- Oct 31, 2000

HHN Orlando - History Overview

Updated: Jun 11

The History of Halloween Horror Nights Orlando:

Halloween Horror Nights is an annual Halloween event that occurs at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. The event premiered at Universal Studios Singapore in 2011. The Universal Theme Parks remain operational during the day and are then converted to Halloween Horror Nights in the evening. Halloween Horror Nights features haunted houses, "scare zones" and live entertainment. Universal incorporates both original and licensed content into the event. Beginning in 1991 at Universal Studios Florida with only one house, Halloween Horror Nights has continued annually. It has become one of the largest and most elaborate Halloween events in the United States.

"Halloween Horror Nights has become more terrifying than ever imagined possible. No other Halloween Haunt presents so many immersive new environments & uniquely original characters, year after year. The sheer scope of the spectacle, combined with movie-quality settings, costumes and special effects, make Halloween Horror Nights the nation's premier annual Halloween event. We invite you to discover its origins, explore the event's growth over the years, and face the iconic images of the recent past..."

ORIGINS - 1991-1995

"Fright Nights emerged in 1991, a 3-night event. Like Dr. Frankenstein's monster, it was stitched together, born from Classic Tales of Terror, Known Nightmares and Legends of the Macabre. Its power grew as it became more horrifying and was ultimately renamed Halloween Horror Nights in 1992. A growing legion of dedicated fans returned year after year, and by 1995 it had a personality all its own." (Archived from the official HHN 2011 History & Legacy website.)

(Images: ©NBC/Universal)

"Yearly Overview"

The following "Yearly Overview" outlines:

Year, Event Title, Icon/Icons/Featured Characters, Advertising Slogans/Taglines, and Event Location.

1991

Year 1

Universal Studios Fright Nights

"Dying For A Good Halloween Party?"

Featured Characters/Icon: Original Universal Monsters & Beetlejuice

Location: Universal Studios

1992

Year 2

Universal Studios Florida Halloween Horror Nights

Location: Universal Studios

1993

Year 3

"The 3rd Annual" Universal Studios Florida Halloween Horror Nights

"Don't Get Caught Dead Anywhere Else"

Location: Universal Studios

1994

Year 4

"The 4th Annual" Universal Studios Florida Halloween Horror Nights

Location: Universal Studios

1995

Year 5

HHN V: The Curse of the Cryptkeeper

Featured Character/Icon: The Cryptkeeper

Location: Universal Studios

EARLY YEARS - 1996-2000

"Halloween Horror Nights tested its limits in search of its true power and ability to terrify quests. Parades were launched. Haunted houses emerged. Street shows were introduced. Its twisted values were taking shape. Like a disturbed experiment gone horribly wrong, it searched for its identity and attempted several themes. Then in 2000, the event uncovered its true identity - Jack the Clown." (Archived from the official HHN 2011 History & Legacy website.)

(Images: ©NBC/Universal)

1996

Year 6

Halloween Horror Nights VI: Journey Into Fear

Featured Character/Icon: The Cryptkeeper

Location: Universal Studios

1997

Year 7

Halloween Horror Nights VII: Frightmares

"You'll Never Sleep Again!"

Location: Universal Studios

1998

Year 8

Halloween Horror Nights VIII: Primal Scream

"The Last Scream You'll Ever Hear."

Location: Universal Studios

1999

Year 9

Halloween Horror Nights IX: Last Gasp

"Sayonara"

"Save Your Final Breath...You'll Need It For Screaming!"

Featured Character/Icon: Imhotep

Location: Universal Studios

2000

Year 10

Halloween Horror Nights X

"Not Afraid of the Dark? You Don't Know Jack!"

Icon: Jack

Location: Universal Studios

EXPANSIONS: 2001-2005

"As Halloween Horror Nights evolved into the feared face of true terror, unique styles of haunted house design began emerging. More detailed and cryptic creatures appeared. In 2002 the event found virgin soil at Universal's Islands of Adventure, and evolved further to span both parks in 2004. It wasn't long before 2005 welcomed the horror fest that culminated all of its elements in Terra Cruentas, a world of Blood." (Archived from the official HHN 2011 History & Legacy website.)

(Images: ©NBC/Universal)

2001

Year 11

Halloween Horror Nights XI: I.C.U.

"I.C.U."

"Jack's Back"

"No more clowning around."

"Say Goodbye to Jack"

Icon: Jack

Location: Universal Studios

2002

Year 12

Halloween Horror Nights: Islands of Fear

"Your Time Has Come."

"Are You Ready to Meet the Caretaker?"

Icon: The Caretaker

Location: Islands of Adventure

2003

Year 13

Halloween Horror Nights 13: The Director Will See You Now

"You Want To Be In Pictures?"

"The Director Will See You Now"

"You Oughtta Be In Pictures"

"13 Years in the Making"

Icon: The Director

Location: Islands of Adventure

2004

Year 14

Halloween Horror Nights XIV: 2X the Fear

"2X/Twice The Fear"

"What's Your Breaking Point?"

Featured Character/Icon: The Asylum Patient

Location: Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure

2005

Year 15

Halloween Horror Nights: Tales of Terror

"No One Will Live Happily Ever After!"

"Not Just Another Fairy Tale"

Icon: The Storyteller

Location: Islands of Adventure

ICONIC YEARS: 2006-2010

"Halloween Horror Nights matured and iconic images emerged. The era began when characters became the face of the event. Jack, The Caretaker, The Storyteller and The Director came together to celebrate a Sweet Sixteen return to Universal Studios. And in 2009 Universal's Frankenstein, Dracula and Wolfman were Ripped from the Silver Screen as The Usher greeted each guest." (Archived from the official HHN 2011 History & Legacy website.)

(Images: ©NBC/Universal)

2006

Year 16

Halloween Horror Nights: Sweet 16

"Horror Comes Home"

"Sweet 16"

Icons: Director, Jack, Caretaker, Storyteller

Location: Universal Studios

2007

Year 17

Halloween Horror Nights: Carnival of Carnage

"Choose Thy Fear"

Icon: Jack

Featured Characters: Freddy, Jason, Leatherface

Theme: Carnival of Carnage

Location: Universal Studios

2008

Year 18

Halloween Horror Nights: Reflections of Fear

"I Dare You To Say It One More Time!"

"Bloody Mary"

Icon: Bloody Mary

Location: Universal Studios

2009

Year 19

Halloween Horror Nights: Ripped From the Silver Screen

"It's Showtime!"

"Ripped From the Silver Screen"

Icon: The Usher

Theme: Movies/Silver Screen

Location: Universal Studios

2010

Year 20

Halloween Horror Nights XX: Twenty Years of Fear

"A New Era of Darkness Begins"

"Twenty Years of Fear"

"A New Age off Darkness"

Icon: Fear

With appearances by The Storyteller, The Director, Jack, The Usher, The Caretaker, Eddie, and Cindy

Location: Universal Studios

ICONIC YEARS - CHARACTERS

"Halloween Horror Nights is renowned for creating terrifyingly original creatures. Where some clowns make you laugh, our clowns make you shriek. When most fairy tales are bedtime stories, ours keep you awake. Where the dead should rest in peace, ours linger and torment. Those chainsaws you hear aren't used to cut wood. You may tell yourself it's only a nightmare...all of the screams are real." (Archived from the official HHN 2011 History & Legacy website.)

(Images: ©NBC/Universal)

2011

Year 21

Halloween Horror Nights 21

"Are You In?"

"Come Try Your Luck"

"Nobody Beats The House"

"The House Always Wins"

"Be Careful What You Wager"

"Your Fate is in Her Hands"

Icon: Lady Luck

Location: Universal Studios

2012

Year 22

Halloween Horror Nights 22

"Once You're Inside...There Is No Way Out!"

Featured Character/Icon: N/A

Theme: The Walking Dead

Location: Universal Studios

2013

Year 23

Halloween Horror Nights 23

"What Evil Has Taken Root?"

"So This Is What Fear Tastes Like"

Featured Character/Icon: N/A

Theme: The Walking Dead

Location: Universal Studios

2014

Year 24

Halloween Horror Nights 24

"You've Been Warned!"

"Fear Will Eat You Alive"

Featured Character/Icon: N/A

Theme: N/A

Location: Universal Studios

2015

Year 25

Halloween Horror Nights 25

"Jack's Back"

"All Jack'd Up"

"25 Years of Terror Has Led to This!"

"I'm Back!"

"Miss Me?"

"Jack is Back"

Icon: Jack The Clown

Theme: 25 Years of Fear

Location: Universal Studios

HHN - IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTS

"It seeps like a thick fog into the streets. It pours over the looming shadows. Its presence lurks in the darkness...waiting. What appears to be an abandoned asylum is anything but abandoned. The owners of that decrepit mansion may be dead, but they most certainly haven't left. Step foot inside Halloween Horror Nights and you'll see that reality has taken an unexpected turn. Things here are not quite what they seem - they're much worse." (Archived from the official HHN 2011 History & Legacy website.)

2016

Year 26

Halloween Horror Nights 26

"You Won't Stand A Chance!"

"Terror Takes Center Stage"

Icon: Chance

Theme: Sequel To HHN 25

Location: Universal Studios

2017

Year 27

Halloween Horror Nights 27

"Your Soul Is Requested"

"The Best Nightmares Never End"

"The best nightmares never end..."

Featured Character/Icon: Bone

Theme: Festival of the Deadliest

Location: Universal Studios

2018

Year 28

Halloween Horror Nights 28

"We Know What Scares You"

"More Houses Than Ever!"

"True Fear Comes From Within"

Featured Character/Icon: N/A

Theme: 80's Horror Films

Location: Universal Studios

2019

Year 29

Halloween Horror Nights 29

"Your Worst Fears Live Here!"

"Maximum Screamage"

Featured Character/Icon: N/A

Theme: 80's Horror Sequel

Location: Universal Studios

2020

Halloween Seasonal Event 2020

(HHN Canceled - Covid Pandemic)

HHN - BEHIND THE SCREAMS

"From concept to design to execution, Halloween Horror Nights is conceived, developed and produced by a team of highly talented, industry experts. The attention to detail rivals even the most sophisticated movie studios. It takes a year of planning, and the final product is always different and more terrifying than before. The guests demand it, and Universal never lets them down." (Archived from the official HHN History & Legacy website.)