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Halloween 2023 at Universal Orlando Resort Guide

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Since I just took a quick trip to UO to experience HHN, I thought I would do a Halloween 2023 at Universal Orlando Resort guide.

Halloween 2023 at Universal Orlando Resort

Halloween 2023 at Universal Orlando

UO is known for their annual scary event, HHN. However, the resort leans into the holiday heavily and you can do various activities across the property to celebrate. Here’s a look at what all you can enjoy!

HHN 2023

Of course, there’s the main event – Halloween Horror Nights. This is what all of the hoopla is about and where things got started. This year there’s 10 houses, 5 scare zones, 1 live show, and themed food! I attended one night solo on this trip, but I didn’t exactly do it like other people. You can read my HHN Solo Tips post to read my full experience. However, I will say that I enjoyed the Stranger Things house and food! I also liked the show and Vamp ’69 scare zone.

I should point out that you can book tours for the houses at HHN. You can read my lights on houses tour review from last week. However, they also offer RIP Tours that allow you to skip the lines at the houses at night with the aid of a tour guide to walk you through the houses.

Themed Photo Opps

Chucky’s Twisted Playground is a room full of photo opportunities featuring Chucky at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. However, it’s exclusively for UO resort guests only. Simply present your hotel room key to see 5 unique photo opps. New for 2023, UO has also set up a Universal Monsters themed photo scene at each of the 7 other resorts on property!

Themed Bars and Drinks

Cabana Bay’s Swizzle Lounge became The Spooky Swizzle Lounge complete with pumpkins! There’s also the Spooky Sunset Lounge at Endless Summer – Dockside Inn and Suites. Additionally, all 8 resorts have special themed drinks available at their bars. Plus, City Walk’s Red Coconut Club got a spooky re-theme to become Revenge of the Dead Coconut Club in 3D.

Halloween Tribute Store

I look forward to seeing the highly themed tribute stores whenever I’m visiting the resort. This year’s store for Halloween was themed to a comic book store with a storyline told in comic book form. I enjoyed walking around and taking it all in. My one complaint about this particular store is that it’s so dark in there, it makes it difficult to actually see the merch.

Spooky Season at Universal Orlando Resort

As you can see, there are lots of ways to experience Halloween 2023 at Universal Orlando! From a separately ticketed event with haunted houses to themed drinks and a merch store, there’s a little bit of something for everyone. So, have you ever visited UO in the fall? What do you look forward to the most?

2023 HHN Daytime Houses Tour Review

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Last week, I took a quick solo trip to Universal Orlando to experience Halloween Horror Nights. While there, I was lucky enough to do the HHN Daytime Houses Tour! This is the lights on Unmasking the Horror tour featuring 6 of the 10 haunted houses from Horror Nights. Since I couldn’t find many reviews online prior to booking this, I thought I would review it for others looking for info.

HHN Daytime Houses Tour

HHN Daytime Houses Tour

The whole reason I went to Universal Orlando this time was to see the “Stranger Things” house. My husband and I enjoy watching the show, so I really wanted to see the house. However, I wanted to explore it without being scared and to be able to take pictures to share with my husband. The Unmasking the Horror tour is the only way to do this.

I booked my tour in July, before they announced which houses were included. Sidenote: There’s also a 3 houses one, but this will focus on the 6 house one. So, it was a bit of a gamble. However, “Stranger Things” had been included in the 6 house tour the past two times, so I thought it was a relatively safe one. Thankfully, on August 1st I received an email notifying me of the six houses and “Stranger Things” was included!

Behind the Screams

This is quoted as being a 5 hour tour. My tour time was 10:45 AM and we wrapped up after 4 PM. There was an hour long break for lunch in the middle of the tour. We spent roughly 30 minutes in each house. I had a great, very informative tour guide who walked us through the stories for each house as well as where the scare actors would be and how certain tricks were done. It was an interesting look at the houses as well as the development process.

This tour included: Universal Monsters: Unmasked, Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count, Stranger Things 4, Yeti: Campground Kills, Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate, and Bloodmoon: Dark Offerings. I enjoyed seeing the attention to detail in Stranger Things, Bloodmoon, and Yeti. Universal Monsters was neat with the setting in Paris. Dueling Dragons was the coolest when you finally see the two dragons near the end.

Personally, Chucky in general (not just the house) isn’t for me. My tour guide is a Chucky house defender as he doesn’t think everyone understands the premise of the house. However, I am just not into the character or storyline. I attempted to watch the show prior to my trip and couldn’t get into it. However, it seemed neat for any fans as I recognized several scenes just from watching a few episodes.

It’s probably obvious, but my favorite house was the Stranger Things one. I enjoyed feeling like I was actually in the show. Plus, now I have pictures of Eddie’s house.

Pros

  • Perfect for IP fans – If you are a fan of any of the IPs or are intrigued by the original house stories, then this is perfect for you.
  • Great for HHN fans – This tour is also perfect for any fans of HHN who are interested in learning how the houses are designed and set up.
  • Good for horror fans – I thought it was neat learning how some of the scares/tricks are performed.
  • Can take some photos – This is the only way (besides being media) that you can take photos inside the houses. Granted, it is limited, particularly in IP houses. However, it’s still neat.
  • Can slow down – At HHN, they tend to run you through houses pretty quickly and there’s no way you will see everything. A tour is much slower and little details are pointed out and explained.

Cons

  • Expensive – It was over $100 for me to do this tour and it doesn’t include admission to HHN or the parks.
  • Long – Similar to my guidance in my Universal Holiday Tour Review, this is not an activity where you sit around and listen. Five hours is a long time to spend on anything, so make sure you are truly interested and capable of walking that long.
  • Rushed – While the walkthroughs were slower than at night, the tour still felt a little rushed at times. Also, lunch was stressful as we had one hour to go get something, eat it, and be ready to see Stranger Things. I wish the tour included a lunch, even a sandwich to cut out the stress of missing a house. I also feel compelled to point out that we didn’t get a single restroom break. The only break we had was for lunch. So, that wasn’t good for staying hydrated or the bladder. Ha.

Is the HHN Daytime Houses Tour worth it?

I think the HHN Daytime Houses Tour is only worth it if you are a fan of one of the IPs or horror in general. Plus, I don’t know that it would be a great use of time for someone’s first visit to Universal Orlando. However, I enjoyed my tour and don’t regret it one bit. So, have you ever done a Horror Nights tour?

Amatista Cookhouse Review – Breakfast and Dinner

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I figured I would do an Amatista Cookhouse review since it’s one of the few restaurants at Universal Orlando that I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying both breakfast and dinner from. This review will provide a look at both meals as well as a look at some of the options for the Magical Dining promotion happening right now.

Amatista Cookhouse Review

Amatista Cookhouse Review

The Amatista Cookhouse is the main dining option (sit down meal) at the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando. I previously mentioned the good food here in my Loews Sapphire Falls Resort Review. However, I was also able to partake in their dinner during the Magical Dining promotion last fall while staying at Aventura Resort. This review will focus on both of those experiences for dinner and the one morning I had breakfast here.

Breakfast

My mom and I had breakfast here one morning in February 2023. It’s a breakfast buffet with lots of fresh donuts/pastries, some meats and cheeses, fruits, pancakes, as well as an omelet station. We were particularly impressed with the freshness of the donuts. I also liked the quality of the meats and cheeses. The omelet was tasty too! Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the “biscuits” as they were more akin to dry little rolls than biscuits.

At almost $30/each, it is a bit pricey. However, most things were tasty and you can’t leave hungry. I think this meal is ideal for a leisurely non-park morning.

You can view some of our breakfast food if you swipe through my pictures in this Instagram post.

Dinner

I feel like dinner is where this restaurant really shines. I’ve eaten dinner here twice and had a good meal each time. The most recent occasion (seen above) started with a delicious basket of assorted rolls. I love the cheese rolls, but my mom isn’t a big fan of cheese. So, there’s more for me!

For an entrée, I chose the half mojo marinated rotisserie chicken. It was a juicy chicken with a good flavor from the spices and two sauces. For my sides, I went with the pink beans for something different. Honestly, they tasted like regular beans to me. I also got the platanos maduros, which are fried bananas. They were fun and a sweet addition to my meal.

Lastly, my mom and I split a dessert. We got the caramel apple breading pudding. The accompanying pumpkin spice ice cream made this a creamy treat that would be perfect for fall.

Overall, this was a good and filling meal. I will admit the service was a little slow though. So, maybe don’t eat here if you are in a hurry.

Magical Dining

Another reason I’m posting this review now is because between now and October 1st, you can eat here and enjoy the Magical Dining promo! Magical Dining is Orlando’s culinary special that allows people to eat a three course meal for either $40 or $60 at select restaurants! Plus, up to $2 goes to charity! So, it’s a good way to save some money on food while giving back! Last fall, we happened to eat here during the promo and enjoyed our meal! This restaurant’s menu is $40 for the promo, which saves you at least a few dollars depending on which items you select.

For my appetizer, I selected the ancho chile chicken empanadas. I really liked these. They were too spicy for my mom though. My mom chose the queso for her appetizer, which we both enjoyed. I got the salmon for an entrée and my mom got the steak. Both dishes were perfectly cooked and tasty. My mom got the dark chocolate mousse with raspberry, which unfortunately isn’t an option for Magical Dining this year. However, it was good if you like dark chocolate. I got the Caribbean rum cake, which was really good and I highly recommend it. You can see pictures of our food from this meal in the Instagram post above.

Is Amatista Cookhouse Worth It?

Personally, I feel the food is much better at dinner than breakfast here. However, I think you need to make sure you have enough time to eat here as it’s not exactly a quick meal. Also, it tends to be a pricier meal. So, if you are on a tight budget, it might be best to stick to a grab and go option elsewhere. It is a good option for a tasty, leisurely meal for adults.

Fall in Orlando Theme Parks

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While it may seem a little early for this post, the theme parks are beginning to celebrate the autumn season later this week! So, I thought I would do a fall in Orlando theme parks post to kick-off the fall season. If you are wondering about summer in the theme parks, here is my post on it from two months ago.

Fall in Orlando

Fall in Orlando

Personally, fall is one of my favorite times to visit the theme parks! You can typically expect a bit cooler temperatures, which I consider a huge win. However, I would encourage you to keep an eye on the extended weather forecast if you plan a fall trip as it’s prime hurricane season. I’ve been lucky in that only one trip has been impacted by a hurricane. It is something to keep in mind though. On another note, I love fall and all of the theme parks have some fun/Halloween events to look forward to! So, I think it’s worth planning a trip during the fall months as long as you pay attention to the weather.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival

If you are visiting Walt Disney World in the fall, you can expect to experience the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! Taking place from August 29th to November 23rd in 2024, it’s a fabulous festival with lots to enjoy for fellow foodies! I don’t drink much, but I love eating! I enjoy walking around this festival and trying different dishes. They also have some cool concerts planned as part of their Eat to the Beat series. If you are visiting during these months, I highly recommend a visit.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

If you are visiting Walt Disney World from August 9th to October 31, 2024, then on select nights you can attend the separately ticketed event Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. I was supposed to attend last year, but the hurricane cut-off my WDW portion of the trip. Unfortunately, I haven’t attended this party since 2019. However, prior to that I attended it several times. It’s one of my favorite things to do at Walt Disney World! I love the special parade as well as fireworks! I’m hoping to attend this year’s bash. FYI: it’s not a scary event. It’s a family-friendly event including trick-or-treating for kids of all ages!

SeaWorld Orlando Halloween Spooktacular

Last year, I was lucky enough to visit SeaWorld Orlando and enjoy their Halloween Spooktacular event. In fact, you can read my SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween post from last year to get a better idea of what to expect at this event, including my review of the Count von Count Spooktacular Breakfast. This seasonal event takes place on weekends from August 31 to November 3rd. This is one of the few Halloween events included with regular park admission. It also takes place during the day, which has its pros and cons. It’s a family friendly event with mermaids and dancing scarecrows. You can also trick-or-treat around the park for an additional cost.

SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream

Now, we are moving on to the scarier, more adult Halloween events in Orlando. While SeaWorld is child friendly during the day, it takes a turn for the scary on select nights from September 6th to November 2nd with their Howl-O-Scream event. A separately ticketed event meant for adults, it features several haunted houses, scare zones, shows, roaming haunts, and themed bars. It is cheaper than the OG scary event at Universal, but seems to be in the same vain. I haven’t ever attended this one, but I’ve heard good things about it.

Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights

Lastly, we have the premiere Halloween theme park event, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando. This is the top tier scare event. It features 10 highly themed haunted houses, including popular IPs. It will take place on select nights from August 30th to November 3rd.

As of May 2024, Universal hasn’t officially announced any IPs for this year’s event. If you are on the fence, I recommend reading my Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando: Tips for Anxious Folks post. I attended in 2023 by myself and did a post Halloween Horror Nights Solo Tips for anyone considering doing the same. I also booked a 2023 HHN Daytime Houses Tour and reviewed it. Lastly, I posted a separate Halloween 2023 at Universal Orlando Resort Guide to give you an idea of what to expect.

Orlando Theme Parks in Fall

As you can see, there are several fun events taking place in fall in Orlando theme parks. From the haunts to the scary good food, there’s something for everyone! So, which of these events are you planning on visiting this year? Or, which of these is your favorite to visit each year?

You can view my other seasonal theme park guides here:

Universal Orlando Tips for First Time Visitors

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I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me sooner to write a Universal Orlando tips post. However, I am finally posting it in case anyone needs help planning their first trip!

Universal Orlando Tips

Universal Orlando Tips

As of this writing, I have visited UO five times! So, while I won’t claim to be a true expert on the resort, I do have some experience in visiting it. Thus, these are things I keep in mind when visiting or wish I had known when I first started visiting.

General Information

As of 2023, Universal Orlando Resort consists of two theme parks and a highly themed water park. They are currently building a third theme park, scheduled to open in 2025. The resort also currently has two value resorts, two prime value resorts, one moderate, and three premiere hotels. I’ve visited both theme parks and stayed in all but one of the resorts. You can read my reviews of the Universal Resorts to see what I think of most of them.

Pro tip: I highly recommend staying on-site at one of their resorts as the free transportation is very useful. I feel safe using it, especially as a female traveler at night. Plus, you get additional time in the parks when you stay at a resort hotel.

Do You Need a Park-to-Park Ticket?

I suspect lots of people ask this question as theme park tickets can be expensive. Honestly, if it’s not in the budget, don’t fret. The only thing you miss with a single park per day ticket is riding the Hogwarts train between the two parks. While it’s a must-do for any Harry Potter fan, it’s not necessary for other folks. As a passholder I must admit that I enjoy starting at whichever park has early entry and then heading to the other one. However, that’s because I’ve visited several times now and have done most of what I want to do by now.

Now, if you can only afford one day at one park, that is trickier. Personally, I have spent the most time in Universal Studios Florida. However, that is also where the majority of seasonal events take place. It’s also where the new Minions Land just opened up. However, I also love Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure. I would recommend checking out the rides and lands in each park to determine which one is most appealing to you and your group.

Seasonal Events

If you are looking to add a little more entertainment or food options to your trip, then you may want to consider visiting during a seasonal event. There are three seasonal events at UO: Mardi Gras from early February to April, Halloween Horror Nights from early September until the end of October, and Christmas from early/mid-November to early January. I have written posts on each of them previously and they are linked above for further descriptions of each. Needless to say, I highly recommend visiting during these events if once catches your eye.

Universal Orlando vs Walt Disney World

Personally, I visited UO after WDW. So, if that’s you, then this section is for you. First, you should understand that UO is much smaller and more relaxed than WDW. No need to make dining reservations 60 days out here. However, you should make reservations for the more popular restaurants such as Mythos or character dining a few weeks in advance. Logistically, a UO visit is much calmer than a WDW one.

I would like to point out that UO has more thrill rides than WDW. UO rides also tend to be screen heavy, i.e. they rely on screens to show you stuff versus animatronics like at Disney. It’s definitely easier to experience motion sickness at Universal. While it’s never been a problem for me, I believe Universal’s rides may not be as accommodating for larger folks. So, if you get motion sick easily or are of a bigger stature, this may not be a place you want to spend several days in.

Additionally, I think it’s worth pointing out that Universal can be edgier than Disney. While it’s still a family-friendly park (aside from HHN), you can expect to see things here that Disney would never do. For instance, you may see some humor in the rides or on signs with jokes that Disney would never allow.

Final Tips

It’s impossible to condense my Universal Orlando tips into a little list. Nonetheless, I hope you found some helpful ideas here. For what it’s worth, I think 2-3 days is an ideal amount of time to spend at this resort. So, have you ever visited Universal Orlando Resort? Do you have any tips?