Scream Early or often known as “Stay and Scream” gives Halloween Horror Nights attendees the opportunity to access the even up to four hours early. You can take part in Scream Early with your regular park admission to Universal Studios Florida or you can purchase a Scream Early ticket if you don’t already have admission for that day. Scream Early tickets range in price from $70 to $75 per person and can be added to your Universal Orlando vacation package.
Scream Early has evolved over the years but the biggest change for 2026 is the ability to access three houses as early as 2:00 p.m.! Not only is this the earliest ever access for Scream Early tickets but also the earliest the houses have ever been open. Universal has confirmed the houses opening at 2:00 p.m. will include-
Then at 4:00 p.m., Scream Early guests can begin lining for additional houses. Universal has not announced which houses will be included with the second wave of early openings. These additional houses will officially open at 5:15 p.m. before the event officially kicks off at 6:30 p.m.
Starting at 2:00 p.m., you can pick-up your Scream Early wristbands at Hogwarts Express: King’s Cross Station and Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast. If you have regular park admission for the day and are hoping to be in line for a house at 2:00 p.m., you can also pick-up wristbands near Guest Services at Universal Studios.
We can’t wait to share more about the actual Scream Early process and how the 2:00 p.m. access to houses changes the experience. Here’s a re-cap of what you need to know for Scream Early –
Scream Early – access to Universal Studios and select houses as early as 2:00 p.m. – cost is $70 – $75 per night
- Pick up wristbands at Hogwarts Express: King’s Cross Station and Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast or outside Guest Services (NEW this year!)
- 2:00 p.m. — (NEW this year!) Three haunted houses open – Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser, and Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control
- 4:00 p.m. — Select house queues open
- 5:15 p.m. — Additional houses begin opening – it’s not confirmed which houses will be included
- 6:30 p.m. — Halloween Horror Nights officially begins
