By: Taylor Flowers, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Halloween Horror Nights is Universal Orlando’s premier Halloween event featuring terrifying haunted houses and scream worthy scare zones. I attended the event this year and ranked the scare zones and haunted houses but let’s be honest, none of these disappoint!
There are 5 scare zones located throughout Universal Studios Orlando. These scare zones are open air areas complete with scare actors and spooky theming.
5) Sweet Revenge - Set in the 1950’s, a small town Halloween carnival turns bad when the candy being given out is turning all of the children in to crazed killing machines. The mayor is on stage running for reelection and a sinister villain is trying to wreak havoc on his plans. This scare zone was well themed, but if you don’t know the story behind it, it was hard to make sense of it. This scare zone is located the same area as the tribute store.
4) Horrors of Halloween - You can’t walk very far into the park without experiencing this scare zone. The Pumpkin Lord welcomes you to Halloween Horror Nights from his pumpkin throne and taunts you as you walk by. It serves well as an appetizer to the evening’s events but this scare zone is much smaller than the others.
3) – A classically creepy space, complete with headstones, ghosts, and the newly dead corpses. As you walk through the Hollywood area of Universal Orlando you are greeted by two reapers who are off to reap the souls of visitors. The set and costumes are elaborate and is set in a Victorian era graveyard.
2) Scarecrow: Cursed Soil – The scarecrow scare actors were my personal favorites of the scare zones. Located in Central Park, this scare zone blends a bluegrass farming area with horrifying scarecrows and even corn people. It is terrifying and leaves you feeling like there is nowhere to run.
1) Conjure the Dark – The set for this scare zone was incredible. An evil sorceress on stage will call the wandering scare actors to her and delivers a speech asking them to collect blood for her cauldron. They are under her spell as they spread out throughout the crowd. The music is loud, the costumes are gory, and it has a movie quality vibe making it my favorite.
10) Fiesta de Chupacabras – You are invited to a small Latin American village where the legendary, blood sucking chupacabras are hungry and preparing to feast. It is a great depiction on this legendary creature and an intricately designed house, but the wow factor just wasn’t there for me.
9) Spirits of the Coven – You enter a 1920’s speakeasy and see a beautiful flapper witch luring an unsuspecting man so she can use his blood from her witches brew. As you go through the house, the witches get increasingly less beautiful as they run out of their potion. The very end features the Master Witch performing a ritual. Overall, they storytelling was a little confusing and choppy but I still loved the 1920’s feel.
8) Hellblock Horror – Monsters have been locked in prison to try and stop their reign of terror, the only problem is that the electricity went out and they are now wreaking havoc on the guards and unsuspecting visitors. This is a great traditional haunted house but missing an original concept.
7) Descendants of Destruction – This house takes us to the post-apocalyptic underground of New York City. Not much remains of humanity and the scare actors are not going to take it easy on you. This set was complete with a subway tunnel and derailed train.
6) Bugs: Eaten Alive – Let me start by saying that the fact that this isn’t last is a testament to this house. I am terrified of bugs and did NOT want to go through this one…I was pleasantly surprised! Bugs was certainly the most unique of the houses this year and the storytelling was great. The premise is a 1950’s Home of the Future exhibit goes wrong and the pesticide makes the bugs mutate and multiply.
5) The Horror of Blumhouse – This house brings the movies Freaky and Black Phone to life. This would have ranked higher if it had just been Black Phone…Freaky just wasn’t my thing and I feel that they missed the mark.
4) Universal Monsters: Legends Collide – This house pits Dracula, The Mummy, and The Wolfman against each other. The impressive Egyptian dig site was surreal and who comes out on top actually changes from one night to the next!
3) Dean Man’s Pier: Fisherman’s Wharf – By far the best set out of all of the houses, it takes you through a winter fishing village that is unlike anything I have ever seen. You are haunted by the deceased crew of a failed fishing expedition while a woman plays the violin to summon the spirits from the sunken ship. It is a do not miss!
2) The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare – Since it was announced, this was the most anticipated house and was inspired by the Weeknd’s After Hours Album. From decapitated performers and horrific plastic surgery to loud music and gore – the house itself is a whole vibe.
1) Halloween – Based on the 1978 John Carpenter classic, you witness Michael Meyer’s grizzly murders and become his next target. The outdoor scene with the laundry truly made me feel like I walked into the movie. As a lover of scary movies, this was hands down my favorite and the ending scene still gets me!
Ultimately, all of the houses and scare zones are incredible and a must do when visiting Universal Orlando in the fall. If you are Halloween lover, be sure to go to the ultimate Halloween party!
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