Yeah that was a total mess no doubt.Last year people were lining up for Strangers Things stay and scream line before 4 pm. It was crazy.
Even that is not a guarantee, but it is very likely - you still may need to go till closing even with EP or two nights without.If you can afford it, buy EP.
Or go two nights (it's even cheaper) and plan for half the houses each night.
I think the kids zone construction didn’t help last year. They normally have more food booths in the area by animal actors. Having most of the food in that NY square area when all the soundstage houses are dumping people out by Fallon wasn’t ideal. That area was always super crowdedyup - we had EP and still stayed till 2am. EP cuts wait time in HALF - so half is relative, depending upon how busy the night is. Sure wish it applied to the food lines lol. I always like to try a few goodies, but the lines were long and they were really understaffed the night I went.
That was such a hot wait. Last of Us was the worst in the full sun. At least with ST you might have had a shot at shade from the buildings. I brought an umbrella for shade…We’ll see what happens this year. Last year was the first time that I had to wait 30 minutes to get into a holding pen before they opened only to walk directly into a house pen, and I was never first.Yes and it took 30 minutes just to walk inside the line area from the holding pen. What I meant is that getting in the holding pen by 5pm, when the park closes to day guests, it's already too late for the hottest ticket, standby. This means waiting 2 hours in line even before the event starts.
For HHN 31, you could hang in NY stay and scream and then get in the house line closer to opening.That was such a hot wait. Last of Us was the worst in the full sun. At least with ST you might have had a shot at shade from the buildings. I brought an umbrella for shade…We’ll see what happens this year. Last year was the first time that I had to wait 30 minutes to get into a holding pen before they opened only to walk directly into a house pen, and I was never first.
I will say, if you are 22 years old and have the stamina for a marathon, then I suppose it is doable but not advisable.We are buying tickets for Wednesday ,October 16th. I’m really torn on the Express Passes. I think it would make our night awesome. But wow .. the cost. We’re Canadian so add almost 30% to those prices .
I’d love to hear what other people think. Should we get them? Or just go with a good touring plan and see what we see? I don’t need to see every single house but I also would like to see as much as I can. Tough decisions.
Lost exact count of event nights we attended last year in sept & oct, lucky to not have that sort of wait for first housesYes and it took 30 minutes just to walk inside the line area from the holding pen. What I meant is that getting in the holding pen by 5pm, when the park closes to day guests, it's already too late for the hottest ticket, standby. This means waiting 2 hours in line even before the event starts.
Raising hand. Group of 2 some nights, others 4 pp. we took turns holding down the spot while others did food & drink runs. Crowd was actually quite pleasant, festival atmosphereLast year people were lining up for Strangers Things stay and scream line before 4 pm. It was crazy.
Seriously, if not early on ugh. Seems like everyone wants to eat between 9&10 pmI always like to try a few goodies, but the lines were long and they were really understaffed the night I went.
Our sept dates had far longer linesThinking about attending my first HHN on Sunday 22 September. Will express passes be necessary?
Well, now I‘m going to become obsessed with that site.Our sept dates had far longer lines
Admittedly, semi obsessed with this site during the event that monitors wait times
https://www.thrill-data.com/hhn/orlando/2023
Yeah - it did seem not as bad as I had expected in October - I have to assume the issue was ROF in September.Our sept dates had far longer lines
It was also announced late, which probably helped.Well, now I‘m going to become obsessed with that site.
Shoot. Might just switch to closing weekend. Wait times were not bad at all.
Possible? Yes, but it requires a very good plan executed with military precision, early entry via Stay and Scream (a paid extra or a park ticket for the day), extremely early queueing in the holding pens (think 3:30pm), a lot of walking (A LOT), a lot of standing on your feet in line (A LOT) and staying until the very last minute.Was pointed this topic from another post of mine. My wife, myself, two daughters (teen and early 20s) are going to Disney Oct 5-12 (5th is arrival day and 12th we’re leaving) with a 3-day Disney park ticket usable 7th-11th. Thinking about checking out HHN but the prices are throwing me of a little. If we did a normal ticket, what are the odds of us seeing all the houses? Would 2 nights of normal tickets at a leisure place get us through the houses? Would an express pass get us through all the houses? Is it as busy on a Sunday versus a Wednesday?
Ah, that‘s why the wait times were green last year. I am trying to get away with not purchasing express passes for a one night visit, but I might just have to do it.It was also announced late, which probably helped.
Do you or others think it is worth it? Never been, only have heard the hype. I’ll be honest, I’m starting to lean to no. ~$400 for 4x normal tickets with a high probability of not seeing everything and being exhausted afterwards or almost triple the cost and get express passes for ~$1100 and still might not see everything. Just wondering if it is an above and beyond event especially when i can go to haunted overload in NH for a fraction of the price.Possible? Yes, but it requires a very good plan executed with military precision, early entry via Stay and Scream (a paid extra or a park ticket for the day), extremely early queueing in the holding pens (think 3:30pm), a lot of walking (A LOT), a lot of standing on your feet in line (A LOT) and staying until the very last minute.
Doable? Maybe, if it's not too crowded and you have a lot of stamina (A LOT).
Enjoyable? Questionable.
Wednesday should be better than Sunday, which is way better than Friday and Saturday.
It is not an event for everyone. It is very expensive, it's overcrowded, often frustrating.Do you or others think it is worth it? Never been, only have heard the hype. I’ll be honest, I’m starting to lean to no. ~$400 for 4x normal tickets with a high probability of not seeing everything and being exhausted afterwards or almost triple the cost and get express passes for ~$1100 and still might not see everything. Just wondering if it is an above and beyond event especially when i can go to haunted overload in NH for a fraction of the price.