ACADEMY

Halloween Horror Nights

Themed Entertainment Workshop

Universal Orlando | Thursday – Sunday

Thursday — Arrivals & Welcome

Check-in + group dinner at CityWalk

• All Day — Guest Arrivals Settle in, explore the resort, and decompress from travel. Suggested: grab a drink at the pool bar and start thinking about what terrifies you.
• 7:00 PM — Welcome Dinner Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, CityWalk Group meet-and-greet dinner with introductions and icebreakers. A first conversation about what everyone hopes to take away from the week. Use the themed environment as your first case study — start noticing the details around you.

Friday — Unmasking the Horror

Field study + workshop deep dives + HHN evening

• 9:00 AM — Unmasking the Horror Tour Field Study Exclusive daytime walkthrough of the haunted houses with the lights on. Study scenic construction, lighting rig placement, actor blocking positions, and scare mechanics in full view. Bring a notebook, take photos, and ask questions.
• 12:00 PM — Lunch Break Return to the hotel. Debrief informally over lunch — what was your first gut reaction? Start documenting standout observations before the afternoon workshops.
• 1:30 PM — Workshop Block A: Deconstruction Session Workshop A structured review of what you saw on the tour. Why was it designed this way? What's doing the real work — the scenic, the lighting, the sound, the timing? Group analysis of specific moments from the tour houses.
• 2:30 PM — Workshop Block B: Holistic Design Workshop Concepts in lighting: directions, types, and planning principles. Practical framework for tomorrow's hands-on session. Snack breaks included.
• 4:30 PM — Break & Head to HHN
• 5:00 PM — HHN Evening (Express Access) HHN Event Apply your fresh eyes. Walk the houses as a guest and as a designer simultaneously. Required: visit at least 3 houses from the Unmasked Tour for comparison.

Saturday — Design & Collaboration

Morning workshops + afternoon field study

• 10:00 AM — Workshop Block E: Night-Before Debrief Workshop Open discussion. What stood out? What surprised you? What changed in how you see a haunted house after experiencing it with designer eyes?
• 11:00 AM — Workshop Block F: Hands-On Lighting Workshop Workshop Practical application of scenic and lighting design using low-voltage lighting tools. Explore how effective lighting can maximize the potential of scenic elements. Miniature Halloween vignettes provided for reference.
• 1:00 PM — Lunch & Prep for Epic Universe
• 3:00 PM — Field Study: Epic Universe (Express Access) Field Study Live theming analysis in a world-class environment. Topics include: forced perspective and architectural scale, how land transitions communicate world-building, sight line control, material choices, detail density by zone, and what immersion actually means when you're standing inside it.
• Evening — Group Dinner Group Dinner Debrief dinner. Open discussion — what changed in how you see a themed space after this week? What are you bringing home?
• After Dinner — Isle of Berk

Sunday — Departures

Wrap-up & travel home

• Morning — Breakfast & Mingle
• 9:00 AM — VIP Surprise Activity (8 spots available)
• 11:00 AM — Checkout & Departures Departures per individual travel schedule. Optional informal coffee session for any remaining group debrief, resource sharing, or continued conversation. A takeaway packet with session notes, references, and recommended reading will be available for distribution this morning.