The most exciting event of Halloween is here! Universal Studios Hollywood has transformed into a terrifying scene straight out of a horror movie…yup…Halloween Horror Nights is back. This is LA’s most popular haunt during the fall and everyone is adding tickets to their cart right now. The scary park transformation just opened days ago and tickets are selling out quickly. The event gets packed every time and its because Universal Studios Hollywood elevates the experience every year with new mazes, monsters and munchies to sink your teeth in. Planning a visit can get overwhelming because there is so much to hit up, but we’ve got the inside scoop on what to see, what to do and where to eat to get the most out of this Halloween haunt. Keep scrolling and find out everything there is to know about 2024’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood.
1. When To Go
Halloween Horror Nights happens on a select few dates in September and October. Here are the dates: September 6-8, 12-15, 19-22, 29-29….October 3-6, 9-13, 16-20, 23-27, 30-31 (yup they’re open on Halloween), and November 1-3rd. Our Pro-Tip go early! October gets packed!
2. Get The Express Pass (Trust us)
It’s true…Universal Studios really does go all out on their Haunted Houses, but the lines get really long. It will be difficult to visit them all in one night with the general admission ticket. Here’s what we suggest. Get the Express Pass, it is TOTALLY worth it! The pass will cost between $219 and $259 depending if you want to do a one time ride or unlimited. You’ll get front-of-the-line access to houses and attractions, which means you can conquer each one on your list in a very timely manner. It’s really a win win because you can use the time saved to grab a drink or snack or even rest your feet since you’ll be doing a lot of walking (so bring comfy shoes).
3. Plan on Visiting the NEW attractions first!
We love that Halloween Horror Nights aims to bring back the attractions that are fan favorites like “The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy,” which provides fans an authentic, one-of-a-kind horror experience with surprises at every turn and music by The Weeknd. But every year they have NEW attractions that will keep everyone screaming, and trust us, you’ll want to visit those FIRST. Here’s what’s new:
“A Quiet Place.” This is a terrifying new haunted house based on the franchise that will incorporate American Sign Language (ASL) for the very first time Pretty cool! Then there’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.” This haunted house is inspired by the recent film where you’ll meet Garraka and hope he doesn’t stop you cold with a whole army of ghosts. Try not to freeze in fear at this haunted house. “Insidious: The Further” is a new house based on the horror films and they’ll have a house dedicated to the female monsters too. It’s called “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines” and will feature some classic monsters like Bride of Frankenstein & the She-Wolf of London.
4. Don’t Miss The Shows
It can be tempting to rule out HHN’s shows in favor of their scary cool Haunted Houses but you don’t want to miss these shows. Our favorite was the Terror Tram. It brings you up close and personal with props from your favorite Blumhouse horror movies like The Black Phone, M3gan, and and Happy Death Day. Once inside the theater, you’ll get to go behind the scenes of the movies and get a fright or two from some of the scariest characters. There is also a show called The Purge: Dangerous Waters. It’s a terrifyingly fun water show based on the hit horror franchise.
5. Ride The Rides
Rides are a great mental palette cleanser between the Haunted Houses and Scare Zones and the lines are much shorter. Only certain rides will be open during Halloween Horror Nights, like Jurassic World—The Ride, the highly immersive land, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ featuring Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ and Flight of the Hippogriff™, Transformers™: The Ride-3D, Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride and The Simpsons Ride™. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD will only be accessible to guests purchasing select tickets. We were able to walk right onto The Mummy, which normally has a very long wait. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of short wait times and get on that ride you missed out on during a previous crowded park visit. Don’t forget, Universal Express also works on rides!
6. Binge The Films Before You Go
The thing that sets Hollywood Horror Nights apart from any other haunted attraction, is that it brings you inside your favorite shows and movies. Al ot of the 2024 Haunted Houses are based on titles like The Exorcist, A Quiet Place Evil Dead Rise, and Chucky. Even if you’re unfamiliar with these titles, you’ll still be able to enjoy the haunts. But they’re way more fun if you watch them before going to the park. So research and do a bingefest before heading to the park. Knowing a bit about them will allow you to pick up on hidden Easter Eggs within the houses. We also loved Monstrous: The Monsters of Latin America haunt that explored spooky Latin American mythology. Doing research on the legends of Tlahuelpuchi, La Lechuza, and El Sibon made us truly appreciate the thought and scare behind this house.
7. Seasonal Food and Drinks
During Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Studios releases limited edition menu items at special eateries. This year people are loving The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy Bar( located in Lower Lot by “Jurassic World—The Ride”). They have a Short Rib Flatbread and themed mocktails & cocktails like the “Too Late”, a tequila raspberry drink garnished with a grenadine-filled syringe and red light up cube or the “Out of Time”, a raspberry cola topped with strawberry heart jellies. Other fun eateries include Chucky’s Dive Bar and City Snacks featuring “A Quiet Place” (located in Upper Lot), which include an Éclair and Abbot’s Corn Chowder. Nothing will get you in the spirit than feasting on these one of a kind treats.
Final Thoughts
We know getting scared can leave you jumpy but remember to have fun! Plus, as scary as the “Scare-actors” can be they can’t touch or hurt you so treat them with the same respect since they’re only doing their jobs. One of the best tips we can leave you about them…. keep eye contact with them and don’t run from them because they’re less likely to scare you! Lastly, Halloween Horror Nights isn’t recommended for kids under 13 and outside masks and costumes aren’t allowed. So leave the kids and the younger siblings at home and enjoy a fun Halloween night out.
FYI: there are so many other incredible Halloween events going on around Los Angeles (if ya can’t get a ticket here), sp check out these spooky Halloween Bars with terrifyingly tasty cocktails.
