Are you ready to relive the most wicked top 10 Halloween Horror Nights scare zones of all time in Orlando?
Another HHN season has risen with the sun and is gracing us with fantastic scares, immersive and fantastical storytelling, and ultimately a great time full of memories for all who come.
Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando is renowned for its amazing houses, whether it be IP-based (Intellectual Property) or original.
Over the past 30-plus years, thousands have come and explored what Universal Creative has cooked up for us.
But today, I decided to give the scare zones some well-deserved and twisted adoration.
I will not only be talking about Halloween Horror Nights scare zones but the top 10 of all time, for now!
Here I will touch on their backstories, their debut years, and what makes them favorites for the HHN community.
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10. Purge: Anarchy (2014)
Starting off strong with Purge: Anarchy, this scare zone debuted in the New York section during Halloween Horror Nights 24.
It was based on The Purge, which came out in 2013, but mainly focused on its sequel of the same name, which debuted in 2014 to tie in.
Why We Love This as The Top Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones
The scare zone had a mix of purge folks and their victims. In there, you’d spot Big Daddy and his crew, some grinning mask purgers, the girl in the fox mask, a cat mask purger, and that classy old lady and gentleman.
Even though the movie didn’t really hit it big and is set in the greater Los Angeles area, this scare zone ended up snagging the scare zone of the year award.
Mostly due to its phenomenal scare actors and truly realistic scares.
It was dark, chaotic, and twisted.
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9. Lights, Camera, Hacktion: Eddie’s Revenge (2021)
One of the great pieces of lore from Halloween Horror Nights that was very little explored up until recent years, was Eddie. Eddie is Jack the Clown’s brother who was overlooked in Jack’s tale.
This scare zone was featured during Halloween Horror Nights 30, which was an anniversary year that was delayed by one year due to the global pandemic.
It served as a “Best of Scare Zones” and “Eddie” highlight scare zone.
It’s a sequel scare zone to “Lights, Camera, Hacktion” which debuted in 2009. It was located in the Hollywood section of the park near the entrance to the park.
Why We Love This as The Top Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones
In this scare zone, Eddie’s back and he’s filming his own movie!
But here’s the twist: the monsters we run into are totally real. Familiar creatures from HHN history are ready to hit the big screen!
Scare zones of the past are represented in the zone including:
- Treaks and Foons
- Fractured Tales
- Saws n Steam
- Fear Revealed
- The Coven
- Grown Evil
- The Legions of Horror
- MASKerade: Unstitched
- Vamp ’55
- Dead Man’s Wharf
- Cheersaws
- Invasion
- Scary Tales: Deadly Ever After
- Vamp ’85
- Twisted Tradition
- Chainsaw Carnies
- Vanity Ball
- Vikings Undead
A few from this zone will make their appearance on my personal list later on.
This zone was popular due to the fact that it brought back classic favorites from HHN past. It would end up winning Scare Zone of the Year after its run.
8. Vamp ’85: New Year’s Eve (2018)
This is a cult favorite over the years and it was called Vamp ’85 at Halloween Horror Nights.
There have been a few versions of this scare zone, cultivated over different time periods.
Vamp scare zones are beloved due to the creativity of embracing the time periods in which they take place, the immersive set pieces, and the fantastic scare actors.
Vamp ’85 especially has been remembered as a good scare zone, located in the New York section of the park.
This scare zone is a sequel to “Vamp ’55”, which debuted in 2016. The story features vampires ringing in the New Year on the evening of December 31, 1984.
There was a whole story that encompassed Vamp ’55 and ’85 by Blake Braswell called “Getting Ready for the Party.”
Why We Love This as The Top Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones
The zone featured vampires dressed up as punks, metal heads, material girls, and lookalikes including Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury.
Every 20 minutes, the ball would drop, and the vampires would start chasing the guests strolled through.
What really made it awesome was the Vamp DJ playing the hottest tracks of the time! Shockingly, this one didn’t snag the Scare Zone of the Year award.
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7. Sweet Revenge (2022)
This zone comes from the 2022 Halloween Horror Nights event and left quite a fun impression on everyone.
Visitors loved its backstory and tie-in to the event as a whole and Tribute Store. There’s even a haunted house for this scare zone coming out in 2024!
The spot was in New York and revolved around a wicked candy maker who turned all the kids of Hollow Hills in 1954 into wild killers with his treats.
The candy maker ran Major Sweets Candy Co., and the spooky stuff goes down during the town’s yearly Halloween party parade.
Why We Love This as The Top Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones
The kids were going crazy for chocolate, going after everyone in sight. At the same time, the parade was a total mess, with people trying to navigate through all the madness.
The area had 3 parade floats, Major Sweets’ ride, and a bunch of fun show moments. The scare actors were the kids and victims telling you not to munch on the candy.
Among the scare actors were Major Sweets and Miss Treats, who would sometimes stir up the mayhem, along with the Mayor and his daughter handing over the key to Major Sweets, but with a surprising twist.
Many of the floats were reused from Mardi Gras event floats and some of Major Sweets candy could be purchased in the tribute store.
HHN guests thought the actors in this scare zone were super creepy and really creative, plus the show moments on the floats and ground were a blast!
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6. Graveyard: Deadly Unrest (2022)
Another zone from Halloween Horror Nights 31 is Graveyard: Deadly Unrest.
They say a wicked storm rolled into a graveyard, stirring up the spirits that were just chilling. Too bad for the living folks—there’s no getting away from it.
This creation won the Scare Zone of the Year Award. Everyone loved it for its creepy scare actors, cool costumes, and stunning set designs.
A lot of stuff was reused from old houses and scare zones.
Why We Love This as The Top Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones
As guests strolled into the Hollywood area or checked out the old Nettlewoods Cemetery that’s just sitting there, they’ll found two main characters, Death and Sleep, who happen to be brothers.
They’d chill at the gate while guests navigated through the spooky shadows of mausoleums and tombstones.
The awesome scare actors, especially the ghost twins, ironically brought the zone to life in such a fun way!
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5. Vanity Ball (2019)
Vanity Ball was particularly beloved at Halloween Horror Nights 29 by everyone!
This spot in Hollywood was all about that wild beauty vibe and the fashions! The only problem is that artists with blades transformed eager volunteers into jaw-dropping living masterpieces.
Needless to say, getting some work done here definitely meant something totally different!
Here, you would also meet the competing plastic surgeons, Dr. Plasmare and Dr. Metamorph, plus hosts Madame and Maestro as the demented contestants put on the performance of a lifetime.
Fashion played a major role in this HHN scare zone, and the “beauty” didn’t hurt as they constantly seek out fresh body parts and masterpieces.
Why We Love This as The Top Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones
You’d see scareactors heading from the operating table right to the runway at one end of the scare zone.
While the not-so-great ones hung out on the edges, sometimes messing up the runway with their lack of “beauty.”
The show was all about the vibes, showcasing some ballroom culture and the hosts chatting about inclusivity and acceptance that really resonated with the community.
4. Vamp ’55 (2016)
Of course, the original Vamp scare zone would make an appearance on our list. The one that started it all!
Located in the Hollywood area, we find ourselves at Hollywood High School’s 1955 homecoming parade.
This area got totally wrecked by some fangy punks who flipped the whole spot around. Just like we talked about for its sequel, Vamp ’85, it was a super popular scare zone.
Why We Love This as The Top Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones
It was a reflection of the era with its fun set pieces and music. Its story ties in with Blake Braswell’s “Getting Ready for the Party” with thrilling detail.
Vampire scare actors included :
- School girls
- Ice cream man
- Cheerleaders
- School boy
- Principal
- Homecoming queens and princesses
- Jocks
- Popular girl
- Teacher
- Bowling team member
- School band
- Greasers and bikers
- School nurse
This zone would go on later to be featured in “Lights, Camera, Hacktion: Eddie’s Revenge” for Halloween Horror Nights 30.
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3. Asylum in Wonderland (2008)
This HHN scare zone ties in with the 2008 icon for Halloween Horror Nights, Bloody Mary. This would be her version of the classic tale “Alice in Wonderland. “
Guest of the event would go on a wild ride through Alice’s crazy mind. The area would be unofficially connected with the Scary Tales house.
Asylum in Wonderland was located in the Hollywood section of the park and later got its own haunted house in 2015 named “Asylum in Wonderland 3D.”
The storyline of this scare zone would take you in Fear’s Realm known as “The Mirror,” where Bloody Mary would do her “Fear Therapy.”
The characters from this story peeked into the mirror and pretty much lost their minds.
Why We Love This as The Top Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones
This interpretation of Alice was based on Disney’s version where you would see Bloody Mary in the mirror when the lights flashed. It was so cool!
There were a few different versions of the white rabbit too, like one with some gnarly teeth and another with a bit of blood on them.
You could also spot characters like the Mad Hatter, the Caterpillar, the Tweedles, the Queen, and the checkerboard pieces hanging around.
Fans loved the cool costumes and fun show bits, plus the iconic tie-in and twist on the story, are what really made this zone a hit with visitors.
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2. Trick r Treat (2017)
Located in Central Park, this is still one of the most talked about scare zones of Halloween Horror Nights.
It’s also one of the few Intellectual Properties (IP) featured on this list, besides number 1, making it seem to this writer that guests prefer more originals than IPs.
However, this zone would go on to win Scare Zone of the Year in 2017 and come back as a full haunted house in 2018, due to its immense popularity.
Universal Creative teamed up with Michael Dougherty and Legendary Pictures to make this fan-favorite anthology flick a reality at Halloween Horror Nights 27.
There were 450 hand-carved pumpkins that lit up the trees in Central Park, and you could spot characters from the movie on the front porches everywhere.
Some of the famous characters and locations included Emma and Henry’s along with Mrs. Henderson and Rhonda’s houses in which scare actors also interacted with guest from there.
Why We Love This as The Top Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones
You’d stumble upon a pumpkin patch featuring a giant pumpkin head that breathes fire, Halloween decor all over the place, and Sam statues scattered around, leaving you guessing who the real ones are.
A bunch of scare actors brought the movie characters to life, and people really dig the awesome set designs and how the actors interact with everyone.
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1. Killer Klowns from Outer Space (2018)
Following up, Trick r Treat as a scare zone, which would later become a house in its own right a year later, is not an easy feat to accomplish.
But Killer Klowns didn’t just pull it off; they also came back with their own house the next year!
At Halloween Horror Nights 28, guests wandering down South Street would bump into the Terenzi Bros, aka the “Killer Klowns” from the movie of the same name.
The movie is considered a cult classic and it was a logical choice to feature it at the event geared towards horror enthusiasts and fans of horror cinema.
Why We Love This as The Top Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones
The interstellar circus had officially touched down on the streets of Universal Studios Florida, and it was now showtime!
In this scare zone, you would go straight into the Big Top, where spacey clowns whipped up sweet treats that were definitely not your typical cotton candy—they’re a bit more, let’s just say… human.
In this circus of fear, the punchline was always on you. Just to make it clear, those clowns were actually murderous aliens!
This flick became a cult fave because of its quirky yet creepy vibe, totally standing out from other scary clown movies like “IT.”
HHN guests loved the wild, fun, and super immersive sets and scare actors, because it really made you feel like you were part of the action.
Pretty much every clown from the movie was there, so you’re sure to see one of your favorites if you were there!
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My Final Thoughts on The Scare Zones at Halloween Horror Nights
With many Halloween Horror Nights years ahead of us, we have rounded out our list of best scare zones ever, for now anyway!
Whether it was an original crafted by the incomparable Universal Creative or a team-up with some great Hollywood creatives, guests have found some truly beloved scare zones.
Some of which have spawned sequel zones, have returned for anniversary years, and have even become houses! We can only imagine what is in store for us!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
Victoria is a professional solo traveler here to make your solo trips as stress free AND enjoyable as possible for you.
She has over 5 years of Disney and Non-Disney travel experience and was featured by POPSUGAR as one of the Top 50 Black Disney Creators you should follow.
She is a Proud Native to Baltimore, Md but always will call Disney World home.
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(Original Article Date: October 9, 2023/Updated by Editor on August 2, 2024)