10 terrifying haunted houses announced for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2024
Editor's Note
Universal has been a fixture in the world of monster movies since the 1930s, bringing fictional characters like the Wolf Man, Dracula and the Invisible Man to the big screen.
These famous monsters have been a mainstay at Universal Orlando Resort since the park opened in Orlando in 1990, appearing in attractions like the "Horror Make-Up Show" and the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster. It only makes sense that Universal would drive full-throttle into the world of haunted attractions by turning its entire park into one.
Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights began as a three-night event in 1991 (hosted by Beetlejuice himself) with just one haunted house. Now in its 33rd year, Halloween Horror Nights will run for a record-breaking 48 nights, beginning in August for the first time ever. After all, who doesn't want to start celebrating spooky season a little early?
Throughout the event's more-than-two-month run, guests can experience a more sinister side of Universal Orlando. The event occurs in the dark of night after Universal Studios Florida closes to daytime guests. The haunted houses, outdoor scare zones and live entertainment serve as a terrifying counterpart to the family-friendly fun that Universal is otherwise known for.
There is no minimum age requirement for Halloween Horror Nights, but due to its intense nature and extreme gore, the event is not recommended for children under 13. If you want to bring kids, consider whether they are ready for this event.
Popular dates, including opening weekend and Halloween, sell out early, so you must plan ahead to get the socks scared right off your feet. Get your tickets now so you don't miss out. Start planning in advance so you know the ins and outs before exploring the darker side of Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights.
Related: 7 spooky destinations for a Halloween vacation
When does Halloween Horror Nights start?
This year, Halloween Horror Nights will occur on select nights from Aug. 30 through Nov. 3. The event is open every night of the week except Mondays and Tuesdays. It typically begins at 6:30 p.m. on event nights and operates until 2 a.m.
Haunted houses
As is typical for HHN, there will be 10 haunted houses at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights this year. The houses are scattered throughout the park. You can find them using the Universal Orlando app's map. Some are in overflow queue areas for rides, while others are in real working soundstages. Some are in large tents and don't look nearly as scary on the outside as they do inside.
Houses are always a terrifying mix of original concepts dreamt up by the menacing minds at Universal and houses inspired by pop culture horror favorites like "Stranger Things" and "Halloween." Most years, the original and movie-based houses are split evenly with five apiece.
This year, Universal departed from convention and kicked off the house announcements with six original houses. Here's a quick rundown:
- Slaughter Sinema 2: Whether you like it or not, this house makes you the star of your own B-movie marathon, complete with creature features, grindhouse gore, spaghetti Westerns and more.
- Goblin's Feast: As you walk through this house, you'll observe preparations for a lavish feast for the village goblins, orcs, hobgoblins and witches. Did we forget to mention you're the main course?
- Major Sweets Candy Factory: This isn't Major Sweets' first appearance at Halloween Horror Nights. The candy-making tycoon had his own HHN scare zone in 2022. This year, guests have been invited to chaperone a field trip to his candy factory, where the "deadly yet delicious" treats have some unexpected effects on the children who consume them.
- Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America: La Muerte (aka Death) will guide you through the house, where you will encounter three terrifying legends — Tlahuelpuchi, La Lechuza and El Silbon.
- The Museum: Deadly Exhibit: There's more than meets the eye at the museum's new folklore exhibit, "The Rotting Stone." It will destroy everything in its path once its evil is unleashed.
- Triplets of Terror: It's just a birthday party, so what could go wrong? A lot, in fact. The Barmy triplets have a bloody re-creation of their family's murders planned for this "bash."
On June 6, Universal revealed the first movie-themed house of the year, based on the "A Quiet Place" films. The loud, sudden noises make most haunted houses so scary, so this one will be interesting. For the first time ever, Universal will also incorporate American Sign Language (ASL) within the house to stay true to the films.
They followed that up with a house based on "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire," the latest addition to the Ghostbusters franchise. You can expect to see characters (and creatures) from the original films, as well as the newer installments.
The next-to-last house announcement is based on the "Insidious" film franchise. Guests will (unwittingly) step through the iconic red door and into The Further, a world of sinister ghosts and demons.
The final house is another original house called Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines. This one will feature an all-female cast of classic Universal Monsters clashing in the ultimate "undead" battle.
Scare zones
In addition to the haunted houses, Universal creates a series of outdoor scare zones throughout the park. This year, there will be five scare zones, and there's pretty much no way to get around the park without facing the scare zones head-on.
"Scareactors" (it rhymes with "characters") roam around the scare zones looking for unwitting victims to frighten, but they aren't as scary as the houses. They are more likely to shoot you an evil glare or follow behind you a bit too closely. However, they also won't hesitate to rev a chainsaw right in front of you if they think it'll make you jump.
How much are tickets to Halloween Horror Nights?
Single-night tickets for this year's event start at $82.99 per person, plus tax. Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event, so this doesn't get you daytime access to the parks. This year, select ticket types include a six-month subscription to the Peacock streaming service to catch up on your favorite horror franchises before the event.
If you do have a daytime ticket (or annual pass), Universal usually keeps small "Stay & Scream" areas of the park open; this way, you can have a drink and a bite to eat while the park is transformed for that night's festivities. Universal also offers a "Scream Early" ticket that allows you to enter Universal Studios Florida as early as 3 p.m. to enjoy the regular daytime attractions and be first in line for the houses.
Universal also offers multinight "Frequent Fear" and "Rush of Fear" passes for those who plan on visiting multiple times throughout the event.
If you want to enjoy the parks during the day and at night, vacation packages that include hotel accommodations, park tickets and admission to Halloween Horror Nights are available. You can even use your hotel keycard to access a dedicated event entrance designed exclusively for hotel guests.
Related: How to use points to save money at Universal Orlando
Halloween Horror Nights ticket upgrades
Universal offers a variety of add-ons and upgrades for Halloween Horror Nights. These include:
- Halloween Horror Nights Premium Scream Night — If you want to enjoy Halloween Horror Nights with smaller crowds and shorter waits, Universal is hosting its first-ever Premium Scream Night for one night only Aug. 29. For $350 per person plus tax, you can enjoy staggered entry into all 10 haunted houses (for even more scares), all-you-care-to-enjoy food and nonalcoholic beverages, free self-parking, access to select Universal Studios Florida attractions, and an exclusive event souvenir credential and lanyard. Tickets will be available online beginning June 6 and will likely sell out fast.
- Halloween Horror Nights R.I.P. Tour —This is Universal's play on a VIP tour for Halloween Horror Nights. Your expert guide will lead you to a priority entrance at each house, sharing their in-depth knowledge of the event along the way. You'll also get access to a pretour reception with complimentary food and a cash bar, unlimited Universal Express skip-the-line ride access, a commemorative tour credential, a lanyard and a pin. Group and private tours are available, and pricing begins at $369.99 per person; this doesn't include the cost of your Halloween Horror Nights ticket.
- Halloween Horror Nights Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour — Two types of people would benefit from the Unmasking the Horror Tour: those who are too scared to visit the haunted houses at night and those who want to dive deeper into the details of the houses. This is a lights-on tour that takes place during daytime hours. You can choose to tour three or six haunted houses. Prices start at $99.99 per person, plus tax, and $179.99 per person, plus tax, respectively. Regular theme park admission or Halloween Horror Nights tickets are not required for this experience.
- Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass — Universal also offers the Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass, which lets you skip the standby line once per night at the haunted houses and select attractions, much like the daytime Universal Express Pass. Wait times for the haunted houses can climb as high as 90 minutes on busy nights, so this add-on is well worth the money. Pricing starts at $139.99 per person, plus tax. Halloween Horror Nights event admissions are not included and must be purchased separately.
Related: The best credit cards for Universal vacations
Tips for visiting
Save time for live shows
When we say that Halloween Horror Nights takes over the entire park, we mean it. Aside from the haunted houses and scare zones, there are two live shows, themed food and drink booths, and exclusive Halloween Horror Nights merchandise.
The Universal Orlando app includes times for live entertainment. To get a good spot, you typically want to arrive at least 30 minutes before showtime.
Follow this advice if you're a scaredy cat
If you typically don't like to go to haunted houses, you may wonder if you should even visit Universal Orlando during Halloween Horror Nights. If you're not quite sure you can handle it, there are still ways to enjoy the event.
As we mentioned, the outdoor scare zones aren't quite as scary as the houses, so they're a good way to tiptoe into the event. You can also spend your time playing carnival games, eating themed foods, riding roller coasters and watching the shows if you need a break from the houses.
You can book the aforementioned Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour to see the houses during the day with the lights on and without the jump scares. Seeing the houses with the lights on and getting the lay of the land, so to speak, may even give you the courage you need to visit again at night.
Look for Halloween Horror Nights merchandise
Most of the merchandise is in the Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store near the Revenge of the Mummy coaster. The store itself is a themed attraction: It has multiple rooms filled with props and decor that make it feel like a haunted house without jump scares.
You can purchase the requisite hats and T-shirts, along with specialty masks, art and memorabilia. There's also an entire room dedicated to spooky treats.
Keep an eye out for original characters
One of the most interesting things about Halloween Horror Nights is the well-developed original characters, which seem to find their way into the event year after year.
You don't have to know these characters and the tangled web of lore surrounding the event in order to enjoy it. Still, several articles on Universal Orlando's blog go "behind the screams" of the event if you want to learn more.
Stay tuned for additional details as this year's event draws near.
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