UniversalParksBlog News for March 30th, 2022
Friends, we now know the dates for Halloween Horror Nights 31 at Universal Orlando Resort. It’s go-time, people! Let’s check out the UniversalParksBlog News for March 28th, 2022.
Photo: Universal
Let’s Talk Recent Horror History
Photo: Facebook/Universal Orlando
During the last two years, indecision has reigned over the beloved Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) event. Universal Studios’ management obviously wanted to run the event. However, they faced seemingly impossible odds due to the pandemic.
The result was that the lavishly planned 30th edition of HHN felt truncated. Universal refused to call it a full Halloween Horror Nights. Instead, the 2020 version will always come with the asterisk that it’s the Universal Studios Orlando Fall & Halloween Experience.
Guests only gained access to two houses, Revenge of the Tooth Fairy and Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives.
History won’t remember it this way, but we were all thrilled to get them, as two were better than zero. Universal’s can-do attitude guaranteed we’d have something.
Social distancing and precautionary measures kept Scareactors and park guests safe from one another. In fact, the process worked well enough that Universal brought back the Beetlejuice house for the Halloween holiday.
Hey, that might not sound like much, but it was 50 percent more houses! Also, Universal offered the Tribute Store so that guests could at least load up on merchandise. The authentic version of HHN returned last fall, a year later than we’d all hoped.
In early March of 2021, Universal revealed the dates for the event and then promised a full version, one befitting the 30th edition. Jack the Clown would return as The Icon, 10 houses would anchor the event, and five pandemic-safe scare zones would operate.
We could all tell the differences between that event and prior ones from before the pandemic, but we were okay with that! HHN felt much closer to the real thing.
Let’s Talk HHN 31
Photo: Universal
Now that the worst of the pandemic is presumably over, Universal Studios strategists can plan a full-fledged event for 2022, one without concessions.
We’ve just learned the nights for the event, and it’s the most HHN dates ever! HHN 31 will run on:
- September 2nd – 4th
- September 7th – 11th
- September 15th – 18th
- September 21st – 25th
- September 28th – 30th
- October 1st – 2nd
- October 5th – 9th
- October 12th 16th
- October 19th – 23rd
- October 26th – 31st
That’s a grand total of 43 nights of horror at Universal Studios Florida!
Photo: Universal
Park officials also confirmed 10 houses, five Scare Zones, and two live stage shows for 2022.
We also learned pricing for the events. HHN 31 tickets will cost $73.99 to $104.99, depending on the date of your visit. You can already purchase tickets on the official HHN website at Universal.
Savvy guests can also take advantage of a Scream and Save package to save even more money.You should speak to an agent at Let’s Adventure Travel to find the best package for your needs.
Let’s Talk HHN Tours
Photo: discoveruniversal.com
Universal Orlando Resort will offer three add-on tours for guests as well.
The popular R.I.P. Tour returns for another go-round. It entitles guests to a walking tour of the event and priority entrance into the 10 houses once each. Guests will pay $249.99 each plus tax for the R.I.P. Tour. Please remember that you must buy admission to the event as well, though.
Universal hasn’t posted prices for the Private R.I.P. Tour, instead directing guests to contact them at 866-346-9350. It’s the same tour, only with unlimited house access. Finally, Universal has added Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour. It’s a lights-on, daytime tour of either three or six HHN houses.
Prices for this event start at $79.99 plus tax. So, it’s ideal for superfans who want to learn everything about the houses.
Photo by Erin Wingard
Then again, you prefer the mystery of the dark and not knowing what’s coming next. Everyone’s different.
Whatever you decide, let’s not bury the lede here. Halloween Horror Nights will return in roughly five months, and it’ll be the real deal this time!
Park Updates
Photo:Universal Studios Hollywood
We’ve had a relatively calm couple of weeks at Universal Studios as everyone awaits Spring Break crowds. Still, we have tracked some park changes, including one that cracks me up.
The most popular Transformers, Bumblebee and Optimus Prime, are currently greeting guests at Universal Studios Hollywood. As you know, Bumblebee isn’t much of a talker. So, it’s a lot of physical comedy and improv.
Megatron is also lurking in the distance if you want some sour interactions as well. You should totally ask him why he’s fought the Autobots for millennia but never won.
At Universal Studios Hollywood, normalcy is returning after a crazy couple of years. To wit, The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle is finally back. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter finally glows again, and Universal is running the presentation six times a night to celebrate.
Photo:instagram/universalorlando
At Universal Studios Florida, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit has added two new songs on the hidden menu, both by Blink-182. Once your lap bar is in place, you can access the private menu by pressing the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit logo for 10 seconds.
Then, you’ll enter a three-digit code for the secret song. Pick 183 to hear What’s My Age Again, Blink-182’s only memorable song. For some reason, the more obvious number, 182, goes to All the Small Things…which is just wrong.
Source: Universal Orlando
Finally, Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges has reopened after its annual refurbishment.
With this ride’s return, Universal Orlando Resort has completed its winter wet ride renovations for 2022. We’ll start the entire process again next January.
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