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Halloween Horror Nights 35 is once again extending the scares outside of the confines of Universal Studios Florida this year. Universal Orlando Resort hosted us for a special media event yesterday, where we sampled HHN-specific food and drinks at Universal Aventura Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort, checked out themed hotel decor, and experienced what an HHN night looks like for guests staying on property.
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Our first stop was Universal Aventura Hotel, where the HHN takeover has an alien-invasion flavor. The themed bar area is surrounded by extraterrestrials, luggage, sci-fi props, and plenty of strange visitors who look like they may have packed for a much longer stay. The drink lineup includes the Caffeinated Coven with Ketel One Vodka, Caffè Borghetti, pumpkin foam, and cinnamon; Alien Abduction with vanilla vodka, Cointreau, Chambord, Prosecco, and soda; and the pitch-black Wormhole Margarita with Patrón Silver Tequila, lime juice, triple sec, agave, and charcoal powder. There is also a non-alcoholic Asian Pear Ginger Spritz made with pear puree, ginger beer, and yuzu.
From there, we headed to Loews Royal Pacific Resort, where both the food and the decor go all-in on the Halloween Horror Nights theme. Jake’s American Bar is serving several special dishes, including the $18 Haunted Hideaway Buffalo Dip with smoked cheddar, green onion, blue cheese crema, and tortilla chips; the $25 Cursed Luau Burger with Muenster cheese, strawberry BBQ sauce, crispy onion straws, and a black sesame bun; and the $24 Phantom Polynesian Linguine with pesto cream sauce, confit cherry tomatoes, asparagus tips, and char-grilled chicken breast. The lineup also includes the $12 Devil’s Volcanic Egg with jalapeños and pimento filling.
Laguna Lounge at Royal Pacific has also been given a monster-sized makeover, turning the tropical bar into a Universal Monsters hangout complete with themed decor, eerie lighting, tiki touches, and some very recognizable vacationers. Frankenstein’s Monster, the Invisible Man, and other familiar faces help make the hotel feel like an extension of Halloween Horror Nights instead of simply a place to sleep after the event.
Royal Pacific is only one part of the resort-wide HHN hotel lineup. Additional themed experiences are available at other Universal Orlando hotels, including The Frozen Hull at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Night of the Living Shred at Hard Rock Hotel, and Gothic Manor at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. Universal is inviting guests to visit the hotels and check out the various Halloween Horror Nights food, drink, and themed offerings, even if they are not staying at that particular property.
We also had the chance to experience one of the biggest perks of staying on property during Halloween Horror Nights. From Royal Pacific, we hopped aboard the complimentary water taxi directly to Universal CityWalk and the event. Security screening takes place at the resort before boarding, which means water taxi guests can bypass the larger security checkpoint at CityWalk. Once we arrived, we were also able to use a resort guest entrance for Halloween Horror Nights, giving us a much quicker path into the event.
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That combination makes a Universal Orlando hotel stay especially appealing during HHN season. You can start the evening with themed food and drinks, take the water taxi over after clearing security at the resort, use the dedicated resort guest entrance, and head straight into the fog.
For anyone planning a full Halloween Horror Nights getaway, our partners at Get Away Today can help with Universal Orlando hotel stays, park tickets, and putting together a trip that keeps the scares going from check-in to closing time.
