Guide to Early Admission to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando

Guide to Early Admission to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando

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Guide to Early Admission to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando

This article is your complete guide to Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry! So many of us are beyond excited to start planning our 2024 vacations! With the first Halloween Horror Nights event seeming to be right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning your 2024 Halloween Horror Nights vacation.

Halloween Horror Nights occurs during the fall at Universal Orlando Resort, and it is always one of the most popular events throughout the year. Horror Nights Early Entry is a special perk that allows guests to enter the event up to one hour before the general public. In this blog post, we will give you a quick overview of the Halloween Horror Night event as well as Halloween Horror Nights early entry, Universals stay and scream tickets, and Universal Horror nights entrances

We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out the latest deals on Universal Orlando vacation packages and our discounted Universal Orlando tickets which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Universal be sure to check out our Universal Orlando crowd calendar! 

Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

Halloween Horror Night Early Entry Overview

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Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights brings the stories of the world’s most notorious creators of horror to life for a few hours each event night. While attending Halloween Horror Nights, you’ll get to see haunted houses from classic horror books and movies. There will be plenty of spooky characters from some current cult favorites, such as Chucky

While the haunted houses and mazes are the big draw (and the main reason to investigate getting a Horror Nights early entry ticket), there are also tons of other scary (i.e.: fun) things to do at Halloween Horror Nights. It’s guaranteed to be a jam-packed night. There are 5 different Scare Zones, 2 incredible shows, and a wide variety of specialty food and treats to try throughout the night.

The 2024 Halloween Horror Nights Houses have yet to be announced – but last year we were incredible. This makes HHN early admission even more tempting.

What time does Halloween Horror Nights start in 2024?

The Halloween Horror Nights start time officially begins on most nights at 6:30 PM. However, we have seen the front gates typically start to let guests in at 6:00 PM. We always recommend arriving at the front gate around 5:00 PM-5:30 PM as security and lines to enter this event can be a nightmare. (No pun intended!)

How early can you get into Halloween Horror Nights?

Since Halloween Horror Nights begin at 6:30 PM, the earliest guests can be held in the waiting areas is at 5 PM, which is park close. All guests who are not already inside the Universal Studios Florida theme park should start lining up at the gates by 5:45 PM. If you do not have Universal Studios HHN Early Entry, you can still park your car and get ready for entrance by lining up beforehand.

If you want to see how the entire HHN early entry process works, keep reading!

Related page: Save Up to $70 Per Universal Orlando Ticket 

What is Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry 2024?

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Halloween Horror Nights Early entry allows you to enter or stay in the park before the other Halloween Horror Night guests arrive. The great thing is you don’t always have to purchase an extra add-on to get access to Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry Orlando. Early Entry Halloween Horror Nights access gives you more time to explore the several houses that get crowded as the nights crawl on.

There are several ways to get early access to Halloween Horror Nights.

How can you get Universal Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry?

Let’s outline the different ways to get Horror Nights Early Entry:

  • Purchasing both a Universal ticket and a Halloween Horror Nights ticket
  • Halloween Horror Nights Passholder Early Entry
  • Purchasing a $40 add-on Universal Scream Early Ticket

To go more in-depth, let’s talk about each option you have for Universal Horror Nights early entry.

Buying a Universal Day ticket and an HHN ticket

You can purchase both a Universal Day Park admission ticket and an event ticket. Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event. The cost of an HHN ticket this year is around $72 for a single-night ticket. This allows your regular park hours and the Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Early Entry to overlap, and you get more time inside of the park. And as a bonus, all of the Universal Orlando tickets sold at The Park Prodigy come with Early Park Admission which gives you even more time in the morning!

So long as you’re physically in the park when the park closes to non-Halloween Horror Night guests, you’ll have access to the early entrance areas. We’ll explain a bit more about what happens at this point in just a bit. For now, you can rest assured knowing if you have a park admission ticket on the same day as your Halloween Horror Nights ticket, you are eligible for early access. Now, that’s a relief!

Be sure to check out our online store to shop for the best Universal Orlando ticket deals!

Universal Annual Passholder Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry

If you are a Universal Studios Annual Passholder, Halloween Horror Nights annual pass early admission is pretty simple. So long as you enter the park on the day that you have your HHN ticket and stay in the park after it closes to regular-day guests, you’ll be able to access Halloween Horror Nights with the other early event guests. Like day guests with tickets for Halloween Horror Nights, it’s that easy to get a Halloween Horror Nights passholder early access.

You will still need to purchase a Halloween Horror Nights ticket beforehand, but holding your pass allows you to stay for the fun and enjoy HHN early entry.

Purchasing an HHN Stay and Scream ticket

If you aren’t a passholder and don’t want to purchase a single-day ticket to the theme parks, you might be wondering if there is another option for you. Luckily, Universal offers the Stay and Scream HHN option, which is an extra cost, but gives you the best perk. The Halloween Horror Nights Scream Early ticket allows you access to the park around 3 pm, giving you plenty of time to explore a bit and then move into the Stay and Scream Locations when the other day guests are shuffled out of the parks.

Once it begins, Halloween Horror Nights Stay and Scream ticket holders can then quickly and easily access the event’s haunted houses and other attractions before the crowds start to arrive. This can be a great way to make the most of your time at the event, without having to leave the park and return later. However, it’s important to note that the Stay and Scream option is only available on select nights and is subject to availability.

Related Post: Guide to Universal Studios Early Park Admission 

What is the Cost of a Universal Stay and Scream Ticket 2024?

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So now that we have gone over the benefits, what is the cost of the Universal Stay and Scream Ticket?

  • Stay and Scream Halloween Horror Nights Ticket Cost: $40

The Stay and Scream HHN 2024 will cost you $40 per ticket. This is an increase from years past however as you’ll see we do still see value in the Scream Early Halloween Horror Nights ticket, especially if you do not plan to be visiting Universal Orlando all day but would still like early park entry to Halloween Horror Nights.

Related Post: Early Park Admission To The VelociCoaster

How Does Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry Work?

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Once the park begins to close for the night (usually around 5 pm on Halloween Horror Nights), those with Halloween Horror Nights tickets will be ushered into one of the park’s Halloween Horror Nights Orlando holding areas. These are designated areas where all early entry guests will wait as Universal prepares the park for a night full of screams and laughter. You simply just need to present your ticket; it’ll be scanned and you’re in!

Depending on how busy the park is, Universal will have two to four holding areas set aside for HHN early entry. The most common areas set aside to contain guests for early admission are Finnegan’s Bar & Grill; the Hello Kitty store; Springfield, USA; and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. Since you will be waiting in these areas for more than an hour, you might want to try to be stationed in the ones that will give you the most comfort during your wait.

Let’s take a more in-depth look into the Horror Nights’ early entry points.

What are the Halloween Horror Nights early entry holding areas?

  • Finnegan’s Bar and Grill
  • Hello Kitty Store
  • Springfield, USA
  • The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley

Finnegan’s Bar and Grill

While it’s often the most crowded holding area, it also provides some great comfort while you wait. The bar and grill are open all night but don’t allow reservations. Seats are given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Get there early and you might be able to fuel up before you hit the haunted world of HHN. Even if you can’t find a seat in the restaurant, there are food and drink carts with plenty of room to move around.

Hello Kitty

The Hello Kitty store doesn’t offer much to do while waiting but there should be a drink cart nearby along with restrooms you can use across the street. What it does offer is great access to some of the most popular houses. While it is a great Universal Horror Nights entrance point, letting you hop into houses that gather huge crowds (which means huge lines) before the night even begins, keep in mind that it is often a back-up area for Finnegan’s once Finnegan’s hits capacity. Because of that, they often let the guests in Finnegan’s out first and you might have to wait. If you do, your best bet is to go to some of the less popular houses right away and then circle back to the more popular houses that all of Finnegan’s guests hit up upon release.

Springfield, USA

This area has plenty to keep you entertained and fed while you wait for the gates to open. Places like Duff Brewery, Moe’s Tavern, Lard Lad Donuts, and Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck are usually open for business. It also has plenty of sitting areas and is not usually as crowded as holding areas like Finnegan’s Bar and Grill. Tucked in the back of the park, it can take you a while to get to more popular houses, but there are usually a few good ones back by this area as well.

Diagon Alley, Wizarding World of Harry Potter

This area is not consistently used, but if it is open, it does provide the best views of any holding area and the most things to do and explore while waiting. Bring your wand and try out those magic spell locations while you wait!

Related post: Guide to Hotels Near Universal Studios Orlando with Free Shuttle

What are the Benefits of Universal Horror Nights Early Entry?

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There are two main benefits to Halloween Horror Night early entry – location and time. Let’s look at how both help you enjoy more HHN experiences.

What are the Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry Benefits?

  • Prime Location
  • Early Start Time

Best HHN Early Locations

You are already physically in the park when your night begins so you can get to those prime houses a lot quicker than guests entering the park from the main gates.

Best Early HHN Start Time

You might wonder what time can you get into Halloween Horror Nights. While regular guests are let in sometime after 6 pm (official opening time is 6:30 pm but records show that sometimes guests are let in as early as 6 pm), you get to get started experiencing the horror at least 15 minutes (and maybe 45 minutes) before them. In the regular world, 15-45 minutes may not seem like much, but in Halloween Horror Land, it can get you through at least one house and in the front of the line for the next house before the other mobs enter the park. Then you can go to the less popular houses while they pile in line for the houses you’ve already done.

Related post: Complete Guide to Knockturn Alley at Universal Orlando

Is Early Admission Universal Studios Horror Nights Right for you?

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Our answer is a definite yes, Universal Horror NightsNights’ early admission is worth it, especially if you’re not paying extra by either having a day park admission ticket or being an annual passholder. But in many ways, even purchasing the upgraded Scream Early pass is worth it if any of the following apply to you and your group.

Reasons why Early Entry Halloween Horror Nights is right for you:

  • You’re only going once to Halloween Horror Nights. If you only have one night to go and want to experience as much as you can, the early entrance admission will help you get more done in your first 30 minutes than you could do otherwise. That will open up more free time to visit other haunted houses, as well as enjoy the entertainment and food offerings of the night.
  • You’re a HUGE haunted house fan. If your main reason for attending Halloween Horror Nights is visiting the amazing houses and mazes built like professional movie sets, then the early admission is a must. The scare houses create the longest wait times so knocking a few of them off your list before regular guests arrive will help you reach your goal of screaming through them all.
  • You want your night to start right. Let’s face it, waiting outside the gates of Universal Studios with hundreds of other people all standing much too close for an hour or more is not a fun way to start your night. With an early admission to Halloween Horror Nights, you can spend your time waiting at an Irish pub, in Homer’s hometown or even exploring the world of wizards. In our opinion, all of these are much better ways to start your night!

Related post: Complete Guide to Universal Orlando Tickets With Early Park Admission

Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry FAQ

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Let’s round this off with some answers to quick questions you might have about Universal Orlando Horror Nights.

Q: How early can you get into Halloween Horror Nights Orlando?

A: So let’s start with the most common question and that is, how early can you get into Halloween Horror Nights Orlando? Guests can enjoy early entry at Halloween Horror Nights at 3:00 PM with a Stay and Scream ticket or in general 6:00 PM for regular park guests. It’s important to note that the Haunted Houses typically do not open until the official 6:30 start time.

Q: Can you get into Halloween Horror Nights early?

A: Yes, there are ways you can get into Halloween Horror Nights early. Guests who purchase tickets to Universal Studios the same day they purchase tickets to HHN will already be inside of the park. There are also other ways like the Stay and Scream ticket or even being a Universal Hotel guest.

Q: Is there a minimum age for Halloween Horror Nights?

A: While there is not an official minimum age, Halloween Horror Nights is not recommended for those under 13. It can be quite terrifying.

Q: Can you re-enter Halloween Horror Nights?

A: Unfortunately, you cannot leave and re-enter.

Q: Can you wear a costume to Halloween Horror Nights?

A: Costumes, masks (except face masks if the face mask requirement is still in place), and face paint are not allowed in the park for the event.

Q: Will Halloween Horror Nights early admission be canceled in case of rain?

A: No, the event happens each regularly scheduled night regardless of weather.

Q: Does Universal close early for Halloween Horror Nights?

A: Yes, Universal Studios Florida does close early for Halloween Horror Nights on select nights. The park will close at 5 PM to allow guests to get ready for the terrifying event!

When Is The Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We breakdown the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Universal Orlando Trip?

If you’re ready to plan your trip to Universal Studios, be sure to check out our Universal Orlando Tickets! All guests who purchase their tickets from The Park Prodigy will get Early Park Admission to Universal Orlando! This could save you a ton of time in the parks and avoid buying express passes!

And to stay up to date on everything going on inside the theme parks be sure to check out our partners at Themeparktoday.com!

Michael Belmont

Michael Belmont is the owner at Theparkprodigy.com, an authorized Disney and Universal travel agent. He specializes in Disney and Universal theme park tickets and vacation packages, as well as daily park plans to help optimize vacation time. Michael and The Park Prodigy have been featured on ABC’s Florida affiliate, WTFV, as well as over 10 Disney focused blogs. As owner, Michael manages The Park Prodigy blog and social media, a Disney themed podcast, and a Disney and Universal focused YouTube channel. Prior to starting The Park Prodigy, Michael was a long time Disney and Universal enthusiast, frequent visitor of the parks, and even served as a Walt Disney World Cast Member in Orlando, Florida!