As a self-professed certified Horror Girlie™, I lean hard into anything with a spooky slant. I’ve stayed at the hotel that inspired The Shining. I’ve ridden on a float in New Orleans’ famous Krewe of Boo parade. And more recently, I finally made it to what might be Universal’s most anticipated annual event: Halloween Horror Nights.
I’m honestly not sure what took me so long, but now that I’ve been, I have thoughts. Specifically, I have a lot of pointers for my fellow horror lovers heading to HHN for the first time, especially those of us whose brains still think we’re 22 while our knees are loudly filing a complaint.
Within the first hour of my first HHN, two things became crystal clear: my body is not as young as my enthusiasm, and this is one of the most fun nights a horror fan can possibly have. Both can be true. So, if you’re a mom in her 40s, in your 30s, or simply wondering what you’re about to get yourself into, here’s what I wish someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and told me before I went.
Any add-on that cuts wait time is worth the splurge.
I know. Everything is expensive, and adding one more cost to an already-pricey trip can feel painful. But trust me when I say there is no line like an HHN haunted house line. Imagine every single line for Universal rides stretching out like the wait for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (iykyk), and you’ll start to understand.
If I’m already spending a decent amount to attend Halloween Horror Nights, I’d rather spend a little more, when my budget allows, to make the night feel less like a standing endurance test. There are a few options worth considering.
- Scream Early Ticket: This $70 add-on lets me enter HHN at 2 p.m., with access to park attractions and at least three select Haunted Houses, at the park’s discretion, before the general public starts entering at 5:30 p.m.
- Express Pass: This $199.99 add-on lets me use the Express Access line one time at all 10 houses and participating attractions, which can dramatically reduce wait times.
- R.I.P. Tour: This is the priciest option at $459.99, but it gives priority VIP entry to each haunted house, Express Unlimited Access for rides, a reception, commemorative R.I.P. Tour credential, lanyard and button, and valet parking.
Skip the rides. I’m not kidding.
It pains me to say this because I love Universal’s rides. My normal theme park instinct is to ride everything as many times as humanly possible. But the rides are there year-round. HHN is not.
I’d save my limited midlife energy for the haunted houses and scare zones, especially if I only had one night, which is the case for a lot of us. One night at HHN goes fast, and the houses are the main event.
Last year, we didn’t do early access, but we were literally first in line to enter the park when the gates opened. Even with only quick bathroom and food breaks, we made it through 9 of the 10 houses before closing. If we had stopped for rides, we would have missed even more.
Do not underestimate the food lines.
Before HHN, I saw so many Reels about the fun themed foods and drinks, and of course I wanted all of them. What I did not hear enough about was how long those food lines can get, especially at the buzziest stands.
We gave up on a few things, and I’m still a little bummed that I never got to try the “Death By Cheese Stick.” That one still haunts me, honestly.
My advice is to pre-game with actual food. Before the event starts, I’d make sure I had something in my system, whether that meant eating at home, grabbing a meal at the hotel, or stopping somewhere in City Walk. The food lines did taper off a lot toward the end of the night, so saving snack-stand stops for after midnight can work too. It might even give you the boost you need for the final stretch.
Wear the most comfortable shoes you own.
I hate to be the practical one here, especially if your outfit deserves better than sensible sneakers. But I say this with love: your feet will absolutely revolt if you choose the wrong shoes.
Someone in my group last year decided HHN was the perfect time to break in a brand-new pair, and they barely made it through two houses before huge blisters appeared. That is not the kind of horror experience I’m trying to have.
This is a full night of walking, standing, power-shuffling, and occasionally sprinting away from a zombie headed straight for you. Theme park days are already hard on the body, but HHN is next level. We hit 30k steps by the end of the night, so whatever cute-but-questionable footwear instinct I have, I ignore it.
Girl, you bettah hydrate!
I cannot overstate how sweaty this night can get. I sweated through my clothes. My hair got damp. Every pore on my body seemed to understand the assignment. And when I was rushing from house to house, I was not always thinking about how much fluid I was losing.
Now, I bring an empty water bottle that I can refill for free at quick-service spots, and I toss a few electrolyte packets in my bag. My 20-something self may have powered through on Diet Coke and a dream, but at this stage of life, that plan feels like a direct path to becoming dust.
Yes, you can still dress up.
Themed outfits are absolutely part of HHN culture, but I’ll admit I felt weird about joining in at first. I wondered if people would think I was too old for it. Thankfully, no one cared, and that realization was freeing.
No one is side-eyeing a 40-something woman in Terrifier glasses, a pleather skirt, and fishnets. If anything, dressing for the night makes the whole thing more fun. I wish I had embraced that earlier instead of overthinking it.
That said, I always check the costume and bag rules before I go. Masks, heavy makeup, and weapons obviously are not allowed, and certain costume pieces may be restricted. For bags, small or clear options usually move through security fastest.
Go in with a game plan.
I know planning versus winging it is always a debate. Some people swear the best nights happen when you just follow the vibe. But in my experience, HHN is easier and more satisfying when I walk in with at least a loose strategy.
We usually head to the houses in the back of the park first because those lines can build quickly once the gates open and the crowds start moving. If I have early entry, that approach works even better.
If I’m going without early access or Express Passes, I focus on my absolute must-see houses right away. Realistically, I may not hit everything, so I want my favorites out of the way first. Anything after that feels like a bonus.
When possible, I also try to loop the park in one direction instead of crisscrossing all night. We learned this the hard way after chasing shorter-looking lines and adding a truly unnecessary number of steps to our evening.
You can do HHN your own way.
Here’s the thing I wish I had internalized sooner: I do not have to experience HHN like the 22-year-olds next to me in line. Again, I am not 22 anymore, and pretending otherwise does not make the night more fun.
I can stop and watch the stage show to give my feet a break, which we did last year, and it ended up being one of the most surprising highlights of the night. I can bring high-fidelity earplugs if the noise starts to feel like too much. I can skip a house if the wait is not worth it to me. We did that with Five Nights at Freddy’s last year, and I have no regrets.
The point is, I’m allowed to go at my own pace. Whatever that pace looks like, I also know it is wise to pack extra ibuprofen and a tube of lidocaine foot rub cream in my hotel bag, because my old ass is going to be sore the next day. Ask me how I know.
Inspired by this post on Scary Mom.
