it has to offer. The decoration is always mind-blowing and full of details, that you would not imagine. Back in 2021 they had these portraits that you could get done a few weeks in advance, and a couple depicted my favorite Orlando youtubers, TheTimTracker family. It also offers a lot of merchandise and food, exclusive for the store. You can get in the usually during daytime, so maybe do not use the event times to visit it.

The pastries from the Tribute Store are always a hit, and you will be wanting more by the end.

Other open attractions

Now with the Death Eaters roaming Diagon Alley in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, in the London section of the park, you would definitely would want to come to this area. But besides that show, the Escape from Gringotts ride will be open during Halloween Horror Nights.

Would you want to risk not going into the houses and instead going to ride a regular attraction? That is up to you. I had Express Pass back in 2021, and most attractions accepted this pass as well. You could also consider Single Rider lines if you really want to get in here. Read more about what rides will be open on 2023 in my previous post.

Some stores will also be open in this land, so be ready to get your wallets out and leave in this magical land.

Before the event

Something every important is to determine your plan for that day. You can either relax at your home or hotel before the event, or be somewhere else, and just come for the duration of it, from 6 PM to 2 AM. Or you can have a full day at Universal Studios Florida, and go on rides and enjoy the park, so you leave the Haunted Houses and the Scare Zones, just exclusive for the evening.

Back in 2021, I had a ticket for a few days, multi-park, park to park, and it was a blessing. It cost money obviously, but being able to do everything we wanted to do without a rush, made the trip very productive.

One of the things we enjoyed during our first day was a nice breakfast in the Leaky Cauldron at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Florida. Of course we had some butterbeer, and the American and the English breakfasts.

Riding the rides here, not with Express Pass, but just doing the regular line or Single Rider line is just better than doing it during the main event.

The other park: Islands of Adventure

Since we had the park to park tickets, we also explored the Universal’s Islands of Adventure, especially because Velocicoaster was brand new back then, so we had to ride it. And when we did, a double rainbow showed up after a heavy middle of the day rainstorm.

It was just magical, and just a couple of hours before the official start of Halloween Horror Nights.

Also in this park, you will find the Hogwarts Castle, and Hogsmeade, both the original additions to the most immersive land in any park in the world: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

But be careful, one of the consequences of Halloween Horror Nights is, people would prefer to buy a ticket to Islands of Adventure since this park will be open to day guests until late, unlike Universal Studios Florida. This would make it the most crowded park during the day.

The other park: Food

Another restaurant in this land is Three Broomsticks, which usually has a line, but it is manageable. This time we got my favorite fish and chips, and the Spareribs Platter.

The other park: Halloween Shows

Universal Studios Florida is not the only park in this resort that celebrates Halloween. Here, you will find the All Hallows Eve Boutique, by the extinct Lost Continent land, and also, they have had the Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle projections at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

A super interesting show, definitely do not miss it if you are in this park on a different night than the one when you are going to HHN. Also, it is to confirm if this projection show will return for 2023.

Regardless, go visit the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction in this park, since it is a very immersive ride into the Wizarding World.

CityWalk

In CityWalk, the Downtown Disney of Universal, you do not need park tickets, so another good tip for what to do before the trip is, to maybe explore this commercial area.

With my group, we decided to have a dinner before HHN in The Cowfish Bento Box, and it was ok. The food was not great, but we had a good time in the establishment.

Another option is the famous Hard Rock Cafe, which I would recommend, especially the burgers.

Where to stay?

For this trip we specifically stayed in Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, and it was worth it because of all the amenities, the free bus for the parks, the early access to the parks, and the walking access to Volcano Bay, Universal’s water park. We did that park the day after Halloween Horror Nights, and it was great!

We even had some smores by the fire pit in the hotel, at the end of our water park day.

Outside of Universal: Disney Springs

For our last day, since we had a later flight, we checked out and decided to ditch Universal and go to Disney Springs. This is a great idea if you have stayed in the Universal Orlando Resort for too much, and need another view but without having to pay a Disney Park ticket.

Of course, we had to get Gideon’s Bakehouse’s cookies, since they are the best in the world, and every time I would come to this area, I would spend almost $40 in cookies, cakes and specialty cold brews.

One restaurant we visited and tried for the first time, was Wine Bar George, following recommendations from many youtubers that would swear this is the best place to eat in Disney Springs. But I have to disagree. I feel like The Boathouse was better in my opinion.

Outside of Universal: Skyliner

And finally, something you can do outside of Universal, and the Halloween Horror Nights event, is do a hotel hopping, especially using the free skyliner. This is a relaxing way to spend the rest of your vacation after an exhausting Spooky Event.

Conclusion

As we bid farewell to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando, we’re left with a rush of unforgettable moments. From navigating the spooky haunted houses to braving the scare zones, the thrills were real. We’ve shared tips on conquering long lines and staying dry during sudden rain spells. Amid the screams, don’t forget the delectable pizza fries and other treats. While the night may be spooky, stay mindful of the festive spirits around you. Beyond the scares, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter offers its own magic. As we close this chapter, remember: adventure is boundless, and there’s a world of exploration ahead. Stay daring and keep the curiosity alive!