economie

My family is spending $3,000 on Halloween Horror Nights this year. As Florida locals, we know it’s the best theme-park event of the year.

September 21, 20240
HHN typically runs from late August/early September until late October/early November.

Terri Peters

The 2024 Halloween Horror Nights season is Universal Orlando’s longest yet, running on select nights from August 30 through November 3.

The nine-week run leaves plenty of time to experience the spooky event, so my family knew going into the season we wanted to be there as many nights as possible — regardless of the expense.

We’ve already visited HHN twice this year and plan to attend a few more times in October.

Tickets range depending on the night you visit but average around $100 each. Since HHN takes place from around 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., you need a separate admission ticket if you’re also going to the theme park that day.

The event isn’t suitable for all ages.
We each get one free HHN ticket with our annual passes.

Terri Peters

I’ve often touted the benefits of being an annual-pass holder at Universal, from the affordable price (compared to Disney) to the significant discounts on food and merchandise. But my favorite benefit is probably that pass holders receive a free ticket to HHN on select nights each season.

We still have to purchase additional tickets once our pass-holder night has been used up, but the savings are helpful when you’re planning to visit several times during the season.

There are 10 haunted houses to explore this year.
There are five different scare zones, including the Torture Faire.

Terri Peters

There are also five scare zones in the park. This year, they’re themed around concepts like a zombie-filled swap and the Blumhouse library of horror films.

A Halloween-themed show runs a few times throughout the night if you’re looking for even more entertainment.

My family’s biggest HHN expense is always a VIP tour.
There were some fun “Ghostbusters” treats this year.

Terri Peters

From $9 corn-and-shrimp chowder to a $14 walking taco, we love trying all the seasonal food items available exclusively at the after-hours event.

Kiosks throughout the park sell treats themed around each of the haunted houses. This year, there’s a “Ghostbusters”-themed Stay Puft Marshmallow Man s’more and a red pastry samosa that looks like the infamous red door in the “Insidious” film franchise.

We could spend an entire night walking through the scare zones and trying the food.

We’re also suckers for each year’s HHN merchandise.
The Cabana Bay Beach Resort had some cute fall decor.

Terri Peters

We live about 90 minutes from Universal and often stay in a hotel on the property, so we don’t have to drive home late at night.

Staying on the property is the perfect way to extend the creepy vibes. All the Universal hotels decorate their lobbies for HHN, plus there are photo ops and themed bars with limited-edition drinks.

Perhaps more importantly, the hotels provide easy access to buses and water taxis to the theme parks. It’s a big perk when you’re exhausted at the end of a good night at the event.

Between pass-holder and Florida-resident deals, I’ve snagged rooms for between $100 and $200 a night.

If you can only go to one theme-park Halloween event, make it HHN.
My family will keep returning to Universal’s HHN for years to come.

Terri Peters

Provided everyone in your travel party is old (and brave) enough, Halloween Horror Nights is, in my opinion, the premier Halloween event in Florida.

I recommend it to all of my friends and have gotten many of them hooked on visiting every single year.

Like anything at a theme park, a night at HHN can be expensive. One private RIP tour last year cost more than our entire HHN budget for this year.

We tend to go all out, but you could easily tailor the event to your budget. It’s completely possible to go in with just a $100 ticket and have a wonderfully scary time.