Ultimate Guide to Horror Nights 2023: Part Two

Grab your flashlights and trick or treat bags cause it's time to get spooky. With Halloween Horror Nights less than seven days away, we'll discuss the “need-to-knows” for the event.

1. Buy your tickets in advance. One overlook detail that most Guest seems to miss when purchasing products online is that it can take 24 hours to process. That means if you purchase your ticket online while walking in from CityWalk, you may not have a ticket by the time you reach the gate. Here's our recommendation to entering into the park with no issues. First, Guest should purchase their admission tickets online. This will save them from paying at-gate pricing, which can be up to $25 more expensive than the online price. It also keeps you out of the long lines of other people buying tickets. Secondly, you want to make you purchase your tickets 24 hours before your visit. This ensures that your tickets have been sent to you by email, or you can call Universal if you may have selected the wrong date to fix the issue. Thirdly, make sure you have picked the correct date before purchasing your tickets. The amount of people we see waiting in line at Guest Services because they picked the wrong Thursday is unbelievable. Pro Tip- Make sure you use the Universal Orlando website, not the Hollywood site when purchasing your HHN products. 

2. Come with as little as possible. You'll get through security faster, avoid lockers at rides, and not worry about hauling a heavy bag around. Believe it or not, Florida is still pretty warm during September. The less you wear within reason, the better your experience will be (unless it rains, of course).. If you bring a bag, I would go small with a crossbody and only carry the essentials.

3. Like I said, Florida is hot. So you must make sure you're staying hydrated. As anyone I ever worked with would say: “Hydrate, Don't Dydrate. We recommend staying hydrated by bringing your Coca-Cola Freestyle Cups. Bring your refillable Coke Freestyle cup to the event to get freestyle beverages and complimentary water refills. ​

4. Remember, it's Florida. She will change her mind weather-wise at the last minute. So just come prepared for warm, rainy, or even chilly weather. Check ahead of time and plan accordingly. If it's going to be a rainy night, then bring some boots or an extra pair of socks. 

5. You'll do a lot of standing and walking, so wear comfortable clothes and shoes. HHN is the perfect place to let loose, so don't be scared to rep your favorite horror movie or villain with a T-shirt or accessory.

​6. Take advantage of the hotel Guest entrance. During Halloween Horror Nights, Universal has a dedicated entrance for their resort Guest. To use the resort entrance, Guest must present their valid room key from a Universal Resort. Unfortunately, no information has been given on where resort Guests will enter. Still, in the past, these Guests have entered on the right side of the main turnstiles. Be sure to revisit this article as we update it with the information where resort Guests will enter and any additional information you may need.

7. Don't wear a costume or a costumed mask. You will get sent back by security to your car to change into regular clothing. This also goes for Horror themed make-up. Use the general rule that it's not allowed if you look like a scareactor. ​

8. Here are some snacks that are a staple at Halloween Horror Nights

• Pizza Fries: If there's one thing you need to try during HHN, it's Pizza Fries — a dish with a mound of French fries topped with the fixings of a pizza and then baked to delicious perfection.
• Twisted Taters: A twisted potato, fried and sprinkled with your choice of seasoning. My favorite is sour cream and chive.

9. Be sure to take the time to do some rides during the event. Most attractions will have little to no wait time. This is the perfect time to take a break and escape the screams. If there's a ride you or your friends want to do, make sure to do it early on in the event. A lot of the rides will close before the event ends.8. 

10. Many people don't realize that Halloween Horror Nights can take a lot out of you. When you and your friends are conga-lining houses back to back without a break, that can do a number on your feet. We recommend grabbing a drink or seeing one of the fantastic shows during the event. Of course, be sure to grab a bite to eat. If you haven't already, download the Official Universal Orlando Resort mobile app to see the show times and play the Horror Trivia Game. This way you can navigate house wait times and have some fun while you're waiting to be terrorized. 

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11. HHN is a great time to take advantage of the Diagon Alley. Most people walk right past Diagon Alley because they don't know it's open or would instead run to the next house. This is the best time to visit Diagon Alley. You can grab a Butterbeer, explore the Gringotts's Bank or get some epic nighttime pictures. Whatever interests you, this is the time to do it.

12. Don't forget to eat! You can find many food options around during Horror Nights. If it is something quick from CityWalk or a Philly Cheese Stake, you must have a bite of the fantastic food offerings. We think we've been spending too much time with Dracula because we're starting to sound like him. It has been agreed upon that Universal elevated the culinary game at this year's event. We recommend you try something from the many booths available around Universal Studios Florida, open exclusively for Halloween Horror Nights.

​13. Don't feel like you have to spend all day in the park. In my first year doing stay and Scream, I came to the parks early to do the best attraction at Universal Orlando Resort, Poseidon's Fury. That said, I got to the park at 2 PM and still had four hours until the other park closed. Let's just say I was sleepwalking to my car by the night's end. If you are utilizing Stay and Scream, getting into the park and at your Stay and Scream location before 5 PM is essential. We recommend getting there by at least 4:30 PM, but don't feel you have to spend the entire day at the park. If you are here for a one-day trip and you're enjoying both parks during the day, then transitioning to Halloween Horror Nights, you might want to take breaks. Doing this allows you to spend the morning in the parks and then head back to your hotel for a swim or a nap. Later as it gets closer to spooky time, you can make your way back to the parks, the most terrifying time of your life.

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14. The haunted houses near the front of the park will always get crowded first. This is because these are the first houses people see. Go against the grain and start with the houses in the back of the park and you'll be able to get many of the haunted houses done quickly.

15. Both in time of year and time of day. September is usually less crowded at the event than October. If you come earlier in the evening, you are more likely to beat the crowds and see more of the haunted houses. On the flip side, if you can stay till the park closes, you will also be able to get a few houses done because most people have left for the night.

16. To truly appreciate the houses and the iconic scenes, details, and characters in the houses, we recommend watching the movies, music videos, or reading the short stories inspired by them.​

17. Don't forget to get pictures with your scream squad. Every year some iconic photos are taken at Horror Nights, even if it's meant to be a photo spot or not. We've been walking around the park, checking out the décor, and we are sure of some great photo ops around the park. Keep in mind not to bother Scareactors in scare zones. They are not photo ops and do not want flashing lights on their faces. 

18. Speaking of not bothering Scareactors, we have their most important tip. Do not touch the Scareactors. They will not touch you, so you should not touch them. Doing so will get you banned from Universal Properties with no appeal. You may also get charged for doing so.  This is something that is taken very seriously and is dealt with as such.

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​So you're probably wondering what you can expect from the event. No worries, we got you covered. Click here to learn about the houses, shows, and scare zones. A special thanks to Jake from @jake_photography_92 on Instagram for supplying us with the photos for our HHN Guides. We'll see you guys at Stay and Scream; stay spooky!​

Xavier.H

​​I'm Xavier- a food enthusiast and full-time blogger, theme park lover(especially Universal), and Halloween Horror Nights fan. I do happen to also lead the Universal Food Blog team on our trek to find the best dishes around Universal Orlando Resort to report to you!