Tell Me about Horror Nights

[Haley R]

I've never been to the Halloween Horror Nights, but DH and I are thinking about going to Disney for Halloween this year. I saw that Universal also does a Halloween event, but it looks quite scary to me. We don't have any kids, but I scare easily. I don't like haunted houses or scary movies so would it be a complete waste for us to do this? Any personal experience would be appreciated.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

It's quite different than Mickey's Not So Scary. What has you interested in it in the first place? If you don't like haunted houses, I'm surprised you'd want to go to a Halloween event!

I'm not a big scary movie person, but I LOVE Halloween Horror Nights. I (personally) don't find it to be that scary, but your mileage may vary. HHN takes place throughout the Studios park, and there's usually 8-9 house attractions and a few "scare zones" in the streets of the park, each house and zone has a different story/theme (sometimes original concepts, sometimes based on a movie/TV show). The "scareactors" in the zones and houses will try and startle you, which for me is quite fun (it's also funny to watch other people freak out!). There are also a few shows each year (although their longest running show ended last year- not sure what, if anything, will replace it)... they had a dance troupe (Academy of Villains) as well last year who put on an awesome show!

Overall, Universal puts in a lot of work to this event and the production value is wonderful- fantastic sets, costumes, makeup... I love it from an artistic standpoint as well. Here's a neat behind-the-scenes video to give you a better idea of the event:

 

[Haley R]

It's quite different than Mickey's Not So Scary. What has you interested in it in the first place? If you don't like haunted houses, I'm surprised you'd want to go to a Halloween event!

I'm not a big scary movie person, but I LOVE Halloween Horror Nights. I (personally) don't find it to be that scary, but your mileage may vary. HHN takes place throughout the Studios park, and there's usually 8-9 house attractions and a few "scare zones" in the streets of the park, each house and zone has a different story/theme (sometimes original concepts, sometimes based on a movie/TV show). The "scareactors" in the zones and houses will try and startle you, which for me is quite fun (it's also funny to watch other people freak out!). There are also a few shows each year (although their longest running show ended last year- not sure what, if anything, will replace it)... they had a dance troupe (Academy of Villains) as well last year who put on an awesome show!

Overall, Universal puts in a lot of work to this event and the production value is wonderful- fantastic sets, costumes, makeup... I love it from an artistic standpoint as well. Here's a neat behind-the-scenes video to give you a better idea of the event:

I love Halloween, it's my favorite holiday. However, I hate being scared and jumping lol. I'm thinking it probably won't be the best event for me and we will most likely just stick with Mickey's party. I'm such a wimp lol

 

[schumigirl]

Sounds like it’s not for you then.

The whole event is full of scares and jumps everywhere you turn.

It’s fabulous though..........so much fun!!

 

[Haley R]

Sounds like it’s not for you then.

The whole event is full of scares and jumps everywhere you turn.

It’s fabulous though..........so much fun!!

Your picture horrifies me. He has been one of my fears since I was little. I used to think he’d come in my room at night through the window lol. There’s something about that plain white mask that gets me

 

[schumigirl]

Your picture horrifies me. He has been one of my fears since I was little. I used to think he’d come in my room at night through the window lol. There’s something about that plain white mask that gets me

Lol......me too!!

But I love it at the same time........

 

[Haley R]

Lol......me too!!

But I love it at the same time........

We are very different people lol
I won’t even go see the movie It because I hate clowns.

 

[heidijanesmith]

We love HHN! I am a big chicken though. Normal Haunted Houses totally freak me out and clowns!!

What I like about HHN are that the houses are amazing and you do get scares, but you go through the houses in a conga line. The houses here, let people go in 5-6 at a time, so they can reset the scares for each group.

I also like the HHN houses have security everywhere, I can see the ceilings on some of them and I never feel super claustrophobic.

There are scare zones around the park that are fantastic and so well done. There are also some areas where you will not see the scare-actors.

Your going to see some great gory costumes and wonderful themes.

I was very nervous the 1st time as I am a big chicken. It was so much fun, we go every year for multiple nights. One thing we always do, the 1st night is a non-private RIP tour. You can see all the houses x1, the scare zones, a couple of bar stops, behind the scene info and reserved spot at Bill and Teds (not sure what will take it's place this year). Then we will get an express pass for the other nights we attend.

 

[buzzrelly]

I've never been to the Halloween Horror Nights, but DH and I are thinking about going to Disney for Halloween this year. I saw that Universal also does a Halloween event, but it looks quite scary to me. We don't have any kids, but I scare easily. I don't like haunted houses or scary movies so would it be a complete waste for us to do this? Any personal experience would be appreciated.

I could have written your exact post this time last year…and actually, I did.

DH and I did indeed go to our first (and last!) HHN this past October. I really wanted to love it and I tried to just appreciate all the artwork and how well-done the haunted houses are (and they really are), but when it came down to it, I was a big chicken. I ended up only being able to go though 4 or 5 of the houses and then DH had to finish going through on his own. The ones I did go through, I had my head down or my eyes closed and I was gripping like a vice onto DH in front of me. I was absolutely petrified and tense, and jumpy! So much so, that it just wasn't fun for me.

I also hated the scare zones where they jump out at you and I really didn't like the VERY loud heavy metal music playing everywhere.

No offense to anyone, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I was SOOOOOOO happy to get over to WDW the next night and do MNSSHP…definitely more my speed

 

[Haley R]

I could have written your exact post this time last year…and actually, I did.

DH and I did indeed go to our first (and last!) HHN this past October. I really wanted to love it and I tried to just appreciate all the artwork and how well-done the haunted houses are (and they really are), but when it came down to it, I was a big chicken. I ended up only being able to go though 4 or 5 of the houses and then DH had to finish going through on his own. The ones I did go through, I had my head down or my eyes closed and I was gripping like a vice onto DH in front of me. I was absolutely petrified and tense, and jumpy! So much so, that it just wasn't fun for me.

I also hated the scare zones where they jump out at you and I really didn't like the VERY loud heavy metal music playing everywhere.

No offense to anyone, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I was SOOOOOOO happy to get over to WDW the next night and do MNSSHP…definitely more my speed

Lol that’s pretty much what I’m anticipating. I don’t even watch scary movies because it gives me nightmares for like a week and I lose sleep. We decided we won’t do it this trip anyway because we will already be doing mickeys Halloween party and the half marathon. It would just be too much.

 

[buzzrelly]

Haha! We did HHN, MNSSHP, and the wine and dine challenge! We were totally beat by the end of the trip...but it was super fun!

 

[BrianL]

We love HHN! I am a big chicken though. Normal Haunted Houses totally freak me out and clowns!!

What I like about HHN are that the houses are amazing and you do get scares, but you go through the houses in a conga line. The houses here, let people go in 5-6 at a time, so they can reset the scares for each group.

I also like the HHN houses have security everywhere, I can see the ceilings on some of them and I never feel super claustrophobic.

There are scare zones around the park that are fantastic and so well done. There are also some areas where you will not see the scare-actors.

Your going to see some great gory costumes and wonderful themes.

I was very nervous the 1st time as I am a big chicken. It was so much fun, we go every year for multiple nights. One thing we always do, the 1st night is a non-private RIP tour. You can see all the houses x1, the scare zones, a couple of bar stops, behind the scene info and reserved spot at Bill and Teds (not sure what will take it's place this year). Then we will get an express pass for the other nights we attend.

See, I don't like that you go through the houses in a conga line. You always know a scare is coming up because you saw the reactions ahead of you. I personally felt that all the houses were underwhelming and you pretty much had to buy express pass to see them all. What I did like was the themed zones that are just out int he park. They are very nicely done!

OP, if you don't like haunted houses with jump scares (such as they are), then I wouldn't go for HHN. It kinda becomes a large "bar scene" too and wasn't quite my cup of tea. MNSSHP is more my style.

 

[Haley R]

See, I don't like that you go through the houses in a conga line. You always know a scare is coming up because you saw the reactions ahead of you. I personally felt that all the houses were underwhelming and you pretty much had to buy express pass to see them all. What I did like was the themed zones that are just out int he park. They are very nicely done!

OP, if you don't like haunted houses with jump scares (such as they are), then I wouldn't go for HHN. It kinda becomes a large "bar scene" too and wasn't quite my cup of tea. MNSSHP is more my style.

You have to use an express pass during Hhn? I didn’t even think that would be needed at an event like that.

I don’t drink alcohol at all so that wouldn’t appeal to me either. Although we will be trying the food and wine festival for the first time. Thanks for the info!

 

[Haley R]

Haha! We did HHN, MNSSHP, and the wine and dine challenge! We were totally beat by the end of the trip...but it was super fun!

How long were you there? We will be there for a week.

 

[BrianL]

You have to use an express pass during Hhn? I didn’t even think that would be needed at an event like that.

I don’t drink alcohol at all so that wouldn’t appeal to me either. Although we will be trying the food and wine festival for the first time. Thanks for the info!

Well, on the night I was there, and this was 2010, the guy at the ticket window sold us on it, just for Horror Nights. I was very glad we had it because the houses all had huge lines. There were like 12 or more of them, and it would've taken a long time to get through them all without the pass. The pass could be used once at each house and once at some of the attractions, though the lines for those were non-existent. It definitely allowed us to not be standing in lines all night and we got to enjoy the park more. Things may be much different now, as I have never wanted to go back.

 

[Haley R]

Well, on the night I was there, and this was 2010, the guy at the ticket window sold us on it, just for Horror Nights. I was very glad we had it because the houses all had huge lines. There were like 12 or more of them, and it would've taken a long time to get through them all without the pass. The pass could be used once at each house and once at some of the attractions, though the lines for those were non-existent. It definitely allowed us to not be standing in lines all night and we got to enjoy the park more. Things may be much different now, as I have never wanted to go back.

The idea of standing in line just to pee my pants doesn’t appeal to me lol

 

[BrianL]

The idea of standing in line just to pee my pants doesn’t appeal to me lol

Well, as I said, the houses aren't scary because you can see the scares coming a mile away. In the themed areas of the park, or "scare zones" they costumed performers don't do to many junp scares, but they may follow you around very closely until you notice them, much to everyone else's amusement.

It sounds to me like you might prefer MNSSHP. It's great! The first time I went to Orlando as an adult, we had opted to do HHN. As we were leaving MK on the last night to head to the Universal portion of our stay, we saw the MNSSHP gearing up. It looked cooler than advertised and I remember thinking, "We should've done this." I was proven right after HHN was just okay. I have been to MNSSHP (and DL's version MHP) several times since. And, hey, I'm not saying HHN is bad by any means, it's just not what I really wanted out of the evening. It's more "Adult Halloween" and I'm not so into that.

 

[buzzrelly]

How long were you there? We will be there for a week.

We did Universal 10/28-10/31, and WDW 10/31-11/6

 

[Haley R]

We did Universal 10/28-10/31, and WDW 10/31-11/6

We are planning on doing 10/31-11/6. Still have to wait for frontier to put their plane tickets up

 

[buzzrelly]

We are planning on doing 10/31-11/6. Still have to wait for frontier to put their plane tickets up

It's a great time to go, you'll get to see Halloween AND Christmas…mostly Christmas, though. They switched over on 11/2 this past year. I was stunned how quickly it happened.