All the Frights at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights

Another year at Halloween Horror Nights is in the books! The event officially kicked off haunt season for me and what a way to start it. There were new mazes and monsters, as well as returning terrifying attractions. Here’s a closer look inside.

This year, the husband and I got early event access and were able to enter the park nearly two hours early. Being able to enter after 5 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. gave us a head start before the nighttime crowds rushed in. Since it was still light out, ghouls and goblins weren’t prowling around yet, but the Halloween vibes were evident and there were plenty of people exploring the theme park and getting on rides. We fueled ourselves with food and I got a much need caffeine fix from Starbucks.

Once the sun set, dark alternative music and spooky sounds resonated from the speakers. For me, the top priority is getting through all the of the mazes at least once since they change every year. Universal Studios Hollywood is built on a hill and has multiple levels, so we decided to start at the bottom and work our way up. You definitely get a workout with all the walking by the end of the night.

We began with The Exorcist Believer maze, which is based off the reboot releasing this October. I love the original film and was thrilled to enter the demonic experience. The plot centers on two girls who go missing and return with an evil energy attached to them. The attraction contained a few recreations of scenes that will be in the movie. We walked through blood-stained bedrooms and witnessed horrific possessions. I was approached a couple of times by these possessed children. There weren’t any spoilers that I picked up on, so if you’re planning to go, you don’t have to worry about the maze giving away the ending.

Next was Holidayz in Hell. This was really neat to walk through because it reimagined all of the major American holidays and put a horrifying twist on them. A Krampus-looking figure with a scythe and a skeletal woman holding a cocktail greeted us upon entry. The first room was a nod to New Year’s Eve and featured a skeleton dressed in 1920s flapper attire, floating in a huge martini glass. Apparently, they had a little too much to drink. The celebrations continued as we proceeded to Easter with a terrifying bunny, Fourth of July, Halloween, a killer Thanksgiving feast and Xmas. It was a creative and fun attraction.

On we went to Stranger Things, which was based on the fourth season. My spine tingled as I heard the theme song playing. The maze recreated Forest Hills Trailer Park where the portal to the Upside Down is opened and a majority of the action takes place in the show. One of my favorite parts was walking through a room where we saw Eleven using her powers against the man that took advantage of her abilities. The effects were electrifying. We also entered the Upside Down ourselves and encountered the monstrous Vecna, which was awesome.

The Last of Us maze was also on the bottom level. Needless to say, there was a lot to cover in this area. It had a very post-apocalyptic feel. Because I haven’t seen the show, I didn’t get as many of the references, so I’m sure it’s more enjoyable for fans of the video game and series.

This year, The Terror Tram was themed “Exterminatorz” and Larry the exterminator was our guide. All sorts of pests, from gigantic spiders to annoying humans, were infesting the area. For those who may not know, the tram ride drops passengers off at a certain point, and we have to walk through and encounter all sorts of frights. In addition to the creepy crawlies, there were scenes set up inspired by the film Us and Nope. The individuals dressed in burgundy jumpers were chilling and some were standing so still that I couldn’t tell if they were props or humans. The attraction also includes a photo op with Norman Bates in front of the house used in Psycho. This is an opportunity I make sure to take advantage of every year.

It was finally time to ascend and explore the upper levels. This time around, I had a chance to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This attraction is located inside Hogwarts, which I had never entered before. It’s always closed when I’ve gone. I wish I took pictures because the interior made me feel as if I was in Hogwarts. Before you get in line, you have to put your bags in a secure locker and I forgot to bring my phone with me. I was bummed that I couldn’t document it, so better luck next time.

The ride itself was actually more intense than I was expecting. There were also some technical issues we experienced along the way, which I have to admit made me nervous because each rider is sitting in an individual moving pod with feet dangling, and we were a bit high up at certain points. I was terrified to get stuck in a near upside down position. It’s surprising that the biggest scare of the evening would come from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and not the haunts.

Other mazes included Universal Monsters: Unmasked. This is always a treat to experience because it pays homage to the classic horror icons. For 2023, the haunt highlighted Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Phantom of the Opera, the Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Invisible Man. There was also Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count, where the demonic doll was up to his typical murderous ways. I was happy to see his partner in crime Tiffany and his son Glen make an appearance as well.

Evil Dead Rise was another maze I was anticipating. I saw the movie earlier this year and really liked it. At one point, the possessed mother darted from a room. Her face had been stabbed with a pair of scissors and she came at me with some sort of sharp metal object. It was great!

The final maze of the night was Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America. This is one of the first mazes you encounter when you enter the park. I’m Latina, so an attraction dedicated to the horror tales of my culture was fun to witness. The exterior of the maze was a stone-like façade decorated with glowing candles. A few sinister creatures included La Lechuza, El Silbón and Tlahuelpuchi.

The upper level also featured scare zones and the vibrant Day of the Dead plaza serving colorful margaritas and savory Mexican food. During my time there, I also went on a few rides, such as The Mummy and Transformers, and snagged a photo with the lovely Bride of Frankenstein.

I was drained of all life by the end of the night, but it was worth it. Being able to experience the thrills and chills of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood is an event I look forward to annually.

There is a topic I want to address and it’s regarding the crowd control issue. Lately on social media, I’ve been noticing a lot of people who’ve attended talking about the extremely long line wait times for general admission. Some speculate that the theme park has been overselling tickets, which is creating an environment that’s not enjoyable, comfortable or safe.

If you decide to attend, I highly recommend purchasing the Express tickets because wait times can be up to two hours for general admission. I will be honest and say that the cost of the Express tickets is on the higher end, and the prices skyrocket in October. That’s why that last couple of years, I’ve gone in September. There’s a lot of people and it’s not always the easiest to move around. Many attractions are handicap accessible if you need special accommodations, and you can read more about that on their website.

Halloween Horror Nights is typically the only major amusement park haunt I do during the spooky season, which is why I splurge a bit on these tickets. I’m not sure if the Orlando location has the same issue, but it may be wise to just go Express if you can. For a few years, I did general admission and it’s not the same experience when you’re spending more than half of your time in line. While I was able to enjoy myself this year, I know that hasn’t been the case for everyone. Use discretion if you choose to go, and remember, it’s not the only haunt game in town if you choose not to. There are so many awesome Halloween events happening in the area that don’t cost an arm and leg. I hope you enjoyed this recap and let me know in the comments if you’ll be attending any haunts this spooky season in your neck of the woods.

Where to Stalk

Halloween Horror Nights