Universal Studios reveals full slate of Halloween Horror Nights houses for both coasts

We finally have all the gory details about Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights 2023, at least for Florida.

Universal previously announced plans for haunted houses themed around Chucky, “The Last of Us” and “Stranger Things” Season 4.

On Friday, Universal revealed a little more about Chucky and the remaining houses that guests can experience on both coasts this year: The Exorcist: Believer and Universal Monsters: Unmasked.

Universal Orlando Resort also unveiled its full slate of original, location-specific houses and scare zones. Universal Studios Hollywood will announce theirs separately soon.

Here’s what Halloween Horror Nights fans should know:

What are the themes for Halloween Horror Nights 2023?

There will be five haunted houses that Halloween Horror Nights guests can visit in both Florida and California.

◾ The Exorcist: Believer will be inspired by the upcoming film of the same name by Universal Pictures and Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment. “Guests will be transported to a bustling street market in Haiti, where an innocent purchase of a strange folk doll with three eyes leads to the opening of a demonic portal, the awakening of sinister spirits and the subsequent disappearance of two 12-year-old girls in the U.S,” according to Universal. When the girls reappear, “it soon becomes clear that only an exorcism can save them – and everyone who comes in contact with them, including unwitting guests, is suddenly at risk of losing their souls.”

◾ Chucky is getting his own haunted house for the first time this year. Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count will be inspired by both the killer doll’s namesake film series and USA & SYFY show. “A true sadistic killer, Chucky has been mired in the agony of disrespect he feels from his peers at not being taken seriously,” according to Universal. “Thus begins his quest to turn his haunted house into a living slaughterhouse by killing every person who enters.”

◾ Universal Monsters: Unmasked will take guests deep into the Catacombs of Paris, where they’ll face iconic foes from Universal’s cinematic library: “The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dr. Jekyll and his deranged alternate personality Mr. Hyde, and Dr. Jack Griffin, aka The Invisible Man.” According to Universal, “these desperate and dangerous fiends have become filled with a rage toward guests navigating the twisted tunnels of their underground labyrinth home. It is here, in the darkness, where they hunt these trespassers and where the sounds of guests’ screams will go unheard.”

◾ The Last of Us and Stranger Things round out the five shared house themes.

Hollywood vs. Orlando: What's the difference between Universal Studios parks?

What else is planned for HHN?

Universal Orlando will have five original haunted houses unique to its location, bringing its total house count to 10. Here’s how they’re described:

◾ Dr. Oddfellow: Twisted Origins: “In the 1930s Dust Bowl era, guests won’t be able to resist going inside Dr. Oddfellow’s menacing menagerie of twisted oddities where they’ll encounter grotesquely distorted animals and freakish fiends …The price to enter this creepy caravan is steep as souls feed his immortal power.”

◾ Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate: “The great wizard Merlyn has been transformed into the Enchanted Oak, leaving a power vacuum. When two powerful warlocks invade his castle to steal his spell book, they are turned into dragons of fire and ice. Now guests are caught in the middle of their battle and are forced to choose a path and a victor. But beware, one never knows who will win.”

◾ YETI: Campground Kills: “In a 1950s campground, a group of towering, terrifying yetis are running rampant, ripping apart campers, rangers and anyone else who gets in their way … Guests must flee through the campground into cabins, a bait shack and even the outhouse in hopes of making it to the ranger tower before it’s too late.”

◾ The Darkest Deal: “In the Mississippi Delta, blues musician Pinestraw Spruce meets at a crossroads with a diabolical entity known as The Collector to make a deal: his soul for musical glory. Guests will witness his big break performing for a crowd before The Collector drags him to Hades with the other musicians who learned the terrible price of fame.”

◾ Bloodmoon: Dark Offerings: “Colonial-era villagers begin to worship the moon obsessively. When the blood moon rises at their fall festival, they take it as a sign that they must hunt down any non-followers within their village. Guests will need to try not to become part of the sacrifice as they gather body parts to form a grisly offering.”

The Florida resort will also feature five different scare zones connected to Dr. Oddfellow.

◾ Dr. Oddfellow’s Collection of Horror: “Dr. Oddfellow will lure guests into Halloween Horror Nights with a promise of immortality. As he lifts the veil on all the horrors to come, they’ll soon realize they may not even survive the night.”

◾ Dark Zodiac: “Dr. Oddfellow has entered a dark dimension to harness the power of the Zodiac and live forever. He twists the signs into malevolent beings who foretell one’s doom. As his star rises, yours falls.”

◾ Jungle of Doom: Expedition Horror: “In the 1920s, Dr. Oddfellow ventured deep into the darkest jungle, performing horrific experiments on nature. Now his monstrous creatures are running amok and on the hunt.”

◾ Vamp ’69: Summer of Blood: “At a 60s music fest in a small New York town, guests will jam to popular bands with fellow concert-goers until Dr. Oddfellow unleashes vicious vampires on the audience.”

◾ Shipyard 32: Horrors Unhinged: “Enter a 1940s San Francisco shipping yard full of mysterious crates and cages bearing Dr. Oddfellow’s symbol. Beware, his nightmarish oddities have now escaped spreading fear and chaos in their wake.”

Universal Orlando will also bring back its popular Nightmare Fuel entertainment. The live shows are known for pounding music, pyrotechnics and aerial performances. This year’s show is called Nightmare Fuel Revenge Dream.

Do you have to buy separate tickets for Halloween Horror Nights?

Yes. Halloween Horror Nights is a specially ticketed, after-hours event that is not included with standard theme park admission.

Single-night HHN tickets start at $79.99 for Universal Orlando and $74 for Universal Studios Hollywood.

What are the dates for HHN 2023?

Universal Orlando Resort will hold Halloween Horror Nights:

◾ Sept. 1-3, 6-10, 13-17, 20-24, 27-30

◾ Oct. 1, 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29, 31

◾ Nov. 1-4

Universal Studios Hollywood will hold HHN:

◾ Sept. 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 27-30

◾ Oct. 1, 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29, 31

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Halloween Horror Nights 2023: All the haunted houses on both coasts