Within ten minutes of walking into Universal Studios Florida for HHN 2026 opening night, a thunderstorm rolled in and left us completely drenched. Shoes squishing, hair ruined, the works. Honestly? It was the most effective scare zone of the night.
But once the skies cleared, Halloween Horror Nights 35 roared to life. We caught the Opening Scaremonies, did four haunted houses, wandered the scare zones, chased Death Eaters around Diagon Alley, and made some questionable food decisions along the way. Here's everything we saw, ate, and bought.
All 10 HHN 35 Haunted Houses
This year's lineup includes five houses based on movies, shows, and music, plus five originals.
- Evil Dead Burn: Based on the new movie. Something evil has taken over a family home, and the Deadites are out for blood.
- Stranger Things 5: Step into Hawkins one last time in a house based on the Netflix show's fifth and final season.
- Sinners: It's opening night at Club Juke, the movie's 1930s juke joint, until a group of red-eyed vampires crashes the party. Look for Smoke and Stack.
- Hellraiser: Enter through the Lament Configuration and work your way through Frank Cotton's attic, the Channard Institute, and the Labyrinth, where Pinhead and the Cenobites are waiting.
- Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness: Ride the "Crazy Train" through ancient ruins and dungeons into a twisted world inspired by Ozzy's album covers.
- Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control: An origin story for two HHN icons, Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow, as chaos goes head-to-head with control.
- Cybergoria: A frozen future where machines are determined to make humans live forever, whether they like it or not.
- H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!: WKNB's creepy horror host is back with a Halloween special packed with ghouls and gore.
- MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals: In a post-apocalyptic world, rival cannibal gangs have taken over an abandoned zoo, and you're on the menu. This is one of the bloodiest houses of the year.
- INVASION: Alien Abduction: A crew of Gray aliens has landed on a remote farm, and they're looking for fresh test subjects.
On opening night, we took on four of them. Here's how they went...
The 4 Haunted Houses We Did
We filmed the queue, the full walkthrough, and our reactions right after every house. These are our gut reactions from opening night.
Evil Dead Burn
This was one of our favorites of the night, and it was surprisingly faithful to the movie. Scott is a huge Evil Dead fan, so he went in with high expectations, and it delivered. If you love the franchise, this one's a must.
Stranger Things 5
Good, but a little forgettable for us. The exception was Vecna, who somehow kept scaring the heck out of Lil every single time. We still can't explain it. 🤣
INVASION: Alien Abduction
The biggest surprise of the night, especially for Scott. Great scares, great theming, and super immersive. We didn't know what to expect from an original alien house, and it ended up being one of the standouts.
Sinners
Lil's favorite house of the night. Was she maybe a little influenced by Smoke and Stack? We'll let you decide. Either way, it was a strong one!
Quick verdict: Evil Dead Burn for the fans, Invasion: Alien Abduction for the surprise hit, and Sinners if you ask Lil.
The Scare Zones
Fortnitemares was the MVP of the night for us. It's brand new, and it's a blast. The Battle Bus is parked right in the zone, the Storm effect rolls in around you, and characters like Peely, Ghoul Trooper, and Hollowhead are dancing and emoting all night. Yes, someone flossed. It's less "scary" and more "spooky party," which makes it the perfect breather between houses.
We also walked through the Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Simpsons' Krustyland Chainsawscare zones, plus Club Horror, the returning street experience. They're all in the full vlog if you want to see the vibe for yourself.
Death Eaters in Diagon Alley:
Don't Skip This
Potter fans, listen up. Diagon Alley gets taken over by roaming Death Eaters, and chasing them around was one of the most fun parts of our night. They duel, stalk, and interact with guests, and then there's a nighttime stage show with lights, pyro, and plenty of dark magic. It's not a haunted house, but it's one of the most atmospheric things at the event. Budget time for it.
What We Ate
- Burnt Sando: Crispy brioche stuffed with pastry cream with a burnt sugar crust. Amazing. We'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
- Birria & Pizza Fries: Satisfyingly saucy. This one goes without saying.
- Phantom Punch: A fun, spooky sip to carry around the park. Very fruity and refreshing.
- Deathbringer Tempura Shrimp: Heads up, it comes with a hidden asparagus surprise. 🤢
- El's Battery Jerky: Creamy mac and cheese with garlic bread and pieces of jerky. It's a nod to the season 5 premiere, where Hopper tosses El some beef jerky. Comfort food with a side of Hawkins. We loved it.
- Upside Down Chicken & Waffles: A cheese and potato waffle topped with crispy chicken bites, sriracha aioli, and chives. It's savory instead of sweet, and it was one of our favorite bites of the event.
HHN 35 Merch to Look For
The merch this year is stacked! We spotted HHN 35 exclusives plus collections for Stranger Things, Sinners, Evil Dead Burn, Hellraiser, Terrifier, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space. The backpacks and posters were amazing, and the Sinners costume merch really stood out.
We couldn't leave empty-handed. Scott grabbed a Fortnitemares shirt, and Lil went with a Stranger Things 5 shirt (Yes, even after Vecna).
Tips for Opening Week (and Rain)
- Pack a poncho or umbrella. Florida storms don't care about your opening night plans. We learned this the hard way.
- Protect your phone. A Ziploc bag does the trick in a pinch.
- Go early in the season. Crowds tend to build as October gets closer, so early nights are a great time to knock out houses.
- Be flexible in storms. Lightning can pause some things, so have a backup plan like a merch run or snack break.
- Don't skip the non-house stuff. Fortnitemares and the Death Eaters were some of our favorite moments of the night.
Watch the Full Vlog
HHN 2026 OPENING NIGHT! Haunted Houses, Fortnite Scare Zone, Death Eaters & More! (https://youtu.be/pLdXk9doQSc)
Want more? Check out our HHN 35 Shorts and deep dives below:
Halloween Horror Nights 35 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many haunted houses are at HHN 35?
There are 10 haunted houses, opening in phases from 2 to 6 pm. We covered four in our opening night vlog!
Is Fortnitemares scary?
Not really, and that's the charm. It's more of a party with a spooky twist. It's great if you want a break from the jump scares (although still be ready for a couple!).
Is HHN included with a regular Universal day ticket?
No, it's a separate ticket. If you want Stay & Scream early entry, you'll need regular park admission or a Scream Early ticket, which gets you into a few houses before the event officially starts.
What happens if it rains?
The event keeps going, but some things may pause during lightning. Bring rain gear and check Universal's official site
for current policies. Trust us on the poncho.
Thanks for hanging out with us!
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