For the first time in the event’s history, Universal Orlando announced that guests could experience Universal Orlando’s 2024 Halloween Horror Nights before it officially opened.

Premium Scream Night was a brand new, early-access event for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida in 2024. 

In this post, I’ll share my experience, how it compares to a regular HHN33 night, and if it’s actually worth the steep price.

What is Premium Scream Night?

Universal Orlando debuted its first-ever Premium Scream Night on Aug. 29, 2024, the day before HHN 33 officially kicked off. This ticketed, VIP event featured a limited capacity with shorter wait times, all-you-can-eat themed food + non-alcoholic drinks, and more. 

Premium Scream Night was held from 6:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. 

The biggest selling point was being to experience all 10 houses, 5 scare zones early and without crowds. The event price was $350. Annual Passholders get a discount of $325 per ticket.

What Did Universal Orlando’s Premium Scream Night Include?

• A day early opportunity to experience all 10 houses, 5 scare zones, and the newest Nightmare Fuel show

• An insanely low crowded HHN33 experience with limited capacity and shorter wait times

• Staggered entry by group into the haunted houses ( AKA “pulsing”)

• A selection of all-you-care-to-enjoy food items created by Universal’s award-winning culinary team and inspired by this season’s haunts, as well as non-alcoholic beverages

• Select alcoholic beverages available for a separate charge. (Must be 21+ with valid photo ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages.)

• Death Eater Encounter in Diagon Alley open

• Halloween Tribute Store open

• An exclusive event souvenir credential and lanyard

• Access to select attractions at Universal Studios Florida

• Free self-parking on August 29, 2024

How Much Did Premium Scream Night Cost?

Universal Orlando’s Premium Scream Night ticket was $350 plus tax. Universal Orlando Annual Passholders could get a discounted price of $325 plus tax.

2024 Premium Scream Night Experience

Event Entry for Premium Scream Night

Premium Scream Night was held during regular event hours for HHN33 (6:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.) There was no option for Stay and Scream that day, so we had to exit Universal Orlando, and wait outside the gates of Universal Studios Florida until the event officially started.

Before Premium Scream Night started, you had to option of waiting in the center to watch the Opening Scaremonies, or right by the turnstiles.

The Opening Scaremonies started at roughly 6:00 p.m., and we were let into the park around 6:05 p.m. After scanning our event ticket, we were given our event credentials + lanyard.

Unlimited HHN Food & Drink During Premium Scream Night

In addition to the low crowds during Premium Scream Night, guests also had access to unlimited food and non-alcoholic beverages.

All of the HHN specialty booths were open, with almost the entire menus available. 

Once the event kicked off, the back of our credential lanyard had a QR code to scan. It included details about the complimentary food and drink items.

Trying the new HHN food and drinks was a priority for us, so our goal was to order 1-2 things from each booth. We hit up the Ghostbusters booth first just in case the Stay Puft Store’s ran out quick.

As a foodie who spends a ton of money on HHN items throughout the season, my goal was to rack up the amount of food and drinks I could try in order for me to justify the $350.00 event ticket.

Below is a receipt of what my Ghostbusters items would have cost on a regular HHN night.

We were able to try all the menu items from 4 booths. I would have easily spent $200 on all the food and drinks I got during the event! 

A Quiet Place Booth

Select alcoholic beverages were available for purchase during Premium Scream Night

Haunted Houses During Premium Scream Night

Our first house of the night was The Museum: Deadly Exhibits, for which we waited about 7 minutes. That was the longest wait during Premium Scream Night. 

Every haunted house after that was posted at 5 minutes. The wait times really just came down to how long it took you to walk the queue of each Haunted House. 

When you compare the Premium Scream wait times to those you typically see on regular HHN nights, it’s wild. 30-40 minutes is a low wait on normal nights, and typical waits are 60-120 minutes. Some houses can get even higher.

Haunted houses during Premium Scream Night were legit walk on. 

Yes, that included the big IP HHN33 houses: Insidious, A Quiet Place, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire!

Another big reason I wanted to do Premium Scream Night was the staggered entry into each haunted house. On a regular HHN night at Universal Orlando, guests enter the houses in a constant conga line of people going through the house.

During Premium Scream Night, it was like Universal Hollywood’s HHN where they pulse you through the house. This means it was just our party who entered each house at a time. 

Not feeling rushed, and having no one in front of us to follow meant we had the opportunity to hit every scare.  We did have to keep moving, but we were able to walk way slower than normal, soaking in more of the haunted house details.  

This part of the event was hands down the best, and is so much better than a regular HHN night at Universal Orlando.

Scare Zones During Premium Scream Night

All 5 scare zones were open during Premium Scream Night:

• Duality of Fear

• Demon Queens

• Swamp of the Undead

• Torture Faire

• Enter the Blumhouse

 Instead of being walking shoulder to shoulder like you do during crowded nights, the scare zones were super empty.

There were times where there were more scare actors walking around than guests during the event.

Additional Horror Nights Premium Scream Experiences Included:

Death Eater Encounter in the Wizarding World – Diagon Alley

The live entertainment experience brings guests face-to-face with Lord Voldemort’s most loyal supporters, the ominous Death Eaters, as they lurk through London and into the shadowed streets of Knockturn Alley.

Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus

A live show featuring a spectacle of pyro and aerialists to the beat of pulse-pounding rock rhythms.

HHN Tribute Store

This year’s Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store will have guests venture through various haunted urban-themed locations, from an abandoned warehouse to a creepy subway station and beyond, while shopping for the latest event merchandise and treats.

Rides Open During Premium Scream Night

The following rides were open during Premium Scream Night:

• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit

• Revenge of the Mummy

• MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack

• Harry Potter and The Escape from Gringotts

Overall Thoughts About Halloween Horror Nights Premium Scream Night

This event was an absolute fever dream, and I really hope Universal Orlando brings it back for HHN 2025. We had an amazing time with ZERO stress or rushing. 

This was hands down the most enjoyable Halloween Horror Nights I have ever had.! 

Is Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights Premium Scream Worth the Price?

The Premium Scream Night ticket was 100% worth the price. Having the opportunity to experience the all the houses with limited-to-no waits, as many times as you want, is HUGE! 

There’s no strategizing, no rushing, no having to figuring out ahead of time where the best location for Stay and Scream is. You don’t have to stay until the brutal end for power hour when the house wait times finally drop, etc.

Pros

• SIGNIFICANTLY less crowded

• Ability to do all 10 houses as many times as you want

• Less crowded Nightmare Fuel show

• Unlimited select free HHN Food included

• Free non-alcoholic beverages

•  Pulsed groups instead of conga lines through the haunted houses

• Short wait times

• NO detailed strategy or plan of attack needed ahead of time

Cons

• Pricey as it cost more than most of the multi-night passes offered

• Food and drinks at certain booths ran out early before the event ended

Doing the Math

Here’s a comparison of some of the other HHN33 ticket options to the value of the Premium Scream Night ticket. 

(I’m comparing before tax ticket options and without an AP discount to the $350 Premium Scream ticket)

Premium Scream Night Versus a Single Night HHN Ticket

A single-night ticket starts at $82.99. Express Starts at $179.99

Premium Scream Nigh Versus a Multi-Night Ticket

• Rush of Fear (includes the first 18 nights of the event) – $179.99

• Frequent Fear (includes 30 nights, no Fridays or Saturdays) – $239.99

• Frequent Fear Plus (includes 40 nights, no Saturdays) – $289.99

• Ultimate Frequent Fear (includes all event nights) – $399.99

The only multi-night pass that costs more than Premium Scream Night is the Ultimate Frequent Fear, which gives you access to every single night of HHN33.

Premium Scream Night Versus Buying The R.I.P. Tour

The non-private R.I.P. Tour starts at $399.99. This tour only gets you priority access to each house once, priority access to the Nightmare Fuel show, and 1 buffet style meal.

Universal Express Unlimited ride access (with R.I.P. credential) at all participating rides & attractions for the date of the tour (valid upon check-in at VIP Experience lobby to be used before or after tour during normal event operating hours; excludes Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses)

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort runs select nights now, until November 3rd, 2024.