Universal Orlando Resort Removes Free Parking Perk for Halloween Horror Nights

Universal Orlando Eliminates Free After-Midnight Parking for Halloween Horror Nights 35

If your Halloween Horror Nights strategy has been to arrive fashionably late and score free parking after midnight, Universal Orlando has a scare waiting for you this year.

Universal Orlando Resort has updated its Halloween Horror Nights policies for 2026, confirming that guests will now be charged for parking until 2 a.m. on event nights. The change effectively eliminates the long-standing perk that allowed many guests to avoid parking fees by arriving after midnight.

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In previous years, guests visiting late in the evening could often take advantage of complimentary self-parking after 12 a.m., whether they were heading into Halloween Horror Nights, meeting friends at CityWalk, or squeezing in a few final haunted house runs before closing. Under the new policy, standard parking fees will remain in effect for the entire duration of the event. Universal’s current self-parking rate is $35 at the toll plaza, though guests can pre-purchase parking online for $32 before arrival.

The change is expected to have the biggest impact on guests without Annual Pass benefits or premium event tickets. Preferred and Premier Annual Passholders will continue to receive complimentary regular self-parking after their first visit, while Power Passholders receive discounted parking. Certain event offerings, including Premium Scream Night and R.I.P. Tours, also include parking benefits as part of the package.

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Halloween Horror Nights 35 runs on select nights from August 28 through November 1 at Universal Studios Florida, bringing ten haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment, and plenty of screams to the resort. With the first haunted house already announced as a themed experience based on Sinners, guests planning a late-night visit may want to factor parking costs into their HHN budget this year. If you’re planning a trip to face all ten haunted houses, our friends at Get Away Today can help put together a frightfully fun Universal Orlando vacation package.

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