How to Get Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry

How to Get Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry

How to Get Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry

This article is your complete guide to Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry in 2025! There are currently three ways to have early entry to a Halloween Horror Nights event. The three ways are attending the parks using a Universal Orlando regular admission ticket to Universal Studios Florida, a Universal Orlando annual pass, or a Universal Scream Early ticket. It’s important to note that your regular admission ticket and the stay and scream ticket must be valid for the exact date you plan to visit HHN. However, by being in the parks before your HHN event starts, you can access the holding areas, which will give you early entry once the event does begin.

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

How Do You Get Early Entry to Halloween Horror Nights?

There are currently three ways to have early entry to a Halloween Horror Nights event. The three ways are attending the parks using a Universal Orlando regular admission ticket to Universal Studios Florida, a Universal Orlando annual pass, or a Universal Scream Early ticket. It’s important to note that your regular admission ticket and the stay and scream ticket must be valid for the exact date you have your Halloween Horror Nights ticket. The biggest difference between the regular admission ticket and the stay and Scream ticket is your regular admission ticket will give you all-day access while the stay and Scream will let you in the parks from 3-5 PM to enjoy some rides before your event starts.

However, by being in the parks before your HHN event starts, you can access the holding areas starting at 5:00 PM, which will give you early entry once the event does begin, typically around 6:30. In our opinion, this is one of the best strategies for families who are trying to see every HHN haunted house but do not plan to upgrade to the HHN express pass or RIP tour. 

How Can You Get Universal Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry?

• Purchasing a $55 add-on Halloween Horror Nights Scream Early Ticket
• Purchasing both a Universal ticket and a Halloween Horror Nights ticket
• Having a Universal Orlando annual pass

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

Breaking Down Your Options 

Purchasing an HHN Scream Early Ticket

The Scream Early HHN option is an extra cost but gives you great value, as you can typically get on 2-3 haunted houses with very little wait before the lines start getting longer. This ticket allows you access to the park around 3 pm, giving you plenty of time to get on a few rides and then move into the holding areas when the other day guests are shuffled out of the park.

Once it begins, Scream Early 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 Scream Early option is only available on select nights and is subject to availability.

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. 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 holding areas. We’ll explain a bit more about what happens at this point. For now, you can rest assured that 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! And as a bonus, all of the multi-day Universal Orlando tickets sold at The Park Prodigy come with Early Park Admission which gives you even more time in the morning!

Universal Annual Passholder

If you are a Universal Orlando 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 pass holder 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.

Related Post: Guide to Universal Orlando Early Park Admission 

The Halloween Horror Night Holding Areas 

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.

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

Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry FAQ

What is the Cost of the Scream Early Ticket 2025?

Scream Early Halloween Horror Nights Ticket Cost: $55 + tax

How Early Can You Get Into the Halloween Horror Nights Holding Area?

The earliest guests can be held in the waiting areas is at 5 PM. 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.

What Time Does Halloween Horror Nights Start in 2025?

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 Orlando?

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.

Can you get into Halloween Horror Nights early?

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.

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!