Nine reasons why Universal's Halloween Horror Nights is an absolute scream
Clients committing to long-haul can add extra thrills to their Orlando stay with the theme park giant’s spooky after-hours festival, says Helen Wright
Nowhere does Halloween quite like the USA. The States has long gone hard for Halloween with festive decorations, street parties and trick or treat costumes gloriously matter of course for October. From the UK, we have watched with curiosity as some All Hallows Eve traditions have emigrated here, but our efforts pale in comparison to the full-throttle, spooktacular pursuits enjoyed across the pond.
With the children back at school, clients heading to Orlando to explore the destination’s epic theme parks in September and October could be tempted by some haunting extras to really maximise their trip. For a long-haul destination, it pays to make the most of your time and after-hours events are a great way to do that. When it comes to this season’s most animated holiday, the primarily adult Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is guaranteed to be a scream.
This year, I took on the ghouls first-hand to find out how a slightly wimpy Brit would fare against the wrath of America’s biggest bash. I screamed, I squirmed and I laughed a lot, discovering that [fake] fear can be therapeutic. The result: I was riding the Halloween high for almost a week afterwards. Here are nine reasons your clients should be doing Halloween Horror Nights this year:
1. Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is one of Orlando’s most iconic events
The legendary event, for which dates often sell out, has been going for 31 years in Orlando. The festival is Universal Orlando’s biggest event of the year, attracting thousands of guests per night and employing 1,000+ “scare actors”, trained to frighten the living daylights out of you. As you approach the imposing stone arches to a soundtrack of classic horror movie scores, you immediately get a sense of the cult following that Halloween Horror Nights (or, HHN to locals) attracts. Repeat visitors collect merchandise like rock star tour shirts. The group ahead of me all had a different T-shirt to mark the last six years of fear – with each event having its own USP.
2. Celebrate Halloween on an epic scale
Similarly named events have started popping up at theme parks here in the UK, but the scale of this production is nothing like you’ve ever seen before. When Universal Studios first opened in 1990, it promised to put guests directly into the movies they love, and the creative team behind Halloween Horror Nights certainly got the brief. The result is 12 horror houses, themed down to the tiny details (think the exact setting of Judith Myers room from Halloween, including the candlestick on her bedside). The design is on such an epic scale that walking through each house is like an invite onto the set of some of the world’s most famous movies. Remember The Black Phone? You can reach out and pick up the handset… if you dare.
3. There is a music-themed house for the first ever time
This year’s USP, and the most hyped horror maze, is a haunted house based on singer, The Weeknd. Or, rather, his nightmares. It’s the first time Universal has teamed with a musician to create a horror house, and it was a killer combination. As his perky, but lyrically dark music blares through the house, each room becomes more and more sinister as the story evolves, including a disorientating corridor of mirrors where you are so busy jumping at your own reflection to notice the zombie creeping up behind you. It was a refreshing and imaginative take on the traditional Halloween house and my personal favourite to experience as a guest.
4. Classic Halloween baddie Michael Myers returns
Everyone’s favourite pale-faced killer is back. In previous years, Halloween has been a very popular house for Universal Orlando’s horror fans, and this year it doesn’t disappoint. There is a full-size replica of the Myers house exterior, which is thankfully free of scares, so you can really take it in. But, when that ever dominating music starts playing and you have to go down the side alley, weaving through the washing on the line… well, all I can say is, good luck.
5. Experience stories on a movie-set scale
The promise of an invite onto full scale movie sets is certainly fulfilled in Dead Man’s Pier: Winter’s Wake, an original house where zombie fisherman roam the scene of a shipwreck. Guests travel through real-feel elements, including gale-force winds, rain and even snow! This, coupled with eerie lighting, creepy actors and haunting soundtrack ensures you are fully immersed into the story.
6. Halloween Horror Nights is one big party
The horror houses may be the headline act, but your clients will soon realise that the appeal of Halloween Horror Nights is the truly incredible theming throughout the whole event. It’s hard to believe it’s the same bright and chirpy theme park you enjoyed earlier in the day, as the whole place transforms into full party mode. The streets come alive with a festive atmosphere, complete with special effects, lasers and music. Five dedicated “scare zones” come complete with actors creepily lurking nearby or suddenly appearing from behind walls. However, if you want a break from the heebie jeebies to take a breather, other areas of the park are gratefully terror-free.
7. Feast on some gore-met food…
The foodies at Universal Orlando clearly had a lot of fun creating Halloween-themed eats for this year’s event. Take your pick from Fried Zombie Brains (fried cauliflower florets in spicy gochujang sauce) and Freshly Ground Princess Meat (raspberry flavour Rice Krispie cake), in addition to the “Chucky” burger and a whole menu of insane offerings throughout the park. The bars are open serving “normal” beer, wine and soft drinks as well as mega-strength Halloween cocktails, including “Bloody Marys”, of course.
8. You can ride the attractions with no queues
This is a definite perk of going to Halloween Horror Nights, which starts when the regular park closes for the day. Rides are open and guests with the guts (sorry) can enjoy thrill rides like Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts with almost no queues. And yes, The Wizarding World’s Diagon Alley is open during Halloween Horror Nights. With most of the guests out on the terrifying trail of haunted houses, you can put on your wizard hat and explore without the crowds – but don’t forget to visit Knockturn Alley for some Dark Arts. It is Halloween, after all.
9. Stay next door to the gore
A huge perk for clients staying on property at Universal Orlando Resort is that resort hotel guests can walk or take the bus or water taxi back to their hotel with ease once the event finishes. This means no designated driver is required (after all those creepy cocktails) and with doors closing at 1am, you can escape the zombies and be safely tucked up safe in bed as soon as you leave. We stayed at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando, which has gloriously comfy beds and views across the parks. There is nothing scary about that! Guests also benefit from Early Park Admission, so if clients really want to max out on fun, they can be back in the parks and riding the coasters first thing in the morning before the regular guests are allowed in. That’s hardcore.
Book it: Halloween Horror Nights 2022 will run on selected nights at Universal Studios, part of Universal Orlando Resort from September 2 to October 31, 2022. universalorlando.com; halloweenhorrornights.com
Seven nights in Orlando, with Ocean Florida, including scheduled Virgin Atlantic Economy Classic flights from London Heathrow direct to Orlando, a 3 Park Explorer Ticket, Halloween Horror Nights single-night ticket and accommodation at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort starts from £1,499pp. Price is per person based on two adults and two children sharing a standard two queen-bed room. Price is based on a departure on 2 October 2022. A Halloween Horror Nights Single-Night Ticket starts from £63 per person. See ocean-florida.co.uk/sale or call 020 3131 3024
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