Enter the Upside Down
Universal Horror Nights Features Immersive Stranger Things Season 5 Haunted House
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Key Points
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Universal’s teaser for the attraction shows “mirrors exploding to reveal the Upside Down behind them,” previewing how the maze will transition from the real world into the other realm.
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Universal said the “Stranger Things” merchandise drop would be available online starting Thursday at noon EDT, ahead of or alongside in-park sales.
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A separate report specifies the merchandise will be sold in parks immediately, then “launch[ed] online tomorrow, Thursday, June 18, at 9 p.m. PST on shopUniversal.com,” emphasizing the exact rollout timing and store.
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Beyond the Stranger Things haunted house, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights lineup is described as including “eight haunted houses,” plus “the Terror Tram,” multiple scare zones, and additional entertainment.
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For Universal Studios Hollywood, ticketing options are more detailed than a general on-sale note: it offers “General Admission, Early Access, Frequent Fear and Ultimate Fear passes,” and some ticket types include “nighttime access” to the “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift” coaster.
Universal Studios is bringing "Stranger Things" back to Halloween Horror Nights for one final chapter. The new haunted house, themed to Season 5 of the hit Netflix series, opens Aug. 28 at Universal Orlando Resort and Sept. 3 at Universal Studios Hollywood, running through Nov. 1 at both parks, TravelPulse reported.
The attraction drops guests into a collapsing Hawkins, where the barrier between the real world and the Upside Down is breaking apart. Visitors will move through the Wheeler House, Hawkins National Laboratory, the MAC-Z military base, and into the Abyss — all while being hunted by Demogorgons and stalked by Vecna, Broadway World reported.
Exploding Mirrors and the Upside Down Await
Universal's teaser for the house shows mirrors exploding to reveal the Upside Down behind them. It is a practical effect — meaning a physical set trick, not a digital one — designed to make the shift between worlds feel real. The 2026 house follows the 2023 attraction, which was praised for its "movie-quality" sets built around Vecna's mind lair, according to SGV Tribune.
Universal described the experience as a "harrowing adventure" where the "barrier between reality and the supernatural is collapsing." The Duffer Brothers, who created the show, built a 25-page "Upside Down Mythology" document that shaped the house's design, including the Abyss segment. Universal developed the attraction in direct partnership with Netflix.
Ticket Prices, Dates, and What Each Park Offers
Tickets are already on sale. At Universal Studios Hollywood, single-night passes start at $77. An Ultimate Fear Pass — which covers every night of the event — costs $299. Express Pass add-ons run $229 to $269, often more than the base ticket itself, according to Fresno Bee.
Hollywood offers four ticket types: General Admission, Early Access, Frequent Fear, and Ultimate Fear. Some passes include nighttime access to the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster. Orlando kicks off with a Premium Scream Night preview on Aug. 27. Orlando's lineup features 10 haunted houses and 5 scare zones. Hollywood runs 8 haunted houses plus the exclusive Terror Tram, Head Topics reported.
Limited Merch Drops Online Thursday Night
Universal is releasing a small line of "Stranger Things" merchandise tied to the haunted house. The collection includes an 80s-inspired T-shirt, a mug, and an acrylic figure that fits into the Infernal Carnival collectible display — a set designed to reward repeat buyers, Muse TV reported.
The merch went on sale in parks first. The online rollout hit shopUniversal.com on Thursday, June 18, at 9 p.m. PST. Universal timed the drop to create urgency — a classic "fear of missing out" move — targeting annual pass holders and collectors who track limited releases.
A Franchise That Has Driven Record Crowds Since 2018
Universal first brought "Stranger Things" to Halloween Horror Nights in 2018. It was one of the earliest streaming shows to prove that TV IP could pull crowds as well as classic horror films. "Stranger Things 4" drew 1.352 billion hours of viewing in its first 28 days on Netflix. Season 5, which premiered in late 2025, was described as a "global culture event" that briefly crashed Netflix's servers.
The 2026 season also marks HHN's 35th anniversary at Orlando. Universal has already confirmed a second headlining house based on director Ryan Coogler's film "Sinners," a 1930s-set vampire story. More houses — likely including original characters tied to the anniversary — are expected to be announced by mid-July, according to SGV Tribune.
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