Long before the first scream echoes through Universal Studios Florida, the creative teams behind Halloween Horror Nights are already crafting nightmares. For one of this year’s most chilling original houses, Dolls: Let’s Play Dead, the scenic design and decor teams have stitched, sculpted, and shrunk us into a nightmare straight from a child’s imagination.
Related: Your Ultimate Guide to the Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort 2025
And we have to say — this one easily landed at the top of our house ranking list for the year. It’s imaginative, beautifully designed, and absolutely packed with scares from start to finish.
Inside Lyla’s Dollhouse
The story begins in the attic of a little girl named Lyla, where something is deeply wrong. Her teddy bears are shredded. Her dolls are warped and melted. And her imagination? It’s taken a very dark turn.
Guests shrink down to the size of toys and step into Lyla’s dollhouse — a world where innocence meets insanity. Every corner feels like a twisted take on childhood playtime, with unsettling details that make this house both horrifying and heartbreakingly creative.
Turning concept into terror
Each haunted house at HHN begins as a “creative intent” document — a scene-by-scene breakdown of the story, scares, and setting. Once approved, the scenic design team turns those ideas into physical spaces.
Senior scenic designer Chris McKinney explains, “Typically, the show director and scenic designer start with a broad concept, and then we distill it down, scene by scene, until we have an overall narrative.”
From there, the design team produces construction drawings and 3D models that serve as blueprints for the decor crew. Every wall height, angle, and prop placement is planned with precision to guide how the story unfolds as guests move through the house.
Dressing the nightmare
Once the walls are up, the scenic decor team — the unsung heroes of HHN — brings everything to life. Their job? Fill every inch with props, furniture, and custom builds that transform plywood into pure fear.
Art manager Jamie Hewett describes it best: “We’re executing the design that’s been handed to us by the designers. We go to the warehouse, see what we have in inventory, then start sourcing everything else we need.”
For longtime HHN fans, there’s even a touch of nostalgia hidden inside. Art manager Jeff ‘JMac’ McDonald revealed that a prop from Dollhouse of the Damned (2014) — a massive baby doll face — was revived for this year’s maze. “It looks perfect,” he said, “and longtime fans will definitely recognize it.”
Solving creepy challenges
Designing Dolls: Let’s Play Dead wasn’t just creative — it was technical.
McKinney shared that the biggest challenge was scale: “We had to make guests feel like they’d shrunk down to toy size, so we used oversized objects — bricks, power outlets, screws — to sell that illusion quickly.”
Meanwhile, the decor team faced the eerie task of creating the illusion of melting dolls without actually using heat. The solution? A custom “goo” material developed just for this house. “There’s no handbook for this,” Jamie laughed. “We’re constantly experimenting and problem-solving to make each year feel new.”
The reward: that first scream
After more than a year of work, the payoff comes on opening night when guests finally step inside. “When people walk through and say, ‘Wow, look what they did,’ that’s the reward,” Jamie said. “Being part of ‘they’ — that’s everything.”
Jeff agreed: “When the teams get in there, they really tell their stories through their decor. It’s amazing to see it all come together.”
Related: WWE Superstar Alexa Bliss Surprises Guests Inside Wyatt Sicks House at Halloween Horror Nights
From the oversized toy blocks to the gooey remains of Lyla’s imagination, Dolls: Let’s Play Dead proves that scenic design isn’t just about creating sets — it’s about storytelling through terror. This house balances creativity and craftsmanship so well that it stands as one of the most impressive and fear-inducing experiences of the year.
So next time you find yourself screaming inside Lyla’s dollhouse, remember — it’s all in the details.
Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
Get started Now for your FREE No Obligation Quote.
