The Ultimate 2025 Guide to Halloween Horror Nights Orlando: Tips, Tricks & Travel Insights

From scare zones to RIP Tours, this Halloween Horror Nights Orlando guide has everything you need to plan a terrifyingly perfect Orlando trip. Every year, Universal Orlando Resort transforms into a terrifyingly thrilling destination for horror fans, thrill-seekers, and Halloween lovers. Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) has become one of the premier haunted events in the world, drawing guests from across the globe for blood-curdling entertainment. If you’re considering attending Halloween Horror Nights 2025 in Orlando, this guide will walk you through what you need to know—from planning and ticketing to food, scares, and insider tips. This resource covers Halloween Horror Night Orlando. At Universal Studios Hollywood in California, they also offer a version of Halloween Horror Nights. Some of the houses are the same intellectual property. Still, they are very different events. Thus, this resource only covers the one at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando.

What Is Halloween Horror Nights Orlando?

Halloween Horror Nights is Universal Orlando’s signature Halloween event, taking place at Universal Studios Florida. Now celebrating its 34th year, HHN features haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment, themed food and drinks, merchandise, and much more. The event runs select nights from late August to very early November. The event happens mostly on Wednesdays through Sundays each week of the event. This spooky event has earned a reputation for high production values, horror intellectual property tie-ins, and immersive storytelling. Whether you’re a die-hard horror fan or just looking for a unique fall experience in Orlando, HHN offers unforgettable frights and fun.

2025 Event Dates & Hours

Halloween Horror Nights 2025 is scheduled to run on select nights from Friday, August 29 through Sunday, November 2, 2025. The event typically begins around 6:30 PM and ends at 2:00 AM, though hours may vary by date. These dates will vary from year to year. However, in recent years, Halloween Horror Nights has started on Labor Day (U.S.A.) Weekend and ended on Halloween or a few days after. Expected Peak Nights:

• Opening weekend (August 29-31)
• Friday/Saturday nights in late September and October
• Columbus Day weekend (October 10–13)

To avoid the longest waits and crowds, weeknights in September or early October tend to be less crowded and more manageable. However, there is no such thing as a slow night at Halloween Horror Nights unless something very creepy happens.

Tickets & Express Passes for Halloween Horror Nights Orlando

HHN is a separately ticketed event—your standard Universal Orlando admission does not include entry. Here’s a breakdown of ticket options:

Single-Night Tickets

Perfect for first-timers or guests with limited time. Prices vary depending on the night but range from $82.99 to $129.99 plus tax.

Frequent Fear Passes

Universal has offered several HHN multi-night ticket tiers for 2025, offering guests multiple options to tailor their fright-filled schedule. According to Universal Orlando Resort’s official information, the multi-night tickets for HHN34 look like this:

• Rush of Fear Pass $199.99 – entitles the guest to enter Halloween Horror Nights for the first 18 nights of the event, select nights from August 29 through September 18.
• Frequent Fear Pass $249.99 – entitles the guest to visit Halloween Horror Nights to attend up to 30 nights of Halloween Horror Nights. Those nights are every Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the event, plus the first weekend.
• Frequent Fear Plus Pass $299.99 – entitles the guest to attend up to 40 nights of Halloween Horror Nights. This pass does not allow admission on Saturdays, except August 29 and November 1, the first and last Saturdays of the event.
• Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass $419.99 – entitles the guest to attend every night of Halloween Horror Nights on select nights from August 29 through November 2.

HHN Multi-Night Tickets: How to Choose the Right Pass

If you plan to visit HHN more than once this season, one of the Frequent Fear options is a no-brainer. Here’s a quick guide:

PASS TYPE	BEST FOR
Rush of Fear	Locals or early-season visitors
Frequent Fear	Midweek fans avoiding crowds
Frequent Fear Plus	Guests visiting several times, including Fridays
Ultimate Frequent Fear	True HHN superfans and Orlando locals

And if you hate waiting in long lines, adding Express Pass to your Halloween Horror Nights multi-night ticket gives you access to a shorter queue for the houses each night you attend. However, it will cost you a significant amount compared to the base ticket. If you plan to buy a pass with express, we suggest you purchase it quickly, as they will sell out within hours of going on sale. Your best bet for a mulit-night ticket with Express Pass is teh Rush iof Fear version.

Single Night Express Passes

Guests can purchase Express p[ass for a single night. Lines for haunted houses can exceed 90 minutes. An HHN Express Pass allows you to skip the regular line once per house, plus select rides. Expect to pay between $129–$279 per night, depending on crowd levels. IMPORTANT: Express Passes for daytime admission whether a part of your hotel stay or purchased for a single day DO NOT work at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando. HHN functions as a separately tickets event so regular admission tickets  or standard Express Pass do not work during the after-hours event. Travel Tip: Buy your HHN tickets early and book Express if you’re visiting on a weekend or close to Halloween.

Travel Packages & Hotel Deals

Booking an HHN Travel Package through a Universal Orlando partner (like Universal Family Vacations) offers excellent value and convenience. Packages may include:

• Hotel accommodations at Universal Orlando Resort hotels or select partner hotels
• Admission to HHN and optional park tickets
• Early Park Admission
• Additional perks

On-Site Hotels

Staying at a Universal Orlando hotel gives you proximity, convenience, and exclusive benefits. Universal Orlando Resort offers 11 different “on-site” hotels. These range from value-level suites to luxury hotels. In fact, the Hard Rock Hotel resides a five minute walk from Universal Studios Florida theme park where all the HHN action happens. Additionally, at Cabana Bay Beach Resort, a value Universal hotel, usually offers HHN-themed photo ops and bar experiences for hotel guests.

Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Haunted Houses & Scare Zones (2025)

Typically, HHN Orlando involves ten haunted houses and five scare zones. For 2025, that will be a bit different regarding scare zones, but we will describe that later. The houses function as as the main attraction at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando. We know the names and some basic information about each of the ten houses for this year. In 2025, Halloween Horror Nights Orlando has five intellectual property houses and five original concept ones. We will start with the five intellectual property houses.

Fallout

According to Universal, the “Fallout” house will be: “Based on the award-winning global video game franchise from Bethesda Game Studios, “Fallout” was a critically acclaimed hit with audiences worldwide when it debuted on Prime Video in 2024. The cinematic series is set in the year 2296, two hundred years after a nuclear war destroyed civilization. All that is left is an eradicated and highly violent hellscape known as The Wasteland crawling with mutated animals and creatures, while gentle citizens take refuge underground in luxury fallout shelters known as Vaults. In this terrifying haunted house, fans will encounter iconic scenes and characters that will put them into the frightening action of the popular series. The journey begins beneath the surface in Vault 33, where guests follow vault-dweller Lucy MacLean as she escapes a bloody massacre, only to discover an evil hidden secret. From there, visitors venture to the surface, where they must dodge attacks from Scavengers and Raiders, desperate survivors who will do anything to remain alive, as well as mutated cockroaches known as RAD Roaches. As guests travel through the hellish Wasteland, they will go through iconic locations like the Super Duper Mart and encounter The Ghoul, an ageless bounty hunter who has endured radiation exposure for centuries. Additionally, they will come face-to-face with a young squire named Maximus and gaze in awe at his T-60 armor. With frightful terrors at every turn of the eerily authentic haunted house, fans will question if they can ever escape the horrors of The Wasteland.”

Five Nights at Freddy’s

In a press release, Universal stated the following about the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” house for Halloween Horror Nights Orlando house:

Guests will fight to survive as they venture through an all-new haunted house inspired bythe 2023 hit film “Five Nights at Freddy’s,”Blumhouse’s highest-grossing movie to date and an adaptation of the horror videogame phenomenon. Guests will follow in the footsteps of Mike, who was recently fired and desperate for work so that he can keep custody of his little sister, after he agrees to accept a position as a night security guard in an abandoned themed entertainment center: Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. The terror will start as guests navigate the corridors and learn that nothing at Freddy’s is what it seems when they encounter the supernatural and become lured into the black heart of an unspeakable nightmare. The journey will bring guests face-to-face with full-scale replicas of the eerie characters from the film—Freddy Fazbear, Chica, Bonnie, Foxy, and Mr. Cupcake—as they stalk visitors through iconic scenes, including the security room and the showroom where the chilling characters performed. The larger-than-life characters for the haunted houses were created in collaboration with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, who also masterfully produced the animatronics and corresponding costumes for the fan-favorite film

The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks – WWE Haunted House

About this house, Universal stated, “Guests will be immersed in the world of WWE in the bi-coastal haunted houses “WWE Presents: The Horrors of The Wyatt Sicks,” where they will go head-to-head with Uncle Howdy in an experience that not only features The Wyatt Sicks, but honors the legacy of Bray Wyatt. The group derives from the creative mind of Bray Wyatt and was resurrected in 2024 by his brother Bo Dallas, also known as Uncle Howdy – the fearless leader of The Wyatt Sicks. The chilling crew of five has quickly emerged as one of the most disturbing and disruptive groups in WWE history with its ominous presence and portrayal of dark and twisted characters – all of which will come to life at  Halloween Horror Nights this fall. Horror fans brave enough to travel through the light of the lantern will find themselves transported into the maniacal minds of The Wyatt Sicks, where each member reigns supreme within their own horrific domains. There, Uncle Howdy together with Ramblin Rabbit, Mercy the Buzzard, Abby the Witch and Huskus the Pig will be waiting to take bloody retribution on a world that has abandoned them. Along the way, guests will be stalked by the eerie presence of The Fiend, Bray’s sadistic alter ego, who looms within the shadows and beckons them to let him in.”

Jason Universe

For Halloween Horror Nights Orlando, Universal unveils a “Jason Universe” house. The description reads, “Jason Universe” will take  Halloween Horror Nights guests on a vengeance tour throughout the summer camp to see where it all began, from the creaking floorboards of Jason’s ramshackle cabin to the decaying main lodge and the eerie forest that offers no refuge for his victims. Around every corner, fans will be inundated with infamous killer moments from Jason’s heinous homicidal career as he taunts and stalks his victims, who learn too late that the legend is real.”

Terrifier

In potentially the goriest house or Halloween Horror Nights Orlando 2025, there will be a “Terrifier” house. Universal said this about the house: “Spewing from creator, writer, director Damien Leone and producer Phil Falcone along with Dark Age Cinema Productions, Terrifier introduced a new slasher film series to the cinematic world, featuring Art the Clown, a supernatural entity who terrorizes the fictional town of Miles County, New York, on Halloween and tortures victims in creatively cruel and sickeningly sinister ways. The Terrifier film franchise has evolved to become three chilling and gory movies with a fourth film in development and a Halloween Horror Nights haunted house on the way. During Halloween Horror Nights, guests will experience an unfathomable level of gore as they try to escape becoming Art the Clown’s next victim. “Terrifier” is a grisly haunted house oozing with a new sense of terror that takes guests into Art the Clown’s gruesome Funhouse, which first appeared in  Terrifier 2. Guests will be overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, smells and dread of Art’s grotesque kills, gleefully displayed for all to see. As fans make their way through the claustrophobic corridors, they will encounter familiar faces, including Vicky and the Little Pale Girl, and witness iconic kills from the franchise. Chaos reigns at the Clown Café, terror festers in a revolting bathroom and holiday cheer turns deadly in a Christmas nightmare. Guests must escape Art’s twisted world—or become his next gruesome display.”

Halloween Horror Nights Orlando: Five Original Houses

The other five haunted houses that guests can walk through utilize original ideas and not based on popular intellectual properties. These houses often rank as the best ones each year. These houses include:

• El Artista: A Spanish Haunting – “In 19th-century Spain, a tortured artist moves to an isolated country manor to seek inspiration. Instead, as he wanders the ghostly hallways and haunted conservatory, malevolent spirits break into our realm through his paintings. He tries to resist, but the art comes to life and possesses him. Now, you’re about to be part of the permanent exhibition.”

• Hatchet and Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters – In this Old West town, all hell is breaking loose. Masses of red-hot lava demons are crawling out of Hell’s Well and trying to possess everyone, melting everything in their path. As you flee from the post office to the bank, the prison to the graveyard, your only hope is Hatchet and Chains with their arsenal of mystical weapons.” HHN fans got a glimpse of this concept during Slaughter Sinema 2.

• Dolls: Let’s Play Dead – “ou’re about to become doll-sized and witness the unnatural creations of a twisted little girl. You’ll be hunted by fashion dolls she’s melded and burned. Then you’ll go under her bed and be stalked by toys she’s stitched together. You’ll end in her creepy Victorian dollhouse, where undead horrors await you.”

• Grave of Flesh – “Welcome to your funeral, where things are about to go from bad to worse. You’ll enter your grave and then pass through the gates of the underworld, where flesh-eaters who feed on the dead will be waiting for you. Get lost in their cavernous underground world, where an endless gauntlet of flesh-eating creatures will hunt you mercilessly for all eternity.”

• Gálkn: Monsters of the North – I”n a remote northern village, a wicked being rises from the dead, bringing a horde of monsters and demons from the fjords to wreak havoc on the townspeople. You’ll face icy, horned, winged and wolfish fiends that gradually merge into one giant horror. Then you’ll try to escape the belly of the beast.”

Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Scare Zones

In a typical year, Halloween Horror Nights Orlando would feature five frightening outdoor scare zones across Universal Studios Florida. This year, that remains true- sort of. There will be four official scare zones and two new elements this year. Zones are scattered across Universal Studios Florida and often include mini-performances, photo ops, and roaming characters.

Scare Zones

• The Origins of Horror – Enter a decaying conservatory of twisted vines where artists carve tributes to Halloween Horror Nights 34. You’ll encounter monstrous crows, gargoyles and more.

• Masquerade: Dance with Death – You’re invited to a masquerade ball where bloodthirsty vampires lurk behind ornate disguises. When their masks fall, you’ll become their prey.

• The Cat Lady of Crooked Lane – Travel down a spooky winding path to a mysterious home, where trick-or-treaters are transformed into feral felines. Be careful or you’ll be next.

• Mutations: Toxic Twenties – In a bustling 1920s neighborhood, a BuzzCon truck with radioactive cargo crashes into a mobster getaway car sending the city into toxic pandemonium. It mutates everyone in its path, including you.

Street Experiences

Halloween Horror Nights Orlando 2025 will not feature a fifth scare zone. However, it will have tow street experience unique to the event: Mel’s Die-In Zombies and Club Horror. Universal Orlando provided a little information about this new HHN elements by saying “Brave all-new street experiences that take the horror to new heights — featuring zombie carhops, undead DJs and more.”

Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Shows

Halloween Horror Nights Orlando 2025 features two shows this year: Nightmare Fuel: Circus of Decay and Haunt-O-Phonic: A Ghoulish Journey. The Nightmare fuel show will present guests with a spectacle of pyro, aerialists and illusions. Haunt-O-Phonic will be a lagoon show utilizing projections, water screens and eerie music.

Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Food and Beverages

Halloween Horror Nights 2025 at Universal Orlando Resort is a feast for the fearless, offering a terrifyingly delicious array of themed food and beverages. Beyond the classic favorites like Pizza Fries, guests can expect a menu inspired by the event’s haunted houses and scare zones. New for this year, themed food and drink concepts will connect directly to IPs like Five Nights at Freddy’s, Terrifier, and Fallout. Imagine sinking your teeth into a “Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza” with a sinister twist, or sipping on a “Nuka-Cola” inspired concoction from the wasteland. The event’s specialty cocktails are always a highlight, often featuring vibrant colors, eerie garnishes, and unique flavor combinations. This year’s lineup might include things like the “Veil of Shadows,” a blend of black cherry vodka and blackberry syrup with a black licorice candy “veil,” and “Creepy Cola,” a Jack Daniel’s drink with black cherry puree and gummy creepy crawlers. For those who prefer non-alcoholic options, mocktails and other inventive beverages are also available. The pop-up food locations and bars are strategically placed throughout the park, ensuring that whether you’re craving a savory hand pie, a sweet treat, or a spooky drink, a monstrously good meal is always within reach. Collectible refillable cups  are sold at HHN allowing guests to save a little money if having more than one drink during the event. Pro Tip: The queues for food and beverages will grow as the night goes on. If possible try to visit these booths early in the evening for a shorter wait.

Planning Your Night: Strategy & Survival Tips

Halloween Horror Nights Orlando is huge and can be overwhelming. Use these tips to maximize your night:

Arrive Early (Stay & Scream)

Universal offers Stay & Scream areas for guests already inside the park with valid HHN tickets. The Stay & Scream will work differently this year.

What’s New for Stay & Scream in 2025?

1. Wristband-Based Early Entry (No More Holding Pens)
This year, Universal is ditching the cramped holding areas. Instead, if you arrive at the park starting at 3 p.m. with both a daytime ticket (or Annual Pass) and an HHN ticket—or if you’ve purchased the separate “Scream Early” add-on ticket—you’ll receive a wristband that grants early event access.

2. Free to Explore Until the Haunt Begins
Once you have your wristband, you’re not confined—wander the park freely. Grab food, ride attractions, shop merchandise, or just soak in the thrills, all before the main event begins. At 4 p.m., wristband holders can start entering select haunted house queues.

3. Convenient Check-In Locations
Here’s where you can pick up your wristband starting at 3 p.m.:

• Lombard’s Seafood Grill

• Illumination’s Minion Café

• Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast

4. Queue Times for Specific Houses (Per Rumors)
While Universal hasn’t confirmed exact times, reports suggest that some haunted houses may begin operating between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m.—for instance, Fallout possibly at 5:15 p.m., and Terrifier around 5:30 p.m.

Why This Change Is a Game-Changer

• More flexible & enjoyable: With the wristband system, there’s no more standing in holding areas. Instead, early-entry guests can enjoy the park “in full” before the nighttime terror begins.

• Strategic advantage: Guests can ride popular attractions or get snacks and merch before the crowds arrive—and start hitting some haunted houses much earlier than general admission.

• Better experience overall: It’s essentially a hybrid between daytime and event access—more immersive, more efficient, and far less restrictive.

Do Popular Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Houses First!

Lines for IP houses can exceed 100 minutes. Head to those first: If you have Express for Halloween Horror Nights Orlando, use it carefully. You an only use it once per house. If utilizing Stay & Scream, you might be able to enjoy several houses more than once with Express Pass usage late in the evening. Additionally, guests can choose to visit popular houses, especially the original ones later in the evening when house queues drop.

Use the Universal Orlando Resort Mobile App

The Universal Orlando app provides real-time wait times, showtimes, maps, and mobile ordering for some food and drink locations.

Wear Comfortable Shoes!

Expect to walk 5–7 miles. Closed-toe shoes are essential, and HHN happens rain or shine—bring a poncho just in case!

Keep Younger Guests at Home

Halloween Horror Nights Orlando is not recommended for children under 13. There are no true safe zones; scares can happen anywhere inside the event.

Leave Behind Certain Items for Halloween Horror Nights Orlando

• Costumes or masks (strictly prohibited for guests)
• Large backpacks (subject to security check)
• Outside food or drinks

Why Book Halloween Horror Nights Orlando with Universal Family Vacations?

Booking your trip through Universal Family Vacations gives you:

• Access to discounted ticket bundles
• Personalized hotel and park planning
• Help with dining reservations and extras like VIP Tours
• Peace of mind with flexible cancellation options

As Universal Orlando travel experts, Universal Family Vacations can work to ensure your experience is frighteningly flawless from beginning to end!

Halloween Horror Nights Orlando 2025

Halloween Horror Nights 2025 in Orlando promises to be bigger, scarier, and more immersive than ever. With blockbuster haunted houses, chilling entertainment, and creepy culinary creations, it’s no wonder this event is at the top of every Halloween bucket list. By planning ahead—whether through Express Passes, travel packages, or expert advice—you’ll be ready to face the night head-on. Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or as part of a spooky getaway, let us help you build your perfect HHN 2025 adventure. Additionally, guests looking for a VIP experience can purchase R.I.P. Tours. Feel free to check with your travel advisor at Universal Family Vacations to book these. NOTE: These will not be inexpensive. Still, they may be worth the money depending on your group and desire to experience Halloween Horror Nights Orlando.

Book Your Horror Nights Escape Today

Ready to scream, laugh, and lose your voice at HHN 2025? Let our team of theme park travel experts build a hauntingly perfect itinerary. Contact us today to start planning your Halloween Horror Nights getaway! Remember our services are free to you. Universal Orlando pays us after your stay.