Halloween Horror Nights 35 trip report: tips before you go

Halloween Horror Nights 35 runs at Universal Studios Florida through Sunday, November 1, 2026. We went on Sunday, October 4, without Express, and got through 7 of the 10 haunted houses. Here's our route, what the lines were like, and how we'd choose a ticket for the final nights.

Our night in short

We went on a Sunday, without Express or Scream Early. Most lines ran from about 15 to 65 minutes, and a few stretched to around 120 minutes. Sunday isn't one of the busiest nights. On a Friday or Saturday without Express, we'd plan on 3 to 5 houses.

The short version

• Dates: select nights through November 1, 2026, starting at 6:30 pm. The remaining nights are October 21 to 25 and October 28 to November 1. HHN doesn't run on Tuesdays, and there are no Monday nights left this year.
• It's a separate ticket. Regular park tickets and annual passes don't get you in unless they include event admission.
• This year's lineup: 10 haunted houses, 4 scare zones and 2 shows.
• Wait time is what you're really paying for. General admission means full lines. Express shortens them. A R.I.P. Tour skips most of them.
• Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest and cost the most. Wednesday and Thursday are the cheapest. Expect the last weekend and Halloween night (Saturday, October 31) to be the busiest of the whole run.

The 10 houses, and our order

If you only have time for a few, here's our order. Start with Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control, Stranger Things 5 and Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness. Then add Sinners, Hellraiser and Cybergoria. We didn't get to H.R. Bloodengutz, MADLANDS or INVASION, so we can't tell you about those three.

Scare zones: Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, Sideshow of Decay, FORTNITEMARES and Downtown Clowntown. Shows: Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir, a dark musical, and Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins, projected on the lagoon.

Our route

We like to start at the back of the park, where the Sinners and Hellraiser houses are, and work forward. From there we went through Diagon Alley to Cybergoria, then back toward the entrance for Stranger Things 5, Ozzy Osbourne, Jack & Oddfellow and Evil Dead Burn.

Diagon Alley was open during HHN, and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts ran all night when we were there. Hours can change, so check the Universal app on the night you go.

Choosing a ticket

There's no single right answer. It depends on how many houses you want to see and what your time is worth to you.

Single night, general admission. Prices change by date. These are the lowest adult prices Universal's online store showed for the remaining nights on October 19:

Other options:

• Scream Early. Gets you into Universal Studios Florida from 2 pm, with at least three houses open early. Universal lists Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser and Jack & Oddfellow. If you already have a day ticket for the park and an HHN ticket for the same night, Stay & Scream gives you the same early houses.
• Express. Sold separately from event admission, and priced by date, so busy nights cost more. Check how many times it lets you use each house before you buy. Universal has discontinued the Fear Pass plus Express bundles.
• R.I.P. Tour. A guided VIP tour with priority entry to the houses. It costs the most and suits a special occasion more than a casual night.
• Multi-night passes (Rush of Fear, Frequent Fear and up). Only worth a look if you'll go more than once, and with a week and a half left, most people won't.

Prices change with demand. Always check Universal's site for your date before you buy.

Lines: what worked for us

• Arrive early. Universal suggests getting there at least an hour before the 6:30 pm start.
• Do your must-see houses first, while the lines are shortest.
• Pick your night. Weeknights beat weekends on price and on lines.
• Lines usually peak in the middle of the night. Staying late can help.
• Use the Universal app for wait times, show times and mobile food orders.

What we ate

The one we'd tell friends about is the Scary Hot Chicken Sandwich at Richter's Burger Co., in the San Francisco area of the park. It lived up to the name.

Rules worth knowing

• Costumes and masks: not allowed. Halloween-themed shirts are fine.
• Age: no minimum, but Universal doesn't recommend the event for children under 13. Expect gore, strobe lights and loud sound.
• Bags: go through security screening, and lockers are available. Large professional camera gear can be turned away.
• Photos: fine on the streets and in the scare zones, but not inside the houses.
• Weather: the event runs rain or shine, with no rain checks or refunds.
• Parking: regular parking fees apply until 2 am. The usual free parking after 6 pm doesn't apply on event nights.
• Accessibility: if you need the Attractions Assistance Pass, sign up in the Universal Orlando app before your visit; return times appear once the houses open. If you use a scooter, check Universal's accessibility guide before you go, because some houses may ask you to transfer to a wheelchair.
• Eat before you go, or order food in the app.

Hotel and ticket packages

A hotel package can make sense for HHN, especially if you're staying a few nights or combining it with regular park days. The best choice depends on how long you stay, which hotel and which nights you go. If you're planning a stay around HHN, tell me your dates, your group and how many houses you want to see, and I'll price hotel and ticket options with you before you book. More on how I plan Orlando trips is on the theme park planning page.

Planning for next year

• Expect a late-August start and a finish around Halloween. The 2026 run started on August 28.
• Book the night, not just the event. Popular nights sell out, and Express prices go up as dates fill.
• Adding a Disney day or a cruise? See Lightning Lane vs. Universal Express and our theme park trip planning guide.

Pedro may be paid by travel suppliers through commissions when eligible bookings are made through advisor-supported channels. Planning fees may apply for complex, group or research-heavy trips, and any fee is disclosed before paid planning begins. Planning fees don't apply to Florida residents.

Dates, prices and the lineup were checked against the sources listed below on October 20, 2026; the visit notes are from our own trip on October 4, 2026. Universal can change prices, dates and attractions without notice, so confirm on Universal's site before you buy.

HyperlaneTravels is not owned by, operated by, endorsed by, or officially affiliated with Universal or any related intellectual property owner. References are for travel-planning context only.