'The Last of Us,' 'Stranger Things' highlights of Halloween Horror Nights 2023
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights is back, thrilling guests on select nights through Nov. 4. FLORIDA TODAY was invited to experience the haunted attractions at an opening night media event.
Editor's note: The following contains spoilers about some of the haunted houses at Universal Orlando's popular Halloween Horror Nights.
The haunted houses
The haunted houses - there are 10 of them - put guests face to face with Vecna from "Stranger Things," the Clickers from "The Last of Us," Chucky, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and other horror icons.
The mazes are immersive and rich in detail, forcing guests to get comfortable with their darkest fears. On opening night, many guests were excited to experience "The Last of Us."
Based on Naughty Dog and PlayStation's award-winning video game, the maze takes you in the footsteps of the game's protagonists, Joel and Ellie. You'll navigate through the carnage of the Pittsburgh Quarantine Zone in a gritty world where a fungal virus has transformed humans into ravenous monsters.
As you encounter the Infected – Runners, Stalkers and Clickers – you will be immersed in iconic locations from the game. Look for scenes inside the desolate Hotel Grand and a labyrinth of dark tunnels teeming with danger.
"It has been an incredible thrill for us... to collaborate with Universal, bringing the world of the game to life, focusing on even the tiniest details that our fans know so well," said Neil Druckmann, co-president of Naughty Dog. "If you're a fan of the game, you're going to be inside the game."
Another highly anticipated haunted house this year is "Stranger Things 4," where you will encounter demogorgons, demobats, and even Vecna himself. The maze recreates iconic scenes from season four of the Netflix series, including the Hawkins Lab, the foreboding Creel House and Vecna's terrifying, blood-red mindscape.
Doppelganger actors in the maze make you feel immersed in the action. In one of the most fun moments, we see Eddie and Dustin rocking out on a rooftop in the Upside Down as demobats swirl through the air.
Speaking of fun, the "YETI: Campground Kills" maze was a favorite for sheer - pardon the expression - camp value. Set in a 1950s campground where a baby yeti has been unfortunately killed, you will see an entire yeti family stalking the campers on a quest for vengeance. This haunted house isn't the most scary, but it is one of the most entertaining.
Other houses feature a "living trailer" for the upcoming movie "The Exorcist: Believer," as well as a labyrinth below Paris where you will meet The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and even The Invisible Man.
Halloween Horror Nights Taste of Terror: A guide to new experience at Universal Orlando
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween: How does it compare to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights?
Know before you go: Here's what to expect at Mickey's Not-So-Scary party at Disney
The scare zones
There are also five scare zones where guests will have close encounters with sinister scaracters (short for "scare actors," rhymes with characters). The walk-through zones feature dark zodiac creatures, bizarre jungle creatures and escaped monsters. Of these immersive experiences, we had a clear favorite.
"Vamp '69: Summer of Blood" creates a music festival crashed by bloodthirsty vampires. These flower children of the night groove to the oldies while menacing visitors, and they are not afraid to get up close. This was the most playful and interactive of the scare zones.
Know before you go
HHN has grown more popular year after year, and on opening night the wait times for the most popular haunted houses were about 100 minutes.
Consider paying extra for an RIP Tour, which allow a guided tour of the haunted houses with front-of-line entry, a pre-tour reception, VIP entrance to the park, Universal Express unlimited ride access, reserved seating at the live show and more. But be aware that you'll have to pay extra for those perks, as the RIP Tours are an add-on to event admission.
If the RIP Tour is not in your budget, you may choose to opt for an express pass, which will get you shorter wait times. That means you'll have more time to actually enjoy the attractions in the park. You might also consider purchasing a multi-night pass, which will give you more opportunities to view the attractions.
The event takes place rain or shine, and you will spend a lot of time walking or standing in line outdoors. Consider packing an umbrella or a rain poncho. Dress comfortably, but be aware that costumes and costume masks are not allowed.
Many of these haunted houses and scare zones are too intense for young children. HHN is not recommended for kids under 13. The haunted houses contain graphic and disturbing scenes, strobe lights, loud noises and jump scares. If you are sensitive to those elements, this event may not be for you.
Although we didn't see these on opening night, there are rumors of special Easter eggs for fans in the park. We were told that there may be roving bands of M3gans who spontaneously break into dancing flash mobs. If you visit the Peacock's Halloween Horror Bar, you may catch a glimpse of David S. Pumpkins. We also heard that there may be Death Eaters roaming around Diagon Alley.
Happy haunting!
The gory details
Halloween Horror Nights 32
Where: Universal Studios, 6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando
When: Select nights through Nov. 4
Cost: Single-night tickets start at $79.99 online. Multi-night tickets start at $179.99 online. Express passes may be added on at additional cost, starting at $119.99. RIP Tours are available from $329.99 per person.
Info: Call Universal Orlando at 402-224-7840 or visit universalorlando.com/fall.
Christina LaFortune is the Entertainment and TGIF Editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/christinalafortune or send her an email at clafortune@floridatoday.com.
Whether you're interested in music, theater, festivals or other local entertainment, FLORIDA TODAY has got you covered. Support local journalism by subscribing at Special Offers - USAToday Network.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Know before you go: Halloween Horror Nights 2023 at Universal Orlando
