Queuing to see The Weeknd only to be presented with the singer-songwriter’s severed head was an experience I doubt could ever be replicated outside of Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights.
The Orlando theme park’s globally-renowned celebration of all things spooky – now in its 31st year – opened to the public on September 2, offering those who are brave enough the chance to meander through 10 themed, live-action haunted houses that have been 365 days in the making.
This year’s houses include a fishing town hit by a siren’s curse, a bug-infested version of the 1950s and an eerily accurate recreation of John Carpenter’s iconic 1978 slasher film, Halloween.
For 2022, Blinding Lights singer The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) designed a house called After Hours Nightmare.
Queues for it on opening night were the longest of the lot, and even the resort’s staff said it was one of their favourite attractions this year.
Heavily stylised and featuring thumping, distorted versions of the artist’s music throughout, it is pulse-racing, jarring, flashback-inducing stuff.
As well as packing in jump scares (keep your eyes on the wallpaper and the toilet stalls), it had a fascinating storyline, with guests invited to wander through the singer’s nightmares.
Universal Studios is renowned for its classic movie monsters, and the Universal Monsters: Legends Collide house sees three of those – Wolfman, Dracula and The Mummy – battle it out each night.
The winner is changed every day to keep the experience fresh.
Forget the idea of steeling yourself before entering the haunted houses, as there are five so-called scare zones scattered across the park, where actors brandishing chainsaws, and ghosts and ghouls on stilts can approach you at any time, accompanied by smoke machines and atmospheric music – usually when you’re least expecting it.
As a diehard horror fan, this event was outstanding.
Never have I felt closer to being inside the films I love, and it was hard not to feel starstruck when I came face to face with Halloween legend Michael Myers on more than one occasion, plus The Grabber from recent Blumhouse flick, The Black Phone.
With queues for the haunted houses regularly exceeding an hour, it can prove difficult to tour all of them in one night.
There are four houses I would encourage you to prioritise if you’re short on time: Halloween; The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare; Dead Man’s Pier: Winter’s Wake; and The Horrors ofBlumhouse.
Dead Man’s Pier has serious wow-factor, with a sprawling, multi-level set to walk through. A clever use of water and temperature adds to the chills and makes you feel like you’re strolling through a gritty, cold seaside town, not standing in the middle of Florida, the sunshine state.
Movie fans will appreciate the attention to detail and storytelling in the The Horrors of Blumhouse, which focuses on two Blumhouse Productions films: The Black Phone and Freaky.
Of course at a place like Universal Orlando Resort, there are plenty of other things going on if you find yourself less than inclined to enter the houses.
Anyone staying in a Universal Resort hotel has access to the Gallery of Legends photo experience. Situated in the Cabana Bay Beach Resort, guests can pose for pictures or film a TikTok in a variety of spooky sets including a giant mouth with fangs and Dracula’s silhouette. You can also hold Wolfman’s hand on the night of a full moon.
There are freaky foodie treats to try too. It may look unappealing, but the freshly ground princess (raspberry-flavoured rice crispy made to look like meat) is a tasty snack, and the African lentil coffins are also pretty good.
There are more thrills to be had on the famous Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster. In a nod to Halloween, riders can enter the code 666 when they board, which prompts the voice of horror icon Chucky to pipe through the seat’s speakers.
Two impressive live shows are also accessible to Halloween Horror Nights attendees. Stand agog at the visual spectacle that is Ghoulish!
A Halloween Tale at the park’s lagoon as I did, or step it up a notch with Halloween Nightmare Fuel Wildfire, which marries aerial performances and pyrotechnics and must be seen to be believed.
The on-site shopping destinations have been given their own spooky overhaul too.
The Tribute Store is packed full of Halloween Horror Nights merchandise and has been themed like a dark ride. There is even a coffin you can pop into for a picture.
Though there is no official age limit for the attraction, it is advised that under-13s don’t take part.
Some of the haunted houses and scare zones are more terrifying than others, but how spooked you are in each is very personal.
With more than 1,000 people employed as scare actors across the haunted houses, the event is taken very seriously.
The expansive make-up area between sound stages is staggering, with actors in all sorts of elaborate prosthetics sat side by side.
Halloween Horror Nights is the closest you will ever get to feeling immersed in a horror film. The park is abuzz with anticipation, excitement, and of course fear, when night falls.
BOOK IT
Virgin Atlantic Holidays offers seven nights in Orlando from £1,525 per person. Includes flights from Heathrow on October 25, accommodation at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and a 3 Park Explorer Ticket. virginholidays.co.uk
Halloween Horror Nights Single-Night Ticket starts from £63 per person.
