Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Is Starting Even Earlier This Year

Universal Studios has been working on something epic — quite literally — with their third theme park for Universal Orlando. Epic Universe is expected to open in 2025, and will include an all-new Harry Potter land and Orlando’s version of Super Nintendo World. For anyone who can’t wait that long for something new, you’ll be excited to hear that Universal Studios also just announced dates for Halloween Horror Nights 2024 — and the parks’s biggest event of the year is coming back sooner than you think.

Typically, Halloween Horror Nights begins in September leading up to the spookiest time of the year in October. However, Universal Studios Florida in Orlando has tickets on sale for HHN 2024 now, and the event starts on Aug. 30. Running through Nov. 3 on select nights, you’ll have plenty of time to visit (and revisit) the best Halloween theme park event.

Orlando’s 2024 Halloween Horror Nights will have 10 brand-new haunted houses with five different scare zones throughout the park. When you’re not dodging the monsters, enjoy themed food and drinks, watch a live show, or shop for exclusive merch at the beloved Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store. Tickets for a single night at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights start at $83 per person, but you can also purchase Express Passes that let you skip the regular line and those start at $130 a person.

While Orlando may have tickets available now, Universal Studios Hollywood’s dates “will be revealed soon.” There’s still plenty to enjoy on the West Coast in the meantime. Not only are both Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood celebrating Butterbeer season now until April 30, but there’s a brand-new Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour counter at Universal Studios Hollywood.

The Universal Studio Tour is also celebrating its 60th anniversary from April 26 through Aug. 11, with new experiences for guests. Basically, there’s plenty to look forward to at all the parks around the world, including the international ones in Japan and Singapore. Below, you’ll find even more exciting additions coming to Universal in 2024 and 2025.

Universal Orlando Is Getting A DreamWorks Land With A Shrek Experience

The most exciting thing coming to Universal Studios Florida has to be Epic Universe in 2025. This new and massive Universal Studios theme park will have five themed lands, including Dark Universe inspired by Universal’s movie monsters, How to Train Your Dragon’s Isle of Berk, and Celestial Park — which will be right next to a brand-new Universal Helios Grand Hotel. In each area of the park, there will be attractions, eateries, and shops.

Universal has been slowly unveiling details on everything coming to Epic Universe, and recently announced the four attractions featured in the Isle of Berk. One of these How To Train Your Dragon-themed rides is a family-friendly roller coaster, where you’ll get to fly alongside Hiccup and Toothless. Speaking of Toothless, guests will have the chance to meet the adorable Night Fury dragon in the park and recreate one of the most iconic moments from the first film by petting him.

Along with Hiccup’s Wing Gliders roller coaster at Epic Universe, Universal announced that the Isle of Berk will also have a Fyre Drill boat battle (where you will get wet), a Dragon Racer’s Rally high-flying dragon simulator, and a Viking Training Camp playground. For entertainment, The Untrainable Dragon is a stage show with characters like Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid.

Foodies will have plenty to enjoy as well. The new land features Mead Hall from the film, a quick-service Spit Fyre Grill, and Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel for quick bites. This How To Train Your Dragon area is just the cherry on top of all the new DreamWorks Animation additions coming to Florida.

Also at Epic Universe will be an all-new Wizarding World of Harry Potter land, which will be themed to the Ministry of Magic. No further details have been revealed at this time, but for wizards and muggles wanting a bit of magic now, enjoy Butterbeer season at both Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure. The new treats for the occasion include Butterbeer caramels exclusively at Universal Orlando, but both coasts are adding a Butterbeer popsicle to their menu as well.

Something else coming to the parks in 2024 is an all-new DreamWorks-themed land. Back in January 2023, Universal Orlando closed its Woody Woodpecker's KidZone to start construction on the area, which will feature characters from the Shrek, Trolls, and Kung Fu Panda franchises.

Just like the previous Woody Woodpecker section of the park, this new land will be family-friendly with play spaces and rides. While Universal hasn’t officially announced what these new experiences will be, rumors are that there will be Shrek swamp home and potentially a Trolls-themed roller coaster.

Universal annual pass members can also experience special events throughout the year, like Mardi Gras International Flavors of Carnaval happening now through April 7. Plus, Halloween Horror Nights will return in August, followed by Holidays At Universal Orlando Resort in the winter.

Along with Epic Universe opening in 2025, Universal Studios Orlando will be unveiling two new resorts. Universal Stella Nova Resort will arrive Jan. 21, 2025, and be a galaxy-themed hotel near Epic Universe. It will have a pool, standard rooms for families, and restaurants to enjoy, along with transportation to the other Universal Studios theme parks — Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida.

Adjacent to Universal Stella Nova Resort will be Universal Terra Luna Resort, opening Feb. 25, 2025. Similar to Stella Nova, this space exploration-themed resort will be close to Epic Universe and have a pool, standard rooms, and dining options.

Universal Studios Hollywood Is Celebrating The Studio Tour’s 60th Anniversary

Over in California, Universal Studios Hollywood is keeping it fresh with an all-new Super Mario-themed cafe. The Power Up Cafe, located on the upper lot, opened in February. It’s not located within Super Nintendo World, but offers Insta-worthy snacks that rival some of the dishes at Toadstool Cafe.

The Nintendo-themed land at Universal Studios Hollywood is celebrating its one-year anniversary this year as well. Guests can purchase a brand-new Golden Power-Up Band with a special button. These interactive bands are definitely worth it if you want to fully experience all the games in Super Nintendo World. You don’t have to purchase the new Power-Up Band to get the special one-year anniversary button, either. All guests can grab one of the complimentary buttons, while supplies last.

For something sweet after eating Nintendo’s mushroom-shaped Power Up calzones, foodies can treat themselves to the all-new Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream counter at Honeydukes, which is open now in the Wizarding World. The 10 new ice cream flavors that you can order in a cup or waffle cone include Butterbeer, Banana, Chocolate, Mint, Toffee Apple, Orange, Vanilla, Toffee Nut, Granny Smith Apple, and Pistachio.

Starting April 26, the famed Studio Tour will be celebrating it’s 60th anniversary and offering guests some unique experiences. Firstly, Universal has brought back their vintage red and white candy-striped Glamor Trams for guests to ride in, and for the occasion, you’ll be able to step off the tram to take pictures on the lot. This new area will have a giant King Kong backdrop and the theme park’s original Jaws shark for Insta pics.

The Earthquake attraction will return as well, and the tram will drive through Courthouse Square — aka where Back to the Future was filmed. Jurassic World fans will appreciate the new Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur display that will be added to the tour, too. The rest of the park will be celebrating with new menu items and merch, including a collectible popcorn bucket.

Another addition to the upper lot will be the new Fast & Furious roller coaster. It was reported last summer that Universal Studios Hollywood was constructing a new attraction themed to the Fast & Furious franchise where the Animal Actors and Special Effects Stage shows used to be. Universal hasn’t given an opening date just yet, but guests can still experience the Fast & Furious - Supercharged as part of the backlot tour in the meantime.

Universal Studios Japan Is Getting Donkey Kong Country This Spring

While Hollywood has had Super Nintendo World for a year, the Mario-themed land actually opened at Universal Studios Japan first in 2021. Guests who have been to both parks would also argue Japan’s version is better. Not only does it have an additional Yoshi-themed ride, but Universal Studios Japan is expanding Super Nintendo World to include a Donkey Kong Country in 2024.

The Donkey Kong-themed area will have a new roller coaster named Mine Cart Madness and interactive areas where you can use your Power-Up Band. Universal hasn’t announced an opening date, but Time Out says Donkey Kong Country will be ready by spring 2024. Since the highly anticipated Fantasy Spring at Tokyo DisneySea is set to open in June 2024, you might want to wait till later in the year to plan your Japan trip if going to theme parks is on your to-do list.

You could also wait for Universal to announce dates for its Singapore theme park, and make it a big international trip. According to Klook, Universal Studios Singapore is working on a Minion Land to open in 2024, and its own version of Super Nintendo World will arrive sometime in 2025.