Earlier this week, Universal Orlando announced a new offering for the 2025 Halloween Horror Nights (HHN): the “Deathly Afraid” necklace. Priced at $20, the glow-in-the-dark accessory signals to scare actors in scare zones and common areas that the wearer does not want to be approached directly. Most importantly, the necklace does not apply inside any of the haunted houses, where scares remain an essential part of the experience, regardless.
The new offering quickly drew strong reactions online, including on our Universal Orlando discussion forums at DISBoards and our Facebook page, with opinions divided on whether this accessory makes sense at a horror event known for in-your-face frights.
“Stay Home If You Don’t Want to Be Scared”
A common theme in social media comments is that Halloween Horror Nights is designed to scare people, and buying a ticket means you know what you’re signing up for. Some folks argue that if someone doesn’t want jump scares or close encounters, they should simply avoid the event entirely. Some fans worry that adding the necklace option could water down the intensity for those who aren’t. One comment summed it up bluntly: “It seems common sense to me that if you are deathly afraid, don’t attend…” Another comment on our Facebook post explains why they’d opt for the lanyard.
As a person who’d wear this necklace, I do understand the conflict. My daughter went to HHN last year, and loved it, especially the scare zones, so it would be very disappointing if I wore the necklace and she missed out on her favorite part of HHN.
I’m a Vegas local, seeing the HHN-like experience here, I’m all about Jack’s show and Blumhouse, I’ve joked to friends, ‘I wonder if I could just run through the common area, and hang out at Blumhouse while everyone else had a good time.’
I also wouldn’t envy scare actors who have yet another element that they’ll need to be mindful of.
Personally, I’d be all for it. I also understand that this is supposed to be a scary experience and people who attend should get that experience.
Concerns About the Guest Experience
Another point being raised is how the necklaces might affect the experience for others. Some attendees don’t want to feel like their scares are less scary because they happen to be walking near a guest who is wearing a necklace. The fear is that scare actors, while avoiding certain guests, might unintentionally reduce the impact for others in the group. For many, the unpredictability of scare zones is part of the fun, and seeing a “safe zone” approaching could break immersion.
Another Facebook commenter shared their experience with another Orlando theme park that offered a similar “Don’t scare me!” option.
I tried one of these when I was at Howl-o-Scream with my husband and we both loved it. He is a huge horror fan and loves these events. I’m not as into it and can only typically handle the scare zones.
The scare actors were able to scare him without me realizing (we were holding hands which is even more impressive) and I was able to look around and enjoy the details/atmosphere without having to be on high alert. The scare actors would also catch my eye and say something menacing so I also got to be involved in the atmosphere without getting jump scared all night.
Hopefully, the scare actors at Halloween Horror Nights will be able to pull off a similar experience as the poster above had.
A Helpful Option for Some Guests
On the other side of the debate, some point out that the necklaces could make the event more accessible. Guests with disabilities, sensory sensitivities, or anxiety may want to enjoy the atmosphere of Halloween Horror Nights without constant jump scares. The necklace offers them a way to participate while establishing clear boundaries. Supporters argue that this is about inclusion, not weakening the event, and that a $20 add-on is a fair trade-off for the option.
Some fans have also noted that the necklace might work well for parents with older kids who want to attend but aren’t ready for full-on scares. While haunted houses are still off-limits in this regard, the lanyard could make scare zones less overwhelming; however, many people say that “the scare zones aren’t that scary,” which is honestly a matter of personal opinion, depending on who you’re talking to.
A Divided Response
I feel like the Deathly Afraid necklace is just another example of theme parks trying to strike a balance between immersion and accessibility. Halloween Horror Nights has built its reputation on delivering relentless and horrifying scares, one of the main reasons I’ve never attended myself, so any step that appears to soften that experience will draw pushback from the event’s biggest fans. At the same time, expanding the event’s reach to more guests has clear benefits that aren’t all monetary. If this had been an option years ago, before I left Florida, I might have been persuaded to attend the event. But, I prefer not-so-scary scares, as it turns out.
Nevertheless, the necklace remains as an optional add-on, and fans will soon see how widely it’s adopted when Halloween Horror Nights officially begins Friday night. Whether it becomes a helpful tool for some or just a lightning rod for debate, one thing is clear: few topics ignite stronger feelings among HHN fans than the question of how scary the event should be.
Let us know your thoughts on this new addition to the Orlando Halloween Horror Nights, and if you’d take advantage of it.
