Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is nearly upon us! As we prepare to head to Orlando to celebrate the haunt’s 35th anniversary, we’re breaking down the houses fans will only find in Orlando. For the uninitiated, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is a bi-coastal event with Universal Hollywood holding down the West Coast and Universal Orlando tackling the East Coast.
Universal’s Orlando Horror Nights kicked off in 1991 as Universal Studios Fright Nights before taking on the familiar title we know and love the following year. The inaugural year featured a single haunted house, a far cry from what the haunt has grown into today.
With an abundance of space at their disposal, Horror Nights Orlando features 10 houses built within the properties permanent sound stages and five distinct scare zones. Longtime Orlando Horror Nights fans are well versed in the park’s original houses focused on original characters.
In addition to the licensed IP houses Hollywood fans will enjoy this year, Orlando Horror Nights will also have 5 exclusive original houses, with two of those houses featuring fan favorite returning characters. Here’s a complete list of the 5 original houses coming to Orlando Horror Nights this year.
5 original houses coming to Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights
Cybergoria
Cybergoria introduces guests to a host of machines hellbent on making humans live forever. Even if it costs those human visitors their lives! Step thousands of years into the future and do your best to steer clear of the machines.
INVASION: Alien Abduction
Enter a remote homestead that’s been torn apart by a ship of extraterrestrial grays in search of fresh test subjects.
MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals
What’s on the menu? You! Make your way through a defunct zoo. The animals may be gone but now you’ll have to survive being hunted by warring cannibal factions. In my experience, the cannibal themed houses always smell the absolute worst. I don't know what scent they're pumping out in these hungry-for-human-flesh houses, but it never fails to make me gag. We'll see if that rotting stench permeates this house.
H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!
There are few things I love more than an all-night horror movie marathon hosted by a bona fide late-night horror host. Orlando Horror Nights favorite WKNB Midnight Horror Show host H.R. Bloodengutz returns for his third Horror Nights appearance with a special Halloween scare-a-thon.
The disgraced horror host went on a killing spree after being fired from his position. Banished to a state penitentiary, H.R. Bloodengutz (aka Larry Kurtzberg) escaped to wreak havoc on Horror Nights once again in 2021, 10 years after his inaugural appearance. What does H.R. Bloodengutz have in store for us this year? We'll find out soon enough…
Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control
Speaking of returning fan favorites, two more original Orlando Horror Nights icons return this season to face off in this house. Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow invite guests into their universe in a showdown of chaos versus control.
Jack Schmidt (aka Jack the Clown) was the first original HHN icon. Jack and Oddfellow (aka Dr. Rich Oddfellow) have a rich history. Considering Oddfellow was once Jack's employer (and his eventual murderer!) these two returning side by side is guaranteed to be one hell of a chaotic affair.
5 Houses You’ll Find At Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood and Orlando Horror Nights
There are some heavy-hitting IPs coming to the haunt this year! From the Oscar-winning Sinners to deadites, cenobites, demogorgons, and honoring the one and only Prince of Darkness. You'll spot some familiar faces on dual coasts when the season kicks off. Both Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood and Orlando Horror Nights parks will feature the following five mazes:
Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness
Evil Dead Burn
Sinners
Stranger Things 5
Hellraiser
2 Houses Exclusively At Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights
But that doesn’t mean Hollywood doesn’t have any exclusives to offer! Of course, the famous Terror Tram is exclusive to the Hollywood location and this year the tram will be taken over by Art the Clown, and feature a soundtrack from Ice Nine Kills. The Hollywood location is also bringing back a fan favorite — Killer Klowns From Outer Space and a new original house Killceañera: Music by SLASH.
I can personally attest that Universal’s Killer Klowns From Outer Space house was one of the coolest IP houses I’ve ever walked through. For fans of the movie, it’s like stepping into the screen.
Since 2023, Universal Hollywood’s Monstruos series of houses have consistently ranked in my top houses of the season. While Monstruos will not be returning, I have high hopes for Killceañera! Stay tuned to FANGORIA socials for our upcoming Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights themed menu preview, as well as our opening night Orlando Halloween Horror Nights coverage.
When Does Universal Halloween Horror Nights Start?
Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights August 28 – November 1.
Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood runs select nights September 3 – November 1. Tickets for both parks are now on sale.
