Scare Tactics: What's Haunting Halloween Horror Nights 2024?Universal Studios has pulled out ALL the stops this year, bringing back some of the most iconic horror legends along with fresh, nightmare-inducing frights. Yeah, we're talking Michael Myers, Insidious, a quiet place (that gets not so quiet if you make a sound), and other horror heavyweights stalking you through the streets. A casual stroll through the park? Psh, not this time. Around every corner is something ready to make you scream like you're auditioning for a horror flick.But wait, there's more! For all you horror newbies or "hold-my-hand-I'm-scared" types, there's plenty of original houses and zones to get you started. If you're brave (or reckless), we HIGHLY recommend checking out the brand-new haunted house that's already giving us chills just thinking about it.Haunted Houses & Scare Zones: Enter If You DareAlright, let's talk about the real reason you're here: those haunted houses. Universal knocked it out of the park (literally) with the design this year, making every house scarier than your ex's DMs. There's something for everyone—latin american monsters, classic goblins and vampires, and devils that have extra long arms and claws, you name it. These haunted houses are meticulously designed to make you feel like you're stepping into a living, breathing horror movie. One of the must-see haunted houses this year, Slaughter Cinema, is based on the latest horror blockbuster, while others pay homage to beloved horror franchises. Whether it's creepy triplets, ghostbusters, or deadly exhibits, at least one house will leave you shaking.See below for our Favorites List1. Slaughter Sinema2. Insidious3. Monstruos4. Goblins Feast5. Eternal Bloodlines6. Ghostbusters7. A Quiet Place 8. Triplets of Terror9. Deadly Exhibits10. Major SweetsWe hope you make it out alive. 😱And don't forget about the scare zones, where roaming monsters make the streets themselves a terrifying playground. You will literally just be trying to grab a snack, and BOOM, a Latin American swamp monster is chasing you with a chainsaw. Fun times, right? Keep your eyes peeled for these zones—they're filled with killer (ha) street performers who will keep your heart rate going like you just ran a 5k. This year's scare zones include a medieval torture faire, a swamp of the undead, demon queens, a duality of fear, and the Blumhouse. All spots that seem to jump out of your worst nightmares.Shows, Snacks, and Other Non-Terrifying Things (Kinda)Now, let's be real. There comes a point where even the bravest souls need a breather, and HHN totally gets that. That's where the live shows come in. Think of it as your horror-comedy break—filled with wild stunts, dark humor, and the occasional what the heck moment. Perfect for when your body says, "Enough screaming for now, please."The performances are theatrical and edgy and have just the right amount of humor to keep the mood light—before plunging you back into darkness.And OH MY GHOUL, don't even get us started on the food. HHN 2024 has rolled out some seriously spooky snacks that are both terrifyingly tasty and Instagram-worthy. We're talking walking tacos, mole pork, chimichurri chicken on a stick, and maybe... some alcoholoc ghoul juice. Travel Brats' Top Tips to Survive HHN 2024Hours: HHN is open every night of the week except Mondays and Tuesdays!Weekday: If you can, go on a Wednesday or during the week. Around midnight, everyone leaves, and you can get through up to 4 houses in two hours.Pace Yourself: Don't go into the park all day long! You will literally die by 2:00 AM if you start earlier than 12:00 PMArrive Early: Like, super early. Otherwise, you're gonna spend half the night in lines (not fun). The event draws huge crowds, so getting in before the rush ensures you'll have time to hit all the big attractions. Plus, getting there early means more time to mentally prepare yourself for the scares. At 5:00 PM, everyone gets kicked out of Universal Studios, so make sure you are in a holding area by 5:00 PM. To get into the park early, you either need a season pass or purchase the "stay and scream" pass for early admission to the park. If you are in the holding area line by 4:15 (you can get in the line as early as 3:00 PM), you will be able to get into your first haunted house early enough. This year, Ghostbusters and Insidious started at 5:15 PM, and other haunted houses started at 5:30 and 6:00 PM.Grab an Express Pass or Get two Tickets: If you have the money and time and you want to avoid long lines (and who doesn't?)An Express Pass is your best friend. It's basically a magical portal that zips you to the front of the line. Trust us, it's worth every penny when you're trying to squeeze in all the haunted goodness. Get tickets for two nights ($85 each night) because it's cheaper than one night with the $200 express pass unless you wanna blast through in one night with a fast pass.Bring Comfy Shoes: You'll ...
