Get the latest: Follow us 
Since its television debut on Halloween night 2010, AMC’s “The Walking Dead” has been a smash success for following a tight-knit group fighting to survive amidst a zombie outbreak. The show, which returns for its third season in October, is based on a popular comic book series that began in 2003. And now, for Halloween Horror Nights 2012, early looks at event construction seem to indicate “The Walking Dead” may be heading to Universal Orlando this year.
UPDATE (7/18/12): A haunted house based on “The Walking Dead” has been confirmed for Halloween Horror Nights 2012 at both Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood. Details and video of the announcement are available here.
The notion of “The Walking Dead” potentially being part of Halloween Horror Nights 22 has been around for a few months, since a survey sent out in February included it among a list of possible subjects for the event. But such annual surveys always mention a number of properties just to see what fans are interested in, leaving much doubt as to which (if any) will actually be seen when Halloween rolls around.
Recently-filed county permits mention a handful of scene names for a few of this year’s haunted houses, one including a first scene called “Hospital Hallway” and another called “Roof Top.” Fans of “The Walking Dead” will instantly recognize both of these locations as familiar settings for memorable moments in the show, including its lead character’s introduction in the series’ first episode.
Those particular scenes are mentioned in a permit related to the house being constructed in the Disaster attraction queue. And what fan of “The Walking Dead” wouldn’t want to stumble down the very same hallway Rick Grimes did in the show, cautiously approaching a chained door that reads, “DON’T OPEN DEAD INSIDE”? It would certainly be an ominous way to begin a haunted house experience.
Now that the summer months are here, construction has begun at Universal Studios Florida on several of the haunted mazes that will be featured when Halloween Horror Nights 22 kicks off on September 21, 2012. Universal Orlando has not yet revealed, or even hinted at, the themes that will be featured within those mazes, but a few eager park goers have snapped a couple photos around the Disaster queue that further connect the house being built there to “The Walking Dead.”
(Photo by @DesigningFear)
That is indeed an RV, parked at Universal Studios Florida, in the Disaster queue area. Not only is it an RV, but it’s one that greatly resembles the vehicle prominently featured throughout “The Walking Dead,” as seen below.
Earlier today, a peek through a construction wall hole revealed what appears to be a barn being constructed:
(Photo by @xnothinglasts)
In season two of “The Walking Dead,” a barn played a major role, housing a number of zombies:
All signs seem to point to “The Walking Dead” being used as the theme for one of the many mazes that will be featured in Halloween Horror Nights 2012 – but it’s also possible Universal’s creative team is simply taking cues from the show to evoke the same feeling without directly licensing the property. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time the event has featured zombies, most recently with a haunted house called Zombiegeddon and scare zone named Zombie Gras, both in 2010.
Universal Orlando usually begins teasing information surrounding their Halloween Horror Nights event mid-summer, with a full reveal in August, leading up to opening night the next month. Whether it involves “The Walking Dead” or not, Halloween fans have much to look forward to as haunt season rapidly approaches.
Ricky do you think HHN being at just studios this year dispite the fact that the Amity island part of the park is now gone(a fact I am still attempting to get over lol) will make it crazy cramped and crowded? why do you think Universal doesnt want to go back to the two park HHN?
Last year the Amity area was nothing but, pardon the pun, dead space. The Jaws queue has been in use for a few years as a maze, but that location was always hot and cramped. This year, it seems they’ll be utilizing another indoor soundstage in its place, which is great news. Soundstage houses are higher quality and temperature controlled. So I don’t anticipate the destruction/construction having much of an impact on the event.
You’re right, it is an extremely crowded event on some nights. But I imagine handling a 2-park event is twice as difficult for them, logistically. And honestly I wouldn’t want to have to walk back and forth between them to see all the houses.
thats true, ive just seen some of the stuff they have done over at islands and always thought it was really cool, with the houses at jurassic park and the use of superhero villans as houses is awesome. At any rate im looking forward to this years and really hope this turns out to be an actual Walking Dead house.
I lived in Orlando for 8 years and the first 2 years I was there it was at Islands of Adventure. It was waaaaaaaaay too crowded. They actually did have the event spread out over 2 parks for 1 year and it was a HUGE pain having to walk back and forth to see everything. It can still get crowded on some nights, but it works much better being at just Universal. Trust me. =)
Too scary for me! I will be at MIckey’s party at Disney instead!
lol it’s scary but fun. I’m 13 and i loved it
i am fear you will bear my mark xxii the end has begun it is near it is never too late to start panic filled last days of your life. i will kill all of you soon you will all perish.
i heard that this year’s icon maybe some sort of figure associated with time a being known as the timekeeper could this be based on a god or goddess representing time or a story about time . hey even in another teaser fear mentions a new herald or worker demon will be revealed. this one being the most terriffiying entity and will make everyone scream.
another suggestions for 100 years sorry i mean a hundred cycles have horror movies and other forms of movies and entertainment .
another idea is a grim reaper or death related figure be the icon for this year’s event .
i heard rumors about twin icons or two couples or a group of icons pershaps for 2012 we will have the four horsemen the antichrist , war, faimine, death, the seven seals, the seven bowls, the seven trumpets, seven deadly sins, angels, demons, gods, and goddesses and other themes related to the end of the world like earthqaukes, floods, volcanoes, disease, pandemic, zombies, aliens, robots, nuclear warfare, and other things.
is it just me or did i see a few more bloody marks on the teaser or am i looking at clues too deeply.
Extremely excited, my first Halloween Horror Night and BIG fan of the show! Bring on the zombies!
july 13, 2012 is when the icon and more teasers and clues towards the theme may come on this day we might play some kind of game which has hidden clues for this year’s event or some interactive video or activity.
I reserved tickets today for my vacation. I noticed when I was reading about one of the perks of staying on property where if you stay on site you get free admission to the clubs at city walk “After experiencing the pulse-pounding frights, cutting-edge excitement and the walking dead” That is a direct quote from universal orlandos website. Go read it for yourself.
FREE Admission into CityWalk Clubs, Orlando
After experiencing the pulse-pounding frights, cutting-edge excitement and the walking dead, continue your night with FREE admission into most* Universal CityWalk® clubs by showing your Halloween Horror Nights ticket at each participating club.
Location: Universal CityWalk®
soon you will feel my grasp. the terror and gore you see will be more terrifying than ever before i am fear and i am ever living. the darkness of your shadow who craves your last breath. i demand more .
universal studios has gone too far this year we imagine the 22nd cycle will be the scariest event in our history. oh no the timekeeper is listening i should start panicking now. ah, ah, what in the world is that. oh no it is getting closer. tick tock eric you you will die.
this year we will enter fear’s new age of darkness what has passed is gone. a new herald shall emerge. it is timekeeper and he is quite evil and ready to serve his dark master fear.
this year we might have only six houses but they have a sprung tent permit made so in reality we might have seven houses. we of course may have many scarezones my prediction is 9 scarezones, 8 shows, seven houses, 6 rides, 5 dining locations, 4 shops, 3 roaming scarezones, and two icons , and one general theme .
but it could be wrong so lets says 7 houses, 8 scarezones, 6 shows, and 5 other attractions. but it could be shorter with seven houses, 3 scarezones, two shows, and one other attractions. yeah universal is not in charge of the event this time it is fear and he is everliving.
Will be our 4th time coming from the UK to Halloween horror and it just keeps getting better.
For those who haven’t been before you should consider the behind the screams tour as you get to see the houses during the day and take pictures etc.
Also if you are staying in one of the Universal Hotels you get to enter the event before everyone else, if not and you are planning on being in the park during the day then when the park is closing head to finnegan’s bar as you are allowed to stay in there whilst everyone else leaves and get a headstart on all the people queueing for entry.
Hey, I got a cool idea!!! They should make a maze based off the creepypasta story “Jeff the killer”!!! That would be worth going to see!!!!!!
we have two months until the end arrives well the 22nd cycle of halloween horror nights will be very scary. it is never too late to start panicking.
I have an idea!!! They should have a house completely dedicated to different ways to torture “Eric you”!! Dude… STFU!!! You’re so annoying!!
Aside from that… A walking dead theme would be awesome… Even if it is just a house and not the theme of the whole park it would still be awesome…