ORLANDO, Fla. — Universal Orlando will expand the dates that it opens two haunted houses during daytime hours to September 26 and 27 and October 3 through Nov 1 and offer a few other Halloween seasonal offerings, too.

The two haunted houses —  Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives and Revenge of the Tooth Fairy —  originally were planned for the 2020 edition of Halloween Horror Nights.

That event was canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the featured haunted houses offer the same elaborate sets, lighting, sounds, and scares as HHN houses, though the experience is altered slightly to protect customers from the coronavirus pandemic.

The houses opened on September 19 and 20, and Universal Orlando reported filling to capacity at one point Saturday.

Access to the haunted houses is included with theme park admission. There could be times when the Virtual Line will be available for the haunted houses. Use the Official Universal Orlando Resort App to select a virtual line to visit.  

But the haunted houses are not the only way to celebrate Halloween at Universal Orlando.

Visitors can win a Halloween treat by participating in the Scarecrow Stalk, a scavenger hunt that sends them off to find unique scarecrows and collect 13 stamps at retail locations throughout Universal Orlando.

At Islands of Adventure, children 12 years old and younger can trick or treat at retail locations marked with pumpkin signs to collect Halloween candy.

At both parks, visitors can dress in family-friendly costumes to help them get in the Halloween spirit on select dates. There are rules, however.

• No costume masks, face applications or face painting which restricts vision or covers the face completely are permitted. Face coverings that comply with COVID-19 safety mandates also must be worn.
• Visitors may dress as their favorite characters but cannot pose for pictures or sign autographs for other visitors.
• Costumes may not include weaponry; long veils or trains; clothing or accessories associated with public safety officials, first responders, terrorist organizations, or Universal employees; sexually explicit or insinuated costumes; gruesome or gory costumes that are in poor taste; live animals.
• Costumes may not be larger than 28 inches wide or 80 inches high and must be able pass through a metal detector.
• All costumes may be subject to x-ray screenings.
• Proper footwear must be worn at all times

Universal Cinemark at CityWalk also will offer classic horror movies through October 31, and limited time Halloween-themed treats will be available throughout the parks.

For more details, visit the Universal Orlando website.