Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida has always had the great reputation of being a place of pure fun and joy, but during the month of October, they like to change it up a bit. Every year, Universal Studios hosts their frightening event called "Halloween Horror Nights," or what I like to call, "Let's inflict self torture Nights." Basically, from 6:30 pm to 2:00 am you can experience what it's like to be the victim of multiple successful horror/ scary movies. Throughout the whole night, hired actors in masks and costumes chase you with (fake) chain saws and (fake) butcher knives, all in good fun of course. At every corner a themed haunted house can be found calling your name in hope that you enter excited and leave horrified, again, for pure enjoyment. These are aspects of Horror Nights that I had learned via word of mouth or hilariously terrifying pictures on Instagram. This year, I somehow convinced myself that it was an amazing idea to drive up to Orlando and see what all the commotion was about. I discovered during the first 10 minutes of being in the car "Horror Nights bound" that I might have made a mistake in deciding to accompany my non-rookie friends. I have always been an avid scary-film lover, but I was not sure how I would feel about living in one for 8 hours straight.
After a whopping total of 4 hours on the road with nothing but pizza flavored Combos and one bottle of Gatorade, we finally arrived at the Loews Portofino Hotel, which was beautiful. The next day, my friends and I spent the day out of the hotel and did everything a person can possibly do in City Walk, which included watching a movie at their AMC movie theater. As it grew closer to 7:00 pm, the time we were planning to head to the park, I mentally prepared myself for what was about to come. Soon, it had become time to leave and I eventually stood right in front of the firery arched entrance of Universal Studios. Hand in hand with my two best friends, I walked in and automatically felt every hair in my body stick up, thanks to the very rude man covered unidentified liquids who "attacked" me. After I survived my first real scare, the rest of the night went smoothly. In my opinion, the scary characters walking around are the best part of Horror Nights. They come out of no where and cause people to run in fear, jump in shock, and even cry in terror. When the night was over, I grabbed my phone and took down some notes for future Halloween Horror Nights goers!
After a whopping total of 4 hours on the road with nothing but pizza flavored Combos and one bottle of Gatorade, we finally arrived at the Loews Portofino Hotel, which was beautiful. The next day, my friends and I spent the day out of the hotel and did everything a person can possibly do in City Walk, which included watching a movie at their AMC movie theater. As it grew closer to 7:00 pm, the time we were planning to head to the park, I mentally prepared myself for what was about to come. Soon, it had become time to leave and I eventually stood right in front of the firery arched entrance of Universal Studios. Hand in hand with my two best friends, I walked in and automatically felt every hair in my body stick up, thanks to the very rude man covered unidentified liquids who "attacked" me. After I survived my first real scare, the rest of the night went smoothly. In my opinion, the scary characters walking around are the best part of Horror Nights. They come out of no where and cause people to run in fear, jump in shock, and even cry in terror. When the night was over, I grabbed my phone and took down some notes for future Halloween Horror Nights goers!
5 tips for Horror Nights Goers:
1. Go to Halloween Horror Nights in a group, but make sure the group is no bigger than 6 peope. Groups are hard to manage because everyone wants to get the most out of their experience, but in their way. But if you don't go in a group, you become and easy target for the scarer-ers. With 6 you have enough people to block you from the masked characters etc.
2. Take singles.
Not single people, but singles as in dollar bills. You will get hungry and (or) thirsty and waiting for the cashier to give you back $18 dollars in change wastes time and is very inconvenient. Singles will make buying snacks and drinks faster and easier.
3. Know what the HHN characters/ actors are allowed to do and not do. For example, they are not allowed to touch you. If you see an actor or actress touching someone you are allowed to complain. I also noticed that if you are eating while walking in the scare zones they walk away and let you finish in attempt to not make you choke from being scared.
4. BUY A FAST PASS! Fast passes are usually more expensive than the actual ticket, but It is the only way you will be able to experience anything. The lines for the haunted houses are usually 1-2 1/2 hours long. With a fast pass, the lines are only 15 minutes long....max! They're also useful for going on ride etc.
5. If you don't like motion simulators or being scared, DO NOT GO. Trust me when I say that the only attractions opened are all simulation rides. If you are the type of person that gets easily dizzy but loves being scared, you will be entertained the whole night. However, if you are the type of person that will not go on the rides and will not go into the haunted houses, then there is no point in spending about 200 for a ticket.
2. Take singles.
Not single people, but singles as in dollar bills. You will get hungry and (or) thirsty and waiting for the cashier to give you back $18 dollars in change wastes time and is very inconvenient. Singles will make buying snacks and drinks faster and easier.
3. Know what the HHN characters/ actors are allowed to do and not do. For example, they are not allowed to touch you. If you see an actor or actress touching someone you are allowed to complain. I also noticed that if you are eating while walking in the scare zones they walk away and let you finish in attempt to not make you choke from being scared.
4. BUY A FAST PASS! Fast passes are usually more expensive than the actual ticket, but It is the only way you will be able to experience anything. The lines for the haunted houses are usually 1-2 1/2 hours long. With a fast pass, the lines are only 15 minutes long....max! They're also useful for going on ride etc.
5. If you don't like motion simulators or being scared, DO NOT GO. Trust me when I say that the only attractions opened are all simulation rides. If you are the type of person that gets easily dizzy but loves being scared, you will be entertained the whole night. However, if you are the type of person that will not go on the rides and will not go into the haunted houses, then there is no point in spending about 200 for a ticket.