Navigating Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios: Why I Chose to Leave My Service Dog at Home

September 5, 2024

Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) at Universal Studios Orlando is an intense and thrilling event filled with haunted houses, scare zones, and terrifying creatures lurking around every corner. For those who rely on a service dog, like myself, it’s essential to evaluate whether bringing your service dog to such a high-stress, high-scare environment is the best option for you and your furry companion. Here’s my experience, along with some tips on making an informed decision about attending HHN with or without your service dog.

Preparing for Halloween Horror Nights

Before attending HHN, my husband Casey and I decided to conduct some mock training at home to see how my service dog, Ariel, might react to the event’s scary creatures and chaotic environment. During the preparation, we realized that Ariel was skittish and uncomfortable with the types of situations she would likely encounter at HHN, such as people in costumes creeping up on us. It became clear that it would be too stressful for her to attend. Given this, we chose to leave her with family while we went to the event. As a service dog handler, it’s crucial to recognize when an environment may be too overwhelming for your dog and make alternative arrangements as needed.

We also took time to assess whether I would be able to attend without her. Since Casey would be with me for additional support, I felt confident I could manage the event without Ariel. This evaluation is vital for any handler to ensure they can still enjoy the experience, even if their service dog isn’t by their side.

Universal Studios’ Accessibility Accommodations

Universal Studios has done a great job of making Halloween Horror Nights accessible for everyone. For guests with an Accessibility Assistance Pass (AAP), there are designated quiet areas around the park, which provide a calm space if things become overwhelming. These areas can be a helpful retreat if the intensity of the event gets too much for either you or your service dog.

Each haunted house at Halloween Horror Nights allows guests using the AAP to take advantage of return times, similar to a Fast Pass system, making it easier to avoid long waits in intense environments. Additionally, I noticed that at each of the houses, there were dog crates available. This ensures that service dogs would not have to go through the haunted houses, which could be stressful for them.

In our case, had I brought Ariel, we would have planned to use these quiet areas if she became stressed or overwhelmed. Since I attended the event without her, I would have also used these quiet spaces myself if I became overwhelmed. If either of us couldn’t handle the environment, we were fully prepared to leave the park to ensure our well-being.

Enjoying the Experience Without Ariel

Without Ariel, we still made the most of the event. We stayed at Universal’s Sapphire Falls Resort, which was our first time staying there and has now become our favorite due to its proximity to the parks. The water taxi service was a fun and convenient way to travel to and from the parks, adding a relaxing start to our HHN adventure.

Since we have military Freedom Passes, we had access to the parks during the daytime. This allowed us to seamlessly transition into Halloween Horror Nights without needing to purchase a separate Stay & Scream ticket, which gives early access to the haunted houses before the general crowd is let in at 6:30 p.m.

Stay & Scream Strategy

For those unfamiliar with the Stay & Scream option, it allows guests already in the park to get a head start on the haunted houses before HHN officially opens for the night. We found this to be incredibly beneficial, as we were able to hit some of the most popular houses early, avoiding the longest lines later in the night.

Wait times tend to peak between 7:30 and 11:30 p.m., with some of the most popular houses, like Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, reaching 100-minute waits. However, during the Stay & Scream period, we saw much lower wait times — Ghostbusters had a 25-minute wait around 5:45 p.m., and Major Sweets Candy Factory was as low as 5 minutes at one point.

Overall, we noticed that early entry through Stay & Scream and the last hour of the event offer the lowest wait times, making them the best times to tackle the most houses.

The Haunted Houses and Scare Zones

I was able to experience 7 out of the 10 haunted houses at HHN. The three houses I skipped were The Museum: Deadly Exhibits, Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America, and Triplets of Terror. Our top scares came from Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and Insidious: The Further, both of which really got our adrenaline pumping. On the flip side, Major Sweets Candy Factory was disturbingly gross and put me off eating for the rest of the night.

Speaking of food and drinks, we loved the Mini Stay-Puft S’more from the Ghostbusters house, which was a sweet treat we couldn’t resist. Our favorite drink was the Ghoul Juice from the HHN Bar at Hollywood — a perfect mix of rum, cherry brandy, and mango nectar that kept us energized for the night.

As for scare zones, we enjoyed them all, but Swamp of the Undead stood out as our favorite, with its eerie atmosphere and creepy characters lurking around the fog.

Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus

One of the highlights of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights for me was seeing Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus for the first time. The show brings you into a dark and twisted circus world, where nightmares and desires blur the lines between reality and fantasy. The story follows a tortured patron who is trapped in a terrifying loop, watching the aerialist he loves die in various ways, night after night, unable to save her. The mix of stunning choreography, fire effects, and intense storytelling kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the performance.

However, I must emphasize that the disclaimers at the beginning of the show should be taken seriously. The content is quite provocative, and there’s no way I would feel comfortable letting my 9-year-old son watch it at this point. The adult themes and intensity make it more suitable for mature audiences, so parents should definitely consider this before attending. Despite that, if you’re looking for a thrilling and immersive experience, Nightmare Fuel certainly delivers.

Making the Right Choice for You and Your Service Dog

In conclusion, deciding whether to bring your service dog to an event like Halloween Horror Nights comes down to evaluating your dog’s comfort level, as well as your own ability to manage the event without them. While Universal Studios does offer accommodations like quiet areas and dog crates near the haunted houses, the intense nature of the event might not be suitable for every service dog.

If you decide not to bring your dog, having a support person with you, as I did with my husband, can make the experience more enjoyable. Always prioritize your and your service dog’s well-being to ensure you both have a safe and fun experience, whether you’re at HHN or another event.