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Halloween Horror Nights is a ton of fun for fear-loving fans of all things frightening and gruesome. The more mature seasonal offering at Universal Studios brings to life your worst nightmares while forcing you to face your fears of demons, ghosts, monsters, serial killers, and more as you trek through multiple movie-quality haunted houses and scare zones. Held on both coasts, Halloween Horror Nights sometimes referred to as HHN, is on its 32nd edition this year, bringing a load of spooky excitement to both Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood.
Compared to its competition at Disneyland and Disney World, HHN is a much more adult-oriented event. Although there’s nothing there that’s going to surprise horror fans, Universal doesn’t shy away from the blood, guts, and screams that make the event so popular. Many, who feel that Disney’s Halloween celebrations are geared too much towards children prefer the unique, haunting vibes of Halloween Horror Nightsl waiting all year to explore houses like Chucky: Ulitmate Kill Count, Stranger Things Season 4, or The Last of Us: Part 1.
Credit: Universal Studios, Ashley Carter/ X
Amongst the fog, haunted houses, and scare zones, guests will also find special food and drink offerings throughout the event. This includes unique, gruesome snacks, event-specific merchandise, and even creepy alcoholic concoctions. However, many fans are calling for the end of alcohol at Halloween Horror Nights after several incidents involving guests placing their hands and becoming violent with Universal’s scare actors have seen an uptick. These incidents often occur due to the startling nature of the event, with jump scares galor. However, they can equally be attributed to the influence of alcohol, as, much like EPCOT, drinking has become part of HHN culture.
Credit: Universal Studios, Ashley Carter/ X
On a personal note, while visiting Halloween Horror Nights over the last weekend, I noticed a Team Member in make-up being escorted past the queue we were waiting in. The scare actor was surrounded by security and in tears. After a few conversations with guards, she was physically assaulted by a guest as she was working in one of the haunted houses. She was visibly in pain and shaken by the attack, and I couldn’t help but wonder why anyone would attend an event and harm one of the workers who’ve gone through so much trouble to make it as memorable as possible.
Credit: Universal Studios, Ashley Carter/ X
It doesn’t stop there, however, as my own personal experience isn’t the only time guests have gotten physical with scare actors this HHN season. According to many who frequent the event, it’s becoming an egregious problem, happening more and more. Witnesses and employees of Universal Studios agree that alcohol is a catalyst to the problem, causing many to act out and strike team members within haunted houses. The latest of these events was captured on film and posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, by user @jakecoasters, and we warn you it is difficult to watch.
*WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS SCENES OF GRAPHIC VIOLENCE*
This has to stop. I sure hope Universal Hollywood has seen this video and taken legal action. Unfortunately this type of behavior has been on the rise at theme parks and haunt events. pic.twitter.com/E4OkZ7mD0W
— Jake Coasters (@jake_coasters) September 8, 2023
In this particular incident, a potential guest is seen hurling himself at a scare actor, using his entire body to not the Universal Studios employee surely off of his/her feet. Guests look on stunned and the man in question walks off seemingly proud of his assault while another guest tries to stop him. As Jake mentions, in the caption of the video, which was originally posted by @retrorumpus, “This has to stop. I sure hope Universal Hollywood has seen this video and taken legal action. Unfortunately this type of behavior has been on the rise at theme parks and haunt events.”
Commentors were quick to point to alcohol as a potential culprit, and they most likely aren’t wrong in their assumption. Universal Studios and Walt Disney World have both seen an uptick in bad guest behavior, much of which can be attributed to alcohol consumption within their parks. We’ve seen guests “drinking around the world” at EPCOT end up in fights, sick in bathrooms, and even taking a bath in fountains; but this event at Universal Hollywood during Halloween Horror Nights is an outright assault on someone trying to their job.
Credit: Universal Studios, Ashley Carter/ X
Influenced by alcohol or not, this type of behavior within a theme park is illegal and, in most cases, will end with you in cuffs, taking a free ride with police to the local jail. It’s clear, cut assault, not to mention disgusting. The heightened “scare factor” at Halloween Horror Nights is no excuse for ever touching someone else, even actors who are doing their job of scaring guests. If you can’t handle the event or your alcohol, stay home. It’s that simple.
