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Halloween Horror Nights 32 is officially underway at Universal Studios Orlando, and trust us, this year’s event is a “don’t miss!” If you’re a horror fan, love things that go bump in the night, or are just looking for something that caters to the adult crowd, Halloween Horror Nights is the place for you. The macabre celebration made its 2023 debut over the weekend to the delight of many who have been waiting since last fall to make their way back into the fog. And as Universal will warn, if you’re going this year, don’t go alone!
Credit: Universal Studios, Ashley Carter/ X
The scares at Halloween Horror Nights are vastly different from anything you’ll find celebrating Halloween with Mickey Mouse and friends down the street at Walt Disney World. Instead of friendly villains and trick or treating, at Universal Studios, you’ll find an edgier approach to scares. Although Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has its place amongst the spooky festivities in Orlando, if you’re looking for something that will frighten the pants off of you, Halloween Horror Nights is it, and Universal Orlando’s 2023 version of the annual scare-fest will not disappoint.
Best Halloween Horror Nights House So Far in 2023
Credit: Universal
The biggest draw to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando is the haunted houses. This year’s edition is home to ten unique houses that feature amazing concepts based on popular horror films, original ideas, and even extinct attractions. Over the weekend, we got to see them all despite facing an incredible Labor Day weekend crowd. Of the ten houses at Universal Orlando this year, the two most popular seem to be Stranger Things Season 4 and The Last of Us Part I. Although both were incredibly themed, with amazing movie quality sets, well-prepared scare actors, and so on, Stranger Things gets the nod for best house at Halloween Horror Nights 2023. Here’s our full ranking of HHN 32 houses in Orlando:
- Stranger Things
- The Last of Us
- Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count
- YETI: Campground Kills
- The Exorcist: Believer
- Universal Monsters: Unmasked
- The Darkest Deal
- Bloodmoon: Dark Offerings
- Dr. Oddfellow’s Twisted Offerings
- Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate
Best Scare Zone
Credit: Universal
Another fun, sometimes terrifying aspect, of Halloween Horror Nights are the scare zones. Several locations around Universal Orlando are transformed into heavily themed areas full of creepy scare actors who are waiting to take your breath (or life) away. These zones are always uniquely themed, bringing some of the best chills and thrills that Halloween Horror Nights offers. Each zone typically has an icon within its realm, bringing larger-than-life terror to guests. The 2023 edition includes zones themed after zodiac monsters, doomed jungles, and an eerie shipping yard. However, one scare zone in particular might be reason enough to go to Halloween Horror Nights in the first place.
Despite the inclusion of Death Eaters at Diagon Alley in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the real star of the show can be found between the New York and San Francisco sections of the park. Vamp ’69 Summer of Blood has HHN fans at Universal Orlando extremely excited this year. The very well-thought-out scare zone is easily one of the highlights of 2023 Halloween Horror Nights, bringing a fresh take on comedy, groovy happenings, and bloody gore to the streets of Universal Studios. This scare zone is seriously one of the best ones we’ve ever experienced at the event, and it seems that the internet agrees with us.
Week one, HHN 2023.
( 📸 @CurtisRoams )#HHN #HHN2023 #HHN32 #Vamp69 pic.twitter.com/zu4fp2Vf28— Gavin ⚰️🦇 (@UndeadGavin) September 4, 2023
Twitter user @UndeadGavin shared this fantastic shot of what awaits guests to the Vamp ’69 Summer of Blood scare zone at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. While others are trying to spread peace and love, there’s a sinister, blood-thirsty horde of vampires roaming the crowd. Once the sun goes down and the fog settles in, it’s almost impossible to differentiate between the two. Are they regular guests, musical festival victims, or the undead? Good luck trying to figure out who’s who.
The Vamp '69 scare zone is a vibe. I could spend hours here just enjoying the soundtrack. #HHN32 pic.twitter.com/8BDl7g4nka
— Ashley Carter (@AshleyLCarter1) September 2, 2023
User @AshelyLCarter1 snapped a great video and posted to X (formerly Twitter) that really gives a great depiction of the vibe that is Vamp ’69 Summer of Blood. Groovy tunes set the stage for unwarranted terror as vampires tear through an unsuspecting crowd of concertgoers. Think you’re safe in your Volkswagen? Think again!
Vamp ‘69: Summer of Blood was very impressive. So many scare actors in the zone doing a great job blending into the crowd and getting scares & the soundtrack is top notch!@HorrorNightsORL #HHN32 pic.twitter.com/9UEFcviPvT
— The Darkest Barry😈 (@culturenthrills) September 2, 2023
This top-notch scare zone has surprises that will literally pop out of the fog at you. As Twitter user @culturenthrills points out, the vampires at Halloween Horror Nights do an impressive job blending into the crowd, attacking unknowing victims as they search for their next meal. The large scare zone doesn’t seem to end as guests must navigate their way to safety through the fog, only to be met with threat after threat.
If you’re lucky you might catch a cast change in a scare zone like this one in Vamp 69!@HorrorNightsORL #HHN32 pic.twitter.com/LU4alxOGmX
— ThrillGeek (@thrillgeek) September 4, 2023
As mentioned, the Vamp ’69 Summer of Blood scare zone is an entire vibe. As stated by one of the previous X posts, it’s a great place to take a drink and just hang out, listening to fantastic music while watching those roaming the streets of Universal Orlando try to escape the multitude of vampires hiding within the fog. What’s even better is if HHN guests get a a chance to catch a glimpse of the staff change procedure in the zone as seen in a video posted by user @thrillgeek.
Nothing is better than going through Vamp ‘69 while Sweet Caroline is playing. pic.twitter.com/UN0fCUEmbq
— Sinister Sarah (@1SlightlyMad1) September 4, 2023
Better yet, watch vampires, victims, and guests alike get down to “Sweet Caroline,” as posted by @1slighylmad1, among other hit songs like “Come Together” and “California Dreamin’.” The entire scene is done so well, you’ll find it impossible to leave. Assuming you can find your way out.
If you’re on the fence about Halloween Horror Nights this year, this article is your sign to go. Although Universal Studios seems to always do an amazing job at HHN, there’s something about the 2023 edition that is just so good. The houses are phenomenal and the scare zones are done so well. As for Vamp ’69 Summer of Blood, get your groove on in the most dangerous of fashion, all while having a killer good time. We absolutely loved this scare zone and can’t wait to get back to experience it again as the spooky season burns on.
