Did this year’s Premium Scream Night hold up and offer the premium feel as last year’s event did? Well, I won’t make you read this entire blog for the answer: no.
The 2025 Premium Scream Night at Universal Orlando Resort had a lot of potential, but the execution left me questioning the “premium” label. Let’s dive in.
HHN Panel: A Highlight
One of the genuine perks of the night was attending the HHN panel. It was engaging, fun, and added something unique that you don’t get on a regular event night. For fans like me, it was a nice bonus and probably the most memorable part of the evening beyond the houses themselves.
House Wait Times and Pulsing: A Major Step Back
The house lines were averaging between 25 and 55 minutes. That range isn’t terrible compared to regular HHN nights, but the real issue was the inconsistency. Posted wait times were often wrong in both directions, so you never knew if you were stepping into a short line or a long one.
But here’s the bigger problem: pulsing, or the lack of it. Last year, pulsing was one of the biggest selling points for me. My group often walked through houses completely alone, with scares hitting perfectly. That sense of exclusivity made the whole event feel worth it.
This year, pulsing was inconsistent. Groups were sent in with little to no spacing, and the groups themselves were much larger than the year before. I never once had a house to just my group. Without pulsing, the waits for houses, 25 to 55 minutes, are essentially the same as, or even worse than, what you’d expect with an Express Pass on a normal HHN night. That premium distinction, the thing that justified the cost, was gone.
Trying to slow down meant missing scares as actors reset. Speeding up meant watching the group ahead get scared. On top of that, some team members inside the houses were motioning for guests to move faster, which broke immersion even more.
Food: Fun but Flawed
Another advertised perk of Premium Scream is the exclusive food offerings. I had my list ready, and while I did get to try some things, the food lines were just too long. In the end, I skipped a lot of items to squeeze in all 10 houses.
Here’s what I did manage to sample:
Clown Café
- Sienna’s Burnt Angel Wings (bourbon glazed hot wings)
- Clown Café Bloody Popcorn (popcorn chicken with pepperoni, marinara, and spiced parm)
- Abracadabra Sunflower Glasses (sunflower cookies splattered with chocolate “blood”)
- Sienna’s Sangria (mocktail) and Clown’s Bourbon Smash
Fallout
- Pickle Bucket Baked Chicken (buffalo chicken dip topped with fried pickles)
- Cram Tots & More (a post apocalyptic snack mix)
- Yum Yum Deviled “Eggs” (coconut panna cotta “eggs” with pineapple ganache, mango, and Tajin)
The Horrors of Wyatt Sicks
- Huskus’ Muscle Man Slop (sloppy joe on a chocolate almond bun with jalapeño bacon, dill pickles, and cheese sauce)
- Ramblin’ Rabbit Fried Carrot Cake (fried carrot cake with icing and cotton candy fluff)
- Ramblin’ Rabbit Punch (mocktail)
Bonus Bites
- Why Not Have Both Pizza & Pasta (a combo that speaks for itself)
- Cupcake (sweet, simple, and satisfying)
- Chica’s Sour Lime Tang (a sharp, citrusy drink)
Personally, I enjoyed almost everything. But the wings were a miss for me. The skin wasn’t cooked enough for my taste and they were messy. The cupcake also didn’t work for me flavor wise. Beyond those two, everything else we tried was creative and well done. There were many other items we wanted to try, but the lines were too long if we wanted to get through all 10 houses.
Last Year vs. This Year
Here’s the thing: last year’s Premium Scream Night did not sell out. Because of that, we ended up with something much closer to an exclusive, intimate experience. Likely not what Universal originally intended, but all the better for those of us who attended.
This year, the event did sell out. What we experienced this time is apparently what Universal had meant to deliver last year, only without the extra breathing room that came from a smaller crowd. In hindsight, maybe it was unrealistic to expect the same special treatment again given how good the word of mouth was.
But the fact remains: one of the biggest selling points for me was pulsing. Without it, Premium Scream becomes just another crowded HHN night with wait times no better than Express Pass. And for the price being charged, that’s simply not worth it.
Final Thoughts
Everything I’ve shared here is just my opinion as someone who has experienced both years’ events. Last year felt special, this year did not. For me, Premium Scream 2025 didn’t deliver the premium value the name promises.
So until the next blog, podcast or livestream, keep making memories.
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