Every year the Contractor and I go to Halloween Horror Nights with a few of our very best friends (whom are more like family!); this year was no exception, and I of course have to blog about it!
My “Guest Services” Experience
I am a BIG time scaredy-cat, but I saved spoons, took my wheelchair and talked myself into going into the event! I knew with the Contractor and our fantastic friends by my side, I could take on anything scary! Then, I got to the front gate… you see, Contractor bought our tickets at Publix, and we got in without a problem. I was SO excited, as was the rest of the group!! Then we reached Guest Services…
In the past Universal has provided accommodation for my disabilities, by providing a card which the attendant at the gate of each haunted house writes a time on. The time is based on the wait time of the line so I don’t get to skip the wait but my party and I can remain together while I can use the bathroom, walk, eat, sit, do whatever i need to do for my comfort – which has really been a great service.
This year when I went to get the disability accommodation pass, the gentlemen* at the Guest Services counter was unwilling to provide me with any accommodations. He stated that his mother had Multiple Sclerosis and it was no big deal, as they had a new policy where I would be able to exit and enter each line at any point whenever I needed to. After some discussion, we asked for a supervisor. The supervisor* was also unwilling to do anything and only after I listed EACH and EVERY one of my diseases and disorders and I stated that I was getting very embarrassed did they FINALLY provide the disability pass.
I felt that there was a general lack of concern for my comfort, enjoyment, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complianance. The whole ordeal with “guest services” wasted an hour of our precious in-park time. After we went through one haunted house, we realized as a party how impractical it would have been for me to leave the line in my wheelchair to use the restroom and return. That having the “guest services” employee even bring this up as a “solution” was inconsiderate and would have been a highly impractical accommodation for me.
After going through this disappointing “guest relations” experience, the rest of our visit was highly enjoyable. It has certainly left a bad taste in my mouth for future visits to Universal Studios.
(*names left out for privacy – I do have a picture of the two parties)
Here is a video from our night at Halloween Horror Nights:
Let me get into the overview from Universal Studios Orlando:
Halloween Horror Nights™ is select nights Sep. 14–Nov. 3.
As the sun sets on days filled with thrills in all of Universal’s theme parks, the night awakens with a frightening chill at Universal Studios Florida™. It’s the World’s Premier Halloween Event–bringing together stories and visions of the most notorious creators of horror and taking them to the next level. This year, time twists and turns on itself—ripping cinematic greats, cult classics and even original nightmares from decades past into a new era of fear with more terrifying haunted houses than ever, sinister scare zones and outrageous entertainment.
Featuring more houses than ever. Enter terrifying haunted houses inspired by the biggest names in horror, plus Universal’s own twisted creations. You’re never quite sure if your spine is tingling with dread or sheer excitement.
Surrounded in shadow by screams and mad laughter, face monstrous creatures on streets transformed into nightmarish scare zones.
Escape to some of Universal Studios’ most exhilarating attractions where heart pounding takes on a different meaning—until the horror calls you back.
Academy of Villains: Cyberpunk. With a wicked mix of dance, acrobatics and theatrics, Academy of Villains is back for an all–new performance of pounding synths and neon lights.
Halloween Horror Nights is NOTHING without its famous haunted houses, this year there were ten houses, below I have the explanation of each one.
- House #1:
Halloween Horror Nights™ takes you deep inside the haunting world of Netflix’s STRANGER THINGS. The Demogorgon is hunting in our world now.
- House #2:
Evil has returned in an all-new house. This masked maniac is unstoppable, and there’s nowhere to hide.
- House #3:
Restless spirits have overrun the infamous house atop a cemetery and will lure you into a place between life and death. Don’t get lost in the light.
- House #4:
Trick ‘r Treat—this terrifying maze is breaking all the rules of our Halloween tradition.
- House #5:
The haunted minds behind Happy Death Day and The First Purge have spawned another horror house. Will you live to see tomorrow?
- House #6:
The caramel-coated carnivals of yesteryear have died, but something sinister has festered, waiting to torment those who trespass upon their salvage yard.
- House #7:
Fear will infect you, plunging you into darkness against a plague of swarming, fast-moving zombies.
- House #8:
The Wicked Witch of the West has cursed the land of the fairies, twisting beloved stories beyond recognition. There are no fairytale endings here.
- House #9:
Humanity is extinct, wiped out by a cataclysmic meteor. In its wake something monstrous has taken root.
- House #10:
It’s showtime at the local drive-in, where you don’t just catch a movie; the movie catches you. When the credits roll, heads roll.
Surrounded in shadow by screams and mad laughter, face nightmarish creatures on streets twisted into sinister scare zones.
So, after experiencing it all, I will say we just had a blast (other than the first hour at “guest services”). Have you ever gone to any Halloween events? What are your thoughts? What are your favorites? If you HAD to pick one of the following which would you pick to go to? (please comment below)
- Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights
- Busch Garden’s Howl-O-Scream
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
That’s it for now
~ Kristen ~
Welcome to Next Round Creative 
Looked like you had a great time. Sorry that the guest services were so callous and seemed to not understand your needs.
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