fantasticThe fright


From haunted houses to scary shows, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror


Nights are a multisensory shock-fest, finds Laura French at this year’s opening night


i travelweekly.co.uk


’m in my grave – that’s the premise – as earthy smells swirl around, bloody intestines hang from the ceiling and muddy, worm-covered walls


enclose me. I follow the trail, descending deeper into the


cemetery as slimy, skeletal ‘flesh-eaters’ jump out, their strangled, rasping noises half-masked by my own screams. Flashing red lights disorientate me as I move through the darkness, adrenaline pulsing – if this isn’t a cure for jet lag, I don’t know what is. Welcome to Halloween Horror Nights, the highly anticipated horror-themed extravaganza that


descends on Universal Orlando Resort every year from late August until early November. It’s now in its 34th year and I’m here for the start


of the 2025 event. Between 10 immersive, exclusively designed houses, striking live shows, a DJ and multiple ‘scare zones’, I find myself squealing until my voice is a shred of its former self – as am I. Eerily convincing actors, atmospheric smells,


strobe lights and dazzling sets add to the drama, making it the most impressive Halloween event I’ve experienced – so much so, I forget it’s only the end of August as I explore the event’s opening night.


² 18 SEPTEMBER 2025 49


DESTINATIONS ORLANDO | THE US


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