HHN Express

[Pyro2008]

Can't say I am shocked, but since prices have gone way up this year (Saturday anyways), are they still worth it?

Any discounts?

We we're going to do another RIP tour this year but since we'd be stuck with a public group, and since Universal has buttoned down restrictions to just shy of making the tour useless, we're going back with express.

We were thinking about buying two ahead of time, then two on the night of, but do they still do discounts at the park on that night? I'm thinking $400 for 4 express might be worth it this time since they effectively puts them out of the acceptable price range for some. I am thinking regular lines will be worse than ever ... anyone who's already been can chime in I hope!

Suggestions?

 

[CPA_ESQ.]

what restrictions make the RIP tour worthless - just wondering?

 

[Pyro2008]

I guess I should say, non private R.I.P. is not worth it when compared to standard express, IMO.

R.I.P Saturday is $175 per person for a public group. With a public group, you're subject to whatever the group wants to do as a whole, you lose your ability to come and go as you please without missing what you paid for. Additionally, you're only allow R.I.P. entry once at each house, same as an express. In the past, you could continue to use your lanyard for unlimited express on rides, not so anymore, 2 rides per night now. Lastly, the tour is only scheduled for a maximum of 4 hours. I've been told the 4 hour rule supersedes the all house rule, meaning you could end up not seeing every house depending on guide and the group.

Express is $100 per person and the only downside is that you still have a line, with R.I.P. you skip even the express line. However, with these new higher prices, I would expect the express lines to be shorter, though that may not be the case. These are valid the entire night, so we can plan around our schedule. For only $25 more than the cost of R.I.P, we can get two express passes. As I understand it, you also still receive unlimited ride access too, something non private tours no longer offer.

R.I.P. only seems worth it if going private. Unlimited access to everything, only restricted by the tour time limit, which I believe is longer (6 hours vs. 4 hours non private). We've done this in the past and it's a lot easier to coordinate with people you know and are comfortable with. With public, everyone paid and it's like a fight for what you want, if you have a preference.

On my end, I'm definitely going with express this year (since our private group couldn't make it), it's just a question of how bad the express lines are this year and do they still offer express at the park at a discount?

 

[BenjaminNicholas]

This is directly from the RIP website, as well as a confirmation from a VIP guest services coordinator I just called:

'During the tour you will experience all haunted houses (one time each), 2 regular park attractions and have reserved seating for Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure. Non-Private RIP Tours last up to 4 hours and combined groups consist of no more than 12 guests per guide.'

You do hit ALL houses. I was told over the phone that unless a house goes down, the RIP is going to get you into each and every one. Just because you're in a public group doesn't mean the group decides everything... It's still a tour with a guide who has a routine way of seeing everything at the event.




BN

 

[Pyro2008]

This is directly from the RIP website, as well as a confirmation from a VIP guest services coordinator I just called:

'During the tour you will experience all haunted houses (one time each), 2 regular park attractions and have reserved seating for Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure. Non-Private RIP Tours last up to 4 hours and combined groups consist of no more than 12 guests per guide.'

You do hit ALL houses. I was told over the phone that unless a house goes down, the RIP is going to get you into each and every one. Just because you're in a public group doesn't mean the group decides everything... It's still a tour with a guide who has a routine way of seeing everything at the event.

BN

If the tour lasts up to 4 hours, meaning not more than, then what happens if all houses haven't been visited within 4 hours. Phone reps tell me the tour is stopped after 4 hours, that superseds the expectation of "all houses."

In light of your quote I just called again, a manager is telling me the tour is 4 hours max.

We've personally had public tours that have been run extremely behind due to the want of some group members. This is most likely the cause for needing a 4 hour limit. After that group, we decided to only go if we could get a private group together, which we have until this year. Now looking back to public and taking into consideration our own experience, it's possible to be cut short of all houses and seems express would ensure you get into what WE want.

 

[Metro West]

Can't say I am shocked, but since prices have gone way up this year (Saturday anyways), are they still worth it?

Any discounts?

We we're going to do another RIP tour this year but since we'd be stuck with a public group, and since Universal has buttoned down restrictions to just shy of making the tour useless, we're going back with express.

No discounts on Express...especially on Saturdays...the busiest night of HHN. I don't know if they are doing what they've done in the past with offering EPs at a discount after 10pm...I wouldn't count on it. Waiting until you arrive is risky since EPs will sometimes sell out. If you want to purchase them, you should do it now so there's no chance of a sell out. I've been three times so far this year and with the lines getting long early in the event, EPs are costly but definitely worth it.

 

[Pyro2008]

No discounts on Express...especially on Saturdays...the busiest night of HHN. I don't know if they are doing what they've done in the past with offering EPs at a discount after 10pm...I wouldn't count on it. Waiting until you arrive is risky since EPs will sometimes sell out. If you want to purchase them, you should do it now so there's no chance of a sell out. I've been three times so far this year and with the lines getting long early in the event, EPs are costly but definitely worth it.

Gotcha, thanks.

Have you been this year? Have the express lines been packed?

 

[JessicaR]

Gotcha, thanks.

Have you been this year? Have the express lines been packed?

10 of us with express were there last week Thurs-Sunday. A few times express lines were longer than the regular lines. They are working on it! Overall express paid off for us.

 

[Metro West]

Have you been this year? Have the express lines been packed?

I've been three times so far and going back Sunday night for number four. The Express lines were 20-30 minutes so you can imagine what the stand by lines were.

 

[macraven]

Tonight express was a good thing for the first hour and after the rain stopped.

When it started to pour, it caused a lot of flooding in the streets,
One of the houses closed for awhile until the water could be cleared out of the house.

I am thinking that express will be a plus this weekend if the rain does not come.


In reference to one of your statements, the public rip tours will be at least 2 hours but not more than 4 hours.

This was told to our group today during the UTH.

Private tours on a peak night is 7 hours.
I am on one Friday.
Have booked them for some years.

 

[jarrdisney]

Gotcha, thanks.

Have you been this year? Have the express lines been packed?

The longest express line (on avg) has been walking dead. Last Thursday the wait was constantly 20+ minutes. The Penn and Teller house has had longer waits, but I believe that was due to an emergency, as well as the scanner not working.

Overall, I'm very happy that we purchased our FFP plus with express again this year. We even convinced a couple of our friends to do the same, and I don't think they'll go back to standing in the standby lines next year.

I imagine tonight is going to be busy considering we were watching the rain all last night, hoping it would slow down so we could go. Needless to say, we stayed in, and I think a lot of others did the same.

 

[Metro West]

People got a taste of what the weather was like on opening night this year. But the thunder and lightning as an added bonus. Seemed appropriate though.

More rain on the way for tonight.

 

[JessicaR]

People got a taste of what the weather was like on opening night this year. But the thunder and lightning as an added bonus. Seemed appropriate though.

More rain on the way for tonight.

I feel bad for the people that only got to go in the rain. Really makes things miserable. Apparently last night was the worst. Lightening strikes on property. At least one house that I know of had to close for a bit. No scareactors in the streets.

Hope tonight is better!

 

[BenjaminNicholas]

If the tour lasts up to 4 hours, meaning not more than, then what happens if all houses haven't been visited within 4 hours. Phone reps tell me the tour is stopped after 4 hours, that superseds the expectation of "all houses."

In light of your quote I just called again, a manager is telling me the tour is 4 hours max.

We've personally had public tours that have been run extremely behind due to the want of some group members. This is most likely the cause for needing a 4 hour limit. After that group, we decided to only go if we could get a private group together, which we have until this year. Now looking back to public and taking into consideration our own experience, it's possible to be cut short of all houses and seems express would ensure you get into what WE want.

No matter what was said to you, the six people I know who have done RIPs this year all say every house is hit. It's stated in the paperwork they send when you book the tour. There's no point of contention anywhere in the PDF sent, so if Universal renigs on that, they're at legal liability... And this is coming from an attorney.

I'm not worried when my RIP tour comes. I'll see what I need to see




BN