Universal Halloween Horror Nights Is Back and I’ve got the tips to help you plan your spooky adventure and stay safe!
Hey All!
The Halloween Season has officially begun and I decided it was time to put on my new Halloween outfits and head back to one of my favorite Halloween events. Yes folks! I went out for the first time in over a year for my first in person event yesterday! I had the amazing opportunity to attend the opening night media event for Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights. Last year was the first time in years that I did not attend Halloween Horror nights and with it being back this year, I didn’t want to miss another year. Horror Nights is not something to be missed when you’re a Halloween-a-holic like I am!
Halloween Horror Nights is honestly my jam! I LOVE going to it with a passion. It’s the best haunt around and Universal Studios is one of my favorite theme parks. I literally had the best time ever in 2019! I still think about all the Stranger Things fun they had that year. You can relive that fun with me over on my Instagram. I saved my 2019 best time ever as a highlight. I digress…
Before you give me sass about going, Yes, I took a risk in going to this event. Being immunocompromised with a son not vaccinated yet, I really had to think long and hard about everything and how I would be safe in a theme park and in a potential crowd. Luckily Universal is a great outdoor space and everyone is required to wear masks indoors. Everything is primarily out doors, so you can maintain social distancing.
I was also attending as press and got an Express pass with my press pass to bypass any lines. I also felt safe the whole time I was there because I was outside, I was double masked, I had eye protection, gloves, my hair down, a hat, an endless supply of alcohol wipes and sanitizer. I was basically covered from head to toe. Hardly any of my face was visible and I never took off my masks even outdoors. I didn’t touch anything I didn’t have to. Having all this on is basically how I go out anyway these days and it helped me feel and be safe. When you’re immunocompromised you have to go all out on protecting yourself.
I will admit I was really worried about maneuvering the crowds, but I’m happy to report it was honestly not really crowded. Compared to years past, it did not seem crowded.
Universal did an amazing job at limiting the crowd size and making it so there is a constant flow and open space to avoid congestion. They also have all lines essentially outside, which makes standing in line a little safer.
I was able to check out everything I wanted to safely and had a blast. You can check out my full experience below or over on my YouTube Channel. You can see the crowd size and how I was able to keep social distancing while having a spooktacular time. You can also get a visual of where all the mazes are located, so you don’t have to waste time trying to find them when you go!
This years spooky mazes include:
- “The Haunting of Hill House,” based on Netflix’s critically-acclaimed supernatural thriller. This maze is a hot ticket, so make sure it’s at the top of your list to do to avoid a long wait.
- “Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives,” inspired by Universal Pictures’ cinematic monsters with an all-original story about one of the studio’s most infamous creatures. GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, SLASH collaborates with Universal Studios Hollywood to compose an original score for the maze and scare zone.
- “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” a chilling maze featuring a demented Leatherface and his unrelenting chainsaw. Probably the scariest maze there!
- “The Exorcist” maze will possess guests as they live the tormented aberrations experienced by Regan and her determined mother. This maze is also a hot ticket, so make sure it’s at the top of your list to do to avoid a long wait. Also be aware that there are scares that involve smells in this maze, so if you get squeamish or gag easily, brace yourself!
- “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” based on the classic slasher film featuring Myers and his signature white mask.
- “The Curse of Pandora’s Box” is an original concept maze inspired by the most fearsome creatures in Greek mythology.
- “The Walking Dead,” a fully immersive journey inspired by AMC’s popular television series.
- “Terror Tram: The Ultimate Purge,” takes guests on a nightmarish journey into the world of The Purge as they try to survive the night along the world-famous Universal backlot.
- “Jabbawockeez,” the ward-winning hip hop dance crew returns with nightly performances of its high-energy show featuring their gravity-defying dance moves, elevated by special effects and pulse-pounding music.
Here are a few tips to help you plan for your own visit to Halloween Horror Nights:
1. If you can, go this first week. Some dates are already sold out, but try to go this week as crowd sizes will most likely be smaller this week. They will probably get larger as we get closer to Halloween.
2. If you can, get an express pass with your ticket so you can bypass all the lines and get in and out of mazes quickly.
3. Get there EARLY! The park allows for early entry at 6pm and some of the mazes do open around that time. Get there early, plan which mazes you want to do first and do them. You don’t need to see the opening of the event (scareamony). You don’t need to be in that crowd. Avoid that opening of the event crowd and get in early. It does take some time to walk to mazes, so plan accordingly. For example, The Haunting of Hill House Maze and The Curse of Pandora’s Box Maze are located through the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You have to go through that land to get to the entrance and then walk some more to get on the backlot where the mazes are located. It’s a walk! It’s not a bad walk, but it does take time, so factor that into your plan.
4. If you don’t mind waiting in line for mazes (most were max 35 minute wait times), but want to avoid that (scareamony) opening of the event crowd get to the park around 6pm. Enjoy city walk and don’t go in until 7pm. You’ll miss the crowd and the park will be much emptier to walk around in.
5. Make sure to also get there early to find parking. The Jurassic parking structure gets packed quickly. Get there early, find parking and enjoy City Walk until you’re ready to go into the park.
6. If the scares become too much, Springfield aka Simpsons land is a scare free safe zone. You can go eat and get a break from the scares there.
7. Avoid the clusters of people. If you see a cluster of people avoid them. There is enough space available to quickly go around them. Bob and weave between people. That’s what I did. I literally never came with in 6 feet of anyone while walking around the park.
8. Make sure to pack extra masks and sanitizer and everything you need to keep yourself safe and clean on your spooky adventure. I recommend eyewear too to keep your eyes protected if you’re waiting in lines.
Best Places To Eat:
1. Leatherface’s BBQ! Get there early to avoid a line!
The Bloody Funnel Fingers and 22 inch Monster Dog are amazing!
2. Little Cocina! Located in the Dia De Los Muertos Plaza.
Horchata Churro Bites were my jam! They also have amazing alcoholic drinks in the same area!
3. Springfield! Crusty Burger. You can’t go wrong with a Crusty Burger.
Those are my tips for attending! Hope they help you plan your Halloween Horror Nights adventure.
It really did feel good to be back and have some Halloween fun this year at one of our favorite places Universal Studios Hollywood. It felt so good to be back! I missed it sooooo much! I felt safe and I got some good scares.
Universal during Halloween time and the holidays is always amazing!
Click here to purchase tickets and get them fast because this event is expected to sell out. Event dates are: September 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 30 and October 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31.
Tickets are available at Hollywood.HalloweenHorrorNights.com. All tickets purchased online provide guests early admission with entry beginning at 6:00 p.m. each night of “Halloween Horror Nights.”
The following are the various “Halloween Horror Nights” tickets options available for purchase:
- General Admission: single night ticket to the seasonal event
- Universal Express™: admission to “Halloween Horror Nights” and one-time express access to each maze, ride and attraction
- Universal Express™ Unlimited: admission to “Halloween Horror Nights” and unlimited express access to each maze, ride and attraction
- Day to Night Ticket: after 2pm access to all daytime attractions plus Halloween Horror Nights
- Day to Night Ticket + Universal Express™: after 2pm one-time express access to all daytime attractions plus Halloween Horror Nights
Click here for more information about each ticket type and for Terms and Conditions. Additional tickets will be available soon, including the premium R.I.P. Tour, Frequent Fear and Ultimate Fear passes.
“Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror inspired by TV and film’s most compelling horror properties.
I loved it and highly recommend it! Again I felt safe and had a blast! Remember always keep yourself and others safe out there when your having your spooky fun!
For exciting updates and exclusive “Halloween Horror Nights” content, visit Hollywood.HalloweenHorrorNights.com, like Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood on Facebook; follow @HorrorNights #UniversalHHN on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat; and watch the terror come to life on Halloween Horror Nights YouTube.
Thanks again to Universal Studios Hollywood for having me!
No compensation was provided for this coverage. I was solely provided a media pass to attend this event to cover. All opinions are my own.
Welcome!
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