If your idea of Halloween involves the frightening, the gory, and the all-around scream-inducing, look no further than Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights for your perfect Halloween vacation. The mega-popular fall event is returning at Universal Orlando Resort, promising to deliver just as many screams and laughs as in years past.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs on select nights starting August 30 and runs through November 3, 2024. The event is recommended for teenagers and adults and is not suitable for children under 13. If you’re as excited as we are, then you’re going to want to keep reading because we’re sharing all of the devilish details of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights.
SPOOKY STORIES: 38 Great Halloween Books for Kids and Teens
Haunted houses at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2024
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando will feature 10 new haunted houses this year. These haunted houses feature both original stories and fan-favorite horror properties from the NBCUniversal umbrella of brands. Here’s the full lineup confirmed for Orlando in 2024.
- A Quiet Place
- Ghostbusters Frozen Empire
- Insidious: The Further
- Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines
- Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America
- Slaughter Sinema 2
- The Museum: Deadly Exhibits
- Major Sweets Candy Factory
- Goblin’s Feast
- Triplets of Terror
HALLOWEEN READS: 33 Books Like Harry Potter to Binge on Your Next Vacation
Scare zones at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2024
In addition to the haunted houses, Universal Orlando will feature five scare zones at Halloween Horror Nights. The scare zones are open-air walk-through experiences that give you a little more elbow room but just as much fright. The five scare zones this year are:
- Enter the Blumhouse
- Duality of Fear
- Demon Queens
- Swamp of the Undead
- Torture Faire
Universal Orlando will also debut a new show called “Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus,” described as a dark circus that carries a curse. The show will feature pyrotechnics and aerialists all moving and grooving to rock music.
WATER WORLDS: 15 Best Orlando Hotels with Pools, Water Slides, and Water Parks
The fan-favorite Halloween Horror Nights-themed Tribute Store will return this year. This time, the store will be themed to a dystopian city. If you dare to venture in you can see and buy plenty of themed merchandise and treats. Don’t forget to take a good look at each room too, the details in these spaces are always impeccable. Also returning to Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando in 2024 is Dead Coconut Club at Universal CityWalk, where you can grab a drink between scares.
Planning a Universal Orlando vacation during Halloween Horror Nights
Thinking of braving the fog and attending Halloween Horror Nights this year? Single-night tickets begin at $83 per person. Halloween Horror Nights offers its own type of Express Pass that allows you to skip the regular line at each haunted house once per evening. Participating rides and attractions are included in this Express Pass as well.
DRESS CODE: What Not to Wear to a Theme Park (and What to Put on Instead)
Multi-day tickets: Frequent Fear Pass
If you don’t think you can accomplish everything in one night, or plan to visit multiple times throughout the season, you may want to consider a Frequent Fear Pass. These multi-day tickets give you access to a select number of evenings at Halloween Horror Nights. There are four tiers of multi-day tickets to choose from:
- Halloween Horror Nights Rush of Fear Pass grants you access to up to the first 18 event nights. Starts at $180.
- Halloween Horror Nights Frequent Fear Pass grants you access for up to 30 nights, including every Sunday through Thursday event night, plus the first weekend. Starts at $240.
- Halloween Horror Nights Frequent Fear Plus Pass grants you access for up to 40 nights, including every Sunday through Friday event night, plus the first at last Saturday event nights. Starts at $290.
- Halloween Horror Nights Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass grants you access for up to 48 nights (every night of the event). In addition, you’ll receive free regular parking after 5:00 p.m. on all event nights. Starts at $400.
Hotel, ticket packages, and more
If you’re visiting from out of town, Universal Orlando offers a number of hotel and ticket packages when booking a stay during Halloween Horror Nights. You can “Stay and Scream” and save up to $200 on your visit. The offer includes hotel accommodations, admission to all three theme parks, and one-night event admission. Universal Orlando also offers a “One-Night Halloween Horror Nights Hotel and Ticket Package” that includes accommodations and one-night event admission.
FUN FOR ALL: 10 Best Theme Parks in Orlando for Every Age Group and Interest
You can also save 20 percent if you book a four-night stay at one of Universal Orlando Resort’s hotels. This offer includes special access to a dedicated hotel guest-exclusive Halloween Horror Nights entrance each event night until 7:30 p.m. (Separate event admission is required and is not included in the offer.)
Florida residents looking for a deal will want to book a stay at Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort, which is offering discounts of up to 40 percent. If you book this offer, there is a dedicated entrance into Halloween Horror Nights, but tickets to the event are not included.
But beware! According to Universal, the fog has spread to all eight Universal Orlando hotels this year. Each of the hotels will have creepy Halloween decorations in the lobby, which make for great photo ops. Additionally, Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal Aventura Hotel, and Universal Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites will have spooky drinks available to try at the onsite bars.
In addition to hotel and ticket packages, Universal is also offering a number of add-ons to enhance your Halloween Horror Nights experience in 2024. These include V.I.P. (or “R.I.P.” as Universal likes to call them) tours, daytime lights-on private tours, and more.
Five tips for getting the most out of Halloween Horror Nights
No matter when you plan to experience thrills and spine-tingling chills at Halloween Horror Nights this year, you’ll want to be armed with these helpful tips.
Know when to arrive
Getting to the gate of Universal Studios Florida at the right time is imperative to getting the most out of your night at Halloween Horror Nights. If you don’t have any early entry access try to get to the front gate of the park by 5:00 p.m. This will ensure you’re near the front of the line to make the quick walk to your first house. If you’re staying at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel, try to get to the dedicated hotel guest entrance by 6:00 p.m. These lines are often shorter and you won’t have to wait with people who are only showing up for the night.
Save the Tribute Store for during the day
While it may seem tempting to go into the Tribute Store during Halloween Horror Nights, skip the walk-through during the event. Instead, use your time in the parks outside of the separately ticketed event to walk through the shop. This will give you more time for houses, shows, scare zones, and more during Halloween Horror Nights.
Buy tickets in advance
This should come as no surprise, but you should always buy your tickets in advance. There are plenty of nights throughout the season where walk-up tickets may not be available due to high crowds. Buying your ticket to Halloween Horror Nights before your arrival will ensure you can enter the park and enjoy all the screams.
Bring earplugs
One tip I’ve learned from past Halloween Horror Nights events is to bring earplugs, especially for those who are sensitive to sounds but still want to have some thrilling fun. Ear plugs are easy to find online, and I like the ones that are connected via a small cord so I don’t lose them. These are great to wear through houses, scare zones, or even shows that can be louder than expected and muffle some of the noise.
Eat early
Just like any other theme park event that has an additional entrance fee, I always recommend eating early, especially if you’re only going to go to Halloween Horror Nights once this season. You do not want to waste time going to a busy quick service or long table service meal. I like to have a big late lunch between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. at my hotel or at CityWalk then grab a snack or two during the event.
