Universal Studios Hollywood 2024 Halloween Horror Nights Guide

Celebrating Halloween at Universal Studios Hollywood is a much different experience than Halloween time at Disneyland. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal are hugely popular with tickets selling out every year. Halloween Horror Nights features movie-quality haunted houses focused on current popular films, franchises, and classic monsters.

If you are looking for a traditional Halloween scare this season or have teens that are looking for a more thrilling Halloween experience, Halloween Horror Nights is a must-do experience. This ticketed event takes place from the evening until late at night giving guests access to all the haunted houses, live entertainment, plus a horror themed Studio Tour experience.

Keep reading for information on Halloween Horror Night event dates, costs, entertainment information, and tricks for navigating the crowds!

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Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Event Dates

Halloween Horror Nights start in the beginning of September and run on varying nights until Halloween. While the 2024 event dates have not yet been announced, you can see the information from last year below for reference. 

Last year's Halloween Horror Nights ran Sept. 7th through Oct. 31st. Your ticket cost will depend on which date you select for your visit with cheaper tickets being available earlier and prices increasing later in the season. You also have the option of selecting passes to enjoy multiple nights.

You need to purchase tickets for both the Halloween Horror Nights and the Halloween Horror Nights Express passes directly through Universal Studios Hollywood.

Even though we can't help with discounts on Halloween Horror Nights, we can help with discount tickets for regular park admission to Universal Studios Hollywood! Be sure to read our Universal Studios Hollywood discount ticket guide to make sure you're getting the best price for your day at Universal.

Here are the 2023 Halloween Horror Nights dates: 

September Dates
Sept. 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

October Dates
Oct. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31

Ticket Options and Pricing Information

Tickets are on sale NOW!

You have a few options when it comes to experiencing Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Halloween Horror Nights General Admission

• Access to the event at 7PM.
• No early access with this standard ticket purchase.
• Ticket cost ranges from $74-$107 per person.

Halloween Horror Nights After 2PM Day/Night 

• Access to 2PM Daytime General Admission to the Park and same-day ticket to Halloween Horror Nights event.
• Ticket includes same-day access to Super Nintendo World from 7PM-10PM
• Ticket cost ranges from $149-182 per person.

Halloween Horror Nights Universal Express Pass

• Admission to Halloween Horror Nights.
• One-time Express Pass access to all the Haunted Houses and lines at Halloween Horror Nights.
• Includes priority seating at live shows and one-time Express Pass access to all rides excluding Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge.
• Ticket cost ranges from $209-$309 per person including access to Halloween Horror Nights.

Halloween Horror Nights Universal Unlimited Express Pass

• Admission to Halloween Horror Nights.
• Unlimited Express Pass access to all the Haunted Houses and lines at Halloween Horror Nights.
• Includes priority seating at live shows and unlimited Express Pass access to all rides excluding Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge.
• Ticket cost ranges from $249-$349 per person.

After 2 PM Day/Night Universal Express

• Access to 2PM Daytime General Admission to the Park and same-day ticket to Halloween Horror Nights event.
• One-time Express Pass access to all the Haunted Houses and lines at Halloween Horror Nights.
• Includes priority seating at live shows and one-time Express Pass access to all rides excluding Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge.
• Ticket includes same-day access to Super Nintendo World from 7PM-10PM
• Ticket costs start at $329

Universal Studios Pass Members may purchase friends or family tickets at the same low price on select event nights.

• Discounts available for online purchase only. Discount may not be available for same day sales.
• Pass Members may purchase discounted After 2PM Day/Night Combo tickets for friends and family on select event nights. Please refer to the After 2PM Day/Night Combo section for price details. (Guests may not upgrade from previously purchased daytime tickets).
  •Pass Members can purchase their discounted tickets on the Universal Studios Hollywood Website.

Which Halloween Horror Nights Ticket Is Best?

Halloween Horror Nights is an extremely popular event at Universal Studios Hollywood. This event is a popular Halloween tradition with locals in the area like annual passholders and tourists visiting the parks to celebrate Halloween.

Halloween has become an increasingly popular time for families to enjoy vacations, especially with the numerous Fall Breaks that are offered at local schools in California, Arizona, and Utah. You will see the largest crowds in October this year we predict it to be Disneyland's most crowded October yet!) and this means this event will become packed the loser you get to Halloween.

With that in mind, this is one event where I feel that purchasing Universal Express Pass is crucial to getting the most out of your night. Halloween Horror Nights technically runs from 7PM to 1-2AM but an Early Entry ticket can get you in the event at 5:30PM. Express Pass will allow you to use the shorter Express Pass line for all the haunted houses and other experiences. So you should consider purchasing both Express Pass and an Early Entry ticket.

Especially with two highly popular franchises being a part of the season, having Express Pass will greatly enhance your experience. The Stranger Things and Last of Us houses have been drawing large crowds and can easily see waits of up to two-three hours. This is not uncommon for popular houses at Halloween Horror Nights. It is worth it to spend that extra money to have a great experience and avoid hour-long waits.

Whether you do the early 2PM ticket is up to your group but keep in mind that Halloween Horror Nights is a long event and you do not want to be tired out by the time it begins. The main perk of the 2PM ticket is the access to Super Nintendo World from 7PM-10PM. When monitoring wait times during the event, we noticed that the wait time for the brand new Bowser attraction was nonexistent meaning that the attraction was basically a walk on most of the night. That is worth it in our eyes, especially since this new ride does not offer Express Pass.

Another great option is the R.I.P. Tour (more on this below) which is a Halloween Horror Nights VIP tour. This tour includes special VIP access to all the experiences plus additional scare actor experiences only reserved for R.I.P. Tour guests. You can easily enjoy the entire event and be done early enough to go enjoy a few attractions with your unlimited Express Pass which is included in the tour.

Frequent Fear Passes

The Frequent Fear Passes for Halloween Horror Nights allow guests to visit more than once and bundle their days to save money. There are a few different options for the Frequent Fear Passes that allow guests to visit multiple times, or every event, throughout the season.

Frequent Fear Pass

• $209 per person
• Allows guests to pick any night for their first visit and revisit up to 30 times on select dates.

Ultimate Fear Pass

• $329 per person
• Guests can visit any night for their first visit and attend every night of Halloween Horror Nights
• No blackout dates

Read more about Fear Passes and how to purchase them on Universal Studios Hollywood's website.

Tour Options for Halloween Horror Nights

Guests can also opt for a VIP walking experience called the R.I.P. Tour which includes:

• Exclusive Universal Backlot Halloween experience with private VIP trolley transportation.
• Universal Express UNLIMITED access to all houses and available rides.
• Gourmet dinner in the private VIP dining room (alcoholic beverages excluded).
• Special interactive themed photo opportunities with a scare actor.
• Reserved VIP seating at a live show (while on the tour with R.I.P. Tour Guide).
• Complimentary valet Parking (one vehicle).
• Special VIP entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood where you will receive your commemorative “R.I.P.” credentials and lanyard.

Book early since R.I.P. Tour tickets may sell out. (Pricing varies by date and tour selection, subject to availability). The event begins at 7 pm. R.I.P. Tour tickets include Early Event Admission to select houses beginning at 6 pm, subject to availability, cancellation, and change.

R.I.P. Tour tickets are for shared tours of parties up to 12 guests per tour. Private R.I.P. Tours are available for groups up to 12 guests and include an exclusive guide for the group. Please call 818-622-0251 to book a Private R.I.P. Tour.

If you're looking to splurge on your Halloween Horror Nights experience, this is the best way to do it. The tour starts at $379 per person and includes your admission to the event.

NEW The Purge: Dangerous Waters Show

New for last year's Halloween Horror Nights season was a brand new show taking place in the same area where Waterworld takes place!

This new show, The Purge: Dangerous Waters, focuses on The Purge movies where crime is legal for 12 hours as part of the government's annual Purge. The story of this show focuses on a race against time as a politician escapes to an island to avoid The Purge. The island is then overrun by Purgers and then a fight ensues with action sequences, lighting, laser effects, high fall fire burns, and massive explosions.

The Purge: Dangerous Waters Review

This show is a great addition to the Halloween Horror Nights lineup! The show makes great use of similar amazing stunt scenes, explosions, and visual effects we see during the Waterworld show but with the extra twist of horror. This show does involve bloody fights and gruesome special effects which is something you don't often see in a theme park show. Even though you know that's the drill with Halloween Horror Nights, it took us by surprise when the first death happened and we saw blood fly in the air! But it's a perfect fit for the event and it made the entire experience far more entertaining.

The storyline Universal Studios Hollywood created for the show worked well for the shorter run time and was easy to follow even if you have not seen the Purge films. The show takes place multiple times throughout the night with the second showing at 11PM being one of the most popular times.

Halloween Horror Nights Haunted Houses

Haunted houses are the main form of entertainment for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. These haunted houses/mazes each focus on a separate theme which often coordinates with current popular films and franchises.

This is a haunted house like you've never experienced before with Hollywood-style special effects and wonderful scare actors to immerse you in scenes from these popular films. These houses are intense and stimulating to all the senses: they are often loud and may include flashing lights and strong smells that connect to the scenes. There are many jump scares in all these houses and they vary in terms of how gruesome and horrific they can be.

There were eight Halloween Horror Nights Haunted Houses last year, including the return of Stranger Things and a Last of Us house! Keep scrolling to see what's offered and our spoiler-free reviews!

Read our full strategy and guide for best tips on Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights!

Stranger Things 2024 Halloween Horror Nights

The following details are from last year's Halloween Horror Nights: 

Stranger Things has returned to Halloween Horror Nights this year! This year's new Stranger Things haunted house focuses on season four with guests encountering the supernatural villain Vecna. The new Stranger Things house mirrors the supernatural terror of Season 4 “immersing guests in a heart-pounding experience alongside valiant characters from the series, including Eleven, Max, Eddie, and more.”

Guests find themselves on the front line of Vecna's attacks on Hawkins while traveling through different scenes including the Hawkins Lab, Creel House, and Vecna's chilling mindscape. Guests will encounter demobats and Vecna himself in the final showdown in his blood-red Mind Lair.

Stranger Things Halloween Horror Nights Review

As a huge Stranger Things fan, this was my main interest in the event! I was not disappointed and each scene pays a lovely tribute to the fourth season of Stranger Things. Fans of Stranger Things will appreciate the house the most, but if you have not watched Stranger Things you may not always follow the story. The visual effects are still stunning regardless of your personal knowledge of Stranger Things.

My only disappointment is that the house did not feature the scene of Eddie playing “Master of Puppets” by Metallica in the Upside Down, I think this was a huge missed opportunity and one we were convinced we would see in the house- especially with that scene being present on so much of the merchandise. Despite that disappointment, this was a great house and is a good one to start for “beginners” at the event to warm up to the scarier houses.

NEW Last of Us House

This year's Halloween Horror Nights will feature “The Last of Us” based on the popular video game which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Guests can immersive themselves into this world of Infected and follow in the footsteps of Joel and Ellie as they encounter a fungal virus that turns humans into various forms of a new threat called the Infected.

Guests will encounter the Infected – Runners, Stalkers, and Clickers – along with The Hunters, a band of hostile humans, they will need to navigate the Pittsburgh Quarantine Zone, including iconic locations from the video game such as the creepy and desolate The Hotel Grand and a labyrinth of dark and dank tunnels, in a desperate attempt to escape and survive.

“The Last of Us” was recently made into a popular television series which has only heightened the popularity of the game. This is easily one of the most popular haunted houses at Universal this year!

Last of Us Halloween Horror Nights Review

This was easily one of the best houses at Halloween Horror Nights this year. The Last of Us house is based on the video game, not the television show, but if you have seen the show then you will still understand most of it. The show is closely based on the game! But if you have not seen either, I don't think it matters one bit with this house as they did a fantastic job incorporating the general essence of any traditional zombie story. The zombies (known as Infected in Last of Us) were terrifying and the special effects used to bring these creatures to life were on par with the show. This is an absolute must, even if you are not a fan of the show. I would have done this house again if the line wouldn't have been so long!

The Exorcist: Believer

This haunted house is inspired by Universal Pictures’ new horror film from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment called The Exorcist: Believer. This new film hits theaters on October 6th.

In this new chapter, guests are transported to a street market in Haiti where an innocent purchase of a strange folk doll with three eyes leads to the opening of a demonic portal that awakens sinister spirits and leads to the disappearances of two 12-year-old girls in the U.S. The girls are found three days later with no memory and begin exhibiting unsettling behavior until it becomes clear that only an exorcism can save them.

The Exorcist: Believer Halloween Horror Nights Review

This house easily made my top list just due to the classic horror the Exorcist theme always delivers. The immersive quality in this house is fairly intense with it having some of the strongest smells we experienced in all the houses. There is one graphic scene with animals so be aware for those that do not like that sort of horror. This was an interesting house since it releases before the film actually does but you feel like you can follow the story fairly well especially since most are familiar with the general concept of the Exorcist. Overall, this was a terrifying house!

Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count

This house is inspired by the USA & SYFY series and classic films. Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count is the star of his own haunted house for the first time. Chucky has been “mired in the agony of disrespect he feels from his peers” for not being taken seriously. This sadistic killer begins his quest to turn his haunted house into a living slaughterhouse by killing everyone who enters. The house itself includes a “kill count” as Chucky goes on his rampage which even includes the first “victim” as someone wearing a Universal Express pass!

Chucky Halloween Horror Nights Review

This haunted house rivals the Last of Us for the BEST Halloween Horror Nights this year. The Chucky house is filled with Chucky animatronics including the Bride of Chucky, Chucky's son, and even a larger-than-life Chucky. This house is so impressive because of these Chucky animatronics and the attention to detail to the legacy of Chucky as a horror movie icon. This house often had longer wait times than Last of Us, at one point we saw waits of over three hours!

Universal Monsters: Unmasked

Each year usually features a haunted house that focuses on classic Universal monsters. In this year's new haunted house “Universal Monsters: Unmasked” guests will visit infamous burial grounds filled with skeletal remains and sinister monsters. Within the Catacombs, guests will encounter Universal's most famous creatures like The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dr. Jekyll and his deranged alternate personality Mr. Hyde, and Dr. Jack Griffin, aka The Invisible Man. These monsters lie in wait as they bide their time to seek vengeance against guests for opening the Catacombs becoming more enraged as guests navigate the twisted tunnels of the underground labyrinth.

Universal Monsters Halloween Horror Nights Review

This haunted house had great attention to detail with these “legacy” monsters that will be appreciated by fans of these famous creatures whether captured in cinema or literature. As someone who studied some of those texts in graduate school, it was a fun experience for me. But for others who may want to prioritize the other top houses, this could be a skip if you do not have an Express Pass.

Evil Dead Rise

This haunted house brings guests to New Line Cinema’s return to the iconic horror franchise Evil Dead with the 2023 film Evil Dead Rise. The attention to detail in this house closely mirrors the film and follows the story of the single mother possessed by the evil demon who in turn possesses members of her family. The house takes guests through the story from the beginning when she is first possessed int he elevator of her apartment building which you walk past in the queue. 

Evil Dead Rise Halloween Horror Nights Review

This is one of the scarier houses from the lineup and closely follows the film. You will enjoy the house more if you have seen the film, which is pretty scary on its own, so you understand the setting you experience in the house. If you haven't seen the film, the house will still be enjoyable but the plot will be harder to grasp and it will just seem like a lot of random jump scares. For those who have enjoyed the film, you will love this house as it perfectly captures the suspense of the film and has a large amount of jumpscares and grotesque moments.

Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America

This house will include the most terrifying ghosts and creatures from Latin American folklore. The folklore folk tales are all spooky in nature and feature everything from ghostly creatures to witches. The house focuses on three main creatures: the blood-sucking Tlahuelpuchi, owl-faced witch La Lechuza and bone-ripping El Silbón.

Monstruos Halloween Horror Nights Review

This house took me by surprise because I did not expect it to be as scary as it was! This house easily “got me” the most with the jump scares and it was far more grotesque than many of the other houses. At times you are passing through intestines and animal carcasses plus the smells in the house are similar to cooking meat. This was one house that I was walking quickly through! But that all adds up to a great haunted house so in that case, this may be one you want to do if you want to be scared! It was definitely not for the faint-hearted, I was ready for a hug from Mickey Mouse at Disneyland's Halloween after this one.

Holidayz in Hell

This combination of holidays takes visitors on a petrifying trip through a series of psychotic seasonal celebrations. Holidays featured in this house include St. Patrick's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. This house created monstrous creatures for each holiday setting the scene and adding a terrifying twist to more common innocent figures like the Easter Bunny. 

Holidayz in Hell Halloween Horror Nights Review

This is a more comedic haunted house although it still comes with its jump scares! The creativity that went into this house is impressive and we especially enjoyed the Thanksgiving meal setting where the Turkey gets his revenge. This is a house with some of the strongest smells, especially in the Thanksgiving scene, so be warned!

Dark Arts at Hogwarts

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is included in the event with Death Eaters roaming Hogsmeade with stunning effects of fog, smoke, and green lights along with lighting up Hogwarts castle with images of the Dark Arts from the films.

All the rides in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be open as well during the event. You can find a path marked off for the Death Eaters near the Hogwarts Express train. This experience is more of a walk-through than just Death Eaters roaming the land so if you want to experience Hogsmeade without jump scares, never fear, it's secure in its own area.

Terror Tram

Each year Halloween Horror Nights features a newly themed Terror Tram which is essentially the Studio Tour tram that takes guests to a special scare zone area in the Backlot. The tram itself is part of the experience and takes about 30 minutes to ride.

Guests are taken to the backlot and typically exit the tram through the set areas of the Studio Tour to witness moments from popular horror films and see notorious monsters. Because of the use of the tram for the Terror Tram, the regular Studio Tour does not operate during Halloween Horror Nights.

Terror Tram…The Exterminatorz

The following details are from last year's Halloween Horror Nights Terror Tram:

This year's Terror Tram will bring guests to the famous Universal backlot in the middle of an insect uprising led by the devious Larry Larva whose goal is to exterminate humans from the Earth. You will get off the Terror Tram in the same area of the backlot where you pass the plane crash on the Studio Tour. This is one of the coolest parts of the experience to be able to walk up close to these movie sets. But be prepared to do a lot of walking as you are essentially doing most of the usual Studio Tour area on foot instead of on the tram!

The Terror Tram also includes the chance to walk through the Jupiter Claim set from Nope where guests encounter The Tethered from Us resulting in an epic crossover from two of director Jordan Peele’s popular films. This was our favorite part of the Terror Tram which was a continuation of the previous year, I hope this becomes a permanent addition to the experience as the Tethered from Us makes for such good scare actors.

As for the Exterminatorz storyline, this mainly consisted of walking through man-sized bugs with chainsaws or bug-covered buildings or people who had fallen prey to Larry Larva. This was more of a scare zone experience although it did include one building walk-through. Overall, the Jordan Peele focused area was more impressive than this storyline but it's still worth it to walk the Studio Tour on foot.

There is also a photo op available with Norman Bates from the film Psycho. This was a really cool surprise as we walked the Terror Tram and was one of our favorite photo ops from the event.

Blumhouse: Behind the Scenes

Blumhouse: Behind the Scenes is a new original concept that showcases a selection of Blumhouse horror films including the upcoming Five Nights at Freddy’s and The Exorcist: Believer plus fan-loving hits like M3GAN and The Black Phone.

Guests can explore these films as they step through the silver screen for an up-close look at film props, costume displays, and character encounters. This is a cool experience for Blumhouse fans and includes a short demonstration featuring Megan!

Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones

The scare zones are similar to the jump scares in the houses but are smaller and in more contained areas of Universal. The scare zones are just as popular as the mazes and are a must to complete once you've finished the top haunted houses you're interested in. You will end up walking through most of these on the way to the haunted houses.

The previous year's Halloween Horror Night Scare Zones were:

• “El Terror de las Momias” is a Latin-themed scare zone and an extension of the “Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America” haunted house that takes guests on a desperate attempt to escape an ancient army of unearthed mummies.
• Located on New York Street, the “Toyz” scare zone dares guests to play in the toy box of terror where a wicked toymaker used dark magic to bring his evil toys to life.
• A welcome wagon of “Ghostz,” featuring a horde of blood-soaked, chainsaw-wielding ghosts, gather at the entrance to Halloween Horror Nights to rattle nerves.

Our experience with the scare zones was great, the scare actors are so devoted! They will target you if you jump easily, run, or scream so keep that in mind! My son and I aren't necessarily ‘screamers' so they didn't spend too much time on us. Although there was one moment when I was studying my phone looking at the Universal app and turned to see one of the scare actors breathing down my neck- that time I did scream! Many guests worry about this part but honestly, it's more fun than scary and you can choose to avoid walking through the zones if you want. But we saw plenty of teenagers having fun being chased and running into the Starbucks only to come to find the same scare actor waiting to surprise them!

Halloween Horror Night Treats and Souvenirs

You can expect to find an abundance of Halloween Horror Nights-themed treats and souvenirs at Universal Studios Hollywood when you visit. Universal Studios CityWalk will also have merchandise spaces dedicated to exclusive Halloween Horror Nights items. There is usually an overall theme for the event and then merchandise for individual houses.

As for food, not all dining options will be available during Halloween Horror Nights since some areas are off-limits to guests attending the event. Here are your choices for available dining during the event:

• Hollywood and Dine
• Plaza Grill
• Starbucks Upper Lot
• Mel's Diner
• Krusty Burger
• Cletus Chicken Shack
• Luigi's Pizza
• Moe's Tavern
• Lard Lad's Donut
• Panda Express
• Jurassic Cafe
• Studio Scoop
• Bumblebee Man's Taco Truck

You can find Halloween-themed treats like decorated doughnuts, Blood Bags with red drinks inside, zombie-themed churros, Halloween cupcakes and cookies, and more. You will also find plenty of pop-up carts in the upper and lower lots offering themed food for the event.

2024 Halloween Horror Nights Themed Food

Each year will feature specific themed food that aligns with the most popular haunted houses. While the 2024 Halloween Horror Nights foods have not yet been announced, last year's Halloween Horror Nights themed food items included:

Stranger Things

• Surfer Boy Pizza- a variety of pizza flavors
• Scoops Ahoy- ice cream creations
• New 80’s themed Stellar Bar with mixed cocktails

Chucky/Purge

• Quick service restaurant Hollywood & Dine will transform into a “Chucky”-themed BBQ featuring brisket and Nashville popcorn chicken sandwiches, pulled pork macaroni and cheese, funnel cakes and themed drinks.
• The Carl Laemmle Patio will feature Peacock’s Halloween Horror Bar with themed cocktails from The Purge and “Chucky” and photo opportunities with scareactors.

Dia de Los Muertos

• Universal Plaza – a celebration of Latin Folklore-themed cocktails, Lil Cocina Taco Stand and a margarita bar.

Halloween Horror Nights Entertainment

The main entertainment show at Halloween Horror Nights features Jabbawockeez for a live stage show. This show features amazing choreography, special effects, and Halloween humor. If you've purchased the ticket with the Universal Express Pass, you can get priority seating for this show.

If not, it's typically easier to get a good spot later in the night so you can spend the first half of your evening focusing on the popular mazes.

To get an idea of what this live entertainment group can do, watch this video here:

Halloween Horror Nights Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and our answers to make sure you show up prepared.

What age range is best for Halloween Horror Nights?

I wouldn't recommend Halloween Horror Nights for anyone under the age of 13. But that's just a recommendation- your teenager may not be into horror and get terrified at some of the mazes. When experiencing the thrills at Halloween Horror Nights, it's common for scare actors to jump out at guests, and if you don't think your teenager would enjoy that then you may not want to attend. This will happen in the haunted houses too, they are loud, stimulating, and filled with jump scares. You will also see extremely gruesome imagery in these houses that 13 may be too young for even depending on your family's preferences.

Halloween Horror Nights are popular with locals ranging from teenagers to adults so you can expect to see large crowds at these events. I personally would leave the smaller kids at home! Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

How can I beat the crowds?

Your best starting point for beating the crowds at Halloween Horror Nights is to purchase your ticket online from Universal in advance and purchase Early Entry to enter the park at 530pm. Not all mazes are open at that time but the most popular ones tend to be allowing you to cross those off your list early.

We also recommend heading to the mazes first and saving some of the lower wait entertainment for later in the evening. If you're really worried about crowds, you can always buy the ticket with the Universal Express Pass to ensure lower wait times for your group.

Make sure you download the Universal Studios app so you can check current wait times for the mazes and scare zones during the event.

Which attractions are open during the event?

Not all Universal Studios Hollywood daytime attractions and areas are open during this event. The attractions that are open for guests looking to get a break from the frightful activities are:

• Transformers 3-D
• Revenge of the Mummy
• Jurassic World
• The Simpsons Ride
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff

If you don't want to miss out on the rides that aren't open during Halloween Horror Nights, you may want to consider purchasing a regular daytime ticket too.

What are the rules for attending Universal's Halloween Horror Nights? Can I wear a costume?

No masks, costumes, or items that resemble weapons are allowed. No face paint is allowed although guests can get spooky face paint done during the event.

There are also rules for the mazes that state guests cannot record, take flash photos, bring laser pens or food/water into the maze. Most mazes are wheelchair and ECV accessible, contact Universal for more information on access.

You are not allowed to touch or harm the actors or line jump during the event.

There is no-reentry into the event so bring everything you need inside with you when you enter. This is especially important for guests to remember- no dipping out for a quick dinner on City Walk! You won't be allowed back in, no exceptions.

Previous Halloween Horror Night Houses

Below are the previous year's Halloween Horror Night Houses to get an idea of what to expect for upcoming years. Some houses are reoccurring while others focus on recent film releases.

The Horrors of Blumhouse

A Haunted House Inspired by Blumhouse’s Freaky and Upcoming Supernatural Thriller The Black Phone.

The Horrors of Blumhouse transports guests to alternate dimensions featuring The Grabber from the movie The Black Phone which released in summer. Guests will be trapped in his fun house where they will hear voices whispering how to escape but they will how to outrun his twisted magic. Also featured is the serial killer The Butcher from the the film Freaky who has switched bodies with a high school girl after being cursed by The La Dola Dagger, an ancient Aztec blade.

Halloween

Universal Monsters: Legends Collide

This haunted house will entangle guests in the middle of an epic battle between The Wolf Man, Dracula and The Mummy, together for the first time ever.

The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare

Guests can take a trip into the twisted mind of the award-winning artist The Weeknd as the experience a surreal living nightmare with grotesque characters and themes inspired by his music and films.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space

This house will trap you in a funhouse filled with the clowns from the popular movie of murderous clowns. If you're afraid of clowns, you might want to avoid this haunted house!

La Llorona: The Weeping Woman

This house features the legend of La Llorona who comes to life to terrorize the living as she mourns the children she murdered.

Scarecrow: The Reaping

The farmland's scarecrows who have remained mute witnesses will now be guardians of destruction and carry out Mother Nature's retribution against the homesteaders for their sins of the past.

Universal Horror Hotel

Guests must escape this hotel haunted by the original owner who was executed years ago for his horrific deeds or risk being a permanent resident.

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Check out our other top guides to planning your Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood trips! You’ll find tips and tricks on how to save money and experience more.

1. Save Money on Disneyland Tickets
2. Universal Studios Hollywood Discount Cheap Tickets
3. Best Hotels Near Disneyland
4. Save Money on Discount Disney World Tickets