Universal Orlando Resort

You will want to purchase your Halloween Horror Nights ticket online before your trip because you’ll save money off the gate price. Plus, some nights definitely sell out. You can purchase single-night, date-based tickets, but when you do, make sure you also add on a “Scream Early” ticket. This will allow you into Universal Studios Florida park anytime between 3pm and 5pm. During that time, you can hop on a few rides or do a lap around the park to get the lay of the land. At 5pm, the park closes to day guests and you’ll wait in a designated “Stay & Scream” area until HHN begins (usually at 6:30pm). If there is a particular house you want to visit first, ask a Team Member which Stay & Scream area is closest to that house. You’ll be one of the first in line for what’s sure to be a night of sheer terror.  After you escape your first house of the evening, spend a few hours exploring the rest! Wait times and a map are available in the official Universal Orlando app. Wait times tend to be the longest between 9pm and 11pm, and die down as closing time approaches (typically 1am or 2am, depending on the day of the week). If any of your must-see houses have a really long wait time, hold off until later in the evening for shorter lines. While you walk through the streets of Universal Studios Florida, you’ll pass through HHN’s outdoor scare zones. These open-air scare zones are just as creepy and gory as the haunted houses and are populated by costumed “scareactors” who roam through the crowd waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. They aren’t quite as scary as the houses, but you still need to be on your toes. If they see an opportunity to rev their chainsaw right behind you or pop out of a dark corner, they’ll take it. At some point, you need a break from the screams to rest and refuel. HHN mainstays like Pizza Fries and Twisted Taters are available every year, but Universal’s chefs also create a selection of items themed to the different houses. You might find a “Leatherface Cherry Pie” for Texas Chainsaw Massacre or a “Bride of Frankenstein’s Swirl” cone made with black sesame and white swirl ice cream in a black waffle cone. Of course, there’s also plenty of beers and specialty cocktails to wash it down with. Pick up a few snacks,  find a spot at one of the live shows, and relax for a bit. When you’re ready, hit up some more houses and scare zones until you’re ready to call it a night.

Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Celebration 2021: Spring 2021 Where: Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, FL While technically Mardi Gras—or Fat Tuesday—is meant to be one day of indulgence, Universal Orlando is throwing that notion right out the window (along with tens of thousands of beads) during their two-month-long Mardi Gras Celebration. While there is daily live music (including big names like TLC and Marshmello) and a nightly parade, the real showstopper is the authentic Cajun food. There’s a crawfish boil, jambalaya, beignets, and, of course, a lucky king cake. If you’re looking to expand your tastes beyond New Orleans, visit the Carnival Around the Universe tent. Here, you’ll find a plethora of global Carnival cuisines with a bi-weekly rotating menu featuring dishes from countries including Germany and Brazil.

When: November 14 – January 3, 2021 Where: Orlando, Florida Universal Orlando has more Christmas cheer than every Who down in Whoville combined. To comply with social distancing guidelines, this year’s Macy’s holiday balloons and Christmas floats will be parked so guests can safely stroll along and check them out. Santa, the Grinch, and other favorite characters will be on-hand for safe selfies, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be fully decorated for the holidays. Expert Tip: While you can get cold or frozen Butterbeer all year round, hot Butterbeer is only available during the holiday season, so sip up!

Come for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, stay for some of the best coasters in Florida!