I just wrapped up a few nights at Universal Orlando, and writing this hhn 2024 review feels like trying to recap a fever dream fueled by fog juice and overpriced pizza fries. This year marked the 33rd year of Halloween Horror Nights, and the hype was definitely real, especially with some big-name franchises returning to the fog.
Walking into the park, the energy felt a little different this time around. Maybe it was the humidity—which was brutal, by the way—or maybe it was the fact that the lineup felt very balanced between "I know that movie" and "what on earth is that creature?" Either way, if you're planning a trip or just want to know if it lived up to the legendary status of years past, here is the lowdown on everything I saw, screamed at, and ate.
The Big Name IPs: Did They Deliver?
Let's get into the heavy hitters first. Everyone goes for the franchises they recognize, and this year's IP (Intellectual Property) lineup was pretty stacked.
Insidious: The Further
If you only have time for one house, this is it. Honestly, I think this might be one of the scariest houses Universal has put together in years. It's basically a "greatest hits" of the entire Insidious franchise. The transition from the real world into "The Further" is handled so well with lighting and sound design. The Red-Faced Demon is everywhere, and the scares are relentless. It's tight, it's dark, and the actors were really on their game. This house alone makes the hhn 2024 review a positive one for me.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, we have Ghostbusters. It's not scary, but it's not really supposed to be. It's pure fan service and fun. The sets are massive, the animatronics (especially the Sewer Dragon) look great, and the smell of toasted marshmallows near the end is a nice touch. It's a great "breather" house when you're tired of being jumped at by zombies.
A Quiet Place
This was the house I was most skeptical about. How do you do a "quiet" house in the middle of a loud theme park? Surprisingly, they pulled it off. They used a lot of "silence" in the soundscape, and the creatures are these massive, impressive puppets. The use of ASL (American Sign Language) in the pre-show and throughout the house was a really cool, immersive touch that stayed true to the films.
The Originals: Where the Real Creativity Shines
While the movies bring people in, the original concepts created by the Universal team are often the highlight for hardcore fans. This year was no exception.
Major Sweets Candy Factory
This is a prequel to a scare zone from a couple of years ago, and it's delightfully twisted. It's a candy factory where the treats turn kids into homicidal maniacs. The contrast between the bright, colorful candy aesthetic and the absolute gore is fantastic. Plus, the smell in here is wild—sweet, sickly, and a little bit gross all at once.
Slaughter Sinema 2
If you like B-movie horror and "so bad it's good" vibes, this is a masterpiece. It's a sequel to a fan-favorite house from HHN 28, and it features different "trailers" for fake horror movies. My favorite was the "Heavy Metal Hell" segment. It's campy, it's loud, and it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's exactly what HHN should be.
Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines
I have a soft spot for the Monsters houses, and this one features an all-female cast of monsters, including Saskia Van Helsing and the Bride of Frankenstein. The storytelling is a bit more complex than your average house, and while it wasn't the scariest, the gothic atmosphere was top-notch.
The Scare Zones and Entertainment
You can't have an hhn 2024 review without talking about the streets. Sometimes the best scares happen when you're just trying to walk to the bathroom.
Torture Faire in the New York section was a standout. It's themed after a Renaissance fair gone wrong, and the "performers" are all too happy to show you their medieval torture devices. The costumes were incredible, and the interactions with the scare actors were some of the funniest of the night.
Swamp of the Undead in Central Park was incredibly moody. They used so much fog you literally couldn't see your hand in front of your face, which made the scares very effective. On the other hand, Enter the Blumhouse felt a little bit like a commercial for upcoming movies, which took away from the immersion a bit, even if the M3GAN dancers were entertaining to watch.
As for shows, Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus is back. If you've seen it before, you know the drill: fire, aerialists, loud metal/EDM music, and a lot of high-energy dancing. It's a great way to sit down for 20 minutes and rest your legs while still feeling the HHN vibe.
The Food: More Than Just Pizza Fries?
We have to talk about the snacks. The food at HHN has become a whole sub-culture. This year, the Ghostbusters-themed "Slimer's Korean Corndog" was the talk of the park. It's a Cheetos-crusted hot dog with a green slime sauce. It sounds—and looks—vile, but it's actually pretty good.
I also tried the "Stay Puft S'mores" which were delicious but incredibly messy. And of course, you can't miss the classic Pizza Fries. Are they life-changing? No. Are they a requirement for the full experience? Absolutely.
One thing I noticed this year is that the themed food booths had massive lines. Sometimes the wait for a specialty taco was longer than the wait for a house. If you're hungry, try to eat during the peak "Stay and Scream" time or right when the sun goes down before the crowds get too heavy.
The Logistics: Express Pass vs. Standby
Let's be real for a second in this hhn 2024 review: doing this event without an Express Pass is becoming harder every year. Wait times for the popular houses like Insidious and Ghostbusters regularly hit 90 to 120 minutes.
If you have the budget, Express Pass is a lifesaver. It cut our wait times down to about 15-20 minutes per house. If you don't want to shell out the extra cash (and it is expensive), your best bet is the "Stay and Scream" option. This lets you stay in the park after it closes to day guests and puts you in a holding area. You get a head start on the houses before the front gates open, usually allowing you to knock out two or three big houses before the lines get crazy.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
So, what's the final verdict? HHN 2024 felt like a return to form in terms of scares. Last year was great, but this year felt a bit grittier and more intense, specifically thanks to the Insidious house and some of the original concepts.
The event is definitely getting more crowded, which can be frustrating. There are moments when you're shuffled through a house in a "conga line," and you might miss a scare because it triggered for the person in front of you. It's just the nature of the beast at this point.
But even with the crowds and the heat, there's nothing quite like the atmosphere of Universal Studios at night during the spooky season. The "scare-actors" are incredibly hardworking, the production value is movie-quality, and the sheer creativity on display is impressive.
If you're a horror fan, HHN 2024 is a must-visit. Just wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, and maybe prepare your vocal cords for a lot of screaming. It's a wild, loud, and terrifyingly fun time that proves why this event is still the king of Halloween theme park attractions.