Jacqueline Dole

Halloween Horror Nights is back for its 32nd year, operating for a record-breaking 48 nights from September 1 through November 4. Despite its tagline warning to “Never Go Alone,” I took my first-ever trip to the event over opening weekend—by myself. It was all worth it in order to bring you, dear reader, this comprehensive guide to Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights 2023, including information on tickets, dates, the theme, rides and more. I’m the first to admit I can be a little bit of a scaredy cat. Regardless, as a fan of all things spooky and a fan of Universal Orlando, I knew I had to check it out. The event is often regarded as one of the premier Halloween events in the country (and a popular destination for Halloween in Miami), for good reason: It includes original Universal content and also brings beloved titles like Stranger Things, The Exorcist, Last of Us and Chucky to life.  Based on my first-look experience of Halloween Horror Nights 2023, I absolutely loved this event. The dedication to theming, incredibly talented scare actors and movie-quality set design make this a must-do for fans of haunts and Halloween. On opening night, I was invited to the media event, which allowed me the opportunity to take part in an RIP Tour. The RIP tour allows guests to skip both the standard queue and Express lanes, basically ensuring that you’ll be able to experience all of the houses, even on the busiest nights. I also attended the event the following evening wit