Halloween Horror Nights kicks off September 1 this year at Universal Studios Florida. The full lineup for houses, scare zones, and shows has been released and food booths have been set up around the park for the spooky season. There will be plenty of restaurants and food booths to choose from this year, but one of the most iconic dining locations during HHN might not open, unfortunately. Rumors around the park suggest that Mel’s Die-In will not be open for Halloween Horror Nights 32.
Mel’s Die-In May Be Closed During HHN 32
Mel’s Drive-In, located in the Hollywood section of the park, is one of the most popular restaurants during Halloween Horror Nights. It’s not the food that draws the crowds, though. Ever year during HHN, two of the lit letters from the sign are turned off, making the neon sign read “Mel’s Die-In” instead of “Drive-In”.
Earlier this year, there was a rumored closure of Mel’s Drive-In for refurbishment. The refurbishment was said to begin in late May, but was delayed until mid-June. It eventually started later than expected, which could be one of the major reasons this project won’t finish in time for the event. There’s always a chance the work on the restaurant could be completed during the event and Mel’s Die-In may open later in the season, but as of now, the list of restaurants open during the event this year does not include Mel’s.
Back in June when the restaurant closed, we took a look through the windows and saw the booths and tables being removed. The restaurant is getting completely refreshed, from the dining room to the kitchen. We’ve seen refurbishments happening to several restaurants around both parks. Over at Islands of Adventure, Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-Pendous is also closed for refurbishment.
You won’t have to look too far to find spooky food, though. Battery Park is located directly across from Mel’s Drive-In and will be serving food during the event. Last year, Battery Park was themed to the Weeknd After Hours Nightmare Bar, but this year it will be a food booth. The booth has a very similar color-scheme and style to Mel’s Drive-In, perhaps to serve as a temporary replacement.
The neon sign will most likely be lit to read Mel’s Die-In, though the restaurant itself may not be serving. Minion Cafe should be open during the event as well as plenty of other locations to grab food from, though. Full menus for the event have not been released yet, but you can take a sneak peek at some of the items coming to Halloween Horror Nights this year in our Taste of Terror review.
At this time, this is still only a rumor, meaning Universal Orlando could get Mel’s Drive-In finished in time for Halloween Horror Nights, even if it’s later in the season. How do you feel about Mel’s Die-In potentially being closed during HHN?
Halloween Horror Nights is less than two weeks away, so be sure to stay tuned for more details on this story as well as full coverage from the event.
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