Halloween is back! We were all so sad in July when news of the cancellation of Halloween Horror Nights was announced. Especially since the event was set to celebrate 30 years of fear. However, Universal Orlando has just confirmed a mini version of their Halloween Horror Nights after all. Let’s take a look at what we know so far.
UPDATE: When we first wrote this article on September 11th, this was all just rumors and speculation. We updated the article below on September 14th to add confirmations and additional information from Universal themselves. We’ve also updated the title to remove the word “Rumors” and replace it with “Confirmed.”
Twitter was abuzz last week with rumors of a modified Halloween Horror Nights event for 2020. Then we heard from a reliable source of our own and knew you’d want to know more.
Halloween Horror Nights: An Unholy Resurrection?
The cancelation of HHN was a devastating sign of the times for Halloween fans, but it seems like Universal is looking to adapt to the current situation by working with what they’ve got. While September 10th would have been the start of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights, a lite version of the event will now be coming on September 19th on a trial basis. Let’s put some of those puzzle pieces together and see what appears to be in the works.
We have our initial speculation for you below and have added Universal’s confirmations to the very bottom of the article. Keep reading!
First, operating hours for both parks on Saturday, September 19th, were recently extended until 8PM. Additionally, hours for the 20th were extended to 7PM. If these changes are in fact for HHN, additional event nights in October are sure to follow.
Secondly, public permits have been filed to modify four soundstages that are used for the event. Below, we’ve included the Tweet from @HHNRUMORS that got the ball rolling for today’s rumor.
Read into this what you will, nothing official has been announced. #HHNForever pic.twitter.com/dkNYUhReS1
— HHNRumors.com (@HHNRumors) September 10, 2020
This means we could see two to four haunted mazes with limited scare actors. Some or all of these mazes would be open during the day, while some may open only in the evening. (Halloween Horror… Days?) Access to these mazes would be available for guests already in the parks that day.
We’re also hearing of one walk-through scare zone – this would be open and included for all guests occupying the park.
Theming is Everything
As Halloween Horror Night fans reeled from the blow of the event’s cancellation, Universal Orlando came up with a clever solution to whet fans’ appetites with the HHN Tribute Store. It’s an HHN-themed store featuring some of the merchandise from the year that wasn’t meant to be, surrounded by all sorts of scary props in sumptuously decorated rooms. As one would presume, the themes found within this year’s Tribute Store are just screaming possibilities for what could be found in this year’s modified haunted house lineup. Let’s do some investigating…
Beetlejuice
Say his name three times, click your heels and— oh, wait. The ghost with the most helped kick off the event’s very first Halloween celebration (then known as Fright Nights). It’s only fitting Beetlejuice makes a return for this milestone event – big or small.
Bride of Frankenstein
She’s alive! It’s clear at least one or two of Universal’s Classic Monsters would be present in a house based on this year’s merchandise and the first room of the Tribute Store, themed to the Lab of Frankenstein.
Halloween Horror Nights Icons
Since the event is celebrating 30 years of fear, it only makes sense for Universal to bring back the icons!
In the Tribute Store, Jack the Clown leads an autumnal circus sideshow – also featuring The Undertaker, The Director, The Usher and The Storyteller.
One of our sources reported seeing Tooth Fairy themed props – an original concept from Universal. Sounds interesting.
Body Modifications
What would Halloween Horror Nights look like now? Of course, all guests would be required to wear proper facial coverings, as well as maintaining 6+ feet of social distancing throughout the park and mazes. What would jump scares in the mazes be like? Scare actors would also need to wear masks and keep their distance…
While crowds are typically heavier on the weekends (the resort filled to capacity over Labor Day weekend!), guest capacity remains extremely limited, and overall attendance is lower than anticipated (especially with the closure of on-site hotels). We’ve personally found Universal manageable based on our weekday visits. Even if modified, we feel these Halloween Horror Night lite additions will bring in the die-hard fans in droves! Unfortunately, since Universal is the only major park in the area not requiring advance reservations, we think it could become a crowd-control nightmare if they don’t implement dated tickets or reservations (at least for the season).
Additional details are not yet known, based on how these haunted houses and scare zone(s) would exactly work considering today’s health and safety standards. Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa, is only doing open-air scare zones, it’s a big step forward to an almost-like-normal haunt.
September 14th Update
CONFIRMED: Two Daytime Haunted Houses Coming to Universal Orlando!
Halloween Horror Nights fans can once again get their fright fix! Universal has just confirmed two haunted houses will open this weekend at Universal Studios – and access is included with theme park admission! The two houses will be themed to the Bride of Frankenstein and Revenge of the Tooth Fairy… check out the house descriptions below:
“We belong dead.” The last words of Frankenstein’s monster on that fateful night when his Bride rejected him. But his end was her beginning. Now the Bride is stepping out of the shadows to bring him back. And there’s nothing she won’t do as she sharpens her brilliance by experimenting on unsuspecting victims. The mate will have her monster. And the monster his mate.
The innocent traditions of the tooth fairy hide a darker ritual. All children must give up their baby teeth to the goblinesque tooth fairies or pay a gruesome price. Step into an old manor that has been overrun by yellow-clawed fiends who extract teeth by force. It’s an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Virtual Queueing
The Virtual Line experience will be available for both of these houses, which should help with social distancing and overcrowding in certain areas. Just like any other HHN event, Universal warns these two houses may be too intense for children under 13.
As far as updated health guidelines, Universal has posted the following:
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Our current health and safety procedures will be applied to our operation of the haunted houses, and include:
-
- Wearing face coverings.
- Following social distancing guidelines in the queue and haunted houses. Plexi-glass will also be installed in various areas to help keep separation from scareactors.
- Requiring the use of hand sanitizer before entering each haunted house (also available upon exit).
- Managing of flow in the haunted houses. Capacity will be limited.
More Halloween
Also on the Halloween schedule this weekend, at Islands of Adventure, kids 12 and under can pick up a trick-or-treat bag and visit candy stops. Additionally, guests of all ages can wear Halloween costumes all over Universal Orlando Resort!
!! IMPORTANT EVENT ACCESS INFORMATION !!
This is the closest we’re going to get to Halloween Horror Nights this year. These seasonal experiences are only scheduled for the weekend of September 19th and 20th so far. If this weekend is successful, Universal may add more to the calendar in the coming weeks. We might even see those other two rumored haunted houses join the lineup!
Haunted house previews will take place on Friday, September 18th, for Team Members and Premier Annual Passholders. While the Team Member preview has already reached capacity, Premier Annual Passholders can register at noon on Wednesday for a timeslot between 1PM and 5PM on Friday. Keep in mind these reservations are extremely limited… if you’re a Premier passholder, set your alarm now!
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Let’s Hear From You
Halloween seemed pretty uncertain for a while there, but it’s making a comeback (with a few changes). What do you think of these modified Halloween plans? Do you think Universal is setting themselves up for trouble if they don’t find a way to limit the number of guests who show up? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
