The screams. The jump scares. The movie-quality haunted houses. So many things about Halloween Horror Nights are similar, whether you attend the event in Orlando at Universal Studios Florida or on the West Coast at Universal Studios Hollywood.
I can fly to Orlando in under two hours, so I attend Halloween Horror Nights there multiple times each year (I even took my teen for the first time this year). Los Angeles is a bit farther (at least six hours of travel across three time zones), so I don’t visit as often as I’d like, but I just returned from a whirlwind weekend-long visit.
It isn’t the whole “distance makes the heart grow fonder” thing that convinced me to make the trek there instead of to Orlando. Despite their similarities, there are several things you can only experience at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, and the thought of missing out was scarier than what the time change might do to my brain and body.
Some of these are specific to this year’s event, but many return year after year. Let’s take a look at all of the things you can only do at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights.
The Terror Tram
Halloween or not, one attraction you can only experience at Universal Studios Hollywood is the Studio Tour: a tram ride through Universal’s real backlot sets. During Halloween Horror Nights, the tour is transformed into the Terror Tram. This year, guests encounter Art the Clown all dressed up as Santa, but I guarantee you don’t want the presents in his big red sack.
We actually departed the tram to walk through Art’s murderous version of the holidays. And, unfortunately for us, he brought along his evil cohorts from the film franchise, including the Little Pale Girl and Vicky.
There were more chainsaw-wielding maniacs than I could count, too, but it wasn’t all scares. Universal set up a few fun photo ops throughout the walkthrough, and I loved the opportunity to get off the tram and walk so close to some of the movie sets like the Bates Motel from Psycho and the plane crash scene from War of the Worlds.
The Terror Tram should be at the top of your list if you want to prioritize things you can only experience at HHN in Universal Studios Hollywood. The experience takes about 30 minutes to complete (more if you participate in the photo ops), and the last tour does leave a couple hours before the event closes for the evening, so be sure to keep track of the time or set alerts in the Universal app.
A house inspired by Latin American folklore
Houses inspired by Latin American culture have popped up in Orlando, but only Universal Studios Hollywood consistently features houses that honor Latin American culture and explore the stories and characters from tales like La Llorona, El Silbón, and El Cucuy that have been passed down through generations.
This year, that house is Killceañera. The house follows the story of a girl who exacts revenge on her bullies by inviting them to her quincinera … but conveniently leaving off the part where she also added a bunch of demons to the guest list. It was my favorite original concept house of this year’s event.
I exited the house into the El Circo de la Muerte (Circus of Death) scare zone where I found my way into a secret mini haunted maze that is easy to miss (look for the red and white striped circus tent curtain). Nearby, you can continue the celebration at the Dia De Los Muertos Plaza. There is a bar, food booth, games, and dancing stilt walkers made up as Calacas.
A house with music from Slash
Slash is best known as the guitarist for Guns ’n’ Roses, but his music has a recurring presence at Halloween Horror Nights exclusive to Universal Studios Hollywood. Slash first provided a song for Clowns 3D: Music by Slash in 2013 and after a few Slash-less years, has composed soundtracks for various houses every year since 2018.
Before 2025, he contributed mostly for the annual version of the Universal Classic Monsters house. Last year, it was Scarecrow: The Reaping, and this year, you’ll find his familiar, hard-hitting guitar riffs in the aforementioned Killceañera house.
You can even get your hands on a limited-edition Slash-Music of Universal Studios-Halloween Horror Nights vinyl to listen to at home.
The Purge: Dangerous Waters show
I would not describe myself as a fan of the Waterworld movie, but I never skip the Waterworld stunt show at Universal Studios Hollywood. Halloween Horror Nights uses the same space to stage a stunt show based on The Purge franchise. It’s filled with nonstop explosions, death-defying falls, and a shocking amount of prop blood.
This also closes before the actual event closing time, and it is at the front of the park, so I recommend going to one of the earlier shows if you start in the upper lot. That way you don’t have to get all the way back toward the front gates to see the action.
You can ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Yes, you can ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge on both coasts, but in Florida, the ride is located at Universal Epic Universe, which is not a part of Halloween Horror Nights. With your Universal Studios Hollywood HHN ticket, you have access to select rides, including Mario Kart. Hopping on a ride is great when you need a break from the scares or if you didn’t purchase a daytime ticket, but still want to take advantage of a few rides while you are in the park.
Ride Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift
The Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift coaster opened at Universal Studios Hollywood this September. The ride does stay open during HHN, but is not included in your ticket. You can purchase a separate add-on that allows one-time entry to the ride during your visit.
A similar coaster of the same name is currently under construction at Universal Studios Florida with a planned 2027 opening date. It’s possible guests will be able to ride the coaster during Halloween Horror Nights on both coasts next year, but the Orlando version doesn’t yet have an official opening date.
A house based on ‘Killer Klowns from Outer Space’
The Downtown Clown Town scare zone at Universal Studios Florida’s HHN event was one of my favorites this year. The scare zone featured all kinds of scary clowns, including the stars of the film Killer Klowns From Outer Space.
My beloved clowns only received the full haunted house treatment at Universal Studios Hollywood this year, though. It’s probably no shock that this house was my favorite of the night. It’s silly, scary and smells like cotton candy—everything a good haunted house should have.
Meet Nikki from ‘Obsession’
In addition to the dozens of other characters roaming the park during Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Studios Hollywood visitors may encounter Nikki from Obsession, this year’s breakout horror movie hit. There are no set times or locations, but I was lucky enough to see her as we were exiting one of the haunted houses.
She was deep in conversation with her newest “obsession,” so I observed from afar, but at the end of their interaction she gave her newest object of interest a business card for the magic shop where Bear purchased the One Wish Willow in the movie. She doesn’t give this gift to just anyone. You need a password, which changes each night and can only be found on the Halloween Horror Nights’ social media channels.
Asking me to choose my favorite Halloween Horror Nights would be like asking me to choose a favorite child. I love them both for different reasons, and one of those reasons is that you can get a unique experience at each location.
Some of the offerings I mentioned will only be around this year, but most, including a Latin American-themed house, a house with music by Slash, and the Terror Tram return year after year to terrorize Halloween Horror Nights fans.
