Knott's Scary Farm at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park
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👻 Which Haunted Theme Park Is Worth Your Money?
This past weekend, my daughters and I experienced both Knott’s Scary Farm and Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, and I want to share my first-hand comparison of these two top Southern California Halloween attractions.
🎟️ Price Comparison – Which Offers the Best Value?
🎬 Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights – Cost & Hidden Fees
💰 Total Cost Per Person: $229 (After 2 PM Day/Night Combo Front-of-Line Pass)
❌ Cons:
- Front-of-line access doesn’t start until 7 PM, meaning you wait in lines from 2 PM to 7 PM.
- Does NOT include parking – Costs $25-$50 (we paid $35 for preferred parking).
- No food included – You’ll need to eat before arriving or pay high park prices.
- Front-of-line pass is one-time use per attraction – No re-entry for favorites.
- Total for 3 people: $779 (excluding food costs).
- Upgrade to the R.I.P. Tour: Another $100 per person.
🎢 Knott’s Scary Farm – Cost & Benefits
💰 Total Cost Per Person: $153.99 (All-Inclusive Scary Farm Pass)
✅ Pros:
- Unlimited front-of-line access from 6 PM until closing.
- Includes FREE parking ($18 value).
- Includes FREE Boo-fet dinner ($28.99 value) with monsters for entertainment.
- Unlimited re-entry to haunted houses and rides.
- Total for 3 people: $461.97 (including parking, food, and admission).
🔥 Verdict: Knott’s Scary Farm offers more value for less money. The included dinner, free parking, and unlimited front-of-line access make it a far better deal compared to Halloween Horror Nights.
👀 Haunted Houses & Attractions – Which Delivers More Scares?
🎬 Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights (2023 Lineup)
👻 Haunted Houses (8 total):
- American Horror Story: Roanoke – 3/5 ⭐
- The Shining – 3/5 ⭐ (Good, but not as impressive as expected).
- SAW: The Games of Jigsaw – 5/5 ⭐ (Best maze—immersive and intense).
- Ash vs Evil Dead – 1/5 ⭐ (Lacked creativity and wasn’t scary).
- Insidious: Beyond the Further – 3/5 ⭐
- Titans of Terror – 4/5 ⭐
- The Horrors of Blumhouse – 3/5 ⭐ (Purge, Sinister, Happy Death Day).
- Terror Tram (Bates Motel & Friday the 13th theme) – 3/5 ⭐
🎡 Rides Open: Transformers, Jurassic Park, The Simpsons, The Mummy.
⚠️ Disappointments:
- Too many people at once – Actors couldn’t reset between scares.
- Costumes & makeup felt rushed – You could see actors' real necks under masks.
- Less attention to detail than previous years – 2016’s Krampus maze was far superior.
🎢 Knott’s Scary Farm (2023 Lineup)
👻 Haunted Houses (10 total, including Timber Mountain Log Ride transformation):
- Dark Ride – 5/5 ⭐ (Creepy abandoned amusement park theme).
- Paranormal Inc. – 5/5 ⭐ (Great intro sequence).
- Pumpkin Eater – 5/5 ⭐ (Surprise scare element that stops people in their tracks).
- Shadow Lands – 5/5 ⭐ (Hard to find entrance, but solid maze).
- Special Ops: Infected – 5/5 ⭐ (Interactive laser tag against zombies!)
- The Red Barn – 4/5 ⭐
- The Tooth Fairy – 4/5 ⭐ (Dark and disturbing theme).
- Trick or Treat: Lights Out – 5/5 ⭐ (Interactive flashlight maze that dies out).
- Voodoo – 5/5 ⭐ (Only maze that made me physically jump!).
🎡 Rides Open: 10 total (with priority front-of-line access).
🔥 Verdict: Knott’s Scary Farm wins again. The mazes were more immersive, scarier, and had more hidden passageways for scare actors to interact with guests.
🎭 Overall Experience & Final Verdict
Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights
🎥 Movie-Themed Mazes – Great for fans of horror films, but execution felt rushed.
💰 Overpriced – Too expensive for what you get.
🚶♂️ Long Waits Even with Front-of-Line Pass – No re-entry to haunted houses.
⭐ Final Rating: 3/5 ⭐
Knott’s Scary Farm
🎃 More Attractions – More haunted houses, scare zones, and rides.
💵 Better Value – Lower cost, free food, and unlimited front-of-line access.
😱 Scarier Experience – More effort in costumes, themes, and scare tactics.
⭐ Final Rating: 5/5 ⭐
🧐 Knott’s Scary Farm vs. Halloween Horror Nights – Which Should You Choose?
👉 Choose Halloween Horror Nights if:
✔️ You’re a die-hard horror movie fan.
✔️ You want to see movie-accurate sets and characters.
✔️ You’re okay with paying more for a shorter experience.
👉 Choose Knott’s Scary Farm if:
✔️ You want more haunted houses & better scare zones.
✔️ You want unlimited front-of-line access to houses and rides.
✔️ You want a full Halloween experience for a lower price.
🔥 Winner: Knott’s Scary Farm! 🔥
For less money, more attractions, better scares, and unlimited front-of-line access, Knott’s Scary Farm outshines Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights.
Check out other Haunted houses around the country!
