With the spooky season fast approaching (or already here depending on who you ask) people are wondering what Halloween is going to look like this year.
Many are already mourning the loss of fan favorites like Universal Studios Theme Park’s Halloween Horror Nights or Disney World’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween. Fortunately, the creative minds at Universal Studios have given us the gift of an early Halloween.
While Horror Nights may have been doomed this year, the Tribute Store has been resurrected to celebrate 30 years of the event.
Although nothing can take the place of the full event, each themed room of the store is so fully imagined and executed that you get the feeling that you are actually walking through one of Universal’s haunted houses.
Old School Monsters and Classic Icons
With four rooms, there is a nice array of past HHN themes.
You start your journey in Frankenstein’s lab, where the monster himself looks ready to come to life on the table! A classic monster pulsing with electricity, this is the perfect room for anyone who likes a little nostalgia with their scares.
Next, you enter Jack the Clown’s Carnival. I loved this room! For any die-hard fans, you’ll be able to spot many elements that hint to Jack’s backstory and past usage at Horror nights. Another delight is the wall of Jack-O-lanterns presided over by the killer clown himself.
The Merchandise
Throughout these first two rooms you’ll find much of the merchandise you would expect from the event. There’s a wide range from classic Universal Monsters clothing, Horror Nights clothing, posters, and accessories to help celebrate the 30 Years of Fears. If you are looking for a souvenir that is a little more personal, look for HHN clothing or accessories from the year you were born (they have designs going back to 1990), or a poster signed by the Universal artists who designed these characters.
Scary Snacks
No matter where go, I am always ready to eat. So, there’s a bakery in a creepy Halloween store? Let’s dig in!
After walking down a long, eerily lit hallway, you get to the third room. Here you find the food! Maybe I didn’t make it out of Jack’s Carnival, because I felt like I had gone to Horror Nights Heaven! Werewolf Cake Pops, Frankenstein Rice Krispy Treats, Mummy Tarts, Zombie cookie dough, the menu goes on and on. They even have a separate menu for doughnuts alone! You want savory? Try a bacon, cheddar, scallion waffle stick. The showstopper of this ghoulish bakery, however, is the beating heart gummies. Yes, they actually move like a live heart! It is going to take at least four more trips to satisfy my need to try all of these offerings!
It’s Showtime!
All of these previous rooms are great, but the crowning achievement is the final room: Beetlejuice! This is your chance to visit the ghost with the most! The level of detail is incredible! Scattered throughout the area are gravestones and pieces of the turf used in the Maitland’s model of the town. Before you pick up your copy of the Handbook for the Recently Deceased, stop and pay your respects at Beetlejuice’s gravesite.
They even recreated the memorable Beetlejuice snake scene. Finally, when you have had your fill, line up with the other ghosts and wait for your caseworker to check you out before exiting the Tribute Store to the sounds of “Jump in the Line”. Go ahead and try to resist the temptation to dance like Lydia on the way out, I dare you.
Things to Remember:
- Social distancing lines are employed throughout the store just like the rest of the park
- The number of people allowed in the store is monitored, so depending on the time of day you might be waiting in line to get in.
- The Tribute Store can be found in between Jimmy Fallon’s Race Through New York and The Mummy
- While I feel Universal does a great job keeping people safe, I am not advocating for widespread travel. Use good judgment.
- Stay safe, stay healthy!
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