Is Common Orlando Halloween Horror Nights Actually That Scary?

Table of Contents

Some posts on this web site comprise affiliate hyperlinks. If you happen to ebook or purchase one thing via these hyperlinks, I earn a small fee (at no further price to you). Check out my privateness coverage for extra info.

Simply how scary is Halloween Horror Nights at Common Studios Orlando? Right here’s a wimp’s information to the scariest occasion of the season!

I not too long ago attended my first-ever Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) at Common Orlando. It was an evening of pure worry: jump-scares, haunted homes, spooky sights, and creepy characters galore.

Earlier than I went, I used to be apprehensive. I’m fairly wimpy, nearly by no means watch horror films, and have been identified to leap at my very own shadow (I want that was an exaggeration!). I used to be apprehensive that HHN could be an excessive amount of for me to deal with.

My solely earlier expertise with one thing related was the (now-closed) Noticed Maze at Thorpe Park (in South England). It used to terrify me – however I’d nonetheless go on many times, as a result of there’s one thing addictive concerning the adrenaline rush that comes together with real, full-body terror!

Is Common Orlando Halloween Horror Nights Actually That Scary?

So I went alongside, hoping that the thrill and adrenaline would outweigh the worry. Which it did – for probably the most half. My coronary heart charge was so excessive that my smartwatch logged a 2-hour exercise – and I’ve truthfully by no means screamed that a lot in my life. However the screams had been adopted by (barely delirious) giggles, and I can genuinely say I had a good time – regardless of (or possibly due to) being so scared!

Beneath, you’ll discover my tackle simply how scary the Halloween Horror Nights at Common Orlando actually is, what to anticipate from the occasion, and a few high suggestions for much less fearless guests (aka large fats wimps like me). Blissful Halloween…

Halloween Horror Nights at Common Orlando

Disclaimer – my journey to HHN was supported by Common Orlando and Virgin Atlantic. As all the time all phrases and opinions are my very own.

Diner at night lit in pink neon, there is a palm tree next to the diner and a large crowd of people seated outside. A pink neon sign on the roof reads Mel's Drive-in but the R and V are not lit so it looks like Mel's Die-In.

How Scary are Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights?

What to Count on at HHN

OK – so what precisely IS Halloween Horror Nights at Common Orlando?

This can be a particular occasion that runs yearly all through late summer season and autumn, the place the Common Resort parks get a spooky makeover and open late until 2am for a severe fright fest.

There are designated “scare zones” all through the park: particular themed areas with scare actors, horrifying set items, spooky mist and ugly smells.

small wooden stage with a wooden wheel on which there is a fake corpse missing its arms and legs with bloody stumps as if they have just been torn off. there is a crow on the face pecking out the eyes. — Torture Faire scare zone at HHN33

However the primary sights are the haunted homes: brilliantly designed indoor horror mazes the place actors are ready within the darkness to jump-scare you at each flip. There are often a number of homes themed round current or well-liked films (this 12 months consists of A Quiet Place, Insidious and Ghostbusters) – plus a number of unique homes designed by Common’s inventive crew.

HHN is now in its thirty third 12 months and it’s longer than ever: working on chosen nights from 30 August to three November 2024. This 12 months there are 5 scare zones, ten haunted homes, and a life leisure present – plus the Demise Eaters have returned to Diagon Alley!

How scary is Common Orlando Halloween Horror Nights?

actor wearing a pink frilly dress and a horror style rabbit mask standing in a doorway holding a cord, the shadow of the bunny ears are on the wall behind her

Clearly this query is hard to reply, because it’s all relative. However when you’re studying this, I’m guessing you maybe have a barely nervous disposition. Otherwise you’re a full-blown unashamed rooster, like me!

The Halloween Horror Nights at Common Studios are designed to be scary. That’s the entire level! They usually do an ideal job: the haunted homes aren’t solely full of jump-scares, however each is brilliantly designed to create an immersive storytelling expertise – like strolling via a dwell horror film.

actor in a mummy costume reaching up with one clawed hand surrounded by dry ice and lit by orange light. In a haunted house at Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights

The worry can also be much like watching a scary film. The anticipation of figuring out that one thing is about to leap out at you, however not figuring out when, makes the bounce even worse when it will definitely comes. Combine that with flashing lights, creepy smells, bizarre surroundings, dense mist, loud noises and low lighting – and you’ve got a really terrifying expertise.

That gained’t do it for everybody. We had been a gaggle of a few dozen and solely about 50% of us had been screaming in each home. Some individuals are simply fearless I suppose! However when you are likely to spook simply, then sure, you’ll seemingly discover Halloween Horror Nights fairly scary.

That stated – it’s additionally enjoyable! Very similar to watching a scary film, the adrenaline rush and the sensation of “survival” on the finish was an excellent excessive. I’d shriek with worry one second, then burst out laughing the subsequent. It was nice!

Good to Know: Many of the homes function some pretty slender passageways. If you happen to get claustrophobic they may not be appropriate. Likewise, when you’ve got any severe phobias, it’s most likely price checking they gained’t be featured earlier than you enter any homes.

Street in Universal Studios Orlando at night with green and pink lights catching on a fog of dry ice and several people siloutted against the light.

Is HHN appropriate for teenagers?

Common Studios says Halloween Horror Nights is just not advisable for youngsters below 13 (see the total warning under). Nonetheless, there’s no minimal age to attend and I noticed a number of surprisingly younger youngsters wandering round.

Actually, I feel this might have been an excessive amount of for me at 13. There’s no manner I’d let my 13-year-old niece attend, not to mention my youthful nieces and nephews. They’d by no means sleep once more! However you understand your individual child, so when you suppose they will deal with it, by all means convey them alongside.

I’d recommend beginning them out with a number of of the scare zones and one of many much less scary haunted homes. This 12 months, that’s most likely Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. See how they get on with that earlier than shifting on to the scarier stuff. And possibly give Insidious a large berth until you’re actually assured in your child’s fearlessness!

“WARNING: EVENT MAY BE TOO INTENSE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13. NO COSTUMES OR COSTUME MASKS ALLOWED.”

Can the actors contact you at Halloween Horror Nights?

actor in costume as a medieval queen with short black hair wearing a crown with two tall cones made of yellow fabric covered in black lace. she has her arms crossed and is looking off camera. The background behind is red with an image of a face on it.

I’ve already talked about Thorpe Park’s notorious Noticed Maze. On that, the actors may contact and seize the victims within the maze (us). I keep in mind on one event a crazed zombie clung onto my then-boyfriend’s leg and wouldn’t let him go. Clearly, I deserted him and ran for my life!

Fortunately, the actors within the Halloween Horror Nights homes can not contact you. It’s in opposition to the foundations. Fairly logical, actually, since there’s no manner of figuring out in case your fight-or-flight response will result in an instinctive punch within the face!

Ideas for Halloween Horror Nights

Beneath, I’ve shared my high tricks to ensure you survive your first Halloween Horror Nights expertise – with out fainting from worry! For extra nice suggestions, my buddy (and Common skilled!) Helen has an ideal information to Halloween Horror Nights – click on right here to learn it.

1. Analysis the homes and plan your night time upfront

two large white barn style buildings at night lit up, the closest building is lit with green projections and the further one is lit in neon pink.

Just about as quickly because the HHN occasion launches, individuals begin posting photographs and ideas on social media. Press and influencers are invited to the opening nights – and in contrast to most guests, they’re allowed to take photographs and movies contained in the haunted homes.

This implies you are able to do some pre-trip analysis to see which haunted homes are one of the best, and which could be too scary for you. In 2024, the scariest home by far was Insidious: The Additional. It was FAR an excessive amount of for me (I lined my eyes and ran blindly via the previous few rooms screaming), and even a number of seasoned HHN regulars stated it genuinely made them scream.

If you happen to’re feeling nervous about your first Halloween Horror Nights, this might be the home to keep away from this 12 months – no less than till you’ve gotten used to issues. Check out the opinions to see which homes are being thought-about the scariest, so you possibly can ease your self in with a number of of the much less terrifying homes.

Personally, I averted all spoilers as a result of I wished to go in as a whole newb to see precisely how scary the expertise can be. The issues I do for analysis!

Least and Most Scary Homes at HHN33

Most Scary:

Insidious: The Additional – my coronary heart charge spiked at 165 on this one!
A Quiet Place – presumably much less scary when you haven’t seen the flicks, however the concept I mustn’t scream made this one really feel REALLY unhealthy.
Main Sweets Sweet Manufacturing unit – I’ve seen blended opinions for this one however it actually received me. I feel it was the combination of loud noises, bizarre smells, and creepy youngsters!

Much less scary:

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire – enjoyable, nostalgic, and designed to perfection.
Slaughter Sinema 2 – a number of humorous bits (like Stripper Mummies) assist stability out the frights.
Common Monsters: Everlasting Bloodlines – this one could be very fantastically designed and actually tells a narrative. There have been nonetheless some good jumps, although!

2. Know the place the scares will probably be coming

With out giving an excessive amount of away – figuring out the essential mechanics of the haunted homes could assist put together the uninitiated. Usually, the actors will conceal round corners or behind “boo holes” – an lovable identify for a decidedly un-adorable follow.

actor in costume as an evil looking wich with white face and white curly hair, leaning out of a window between curtains — The Bride in Black in Insidious: The Additional

Boo holes are basically one thing that appears strong, however has a spot to permit the actor to burst out snarling/shrieking/flailing/wielding some form of horrific weapon. It could be a portray that’s really a curtain, a bit of wall with a hidden seam, or a hidden door.

Trying round and forward as you stroll via the home, you might be able to spot a number of of the boo holes coming and mentally put together your self. If you happen to’re hunched over working in terror (like I used to be) they’re much less straightforward to identify – though that’s extra enjoyable in a manner!

HOWEVER – you possibly can by no means see all of the bounce scares coming. Some actors have multiple boo gap to make use of so that you’ll by no means know the place they’ll come out. Typically issues that appear to be boo holes are literally only a distraction, and the actual one is behind you or hidden round a nook. And the scariest home this 12 months, Insidious: The Additional, had a number of terrifying tips in place to ensure you by no means knew the place the subsequent scare can be coming.

3. Keep away from the jump-scares in Scare Zones

close up of an actor wearing a white clown style mask with blue aroudn the eyes and big red streaks across the grinning mouth. She has long brown hair and a white frilly bonnet on, and is holding a bloody baseball bat over one shoulder. — Enter the Blumhouse scare zone at HHN33

Even when you do see them coming, the bounce scares within the haunted homes are unavoidable. Nonetheless, the scare zones are a bit completely different. These zones are open air, with fog, set items, and actors wandering round.

For probably the most half, they don’t actually jump-scare you a lot as leer ominously – although some will bounce out at you. And I did get chased by a zombie with a chainsaw at one level!

If you wish to discover the scare zones with out leaping out of your pores and skin, keep on with the pavement (sidewalk). Apparently, there’s an unwritten rule that when you’re strolling on the street you’re prepared and prepared to be jumped on. More often than not, when you’re on the sidelines the ghouls gained’t terrorise you!

4. Benefit from the park and rides after darkish

loop the loop on a red rollercoaster at night against a clear dark sky, surrounded by silhouetted palm trees with a crowd of people in the foreground. — Hollywood Rip Experience Rockit after darkish

If all of the jump-scares and chainsaw-wielding zombies begin to get a bit a lot, you possibly can step away from the worry for some time and search some thrills as an alternative.

Outdoors of the designated scare zones, the remainder of the park is dimly lit however in any other case comparatively regular, so you possibly can wander and discover with out worry. The Diagon Alley space of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ is especially atmospheric after darkish. There’ll, nevertheless, be Demise Eaters ominously wandering the world.

Lots of the rides keep open throughout HHN, so benefit from the chance to trip them after darkish. One among my faves, the Hollywood Rip Experience Rockit rollercoaster, is a blast at night time – and offers some nice views over the HHN motion!

5. Don’t miss the themed food and drinks

hand holding a brown card tray with a toasted marshmallow shaped like a man

Yearly, the HHN homes are accompanied by a slew of pop-up food and drinks stands serving restricted version snacks themed round every home.

We’re speaking issues like a Purple Door potato-and-onion pie for Insidious, Abbott’s Farm Corn Chowder for A Quiet Place, and a Bloody Goody Bag for the Triplets of Terror. Click on right here for the total menu for HHN33.

Many of those spooky treats make nice photograph ops! The large hitter for 2024 is the Ghostbusters Keep Puft S’extra: the loveable marshmallow man, toasted and served on a mattress of melted chocolate and graham cracker. Don’t miss it!

6. Keep at a Common Resort Resort

view from a hotel window on a high floor with a cloud-shaped swimming pool below and a city skyline in the distance on a slightly overcast day with clouds in the sky — Dockside Inn and Suites on the Countless Summer season Resort

Staying inside the Common Resort tends to be the most suitable choice at any time of 12 months. Common Resort Resort friends get a lot of advantages, together with early park entry* and free transport to the parks.

Halloween Horror Nights run from 6:30pm till 2am. Even when you don’t keep out that late, you’ll seemingly be fairly drained after an evening of pacing across the park, standing in queues, and screaming your lungs out! The brief journey again to a resort lodge – both on foot, or by shuttle or water taxi – will really feel like a godsend once you make it out of the park!

I not too long ago stayed at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and cherished it – it’s one of many extra mid-range lodges however feels very luxurious. It’s additionally a 15-minute stroll (if that) from the park entrance – or you possibly can hop on a ship for a scenic journey downriver! Alternatively, when you’re doing Common Studios on a price range, the Countless Summer season Resort is a brief shuttle bus from the parks.

(*Early entry doesn’t embrace Halloween Horror Nights)

A Few Extra Ideas

Put on comfortable footwear – I can not stress this sufficient!
Go along with individuals you belief! You want mates who will take care of you within the haunted homes – NOT mates who’ll ditch you on the first signal of bother!
Get the correct tickets. This occasion is ticketed individually to the primary park so even when you’re there within the day, you’ll must buy a HHN ticket on high.
Costume up – costumes and masks aren’t allowed, so go for a Halloween-themed t-shirt and/or spooky equipment. There’s a number of enjoyable merch on the market on the park outlets, too.
Keep away from peak occasions like weekends to learn from shorter queue occasions.

hand holding a small square cake with purple icing and a cartoon of the Ghostbusters Stay Puft Marshmallow man printed on the top, in front of a yellow and red rolldercoaster.

Halloween Horror Nights at Common Orlando: Scariness Abstract!

To sum up, then:

Sure, Halloween Horror Nights at Common Orlando could be very scary. They’re additionally nice enjoyable, with brilliantly immersive storytelling. And the joys of escaping from the haunted homes is a real excessive!

The haunted homes are most likely not appropriate for these below 13 or for anybody with claustrophobia or different severe phobias.

If you happen to’re feeling significantly nervous, my high tip can be to analysis all of the haunted homes upfront so you may have a tough concept of what to anticipate.

In any other case – dig deep, discover your internal film hero, and GO FOR IT! I promise, if I can face these haunted homes, you possibly can.

stage set of a swamp with light bursting through a tree and catching on thick fog. It is a very dark night and only the light and fog are visible, as well as a barrel and a stool. Scary theming at Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights — Swamp of the Undead scare zone at HHN33

Find out how to Get to Halloween Horror Nights

Seven nights in Orlando with Virgin Atlantic Holidays begins from £1460 per particular person, together with scheduled Virgin Atlantic Financial system flights direct from London Heathrow to Orlando, a 3 Park Explorer Ticket, a Halloween Horror Nights single night time ticket and room-only lodging at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.

Value is predicated on two adults travelling and sharing a Normal Room and consists of all relevant taxes and gas surcharges that are topic to vary. Value is predicated on a departure on seventeenth September 2024. Virgin Atlantic Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL-protected. Costs topic to vary and availability. Virgin Atlantic Holidays phrases and situations apply.

To ebook: www.virginholidays.co.uk or name 0344 557 3859

Learn Extra

Find out how to do Common Orlando on a Funds

Geeking Out at Common Studios

I hope you discovered this information to the HHN scary ranges useful! When you have a query, attain out within the feedback under and I’ll attempt to assist!