Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights is just around the corner on Friday, August 29th and signs of the event are everywhere at Universal Studios Florida and CityWalk. There’s no doubt, Halloween Horror Nights is THE premier Halloween event and this year will be no different. Especially with such recognizable names joining the haunted house lineup like Five Nights at Freddy’s, Fallout, Jason, Terrifier, and WWE.
So let’s take a tour of what’s new leading up to the 34th anniversary of Halloween Horror Nights (HHN)!
Dead Coconut Club
The Dead Coconut Club is returning for the HHN season with a new theme – Koven! The Dead Coconut Club takes over the Red Coconut Club on the second level of CityWalk and opens at 5pm on HHN evenings. This themed bar experience includes entertainment, unique drinks, plus props and décor similar to what you would find in a haunted house. The Dead Coconut Club is open to all ages and tends to be less spooky than other HHN experiences. We’re not sure what all the Koven theme will bring, but it looks like we’re in for a sorority for witches based on the logo art.
Be sure to check out our overview of the 2024 Dead Coconut Club experience to get an idea of what you can expect!
Scare Zones
There are four scare zones and two street experiences this year for HHN and construction on these outdoor spaces looks pretty much complete! You can check out a preview of these areas and where they’re located in the park below.
The Origins of Horror
The Origins of Horror is located near Illumination’s Minion Land at the front of the park and serves as the overarching theme and entrance to the event. The stained glass, gargoyles, and vines all give the feeling of the conservatory theme and we can only assume the haunted house icons are underneath the tarps. In fact, we caught a glimpse of a Jason mask showing through one of the tarps.
Enter a decaying conservatory of twisted vines where artists carve tributes to Halloween Horror Nights 34. You’ll encounter monstrous crows, gargoyles and more.
Masquerade: Dance with Death
Masquerade: Dance with Death is located in the Hollywood section and will feature a masquerade dance of vampires. The scare zone matches The Origins of Horror and the conservatory theme with lots of stained glass and gothic architecture. There are 4 stages set up, each each with likely gruesome displays underneath the tarps.
You’re invited to a masquerade ball where bloodthirsty vampires lurk behind ornate disguises. When their masks fall, you’ll become their prey.
Towards the end of the Hollywood section outside the Horror Make-Up Show, there is a large Halloween Horror Nights photo op, new for this year.
The Cat Lady of Crooked Lane
Over in Grammercy Park, The Cat Lady of Crooked Lane, has to be the most detailed of all the Scare Zones with lots of vintage Halloween decorations, Jack-o-lanterns in the trees, and signs of kids tick-or-treating from years past.
Travel down a spooky winding path to a mysterious home, where trick-or-treaters are transformed into feral felines. Be careful or you’ll be next.
One of the best details from this scare zone is the storybook pages, which tell the story of The Cat Lady from Crooked Lane and the scares you’ll likely encounter.
At the end of “Crooked Lane” is the Cat Lady’s house, complete with a pet cemetery and a cauldron on the porch. This expands the scare zone and will likely have a show element of the Cat Lady herself concocting her potion.
Also near the Cat Lady’s house is a shed of sorts with stained glass cat windows. We’re assuming this is an opportunity for scare actors.
Mutations: Toxic Twenties
Last but certainly not least, Mutations: Toxic Twenties fits in perfectly in the New York section of Universal Studios. Signs of a bank robbery gone wrong have led to lime green toxic material spilling out into the streets. Be sure to check out the newspapers to read the full story of the events unfolding in this mutated neighborhood.
In a bustling 1920s neighborhood, a BuzzCon truck with radioactive cargo crashes into a mobster getaway car sending the city into toxic pandemonium. It mutates everyone in its path, including you.
Club Horror (Street Experience)
New for 2025! Halloween Horror Nights will have two Street Experiences – Club Horror and Mel’s Die-In Zombies. While we don’t have many details on either experience, there is both a themed trailer, lighting, and platforms set-up in the San Francisco area for Club Horror.
Food Booths
We cannot wait to see what creative menu items are available this year and the themed-food booths are a promising sign! Most of these are themed to the Intellectual Property houses, such as Fallout and Terrifier.
Fallout – Vault 33 Food Booth – Grammercy Park
The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks – Firefly Fun House Food Booth – Grammercy Park
Terrifier – The Clown Café Food Booth – Grammercy Park
Terrifier – Art’s Fun House Food Booth – Grammercy Park
The Origins of Horror – Conservatory Food Booth – Universal Music Plaza
Food Truck – Springfield / Simpsons Land
Walk-Up Bars
We’re also anticipating the return of themed cocktails and seasonal favorites like Whole Hog’s Pumpkin Ale and the Cursed Cranberry Spritz. Some of these pop-up bar locations are beginning to take shape and we expect a few more throughout the park.
The Halloween Horror Nights Bar – Battery Park
Fanta Bar – Transformer’s / Grammercy Park
In addition to signs of construction throughout Universal Studios Florida, we expect the Tribute Store to open Tuesday, August 26th! Due to construction on the recently closed Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, the Tribute Store will be located in the Palace Theater Arcade with an additional entrance in Sahara Traders at the exit of the Revenge of the Mummy Attraction.
We’re counting down the days until Universal Orlando’s 2025 Halloween Horror Nights and are so ready for spooky season to begin! There’s still time to purchase your tickets to Halloween Horror Nights or an exclusive package to also visit the Universal Orlando theme parks – request your vacation quote here.
