Senior Sendoff is dedicated to making the most of my final year as an undergrad student. I can’t wait to take HCFSU along on all my final school-year adventures.
A hallmark of the Halloween season, Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) at Universal Studios Orlando is an experience that absolutely everyone in Florida tries to go to. This year is my third year getting to experience HHN, and my first as an out-of-towner.
While getting there and back took eight hours of driving, four Alani Nu’s, two Red Bulls, and a stop at a Discount Tire, I still believe it was absolutely worth the experience. While I made the drive by myself, I was able to meet some friends in the park and hang out in line to help make the experience that much better.
The Amazing Houses
HHN 35 (2026) had a couple of amazing houses that I absolutely couldn’t wait to get into. With the quality and production of HHN going up every year, I was extremely excited to get scared out of my mind.
This year, Universal Studios outdid themselves with house themes, building houses from new and old horror classics, like Sinners and Hellraiser. Each house had its own theme, and with each theme came special surprises as you walked through.
New concepts at the park this year included Cybergoria, a futuristic-based horror story where life-saving cryogenic chambers start to literally suck the life out of the humans inside. As one of the bloodiest houses I was able to go through, the effects and jump scares were absolutely insane, especially near the exit.
The Sinners house did absolutely everything I wanted it to, with the music and set doing an amazing job of capturing the legendary sound and feel of what has quickly become a modern pillar of the horror genre. Experiencing Smoke, Stack, Annie, and all the other characters as they fight for their lives really helps bring everything to life.
The Park’s Transformation
One of my favorite parts of HHN has always been the “Scare Zones.” I love walking around the park and watching the amazing performers put on their show amidst the crowd. While they’re never cruel, the scare actors will get you when you least expect it. There’s nothing to bring up the Halloween spirit quite like your conversation being interrupted by a revving chainsaw right in front of your face.
The food and decor across the park change right along with the vibes once HHN starts at 6:30 p.m. Projectors, fog, lighting, and sound effects change how people move through the park. The food cart offerings are also deliciously on theme, with HHN divided into areas based on the house located nearby.
Universal Orlando staples like Mel’s Drive-In shift into a different gear at night, embracing the horror with a name change to Mel’s Die-In and zombie carhops to pull you inside. Specialty menu items like the Pinhead donut are nice limited-time treats to snack on while walking in between houses.
10/10 Would Scare Again
One of the best things about HHN is how it changes and gets better every year. Getting to ride my favorite rides while embracing the Halloween spirit is one something I look forward to every year. Since I attended on a Sunday, the lines weren’t the busiest, and staff kept wait times short.
While no theme park experience is perfect, every time I visit HHN, I remember why I love it so much. I don’t personally scare easily, but I love a safe horror event that really leans into the classic and corny nature of a haunted house while keeping you on your toes. This HHN experience was another reminder of why I’ll continue to attend every October.
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest!