Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights Survival Guide 2025

9/2/2025

Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights Survival Guide 2025

Welcome to our yearly Survival Guide for Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood! Putting this guide together since 2014 is one of our favorite things to get us all ready to have an amazing time at Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood! We hope you enjoy the guide and it helps you to have a great night at HHN 2025!

Below you will find some of our tips for making the most out of your Halloween Horror Nights experience. Some do's and don'ts and most importantly, what should be your "plan of attack" for the night.

You can also check out the HHN site for more information on tickets, hours, etc.

For a full breakdown of Prices, Dates, Haunted Houses, Shows, Scare Zones and Food, check out this link!

Note: For full transparency, our Survival Guide, as written, does require a bit of hustle at least at the beginning of the night. Unfortunately that's the nature of Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood.

If you want to complete all of the houses on any given night without express, you're going to have to rush a bit. As always, we build in time for breaks. This is why one of our suggestions is to get a frequent fear pass.

Event Dates

September: 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-28
October: 2-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, 29-31 (Halloween Night)
November: 1 and 2

Just like last year, the event will run Wednesday through Sunday beginning on October 15th. Wednesday Nights are a great night to visit.

Survival Guide Video Overview

Video breakdown of our Survival Guide for those who prefer video content.
This goes into a bit more detail of our strategy.

Tips

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!!! The event sells out. Tickets will not be available at the ticket booths. Make sure you print them or use your phone to get in the gates.
Get Express!!! We can't stress this enough. If your budget can swing it this is truly the best way to have an enjoyable and relaxing night at the event. Click here for Express Pass info and prices. Express passes do sell out so your best bet is to get them online.
- After 11pm Express: Yes, there is an Express Pass that is only good after 11pm, and it's only sold at the event. If you got to the event late, or just want to make sure you experience everything, this is a pretty great deal. But be warned, this DOES sell out (we got the last 2 one night last year). So if you see the signs for the After 11pm Express, get them right away!
DON'T GO ON A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT!!! If you cannot swing the cost of the Front of the Line Pass then you should try to go on a slower night. Sunday's are typically a good night to go, especially early in the event. Last year however, Thursday Nights were busier than we'd ever seen them.
DON'T BE LATE!!! You are paying a LOT of $$ to go to HHN. Don't show up at 9:00pm and expect to do everything or expect there to be no lines. The event starts at 7:00pm, you should be lined up by 6:00pm AT THE LATEST. Earlier on Friday and Saturday nights.
- If you have the After 2:00pm pass, do not show up at 5:00pm. You're losing 3 hours of park time. If you are showing up at 5:00pm, just get the early entry. (Yes, we saw people arriving after 5:00pm with their after 2:00pm pass).
USE EARLY ENTRY!!! This is the only way to get into the event early. Early Entry begins at 5:30.
- Early Entry is $15 - $25 depending on the night. You can find info and prices here.
  - Note: Universal Studios Hollywood Passholders will also need to purchase an early entry ticket for early Entry!
IGNORE THE RIDES!!! (Unless you have a Front of the Line Pass). You are there for Halloween Horror Nights. You can come back on most days and ride Jurassic World, Mummy, The Simpsons or Transformers: 3D all you want. Especially if you have an Annual Pass. Ride lines are typically longer during HHN than they are during the day.
- If you have visitors from out of town, consider the After 2pm Day/Night Pass so you can ride during the day and get scared at night. These passes are available on the HHN site when you buy tickets AND this year the After 2pm pass includes Super Nintendo World.
After 2:00pm Day/Night Pass with EXPRESS is an exceptionally good value. Not only does this pass give you Express access to all attractions and shows from 2:00pm to 5:00pm it ALSO gives you access to all Halloween Horror Nights Houses during HHN AND all of the attractions that are open during HHN. So you can double dip your favorites!
Get the App!! The Universal Studios Hollywood app is great, even better during HHN. It will allow you to see what has long waits and what you can come back to later in favor of something not so long.
WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!!! This should pretty much be a no brainer but you'd be surprised what we've seen some people wearing. You will be walking A LOT. Taking escalators up and down to the lower lot. Do yourself a favor and be comfortable.
Avoid the busiest nights: HHN is busy every night, some nights are "less busy". Assume that any night not included with the regular Frequent Fear Pass to be the busiest nights. These would be October 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25.
Get a Frequent Fear Pass: This really is the best way to see all of Halloween Horror Nights, and not feel that you have to rush through to get everything done in one night. We've found that we really do enjoy going on multiple nights, doing a few houses, and just hanging out and enjoying the event.

RECOMMENDED HOUSE ORDER TERRIFIER FIRST

We're doing this a bit different this year. If opening weekend in Orlando is any indication, there are going to be two houses that are extremely popular this year, and they couldn't be on more opposite ends of the event. This strategy is for early entry and 7:00pm opening.

This rundown of recommended houses is if Terrifier is your priority house.

If Five Nights at Freddy's is your priority house, we have a recommended house order list below.

If you have a daytime ticket or an Annual Pass and are already in the park, you can get your early entry wristband starting at 3:00 at the front entry area or near Universal Plaza. If you have the After 2:00 ticket they will give you your early entry wristband when you enter the park.

Front of the Line tip: If lines are short when you get to the a particular attraction DO NOT use your Front of the Line Pass. Go through once in the stand-by line and then use your Front of the Line later in the evening. This way you get two trips through each House. With no backlot this year, getting back to a favorite house will be rather easy.

Curious George Lot

Recommended Order (without express):

1. Terrifier - Early Entry Begins at 5:30pm
2. Poltergeist - Early Entry Begins at 5:30pm

It may not be my thing, but Terrifier will easily be one of the most popular houses this year for Halloween Horror Nights. In fact, it may be one of the most popular HHN Houses of all time. So if this is a priority for you, make sure you get here early.

Express Tip: If you have Express and don't mind the walk back to Curious George later in the night, by all means go ahead and do Standby for both and come back later in the evening and do them again. However, if you don't want to make that walk twice, go ahead and use your express during early entry.

Lower Lot Houses:

Note that the entrance for The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks is behind Mummy even though the house is behind Jurassic World: The Ride

Recommended Order (with or without express):

3. Five Nights at Freddy's - Early Entry Begins at 5:00pm
4. Jason UN1V3RSE - Early Entry Begins at 6:30pm
5. Scarecrow - Early Entry Begins at 5:45pm
6. Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks - Early Entry Begins at 6:45pm

Early Entry Tip: If you don't want to hustle at the very least make sure you get in line for Five Night's at Freddy's prior to 7:00pm.

Upper Lot and Terror Tram

If you've followed the guide so far you have already experienced 6 of the 8 houses and should only have Fallout and Monstruos 3 left along with the terror tram. So it's time to take a bit of a break. Get some butterbeer ice cream in Hogsmeade. Have dinner in Springfield or any of the eateries upstairs.

After your break, head over to the Terror Tram.

7. Terror Tram - Early Entry Begins at 6:30pm

Express Tip: If the line for the Terror Tram is relatively short, 30 minutes or less, you CAN go through the stand-by line and use your Front of the Line later. But remember, this experience generally takes 30-45 minutes from beginning to end and closes early, so you may not have time to do it twice.

Plus, there's a LOT of walking on this one. =)

Fallout and Monstrous 3

Recommended Order (with or without express):

8. Fallout - Early Entry Begins at 6:30pm
9. Monstrous 3 - Early Entry Begins at 6:45pm

It's now time for your last two houses of the night. Your waits will probably be rather long so make sure you grab a snack to enjoy in line.

If you have time/energy and the lines are relatively short, feel free to take in a ride or two after you've completed all the houses. You've earned it. =)

RECOMMENDED HOUSE ORDER FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S FIRST

We're doing this a bit different this year. If opening weekend in Orlando is any indication, there are going to be two houses that are extremely popular this year, and they couldn't be on more opposite ends of the event. This strategy is for early entry and 7:00pm opening.

This rundown of recommended houses is if Five Nights at Freddy's is your priority house.

If Terrifier is your priority house, we have a recommended house order list above.

Lower Lot Houses

Recommended Order (with or without express):

1. Five Nights at Freddy's - Early Entry Begins at 5:00pm
2. Scarecrow - Early Entry Begins at 5:45pm
3. Jason UN1V3RSE - Early Entry Begins at 6:30pm
4. Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks - Early Entry Begins at 6:45pm

Note that the entrance for The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks is behind Mummy even though the house is behind Jurassic World: The Ride

If Five Nights at Freddy's is your priority house take a walk through Springfield, make a left turn down the starway and head for the lower lot houses first.

Early Entry Tip: You will not be able to walk-through the four lower-lot houses and make it back to Terrifier before 7:00pm. This is why we recommend saving Terrifier and Poltergeist to the end of the night.

Upper Lot Houses

After the Lower Lot houses, head to Fallout and Monstrous. Resist the temptation to head over to the Curious George when you see the wait times. The lines will be there all night. Better to wait in some shorter lines and come back and wait for those Houses later in the evening.

Recommended Order (with or without express):

5. Fallout - Early Entry Begins at 6:30pm
6. Monstrous 3 - Early Entry Begins at 6:45pm

Terror Tram

7. Terror Tram - Early Entry Begins at 6:30pm

If the Terror Tram is a priority, make sure you do this attraction before heading to Terrifier and Poltergeist. You will be spending awhile over there. You might not make it back to the upper lot before the terror tram closes for the night.

Curious George Houses

You've waited long enough. Time to head over to the Curious George lot for your last two houses of the night. Terrifier and Poltergeist.

Recommended Order (without express):

8. Terrifier - Early Entry Begins at 5:30pm
9. Poltergeist - Early Entry Begins at 5:30pm

If Terrifier is your priority and you want to maybe experience this house twice I'd suggest getting in line for it, then Poltergeist, and then get back in line for Terrifier before the park closes.

Remember, you can always get the After 11pm Express pass to make sure you can see everything without early entry.

If you have time/energy and the lines are relatively short, feel free to take in a ride or two after you've completed all the houses. You've earned it. =)

Food

There is so much food to enjoy at this years event between the upper lot and lower lot, and everywhere in between. Here is a breakdown of all food that will be offered at this years event.

Fallout (located on the Upper Lot at Hollywood and Dine)
Five Nights at Freddy’s (located on the Lower Lot at Studio Café)
Terrifier (Clown Cafe cart located adjacent to the “Terrifier” haunted house in the Curious George Lot)
Jason Universe Barbecue (located on the Lower Lot next to Panda Express)
SLASH Bar (located on the Lower Lot by “Jurassic World—The Ride”)
Chucky’s Dive Bar (located behind Animation Studio Store near Waterworld)
Dia de Los Muertos (located in Universal Plaza)
Universal Tower Snack Bar (located near Universal Plaza)

Shows

There are two shows at this years event:

“The Purge: Dangerous Waters” stunt show returns to the WaterWorld venue, taking guests on a fiery, rocket-fueled adventure while they fight to survive the night.
“Chainsaw Man: The Chaos” makes its Hollywood debut exclusively at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights within the DreamWorks Theatre. This all-original horror anime short film arrives directly from Universal Studios Japan based on the popular Japanese manga and anime series streaming now on Crunchyroll. The film will play in-language and recounts the tale of Denji and the Devil Hunters as they battle the Halloween Horror Nights Devil and his army of zombies. Denji, resurrected into Chainsaw Man, a devil-human hybrid with protruding chainsaws from his body, ultimately takes control in a quest to combat the Devils. It’s an extreme showdown that dares guests to survive a chaos of screams and blood.

Scare Zones

There are Four Scare Zones featured at Horror Nights Hollywood this year.

“Chainsaw Clownz,” a troop of chainsaw killers confront guests in this scare zone as they enter the event.
“Carnival of Carnage,” an all-new scare zone featuring a maniacal fun house.
“Noche de Brujas,” a scare zone that extends the terror from “Monstruos 3: The Ghosts of Latin America.”
“Murder of Crowz,” the popular scare zone returns with a flock of menacing crows doing anything – and everything – to defend their nest.

Chainsaw Chaseout

If you are brave enough, not tired enough, or want to experience a true Horror Nights Hollywood original, stay until the very end of the night and experience Chainsaw Chaseout. This is absolutely one of our favorite things every year, and we always make at least one late night trip to HHN to experience it (the benefits of having Frequent Fear).

Even if you're not staying for Chainsaw Chaseout, make sure you do some shopping, grab a t-shirt and hang out in the scare zones before heading out.

Drive home safely!

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