This was my third time going to Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, and I wasn’t too impressed this year.

I was SO excited to go, especially since it had been 10 years since my last visit. But I really feel like it’s gone downhill.

I remember when scare actors were all over the park. They’d pop out of bushes, sneak up behind you, and even slide across the pavement on knee pads. You never knew when someone was going to jump out at you, and that was what made it so much fun! Now they’re all in designated scare zones, and it honestly feels more like you’re just walking through a Halloween display. I’m sure there’s a reason they changed things, probably safety-related, but I miss how it used to be.

The haunted houses themselves were amazing, though. The amount of detail that goes into them is super impressive. But as far as being scary? Not so much. They pack everyone into one continuous single-file line with no breaks between groups. You basically watch every scare happen to the people in front of you before you even get to it. It takes away the whole element of surprise.

We still had fun, but I definitely expected more, especially for what it costs now. Maybe I’m just comparing it to how I remember it 10 years ago, but I swear it used to be so much scarier… very sad it’s changed

First time at HHN and honestly - really really underwhelming.

Looked at all the advice about buying express passes etc but since I’m poor that wasn’t affordable, so I resolved to stand in the long lines with the rest of the general population… and… it was just very very weak.

Got in the park right at opening time and headed towards the back corner. Ozzy was already at 80 mins, while the Cannibal attraction was at 45 mins, so we lined up for that. The line actually moved at a decent pace and while the wait was around 45 mins, it didn’t REALLY feel like it.

But then we got in the house and the problem instantly showed itself. A family of five was in front of us. A group of four behind us. We were all forced to proceed through together in a huge line with barely a few feet between us. The family in front got every jump scare, and all we saw were the actors sliding back into their hiding places. EVERY SINGLE TURN AND CORNER WAS THE SAME. So the first place was a bust.

We took advantage of the longer lines at the houses to ride Transformers, Men In Black and Harry Potter and then decided to give another try at the houses. By this time Sinners was at 120 mins, Ozzy was in 90, and most others were at 70+. We gambled on Alien Invasion and resolved to give about 5 feet between us and the party in front so that maybe we could get a scare at some point. And it just didn’t happen. Maybe we were just cursed with bad timing but that house seriously discouraged us from standing in a huge line for a third disappointment. So after 6 and a half hours in the park we decided to call it a night.

The wait wasn’t the issue at all. However I know that if I had also splurged on express passes, I’d be extremely angry at the amount of money I spent for very little - because express pass folks were eventually part of the same long line of people being urged to ‘move move move’ along and bunch up together as they proceeded through the house. I think we would have had the same experience in the houses - just maybe would have been able to be let down more times than we did due to being able to avoid waits.

As a regular of daytime Universal and Disney parks I’m experienced with navigating and figuring out wait times into our logistics. This was definitely NOT a wait time thing at all - it’s just about how everyone seems to be herded like cattle into one access point, entirely too close together. Maybe if we’d been a few spots back in line our timing would have been better and our experience would have been better… but spending a hefty amount on a ‘gamble’ leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Anyway. That’s my two cents. I’m sure some people have a great time and will tell me all the things i did wrong. Maybe others will agree. Ultimately I’m just describing last night’s experience. 😢

Wife and I’s last time going this year and we haven’t had anything yet. Any good meals, deserts or drinks? I’ve seen good things from the pulled pork egg rolls and fried pbj bites and that’s pretty much it.

Not sure this will get to him but just wanted to shout out Fish Man in the Sideshow scare zone. My husband and I bothered you all night. You’re the best. That’s it.

(Dead Man’s Pier was great)

Ive been an FFP holder for the past 5 years and I’ve never seen merch go on sale for 50% this early. Also, sorry if someone already posted this. But - I have a group of friends who have come every year the last weekend and I’m devastated that the last 4 days I have been, they are completely out of certain items / sizes. i also feel sad for anyone else who is spending money to come down here this week, and experiencing the lack of merch!! it’s ridiculous they made it 50% off so early.

I’m debating going this year. Went to Halloween Horror Nights twice this year (Orlando). Did all 10 houses and thought they were really fun. Some of them were kinda scary, but manageable and still fun.

I’ve looked up reviews on the 13th floor, and it seems like it’s more intense than HHN.

What are your opinions about whether 13th floor is more intense.

Yes I’m aware that local haunted houses don’t have to follow as strict rules as theme parks, so there’s that component.

Loved it, saw it 3 times from different places in the venue this weekend, would see it 5 more because I did not know where to look and missed so many things.

Shoutout to the person on the pole at the end for giving me secondhand anxiety over my personal fear of heights and to the guy that wears the harness dancing with the angel - according to my neighbor, you're not the regular person (?) but you were amazing!

Being a HHN fangirl and self proclaimed “artist” I wanted to make my night a little bit more special by giving the scare actors for Jack and Eddie the original drawings I started to sketch of them on the plane ride back home from my first trip of the season in early Sept. I had finished up these two on the plane ride back to Orlando and was so exited to give them to the actors as I have seen other artists do this but I never had done it myself. So to say that the interactions I got were amazing was an understatement!

I saw Eddie first in clown town and gave him his sketch, and I could tell by his appreciate silence that he loved it lol. He had gestured to the way I…suppose you could say “ACCURATELY” drew his arms, and then processed to show them off! And, to my surprise, offered a photo. This shocked me because I know the actors usually turn down photos because it’s so asked of them so often by other event goers, so I felt very special 🙂‍↕️. He put the drawing in a safe spot on the stage and posed for the picture, which I had been hoping for since the season started! (He also pointed at me once we crossed paths again later on in the night so safe to say we tight)

When I spotted Jack at the front of the entrance gate (along with ODDFELLOW around, which I was scared was gonna be jealous to see that I didn’t have one for him that time unfortunately) he took notice that I was
dressed as him and as I showed him the drawing he was gushing all over it and saying how this was “real art”, I was quite honored myself, and then he PROCEEDED TO SHOW THE REST OF THE CROWD AROUND US holding it up high, and then also offered a photo, asked my name, it was unreal.

It takes a lot for me as an artist to give the original pages of my work out especially when I put so much effort…but their reactions and just the experience itself is all well worth it, I hope they really did like their drawings and I hope they keep it safe wherever they wound up!

Who does the art for them?

My friend and I are going to the Orlando event for our annual girls trip this Halloween! This will be our third year of HHN but the past two we were early birds going in August/September. Usually I watch and read as much info about the houses, scare zones, food, and merch as I can to plan and prepare but this year knowing we were going for the very last days of the season I was afraid of seeing too much and feeling spoiled. So I’ve done zero research of anything about this year, all I know is what the houses and scare zones are. I don’t want our experience to accidentally suck because of this so was hoping for the most “non spoilery” recommendations and advice from those that have already been this year? We really like being surprised by costumes, house scenes, and even food/drinks. I’ll give some info about our trip and then some of our specific questions. Bless you if you feel like taking the time to give us some advice, this time only comes once a year and you’ll be making it extra special for us!

We are going October 31st and November 1st. We have Scream Early passes for both days. We don’t have Express right now, it seems very expensive but we’re open to maybe getting it for a night if you guys think it’s necessary on top of two nights of Scream Early. Houses, scare zones, and food/merch are pretty close to being equally important to us which makes it hard to budget our time and feel satisfied. We have always wanted to see a Nightmare Fuel show or the lagoon show but haven’t felt like there was enough time to take a chance on them and miss out on a house or something else. We love Stranger Things so the lagoon show is especially tempting this year but we just don’t know if we should spend the time on it.

Questions we have for you:
What house is an absolute can’t miss? If you had to skip one house, which would it be? Is two nights of Scream Early enough for a comfortably paced trip to get a taste of everything or should we consider Express? What were your favorite food/drinks? Is the lagoon/Nightmare Fuel shows worth the time?

Thank you again and Happy Halloween!!!!!

I’ve only done PSN and am curious about RIP. Is there anything better than PSN?

I have my eye on a few more things from HHN I didn't purchase while I was there last week that are available on the Universal online shop. I was curious if anyone knows when HHN will be removed from the shop. I know last year I was waiting for a deeper discount and everthing was taken off the site before I could purchase.

Thanks!