Halloween Horror Nights 2026 (USH) - Speculation & Rumors

[Freak]

I wouldn’t be shocked if part of the legal agreement with Netflix for Stranger Things is that it has to be in the soundstage. We heard a few years back they were pretty unhappy with the house in Hollywood.

But I think they are probably overestimating demand for ST and underestimating demand for Sinners based on where they will (presumably) be placed.

Hot take: I don't have any hard data to back this up and I just speak anecdotally here: I don't think Stranger Things will be as popular as y'all think it will be. I think people are over it. Sinners will absolutely be the most popular house this year.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I wouldn’t be shocked if part of the legal agreement with Netflix for Stranger Things is that it has to be in the soundstage. We heard a few years back they were pretty unhappy with the house in Hollywood.

But I think they are probably overestimating demand for ST and underestimating demand for Sinners based on where they will (presumably) be placed.

lol

If Netflixs cares then no idea how they oked the Fright fest house and or the HHN houses...the issues were never the sound stages. It was just houses made without much love or interesting set pieces

You could be right, we will see on if Sinners beats out stranger things. I'm just used to that IP drawing sooo many people but I know Sinners i very loved, so we will find out this fall and also will depend on what houses have EA

 

[DTH]

- Sinners is my most anticipated right off the bat, kind of a bad location though for something I feel needs more open spaces, but I’m willing to be proven wrong. I definitely think the line will be way too long for this spot though.
- No JW is ridiculous, I ALWAYS ride it every HHN, even when I don’t have Express. It’s a huge people eater and something for people to do. Not every boat is going to be full, so I get that, but it is way too hot in September to pull this!
- F&F for premium ticketholders is the move. As it is, it’s still going to be slammed. I know nothing about its operations, but my assumption is it’s going to be lower-ish capacity and slow loading.
- Mario and Nintendo seem to be happening so I guess that’s a decent trade off as well. My only hope is they have something spooky going on over there.
- It doesn’t matter if people are “over” Stranger Things or not (they aren’t, but that’s a different story). Only thing that matters is IP recognition and it’s easily going to be one of the more popular IPs.

 

[Mr_Pendington]

Sinners is an awesome announcement, super excited.

With all the hubbub about the queue, we are may see some interesting queue shifts. It seems JW was axed for more queue space, which is more than fine by me. Last year was my first year so I can't speak on previous years but the WWE line was a disaster for such a good maze. I may be dunking on a beloved horror nights tradition or something, but we can just ride it during the day

But yeah I think the queue situations are gonna see some major reworks, they most likely anticipated the concern

 

[deadbydawn]

I may be dunking on a beloved horror nights tradition or something, but we can just ride it during the day

To each their own, but ever since this ride became the Jurassic World version and they got rid of the Jurassic Park in the Dark thing, I had no interest in riding it during HHN.

 

[mccgavin]

For locals it may not mean as much, but as someone who makes a yearly trip to USH just for HHN, this is a bit saddening to see. This is one of the rides I would always go out of my way to hit during the event.

 

[Freak]

- Sinners is my most anticipated right off the bat, kind of a bad location though for something I feel needs more open spaces, but I’m willing to be proven wrong. I definitely think the line will be way too long for this spot though.
- No JW is ridiculous, I ALWAYS ride it every HHN, even when I don’t have Express. It’s a huge people eater and something for people to do. Not every boat is going to be full, so I get that, but it is way too hot in September to pull this!
- F&F for premium ticketholders is the move. As it is, it’s still going to be slammed. I know nothing about its operations, but my assumption is it’s going to be lower-ish capacity and slow loading.
- Mario and Nintendo seem to be happening so I guess that’s a decent trade off as well. My only hope is they have something spooky going on over there.
- It doesn’t matter if people are “over” Stranger Things or not (they aren’t, but that’s a different story). Only thing that matters is IP recognition and it’s easily going to be one of the more popular IPs.

-Second most anticipated. My most-anticipated is Hellraiser, assuming that's happening. Curious to know what you mean by "open spaces" because there's plenty of that in the venue. UBE is essentially a sound stage. My biggest concern will be the queue to hold the two hour lines, which is why I initially doubted the UBE rumor.

-Agreed. JW NEEDS to be open. Even if just a few hours. Give people something to do if they don't want to wait in those long lines for houses.

-I'm split on F&F. I guess you're right, and they're probably just having Express and RIP access the ride for operational concerns, which I'm sure is a relief for the ride ops/ I was just hoping to would be open to all for the sake of capacity. Hopefully they'll hard open it for HHN next year.

-Oh I didn't realize Mario Kart would be open! I guess that's a fair tradeoff.

-Oh I understand. I just don't think it's going to sell a ton of merch.

 

[Ball Don't Lie]

To each their own, but ever since this ride became the Jurassic World version and they got rid of the Jurassic Park in the Dark thing, I had no interest in riding it during HHN.

Oh man, this takes me back

 

[Viator]

 

[Tahova]

I bought my ticket
VIP because my partner has been asking to do RIP Tour at least once just to say we could.

Considering how much we love Sinners (as a movie and as a concept) it just seemed like the right time

 

[highdefrex]

I bought my ticket
VIP because my partner has been asking to do RIP Tour at least once just to say we could.

Considering how much we love Sinners (as a movie and as a concept) it just seemed like the right time

I’m getting married in August, and my (soon) wife and I had this exact conversation today about finally doing the RIP tickets. Never done it before, but we figured screw it, after our honeymoon and we’re back here at home, let’s go big for HHN for once!

This year’s event is gonna be a banger one, I can feel it.

 

[Tahova]

I’m getting married in August, and my (soon) wife and I had this exact conversation today about finally doing the RIP tickets. Never done it before, but we figured screw it, after our honeymoon and we’re back here at home, let’s go big for HHN for once!

This year’s event is gonna be a banger one, I can feel it.

yea out of the 3 that ive been to,

RIP tour would have also been fun for 2023 and 2025.
From what ive heard, the con is you miss it once you stop doing RIP tour

 

[Rideguy70]

Honestly, while I don't like it personally, I think it's fair to limit F&F access during HHN. Otherwise, that ride would get ridiculously slammed (it'll probably be slammed even with this restriction).

As for JW being closed.... like, was anybody even really riding it during HHN? It rarely had a line, and boats 2/3 empty. This sound of sounds like the people who say, "How dare you close Lincoln?" at Disneyland, and it plays to near empty theaters every showing. Honestly, I won't miss it for HHN. If it means that much to you, ride it earlier in the day.

 

[downunder]

I always ride JW myself at HHN, love it. I was curious how they'd sort the mess of a line for the JW house. To me, a shame they had to sacrifice the boat ride.

Probably a bit labor-intensive, but a dancing, singing Sinners flash mob would be awesome.

I'm looking forward to seeing if we get any surprises that are not spec-predicted.

 

[Viator]

JW closing during HHN when Mario Kart will be open for a nearly equal amount of time feels not bad to be honest.

A people eater are another people eater, do I wish it remains open until 11:30–sure, but I think MK replacing it is a win.

 

[Brian G.]

SNW and FF open for JW closed is a fair trade IMO.

 

[Viator]

SNW and FF open for JW closed is a fair trade IMO.

I do wish FF was open for everyone, but I do actually get the logic with FF taking over SNWs slot for this year. It’s the shiny new toy. (The new shiny toy that is having a *lot* of issues)

I’ll have a more serious problem with FF next year, if that continues to be an element however. If only because it’s the closest thing we have to a Rockit. But for now, we’re good.

 

[Jonathan]

I believe JW will be closed for refurb during HHN. Hence why it’s not available. They can’t close in January, since January 2027 is the bi-annual extended refurb for WaterWorld.

 

[Viator]

I believe JW will be closed for refurb during HHN. Hence why it’s not available. They can’t close in January, since January 2027 is the bi-annual extended refurb for WaterWorld.

The weird thing is, I could've sworn that happened still last year--and when the refurbishment completed; they then had the queue for Jurassic World and Wyatt Sicks split to the way it was last year.

Would it be wise to presume the refurb this time is going to be a bit further to allow HHN ops teams the ability to have the queue from September to November?