While fall brings crisp air and vibrant leaves, it also brings something far less pleasant: horror. When living in Florida in the fall, where the trees stay green and the summer heat still lingers, Halloween Horror Nights at Orlando’s Universal Studios is the perfect escape for those Floridians who crave that feeling. The scary decorations intertwined with hints of fall accents bring the season to life. Every night from Aug. 30 – Nov. 3, the park transforms into a world of horrifying haunted houses and scare zones, filled with trained scare actors who always bring energy to their performances. The haunted houses are frequently based on horror movies and include characters and special effects from their respective films, creating an immersive experience that makes visitors feel like they have stepped into the scenes themselves.
For many students at Miami Palmetto Senior High, Halloween Horror Nights, or HHN, is an annual tradition, with friend groups returning year after year to re-experience the thrilling atmosphere of the park.
“My favorite thing about it is getting scared. I love the thrilling feeling I get after a jumpscare. I love walking through the streets of Universal with all the scare actors. The haunted houses are so exciting because you never know when they are going to pop out,” sophomore Maya Feller said.
This October marks Feller’s third year attending HHN. The adrenaline rush combined with a blend of exhilaration and terror only excites a handful of people.
Sophomore Lucy Dwyer just attended HHN for the second year in a row.
“My favorite house was the Slaughterhouse Cinema because each room had a different concept. You would walk into a room and it would say ‘Now Playing…’ and it would be a movie poster, then you’d walk into the next room and it would be based on that movie poster,” Dwyer said.
Another aspect that makes HHN even more captivating is the designated themes of each house. It can make one feel as if they are in the movie themselves.
Alongside the decorations and seamless integrated themes of the houses, for first-time attendees, the actors and the props made their experience even scarier. From realistic costumes to bloody makeup, each detail is carefully crafted for each scare actor, making each one of them unique.
“Right when we walked in there was a guy with a bloody face and a chainsaw that looked so real and he was running towards me, it was scary but fun,” senior Antonio Franco said.
After attending HHN multiple times, attendees begin to get familiar with the park and learn things to do differently from their first time, mastering the ins and outs for a better experience. This newfound expertise along with the amazing production and new houses each year makes people want to return.
“Every year the theme changes, and I love being able to go through different genres, and different movie productions, like the Blumhouse, for example, is the new one this year,” Feller said.
However, for some, the thrill alone is not enough for them to return. The massive waiting times and the gigantic lines for each house make the experience tedious. They found themselves spending most of their night waiting rather than enjoying the houses, which diminished the excitement for them.
“I think going just once is enough because the lines were so long and the houses were over in two seconds. But if I did go again, I think I’d get there right when it opens because then I’d probably have the time to go to more houses,” Franco said.
As countless friend groups find themselves at HHN annually, there is always that one friend who is not a fan of horror. Their friends beg them to go, but they just cannot bring themselves to it. Experienced as she is, Feller gave a few tips to first-timers if they are in that situation.
“Do not run in the streets, the actors will chase after you. It really is not as scary as it seems, as long as you make it fun. Try to go with a good group of people, and you’ll definitely have a good time,” Feller said.
