Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 35
Part I was all about the Haunted Houses. Today we’re getting into what we experienced in between: scare zones, shows, food, drinks, and all the little moments.
If you missed Part I of my Halloween Horror Nights adventure, you can read it here before diving into the rest of our spooky night!
If you’ve never been to Halloween Horror Nights, you might think it’s all about the haunted houses. But there’s so much more to the event, from creepy characters roaming the streets to live shows, themed food and drinks, and plenty of unexpected encounters along the way.
There’s plenty to explore beyond the houses!
Scare Zones: where the real chaos happens
Universal is exceptional at making you part of whatever story they’re telling. From the moment you walk into Horror Nights, it feels like you’ve stepped into a world where nightmares have come to life. As you make your way through the park, each scare zone has its own twisted take on Halloween, and you never quite know who or what might be lurking around the next turn.
Infernal Carnival of Nightmares isn’t just the first scare zone you encounter, it’s also the overarching theme of this year’s event! Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow are this year’s event icons, and they’re there to welcome you in.
The lore behind these two is a tangled mess of murder and resurrection, which is exactly why I love it. Dr. Oddfellow created the carnival as a cover for his dark, occult practices, but when he discovered Jack was using it to lure in victims, he killed him. Naturally, Jack came back from the dead and killed Oddfellow. And then Oddfellow came back, too!
There are so many twists and turns in the lore, and my inner nerd can’t help digging into it all. Now the two run the carnival together, with Jack embodying pure chaos and Oddfellow harnessing his dark powers to maintain control.
The scare zone was filled with carnival workers who looked like they’d seen better days. With big smiles plastered across their zombie-like faces, they’d suddenly jump at you with a giggle, as if scaring you was their greatest delight!
Downtown Clowntown was my absolute favorite scare zone, with nothing else even coming close!
First, you enter the Killer Klowns from Outer Space section. Here the clowns aren’t just lurking around waiting to scare people. They’re dancing, posing, and generally acting like they’re having the time of their lives! Blossom the Clown Girl was my favorite, with her sassy poses, hand on her hip, and little blown kisses. Honestly, their playful energy made the whole zone even better.
Turn the corner into Town Square, and the clown shenanigans take a darker turn. Here, you can interact with carnival booths featuring decapitated heads and watch a puppet show starring even more decapitated heads. You can also catch Chance spinning her wheel to determine whether her victims will Die or Really Die. Jack’s brother Eddie occasionally joins in, helping her dispatch victims with his chainsaw. Just your average family carnival!
And because apparently this neighborhood wasn’t disturbing enough, you can also meet Santa! Well, Art the Clown dressed as Santa, anyway. I didn’t catch him on his stage, but I did spot him wandering around later in the night. He was pulling some truly questionable gifts from his sack for guests. Severed fingers, anyone?
Club Horror is not quite my scene. Technically, it’s considered a street experience rather than a scare zone. It brings a live DJ and dancers to the streets of San Francisco for an undead nightclub vibe. The DJ is fun, and the dancers do a great job, but this one just doesn’t do much for me. They had it last year, too, and both times I mostly found myself walking straight through. There’s not much to stop and look at, and if you’re hoping for scares, you won’t find them here. Personally, I think the space could be put to better use.
That said, there’s a bar here serving cocktails made with premium liquor, so it’s worth a stop if you’d rather order something beyond the batch cocktails made for the event. Even if the street experience isn’t your thing, at least you can grab a drink before moving on!
FORTNITEMARES was one zone we meant to revisit later in the night, but somehow never made it back to. We walked through while it was still light out, so we didn’t get the full effect of the stormy, game-inspired atmosphere. I’ll admit this was the zone I was least excited about, so I wasn’t too disappointed to miss a second visit. Still, it would have been nice to see how it all came together after dark!
On the plus side, I did get to send my teenage son videos from the zone and make him cringe from afar. So, you know, not a total loss!
Mel’s Die-In: Zombies takes over Mel’s Drive-In! I absolutely love that they simply turn off the R and V in the sign to transform it into a Die-In. It’s such a simple detail, but it’s iconic! The zombie servers roll around on skates, offering up plates of brains and guts like it’s the daily special. I love the commitment to the bit, and I really hope they keep bringing this one back year after year.
One of these years, I’m going to have to actually dine at Mel’s during HHN to get the full experience. Because who doesn’t want to eat a burger served to you by a zombie?
Sideshow of Decay is a creepy carnival junkyard where, with help from Dr. Oddfellow’s dark magic, Cindy Caine has opened a portal unleashing Halloween Horror Nights nightmares from years past. Center stage in this zone, atop an elaborate parade float, is Cindy, the daughter of the infamous Caretaker and a longtime character in HHN lore.
This zone had so many scare actors roaming around that it felt like something was happening everywhere you looked. Becky even caught a great video of me getting “attacked” by what appeared to be an undead Viking wielding an axe. But my favorite sight had to be two creepy, dead-looking ballerinas dancing on a stage. There was something so unsettling about watching them perform, and I loved it! Honestly, this was another zone where I could have happily hung out much longer. Between the roaming creatures and the live performances, there was so much more I would have liked to take in!
Honorable Mention: Death Eaters Encounter – If you find yourself in Diagon Alley during Halloween Horror Nights, keep an eye out for the Death Eaters! Their appearances include short shows and roaming around looking for others willing to show loyalty to the Dark Lord’s cause. But best of all? They interact with guests! You might even find yourself in a wand fight with them. I hope you were paying attention in Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Unfortunately, we made it into Diagon Alley just as they were finishing up an appearance, so we missed our chance to see them in action. We could have stuck around and waited, but we were so tired at that point and our resort beds were calling to us.
Diagon Alley is incredibly cool and spooky at night during HHN. Seeing the area with that extra layer of darkness and mystery made me appreciate it in a whole new way, but interacting with the Death Eaters is an absolute must for next year!
If you love the idea of Halloween Horror Nights but don’t love the idea of being jump-scared, then you need the Deathly Afraid Necklace. Put this on, and the bright red lights will alert scare actors that you’re off limits!
In my personal experience, you can get away with avoiding most of the scares by staying off to the side. But if that isn’t enough reassurance, you can grab this $20 accessory and join us in the scare zones. The necklace doesn’t work in the haunted houses, though, so if you really can’t handle being scared, I’d skip the houses completely.
Shows: fiery, jaw-dropping stunts & a love letter to Hawkins
Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir takes audiences on a dark, seductive journey into a vampire-ridden world, complete with bursts of fire and pyrotechnics, death-defying stunts, and seriously talented performers. The Fuel Girls are incredible, and the whole production has this sultry, slightly dangerous vibe that makes it unlike any other live performance I’ve seen. The spectacle alone makes it worth watching, but as someone who loves vampire stories, I was especially drawn to this year’s storyline!
The show also featured an actual sword swallower, and I won’t lie, I spent his part of the performance watching through my fingers as I kept covering my eyes. At one point, he even worked these corkscrew-like tools into his nose and mouth. He truly left me equal parts horrified and amazed.
One of my other favorite parts of the show is the energy of the crowd. Every year, they get everyone hyped up with “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance, and there’s something about hearing that song alongside a crowd of fellow HHN fans that just hits differently. It’s become one of those if you know, you know moments that makes the whole experience feel even more special.
And a little heads-up if you’re thinking about checking it out: between the death-defying acts and the overall sexy vibe, Nightmare Fuel is definitely NOT for children or the faint of heart. This show is wild!
Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins was everything I hoped it would be and more. Every year, HHN puts on a Lagoon Show, combining fountains, lights, and projections across the water. This year’s show was a rewind through all five seasons of Stranger Things, bringing together the music, monsters, and memories that made the series so special.
The music has always been such an incredible part of the series, and hearing it paired with clips from the show made this experience even more special. It kicked off with The Who, then took us through Will and Jonathan’s favorite, “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash, and, of course, THAT Eddie scene set to Metallica, along with more absolute banger hits from throughout the series. At only about 15 minutes long, it was over far too soon. I could have happily stood there watching for an hour.
Did I cry? Yes. If you’re a Stranger Things fan and didn’t get to see the show in person, I highly recommend looking it up on YouTube. It’s absolutely worth your time. For me, it was a beautiful tribute to a series I’ve loved, and I could have watched it at least five more times. Another example of why one night at HHN is just not enough.
Food & Drinks: a little taste of terror
Universal goes all out with the food and drinks for HHN, and honestly, the theming is half the fun! This is something they do incredibly well across all of their seasonal events. The food booths and bars are designed to fit the event, with creative menus and themed offerings that make grabbing a bite feel like part of the experience. The HHN website lists more than 20 unique food booths and bars, and that doesn’t even include all the Halloween offerings available at the sit-down restaurants!
With so many options, narrowing down what to try is practically a challenge in itself. Becky and I decided to share everything we ordered so we could both sample as much as possible. Here’s what made it onto our menu!
Chow’s Southern BBQ Eggrolls
From the Sinners food booth in the Cafe La Bamba Plaza
These BBQ pulled pork and cabbage eggrolls were absolutely delicious, and I’d happily order them again! I pretty much love any kind of eggroll or spring roll, so these were always going to have a pretty good chance of winning me over. The crispy wrapper and savory filling made for a really tasty snack.
Carn”Evil” Smash Tacos
From Jack’s Surplus food booth outside Gramercy Park
If you like a Big Mac, you’re going to like these. These smashed cheeseburger tacos came loaded with american cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, secret sauce, and toasted sesame seeds. Basically, all the flavors of a Big Mac wrapped up in a taco, and somehow it works ridiculously well.
From what I’ve seen in my social media feeds, these seemed to be one of the biggest hits, and maybe even one of the biggest surprises, of HHN 35. After trying them myself, I get the hype!
Deathbringer Tempura Shrimp
From Oddfellow’s Menagerie food booth outside Gramercy Park
If you love shrimp tempura, you’re in luck! This crispy shrimp tempura roll came topped with sriracha mayo and eel sauce, and I thought it was delicious. My only complaint? It was a little messy to share.
Thankfully, we managed to find somewhere to sit down and enjoy our food, although I do wish we’d found a spot with better lighting for photos. Between the sauces and trying to share everything, our hands were a mess. Which, as it turns out, was not ideal when an unexpected visitor decided to stop by our bench. More on that later!
Phantom Punch & Corpse Reviver 35
We were on the hunt for a drink Becky had heard about and finally found it at Maloney’s, a full-service bar in Battery Park.
The infamous drink was the Corpse Reviver 35, made with Misguided Spirits gin, triple sec, Lillet Blanc, absinthe, and lemonade. I opted for the other specialty cocktail there, the Phantom Punch, so we could try both. It was a mix of vodka, triple sec, lime, orange and cranberry juices, dragon fruit syrup, and simple syrup.
The Corpse Reviver definitely won, but both drinks were delicious!
We also tried the Maniac Mix, a canned beverage featuring Jack the Clown on the label. It was good, but definitely sweet. And that’s probably my only complaint about the drinks at HHN in general. A lot of the themed cocktails lean toward the sweeter side, so I often just reached for a cup of chardonnay instead. Sometimes you want a fun, themed cocktail, and sometimes you just want a glass of wine!
What I Wish We’d Tried
Of course, this barely scratches the surface of everything HHN has to offer when it comes to food and drinks. But there are only so many hours in a night and only so much food two people can eat!
A few things from my must-try list that I sadly did not get to include:
- Twisted Tator Chips from Devilish Delights
- Steve’s Smuggled Peanut Butter Bites from the Stranger Things Food Booth
- Upside Down Chicken & Waffles from the Stranger Things Food Booth
- Jack & Odd Dog from the Death Tank Food Booth
Honestly, I’m going to need multiple nights at HHN just to have enough room in my stomach to try everything! Between the food booths, themed cocktails, and all the other offerings, there’s simply too much goodness to squeeze into one visit.
An Unexpected Visit from Chance
Remember when I mentioned that our hands were a mess while we were trying to eat our food? Well, the timing could not have been worse. Becky and I were sitting on a bench, sharing our cheeseburger tacos and shrimp tempura, when Chance herself suddenly appeared and greeted us with a cheerful “Hi!”
Of course, I would have LOVED to get a video of this, but I had sauce dripping down my hand. So much for capturing the moment!
I did manage to ask if she was going back on stage because I wanted to catch her show. Her response? She had to make sure her clowns were out there murdering people first. Priorities, right? Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up. It’s little unexpected interactions like this that make Halloween Horror Nights so much fun!
Tribute Store: souvenirs worth screaming for
Tribute Store: souvenirs worth screaming forOf course, no trip to Halloween Horror Nights would be complete without a stop at the Tribute Store. Universal creates these stores for different seasons and events throughout the year, transforming them into immersive experiences that are so much more than your average gift shop.
As someone who loves shopping and has a particular weakness for merchandise, the Tribute Store is right up my alley! I love wandering through all the themed displays and offerings. This year, I came home with a very cool Jack and Oddfellow mug that I’ve been enjoying my coffee in all month. I also bought a T-shirt featuring all the haunted houses on the back. Now I just have to decide if the mug gets packed away with the Halloween decorations or stays out all year. Who says spooky season has to end?
So, How Many Nights Do You Really Need?
Last year, I only spent a few hours at Halloween Horror Nights. I left knowing that next time, I needed a full day to really experience everything the event had to offer. Well, now that I’ve done a full day, I’ve come to a new realization. I need MULTIPLE days!
Becky and I are already planning our trip for next year, and I’m thinking we need to aim for three days! I’d dedicate one day to tackling the haunted houses with Express Passes. Another would be for the shows, scare zones, and revisiting our favorite houses. The third day would be all about slowing down and really luxuriating in the scare zones. We’d soak up all the details, watch the street entertainment, and enjoy the atmosphere without rushing off to the next thing. And of course, all three days would include plenty of time to try a lot more of the themed food and drinks!
Is three days too much for Halloween Horror Nights? Absolutely not. There’s always more to see, more to experience, more to eat, and more reasons to come back. If anything, this year’s visit proved that one night is barely enough to scratch the surface. And if you’re going to make the trip, you might as well give yourself time to enjoy it all.
Until next year, HHN! We’ll be back.
Ready to start planning your own Halloween Horror Nights adventure? Get in touch here!
