Whats New at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 2019

Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights kicked off September 6 with nostalgia, thrills and chills. The event, which runs select nights through November 2, brings fan-favorite movies and TV shows set in the 80s to life with 10 new haunted houses and 5 fun scare zones throughout the park. With so much to do and see around the park, everyone will find something to enjoy whether you love a good scare or you're just there for the snacks.

This brand new house immerses guests into seasons 2 and 3 of the popular Netflix series Stranger Things. Fans of the show will be delighted to discover that this is the longest haunted house of the event. You'll walk through iconic settings from Hawkins, Indiana like Starcourt Mall and come face to face with the Demodogs. Even if you've never seen the show, the 80s nostalgia makes for a wonderfully frightful experience!

Come for the fright and stay for the food and drink! While the detailed haunted houses and interactive scare zones are the focus of the event, you'll have plenty of refreshments to choose from when you need a break from all the screaming. Don't miss out on the Pizza Fries and Twisted Taters, and adults can enjoy the signature mixed drinks, such as the Blood Pit, at drink tents around the park. Look for fun dessert options, too, like Bloody Finger Cookies and Truffle Eyeballs.

There are some experiences you don't have to wait in line for. As you walk through the park, you'll encounter 5 different Scare Zones, each with a different theme. Actors in detailed costumes jump out at you, scream and make spooky noises as they mingle among the crowd. Rob Zombie Hellbilly Deluxe, a play on the popular album, is in the San Francisco area. Zombieland Double Tap is a play on the popular horror film, Anarch-Cade walks guests through a twisted 80s arcade complete with glowing chainsaws, and Vanity Ball in the Hollywood area is a horrific runway of the grotesque. Finally, Vikings Undead in Central Park features ancient warriors with incredibly detailed costumes.

If you love classic horror films, Universal Monsters might end up being one of your favorite haunted houses. The maze dedicates a space to each iconic monster ranging from Dracula to Creature of the Black Lagoon. I only wish I had more time to wander through this house to appreciate the level of detail in each room.

When you need a break from the thrills of haunted houses and scare zones, take a seat at the Fear Factor stage to enjoy the Academy of Villains: Altered States show. It's a mix of hip hop and horror set to music with incredibly talented dancers, including a contortionist, an aerialist and a soccer ball spinning phenom. The show is entertaining, but the contortionist climbing up on a platform in the middle of the crowd and performing his tricks up close and personal really stole the show.

Children of the 80s will be thrilled that the first-ever Ghostbusters-themed haunted house is making its debut at Halloween Horror Nights. This house mixes the truly scary moments from the classic film with favorite lines and even a bit of comedy. You'll confront the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Slimer and more ghosts as you make your way through this nostalgia-inducing maze.

Let's leave the 80s and return to present-day where Jordan Peele's 'Us' is one of the biggest movies of the year. The Wilson Family and their doppelgangers, "The Tethered", come to life in this terrifying journey through the Santa Cruz Pier, the beach house and the underground tunnels from the movie.

With 10 haunted houses, the only way to get through them all is to come back on multiple nights or pay extra for the R.I.P Tour which takes you to the front of the line for the haunted houses. Yeti Terror of the Yukon takes you to pre-gold rush Yukon where you're trapped in a blizzard and facing a bloody yeti attack. Killer Klowns from Outer Space brings the cult classic film to life, while Nightingales Blood Pit takes you back to the Gladiator games where you're traveling beneath the colosseum.

Graveyard Games takes place in a Louisiana cemetery where vicious ghosts are seeking revenge, and Depths of Fear goes deep into the sea where you'll face the terrifying Mouthbrooders. Finally, Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses is a gruesome tour through the Firefly home straight from the film with all the horrors it holds.

One element of the night that's more heartwarming than horrifying is the projection show, "Halloween Marathon of Mayhem," that takes place on the Universal Studios Florida Lagoon. You'll get to enjoy scenes from Stranger Things, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Ghostbusters and clips of your favorite Universal Monsters lit up in the spraying fountains of water set to music. Grab your Twisted Taters and relax by the lagoon for a delightful 10-minute show.

It's a great representation of Halloween Horror Nights as a whole, encapsulating classic horror films, 80s nostalgia, attention to detail and pure entertainment. For more details, visit Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 2019.