Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2025 Kicks Off with Low Crowds and New Haunted Houses

Universal Orlando Resort’s 34th annual Halloween Horror Nights officially began tonight, Wednesday, September 3, marking the first of 48 select fright-filled evenings through November 2. This opening night fell on one of the traditionally lighter attendance dates-crowd levels for September 3 and 4 are projected to be low, offering guests shorter wait times and more opportunities to explore the event’s ten haunted houses and sprawling scare zones.

A highlight of tonight’s launch was the debut of several all-new, movie-quality haunted houses. Guests braved the eerie corridors of “Five Nights at Freddy’s”, where animatronic horrors lurk in shadowed corners, and confronted Art the Clown’s macabre funhouse from the “Terrifier” franchise. Other headline attractions include a post-apocalyptic trek through Prime Video’s “Fallout”, a blood-soaked vengeance tour with Jason Voorhees in “Friday the 13th”, and a menacing immersion into the cult mystique of WWE’s The Wyatt Sicks.

For those seeking expedited terror, Express Passes were available for $180 tonight, up from $170 on quieter nights. These passes grant guests front-of-the-line access to haunted houses and scare zones, a valuable upgrade on busy evenings. Additionally, Universal continues to offer Stay & Scream wristbands, VIP RIP Tours, and other premium add-ons to enhance the Horror Nights experience.

Beyond the haunted houses, the event’s numerous scare zones-ranging from witch-infested Latin legends in “Noche de Brujas” to chainsaw-wielding clowns in “Chainsaw Clowns”-kept roaming hordes of scareactors prowling the fog-shrouded streets. Despite light rainfall earlier in the day, weather cooperation added to the atmosphere rather than disrupted the event, with drizzles helping to thin lines without canceling any attractions.

With a lineup blending nostalgic fan favorites and fresh original terrors, tonight’s opening set the tone for a season of unmatched Halloween thrills. Guests who experienced tonight’s inaugural evening left humming with dread and anticipation for the nights to come as Horror Nights 2025 unfolds at Universal Studios Florida.