Universal’s scariest and biggest event of the year has one non-existent rule that you wouldn’t believe
One of the biggest events in the calendars of horror fans all over has finally arrived, but you might not know that one rule everyone thought was in place is actually just a myth.
Halloween Horror Nights officially began at Universal Orlando Resort on August 30, running until November 3.
The 33rd edition of the Halloween event features ten new haunted houses based on iconic movies such as Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, A Quiet Place, Insidious: The Further and Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines.
Get a glimpse of what's in store below, but don't say you weren't warned:
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On top of that, you've got five scare zones scattered across the park, with guests navigating the streets of Universal Studios Florida with extreme caution.
After coming face to face with hordes of menacing horrors myself, I can safely say it's a frightening experience.
Universal cast actors for the roles in the scare zones and houses, and they remain dedicated the whole time by staying in character for the duration of the night.
Speaking to UNILAD moments before the opening of Halloween Horror Nights 33 last Friday, Lora Sauls, Assistant Director of Creative Development and Show Direction for Art and Design, Entertainment at Universal Orlando Resort, said: "We cast our scare actors, as we call them, in April, and the casting process goes through until after the event opens.
"I think our fans absolutely love it [the houses and scare zones] and they fall into laughter after the scare."
After experiencing the Horror Nights first hand, there's no doubt it's a frightening experience, and while some houses such as Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire make you appreciate the production value rather than the actual scare, others, like the Insidious experience, will leave many having sleepless nights.
The latter is not recommend for those under 15, so you'd probably expect there to be an age limit on Halloween Horror Nights, right?
Well, that's not the case, with Universal instead offering a disclaimer that the event simply may be 'too intense for young children'.
The park recommends children under the age of 13 should not attend, though that is not a rule — it's really down to parents' discretion.
During my time at Halloween Horror Nights last week, I regularly saw young children involved in the scare fest.
Talking to press including UNILAD before Halloween Horrors Night began, Sauls added: "We have 48 select nights for Halloween Horrors Night this year to share in your screams and fears.
"This year we are celebrating 33 years and in those years the Universal Orlando creative group has created over 200 haunted houses.
"This year we are adding ten terrifying haunted houses to that collection. These ten come from amazing horror movie franchises."
The full list of houses at Halloween Horror Nights 2024:
A Quiet Place
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Insidious: The Further
Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines
Slaughter Sinema 2
Goblin’s Feast
Major Sweets Candy Factory
The Museum: Deadly Exhibits
Monstrous: The Monsters of Latin America
Triplets of Terror
Topics: Halloween, Horror, Entertainment, Film and TV
Callum Jones