In March of 1895, Dracula has been raising his daughter, Mavis, on his own since the death of his wife, Martha. He is overprotective of her, keeping Mavis inside and making her fear humans through scary stories. While teaching Mavis how to fly, Dracula learns that construction on his lavish 5 star hotel for monsters has been completed.

Hotel Transylvania is surrounded by a cemetery that zombies reside in and 400 yards of haunted forest, ensuring humans dare not even get close. The hotel also doubles as a sanctuary, where Dracula can raise his daughter in peace.

In 2012, monsters from around the world, including Dracula's friends - Frank, Murray, Wayne and Griffin, fellow supernatural monsters - arrive to celebrate Mavis's 118th birthday. Before the guests are allowed to enjoy the activities, Dracula presents a slideshow of 21st century humans that his staff has collected. Unaware that humans no longer believe monsters exist.

Dracula makes incorrect assumptions that the changes in human culture are to better their ability to destroy them. "Evil humans, you'll never win!" Dracula then goes to visit Mavis, who has not aged past her teenage years; he gives her permission to go see a nearby human village for the next half hour, since he promised her 30 years ago. However, Drac's friends are against the idea. But Drac, as always had a plan under his sleeve.

Dracula quickly follows after Mavis, arriving in the village before her and hiding in the shadows. Mavis arrives shortly after and is awed by the sight, until an angry mob quickly begins surrounding her; she tries making peace with them. One of the humans behind her loses his head, revealing him and the group to be zombies under Dracula's employ.

Drac corrects the problem before Mavis can notice. However, the zombies' bumbling causes them to catch fire. "Holy Rabies, you're on fire! Can I help you?" But she ultimately gives up and turns into a bat and flies back to the hotel. Drac is left happy his daughter will now be forever safe, ordering the zombies to tear down the fake village and get back to work at the hotel.

Dracula beat her to the Punch and went back to the hotel. He was happy, "HA! My plan worked! Now she'll never want to see a human ever again." Dracula heads her to room with her favorite snack -- scream cheese. "Mavy-wavy, you ok-? Wait...where is she?" Mavis wasn't in her room. Where is she?

Well it turns out Mavis was lost. The Hotel Transylvania was behind the forest but the forests is huge so it's easy to get lost in and Mavis was lost. "Oh rats! What do I do? I'm gonna be late to my own party and my dad'll be worried sick." Until then there was smoke. Mavis curiously followed that smoke and it was a campfire.

But there was someone at that campfire. "Ahhh! Human!" Mavis hid behind a tree and peeked beside it. She was looking at the human and the human looked quite peaceful...and cute. Enough to make her cheeks blush. "Hmm, this human doesn't look dangerous like those weirdos at the village."

So Mavis mustered up her courage and stepped out behind the tree and into the light. "Excuse me! Hi hello, stranger!"