“I don’t like scary things” isn’t the best mindset to approach Halloween Horror Nights (HHN), I’ll be totally honest. But my wife Laura doesn’t mince her words. She really doesn’t like anything that will cause her to jump, flinch, freeze or stiffen in fear.
But here we were, at the Universal Studios Store in Universal CityWalk, buying matching Lil’ Boo T-shirts to prep for a whole night of terrifying scares. “These T-shirts are very cute,” Laura said with a smile. I looked at her closely. She seemed enthusiastic and happy. But was she just pretending for my sake? The next few hours will tell.
Editor’s note: The below essay is about Halloween Horror Nights 2025. For a look at this year’s line-up, read our guide here.
An HHN Veteran
This is Laura’s first time at HHN, but not mine. I’ve been to the event several times over the past decade, which, considering I’m not actually a huge horror fan, might come as a surprise. But HHN? I absolutely love it.
The first time I went, I had no idea what to expect. Every sudden noise made me jump, every scare made me scream, and every mysterious piece of fabric brushing against my face sent me into hysterics.
A few houses in, I’d reached a state of delirious hyperactivity — but I still wanted more. More houses, more scares, more opportunities to completely lose my dignity.
By the end of the night, I was spent. Partly from laughing and partly because every last drop of adrenaline had drained from my body. I fell into bed in a happy stupor: a horror skeptic who had somehow conquered HHN.
Every visit since has left me with that same exhausted excitement, but I’ve also developed a whole new appreciation for the event itself: the theatrical design of the houses, the incredibly detailed environments and the frankly ridiculous amount of creativity and work that goes into creating an entire night of controlled chaos. I absolutely love it.
For Laura’s first visit, I desperately wanted her to experience some of that same delirious joy. It was an ambitious hope, considering HHN wasn’t merely outside her comfort zone – it was in an entirely different zip code.
And yet, at 5 p.m., there we were: lined up outside Universal Studios Florida in matching Lil’ Boo T-shirts.
What Is HHN?
Just in case you’ve never heard of it, Halloween Horror Nights — HHN to those in the know — is Universal’s annual Halloween event, where Universal Studios Florida becomes home to elaborate haunted houses, scare zones and live shows, all with terrifyingly enthusiastic actors whose main purpose is to make you jump out of your skin.
It’s loud, chaotic and completely over the top — and, despite willingly spending the night being chased through multiple different nightmares, it’s ridiculously good fun.
A First-Timer’s First Impressions
All around us was an atmosphere of excited anticipation. We were surrounded by other guests repping their favourite horror icons and franchises, ranging from the subtle nod to the truly elaborate outfits that required hours of prep. “This is America’s biggest Halloween party,” I said to Laura. She nodded approvingly.
She was already nervous, though. Every new noise made her look around. I could see her trying to determine whether someone was merely dressed up or preparing to run toward her. I explained that the scare actors — she liked that description — were well-trained and weren’t allowed to touch any of the guests. “But they can run up and scare you?” “Well, the clue is in the name,” I said.
It was going to be a long night.
The R.I.P. Tour
For Laura’s first-ever HHN, we decided to do it properly and book a Private R.I.P. Tour.
It’s basically the VIP version of HHN: It includes a personalized guided tour, a tour reception with light appetizers, front-of-the-line access to all 10 haunted houses and more. If you’re coming from out of town and want to squeeze everything into one night without having a complete meltdown, it’s honestly the perfect way to do it.
PRO TIP: Book as early as you possibly can! Private R.I.P. Tours are limited, and the best dates and earliest time slots disappear quickly. Prices also tend to climb as Halloween gets closer, so booking early can save you money as well as help to secure the time you actually want.
The Meet-and-Greet
The night starts in the VIP lounge, where you check in, meet your guide and get your exclusive R.I.P. lanyard and button, which is a great souvenir!
We casually mentioned that Laura was a bit nervous about what lay ahead, and our guide smiled reassuringly: There was nothing to worry about, and plenty of first-timers start the night off nervous!
She then explained how the night would go and asked us if there was anything we’d like to prioritize. “This is your night, and I’m here to make it as fun for you guys as possible,” was her general mantra. We liked her straight away.
Tour Reception
Before heading out into the fog, we got a tour reception at Café La Bamba. It’s mostly appetizer-style dishes, but a full plate was not going to leave us hungry. We loaded up on Nashville mac and cheese, pizza fries and some tasty desserts — hey, fear is hungry work! A couple of coolers were loaded with water and soft drinks; there was also a cash bar if we wanted some extra fortification for the night ahead.
About two-thirds of the way through the night, we took a much-needed, much-appreciated rest and water break in the private R.I.P. Lounge. There’s a cash bar, plus great views from the balcony across the theme park, but we were just glad of the water and the rest. And we resisted the temptation to shout something at the crowd below!
Let’s Dive In!
The moment finally came and we descended into the mayhem with our first experience: an immaculately themed scare zone. Our guide explained the background of the story, which I appreciated (context is all important, I thought), but it just made the fear a little bit too real for Laura.
“I can’t wait to visit the first haunted house,” I told her.
HHN is a phenomenon that just grows with each passing year. That means the lines for some of the haunted houses can get pretty long, but on a R.I.P. Tour, that is never a consideration. The night moved at an extraordinary pace. We moved with consummate efficiency from house to house, occasionally going “backstage” — those bits of the park that are off-limits to guests — to find ourselves suddenly at the front of a line. It was breathless and wonderful.
Two Very Different Ways to Enter a Haunted House
I tend to experience the haunted houses on two levels. Part of me reacts to the scares, but another part is constantly looking at how everything was made. I notice how the rooms connect, how lighting hides the performers, and how sound directs our attention away from where the next scare will appear. I love seeing ordinary buildings transformed into frozen villages, decaying mansions and impossible underground worlds.
Which is why I enjoyed our guide’s narrative monologue before we entered a house. Backstory matters — otherwise, how were we to truly appreciate the houses on their relative merits?
Laura experienced the haunted houses a little bit differently. She walked into each one gripping me tightly, trying to make herself as small as possible. If anything moved, she screamed. If nothing moved, she gripped me even more tightly as she anticipated some kind of movement. Every window, every curtain, every half-opened door promised an ambush. I kept reminding her that the scare actors are really good at this, and their job is to scare us without ever touching us. “Too bloody good,” I think she whispered, but I couldn’t hear her properly because the person in front of us was screaming and another was laughing maniacally.
I tried to point out impressive details as we walked, but Laura wasn’t interested in my design commentary. So I made jokes about Laura’s abiding love of houses and home improvement shows. “I would not decorate my house like any of these houses,” she replied.
The Artistry of Fear
After each house, our guide would ask us what we thought. Even Laura had her favourites, though they all terrified her equally.
For me, El Artista: A Spanish Haunting was the standout: a Gothic tragedy unfolding inside a vast Spanish manor where paintings came alive and an artist’s imagination turned against him. I wanted to slow down and admire every room; Laura wanted to locate the nearest exit.
Click here to read our behind-the-screams deep dive into El Artista: A Spanish Haunting.
The contrast between me and Laura defined our night: I emerged from each house talking excitedly about scenery, scale and theatrical illusion, while she emerged looking as though she had personally survived everything we had just witnessed.
A Necessary Pause from the Haunted Houses
The breaks built into our R.I.P. Tour were essential, especially for Laura. They gave us moments when she could unclench her shoulders and remember that we were still inside a theme park. We wandered through some of the other scare zone, and I made sure to take her to see the zombies outside Mel’s Die-In. By this stage, Laura knew the score, even if she occasionally found it difficult to tell the difference between a scare actor and a really enthusiastic guest.
The highlight of the pause between houses was the live show combining music, dance, acrobatics and theatrical spectacle. Because we were on an R.I.P. Tour, we were whisked to nearly the best seats in the theatre — no lines, just straight in. Our guide told us she would wait for us by the exit.
Sitting near the front gave us a superb view of the physical performances. The show was intense and a little more provocative than the average theme park production, but it offered a different kind of adrenaline. Nobody was hiding behind a door waiting to leap at Laura, which made it almost relaxing by comparison.
For me, it reinforced what I enjoy about HHN. The event is built by artists, technicians and performers working across many disciplines. Horror provides the theme, but the craft is what keeps bringing me back.
On the way out, Laura beamed a huge smile. “That was amazing,” was the straight verdict.
The Final Release
By the end of the tour, Laura had spent hours in a state of almost continuous vigilance.
She had endured every haunted house, crossed the theme park’s scare-filled streets and continued even when every instinct told her to retreat somewhere bright and quiet. I knew she had been frightened, but I did not fully understand how much tension she had been carrying until the night was finally over.
I was in awe of her doggedness and courage. If I was that scared of something, you can bet I would have made up a host of excuses to back out of going into half the houses. But not her. She wanted to see it through…right to the end.
I’ve been to HHN many times, but experiencing it with Laura made this visit completely different. I still noticed the artistry, the environments and the ingenuity behind the scares. This time, though, I also saw what the event feels like to someone encountering it for the first time — and someone who would ordinarily do everything possible to avoid horror.
The R.I.P. Tour gave us a wonderfully organised, story-rich experience, but it also made for an exceptionally concentrated night of fear. We came away with enormous respect for the people who created it and an even greater appreciation for the drink breaks.
It also made it next to impossible for me to return to HHN and not book an R.I.P. Tour. For Laura, having faced the darkness and survived, she may prefer to admire next year’s matching T-shirt from the safety of home.
Have you been on a R.I.P. Tour? What was your favourite part? Comment and let us know!