I have put off attending Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) every year I’ve lived in Orlando… 7 years to be exact. I have so many family and friends who attend multiple times each fall and it’s the highlight of the Halloween season! Thanks to Ryno, I finally mustered up enough confidence to attend HHN 33.
I literally woke up that day nauseated with nerves but was shocked how much fun I ended up having and how little I was actually scared! If you’re nervous about attending HHN, here are my 4 tips to having a great time.
1. Get There Early
Stay and Scream is a great way to be in the park before the Scare Zones start and more importantly, before it gets dark. If you are an Annual Passholder or have a day ticket to Universal Studios Florida, you can access the Stay and Scream areas from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Alternatively, you can purchase a Stay and Scream ticket for $40. However, I would rather use this money towards something else like Express Pass for HHN.
Getting there during normal park hours, makes it feel like a familiar experience and you can gauge what the scare zones are going to be like. Once HHN begins, the park feels completely different including piped in screaming and lighting effects. It’s also a great time to grab your souvenir “blinky cup” for a little liquid courage if that’s your thing. Highly recommend the Whole Hog’s Pumpkin Ale and your next refill is at a discounted price.
One thing to keep in mind, going from bright sunlight into a dark house can be pretty jarring. If you’re worried about this, wear your sunglasses in the house or close your eyes right before walking in. Having a braver friend go first also helps in case you need someone to hold on to.
2. Start with the House You’re Most Excited For/ Least Scared Of
I’ve heard mixed opinions on this theory – starting with the least scary house versus ripping the band-aid off. To me, getting your confidence up early in the night is the key to being able to have fun. I started with Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and while there were some jump scares, I enjoyed the theme and detail of the house so much that I forgot I was scared. I never thought I could have fun in a HHN house and that confidence helped me to keep trying more houses. This was especially helpful later when it got dark and the scare zones and general atmosphere felt different.
3. Stick to the Sidewalks if You Need to
The Scare Zones are positioned in a way that makes them almost impossible to avoid. However, if you stick to the sidewalks, your chances of getting scared are very low. Looking brave (even when you’re not) and looking forward instead of looking to be scared will also deter Scare Actors. They want to scare you and they’re going to move on if there’s no reaction from you. It’s also important to remember that these are all real people who love HHN; if you take pictures Scare Actors will happily pose and put on a show for you.
Personally, I think the Swamp of the Undead is the scariest of this year’s Scare Zones. It’s dark, there’s fog, there’s creepy masks, and plenty of props for Scare Actors to hide behind. Everywhere else, you can easily take the sidewalks and see what’s coming before it’s right in font of you.
4. Enjoy the Not So Scary Offerings
The food and drink offerings at HHN are SO good! It’s like a mini food festival with over-the-top theming in all the best ways. Personally, I loved everything from the Ghostbusters booth. Especially the Stay-Puft S’more and Slimer’s Korean Corndog. You can read more about our first night of HHN 33 food adventures here.
The Tribute Store is another fun way, to be in a safe space and still feel part of the event. The detail in the Tribute Store is similar to what you would see in the houses and is a full walk-through experience. It’s also open during normal park hours and is a great way to get introduced to the feel of HHN. In years past, this has always made we want to actually attend the event.
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m actually hoping to go back to HHN this year! I’m even feeling bold enough to try unarguably the scariest house, Insidious: The Further. So the morale of the story – if you think you’re too scared to attend HHN, you’re not! If you enjoy Halloween and are a theme park fan, don’t put off trying it.
Let us know in the comments if you have more tips for attending HHN… especially if you’re dreading being scared!
