The sun had barely set when my husband Sebastian and I walked through the gates of Universal Orlando, the warm Florida evening already giving way to fog machines and, of course, a few screams in the distance.
It was time for Halloween Horror Nights. And we were ready for all the scares.
While a usual day at the theme parks at Universal Orlando Resort offers true action and adventure, the energy was different that night. There’s action and adventure for sure, yet a very different type, one that puts you right into every scene of the event. It felt charged, electric—almost daring us to see how brave we really were while facing the park’s scare zones and extremely spooky houses.
Through Nov. 2, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) transforms the park into a sprawling nightmare, complete with 10 haunted houses, four scare zones, roaming street horrors, and live shows.
The event is one that I’m always excited to cover, and I eagerly wait every year to be able to attend and to let all my readers know that this event simply gets better every year.
While I was happily skipping toward the entrance wearing my studded cat ears and Halloween Taylor Swift Eras-tour inspired tee, Sebastian was ready to explore. While he’s not a fan of horror movies, his favorite part about Universal’s event is watching how inventive the scene is, how the scenes come to life in each house and he also loves cracking a joke or two. I love getting his perspective on everything and enjoy the way he reacts to all the offerings.
For me, I saw that night as one that was going to be equal parts adventure and date night, because nothing says romance like running from chainsaws under the stars while heading to the next scary house.
The event is not just about being spooked, though. Universal Studios is full of art, an inventive atmosphere, and those who visit can expect an unforgettable journey through some of the most creative horror storytelling we’ve ever seen.
Haunted Houses: Stories That Swallow You Whole
Each haunted house felt like stepping onto a movie set where we weren’t just watching the story, we were living it.
Fallout immersed us in the post-apocalyptic world of Prime Video’s series, while Jason Universe resurrected the terror of Camp Crystal Lake. But my favorite moments came in Terrifier and Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Terrifier was pure nightmare fuel. Art the Clown’s funhouse twisted humor into horror, from the chaotic Clown Café to the revolting bathroom scene that had even Sebastian turning away. By the time we stumbled into the Christmas room, where holiday cheer turned deadly, I couldn’t stop grinning through my nerves because for some reason…it was so beautiful! Honestly.
We also decided to choose the wet path to exit the house. I forgot to put on my raincoat, but luckily for Sebastian, he did not. He casually sashayed behind me with a grin, because he obviously did not get wet. (Thanks for the reminder, Seb, that I had my raincoat inside my bag.)
Five Nights at Freddy’s felt like walking straight into the game. Animatronics came to life in the Pizzeria, stalking us through flickering hallways and the security office. From appearances by Freddy, Chica, Bonnie and Foxy, every detail was uncanny. Especially with the first scene as soon as you enter the house, where the animatronics are playing some ’80s music on the stage.
Did this one scare me? Not really, but it did give me the creeps. I walked out saying “that was so cute,” and Sebastian gave me a puzzled look. But believe me when I say that it is the perfect mix of cute, campy, creepy and fun. And this is why it won me over.
From Dolls: Let’s Play Dead, where we shrank to toy size and met grotesque doll creations, to El Artista: A Spanish Haunting, where ghostly paintings came alive, each house left its mark. Every original house we encountered was special, and these were Universal’s most inventive, gorgeous and creepy houses yet.
Sebastian admitted, “The makeup is like film quality,” every time. And we found ourselves saying this a lot throughout the night, because we could tell that they took the time to really plan these houses and to make them as immersive and original as they possibly could. And they succeeded.
Scare Zones and Street Experiences
The horror didn’t stop at the houses. Walking through the fog-filled streets, we stumbled into four terrifyingly beautiful scare zones.
The Origins of Horror introduced monsters and gargoyles that felt pulled from folklore. Masquerade Dance with Death blurred elegance and terror as vampires revealed their fangs at a gothic ball. And then came my personal soft spot: The Cat Lady of Crooked Lane.
As a proud cat mom, I couldn’t help myself. I lingered longer than most, taking in her twisted brood of felines-turned-children while trick-or-treaters tried to warn me away. Instead of fleeing, I asked Sebastian to snap photos of me, smiling despite the eerie hisses all around me. It was such a fun area, and I honestly loved experiencing it and walking through it toward the start of my visit.
Finally, Mutations: Toxic Twenties blended flapper glamour with grotesque mutation, filling the streets with 1920s jazz and chaos. Even outside the scare zones, surprises lurked. Zombies shuffled through Mel’s Die-In, an undead DJ spun beats at Club Horror, and the dreaded Chainsaw Horde prowled the streets, revving saws just inches from unsuspecting guests.
Also, please do not miss the Death Eaters at the Harry Potter section of the park. They put on a show, are interactive and a definite fan favorite for a reason. They are dramatic and sassy, surprise you, scare you, and they give out that “bad boy” aura that had many of us ladies following them throughout the park after their live performance. Just make sure to tell them that you know where Harry Potter is and simply wait for their reaction. It was a lot of fun for me to experience!
Live Shows and Moments to Breathe
For those who might need a break from all the spooky fun, Halloween Horror Nights offers a chance to sit back.
Nightmare Fuel: Circus of Decay mixes fire, aerial stunts, and illusions into a darkly dazzling show. Over the lagoon, Haunt-O-Phonic: A Ghoulish Journey consists of bright projections and catchy music beneath the night sky with a ghost story across water screens and some impressive performances.
The Tribute Store gave us a playful pause, packed with themed rooms, hoodies, and souvenirs that let you carry a little bit of the nightmare home. You’ll find yourself at odds, trying to pick a shirt, a mug or even a pin pack or two, because the store offers practically everything meant to celebrate and remember the event.
Braver Together
Hours later, as the night wound down and the fog cleared, Sebastian and I were tired, but somehow also exhilarated and with enough energy to share what we thought about our experience, one that we are ready to share with many others.
For me, Terrifier and Five Nights at Freddy’s were the stars of the evening, each pulse-pounding and unforgettable. For Sebastian, it wasn’t much about being scared, it was about the creativity; the transformation of actors into monsters, the way every detail felt alive and how fun it was to experience all of it together.
And then there was my moment of joy in The Cat Lady of Crooked Lane, proof that even in the scariest places, you can find something that speaks to who you are in a funny way.
I realized that the real magic of Halloween Horror Nights is not just about surviving the scares, but it’s about sharing them, finding the art within the fear, and leaving just a little braver than you came in, with some memories to match.
Make sure to visit before it vanishes.
For more details, visit universalorlando.com
