2018 HHN

[Betsy82]

Most of the tickets aren't available... you probably cant book RIP tours yet. I'm thinking May-June they should release the rest.

Thanks! That makes me feel better. Totally new territory here with HHN but RIP is a must if I am doing this. Ha!

 

[MikeNamez]

Thanks! That makes me feel better. Totally new territory here with HHN but RIP is a must if I am doing this. Ha!

lol after this one, you will an expert and hooked. Started doing HHN 3 years ago, now its an annual trip.

 

[Linkura]

Soooo I have moved up my Uni trip to do HHN! I have my pick of dates. I would like to go when the overall park crowds are the least crowded, as it's going to be a solo trip and I'll likely stay at Cabana Bay. I plan on utilizing single rider lines, but I want to avoid buying EP if possible (though buying the EP will be cheaper than staying at a hotel that offers it has included, so I'm not opposed if it's unexpectedly crowded).

So... can someone tell me the likely least crowded week during HHN season? I'll likely stay for 3-4 nights. The only catch is I want to take advantage of the buy 1 get 2 offer, so I'd prefer dates with 2 eligible HHNs in a row (meaning Sun-Fri). I also plan on doing the RIP tour for one of the nights. Thanks for any advice!

 

[JaxDad]

@rteetz posted on the News and Rumors forum that the theme will be Stranger Things!

 

[macraven]

Soooo I have moved up my Uni trip to do HHN! I have my pick of dates. I would like to go when the overall park crowds are the least crowded, as it's going to be a solo trip and I'll likely stay at Cabana Bay. I plan on utilizing single rider lines, but I want to avoid buying EP if possible (though buying the EP will be cheaper than staying at a hotel that offers it has included, so I'm not opposed if it's unexpectedly crowded).

So... can someone tell me the likely least crowded week during HHN season? I'll likely stay for 3-4 nights. The only catch is I want to take advantage of the buy 1 get 2 offer, so I'd prefer dates with 2 eligible HHNs in a row (meaning Sun-Fri). I also plan on doing the RIP tour for one of the nights. Thanks for any advice!

If you pull up last years HHN calendar site, you will see the nights that were sold out.
That should guide you in which dates could be as crowded for this years hhn.

Saturdays are always a crowded night. I used to go those nights but stopped some years back.
Even with the HHN EP, still too many peeps in the park on Saturdays for me.

Wednesdays are the lightest nights for HHN.
Thursdays next day of the week for not a full house for it.

Fridays can be slammed if weather is good.
Sundays the past few years have had crowds.
It at one time was a delight to go on a Sunday.

Once the HHN site includes the park hours, that can help guide you.
For the nights the park closes at 2:00 am is a guide to let you know it will have crowds.


If you plan on doing 3-4 nights, you should be able to cover everything in the park.
A combo of Wed, Thur, Fri would work for you to see everything.

The EP from the 3 onsite hotels, does not cover HHN.
It is a separate paid ticket for ep

 

[schumigirl]

@rteetz posted on the News and Rumors forum that the theme will be Stranger Things!

He was late with his news today........lol.......

Should be a decent house hopefully........

 

[rteetz]

@rteetz posted on the News and Rumors forum that the theme will be Stranger Things!

To add...

It will be based on season one of the show and include scenes from Hawkins Lab, Byers Home, and the upside down.

 

[schumigirl]

Soooo I have moved up my Uni trip to do HHN! I have my pick of dates. I would like to go when the overall park crowds are the least crowded, as it's going to be a solo trip and I'll likely stay at Cabana Bay. I plan on utilizing single rider lines, but I want to avoid buying EP if possible (though buying the EP will be cheaper than staying at a hotel that offers it has included, so I'm not opposed if it's unexpectedly crowded).

So... can someone tell me the likely least crowded week during HHN season? I'll likely stay for 3-4 nights. The only catch is I want to take advantage of the buy 1 get 2 offer, so I'd prefer dates with 2 eligible HHNs in a row (meaning Sun-Fri). I also plan on doing the RIP tour for one of the nights. Thanks for any advice!

Mac has given you an excellent run down........

Years ago you could say opening weekend was quiet.......not so much anymore. It gets more and more popular every year.

Opening night last few years has been mobbed.

But, first couple of weeks are generally quiet...er that later, especially in October.

 

[Linkura]

Thanks guys. How about dates for least crowded regular park hours (meaning non-HHN)? Should I be fine if I just avoid the weekends and Columbus Day or are there specific weeks that are lighter than others during the period?

I really like Stranger Things, so that is great news.

 

[Linkura]

Looking at flights- thoughts on Sun Sept 30-Thurs Oct 4? With HHN on Sunday and Wednesday with a RIP Tour on Sunday.

 

[macraven]

Thanks guys. How about dates for least crowded regular park hours (meaning mon-HHN)? Should I be fine if I just avoid the weekends and Columbus Day or are there specific weeks that are lighter than others during the period?

I really like Stranger Things, so that is great news.

Columbus weekend will have crowds

I’ve gone that weekend for the past years
(Weekend after also)

Wednesday is a great day for low crowds
Peeps that are local and have to work, usually are not there the entire night

IOA will keep regular hours when hhn is happening
Studios will do the same on non hhn dates

 

[macraven]

Looking at flights- thoughts on Sun Sept 30-Thurs Oct 4? With HHN on Sunday and Wednesday with a RIP Tour on Sunday.

This sounds like a decent plan for pre planning

Others can jump in and give their thoughts for your dates

 

[Betsy82]

lol after this one, you will an expert and hooked. Started doing HHN 3 years ago, now its an annual trip.

Hah, I don’t think so! My husband has always wanted to go but we have small children. Our last trip to Orlando during HHN I offered for him to go but he wouldn’t go alone. This year, I offered again, not even thinking that my parents are also traveling with us so I could go. That didn’t slip past him, though, so... he’s making me go.

Definitely not my thing! Maybe next time we’re in the area during HHN the older kids will be able to go with him, though!

 

[MikeNamez]

This sounds like a decent plan for pre planning

Others can jump in and give their thoughts for your dates

I've only been the last 3 years so by no means a veteran but i find that the first 2 weeks are very manageable with crowd levels during HHN and during the day at IOA/UO. I also love the rush of fear pass, its a lot cheaper than a 3 day ticket especially using the AP discount.. This year we are going to add a HHN EP on for the first 3 nights of the event. I expect to blow thru everything in a single night and then be selective of what we do the second/third days.

 

[schumigirl]

I've only been the last 3 years so by no means a veteran but i find that the first 2 weeks are very manageable with crowd levels during HHN and during the day at IOA/UO. I also love the rush of fear pass, its a lot cheaper than a 3 day ticket especially using the AP discount.. This year we are going to add a HHN EP on for the first 3 nights of the event. I expect to blow thru everything in a single night and then be selective of what we do the second/third days.

That’s how we use the RoF with EP

We never spend a full night doing the houses, but it is doable with EP. We prefer to select certain houses each night, once we’ve decided if any are duds we give them a miss. I don’t want to be in the park from 5pm to after midnight though.......I’m usually shattered after being in the parks most of the day.........

But it’s an ideal ticket.

I would however, not do HHN without EP. Some houses have bigger lines than others certainly, and we saw some horrendous lines the second night last year........90 minutes by 8pm wouldn’t be fun for us.

 

[agavegirl1]

Using Express, DH and I were able to visit all the houses in one night. We only had one night tickets with Express. This year we are doing two nights with the BOGO offer because we will not be going to HHN on the weekend. The BOGO offer was cheaper than an AP discount.

 

[MikeNamez]

That’s how we use the RoF with EP

We never spend a full night doing the houses, but it is doable with EP. We prefer to select certain houses each night, once we’ve decided if any are duds we give them a miss. I don’t want to be in the park from 5pm to after midnight though.......I’m usually shattered after being in the parks most of the day.........

But it’s an ideal ticket.

I would however, not do HHN without EP. Some houses have bigger lines than others certainly, and we saw some horrendous lines the second night last year........90 minutes by 8pm wouldn’t be fun for us.

We have never done the EP's before and always got through everything... First year we hit every house and scare zone in the first night of being there (8hours worth) and i was dead for the rest of the trip. We have learned to first day to take advantage of the holding areas on the first night to bang out as much as we can then back fill the rest.

Finally going for the EP's so we can be really selective of what we do... especially the 3 thousand times I'm going to want to go through Stranger Things and AHS.

 

[schumigirl]

We have never done the EP's before and always got through everything... First year we hit every house and scare zone in the first night of being there (8hours worth) and i was dead for the rest of the trip. We have learned to first day to take advantage of the holding areas on the first night to bang out as much as we can then back fill the rest.

Finally going for the EP's so we can be really selective of what we do... especially the 3 thousand times I'm going to want to go through Stranger Things and AHS.

Yep.......it’s why we never do a RIP tour.......don’t want to spend that much time in the park in one night, we prefer to spread it out over several nights........

Just to check you know the EP is once per house per night.......no repeats.......

Unless you do stay and scream and do a couple of the houses without EP.

Apologies if you do know, just wanted to make sure..........

 

[macraven]

In all past years, I bought the FF pass with express
And book a private tour on the weekend

Just my style for hhn

The line waits can be very long depending on the popularity of the house

 

[MikeNamez]

Yep.......it’s why we never do a RIP tour.......don’t want to spend that much time in the park in one night, we prefer to spread it out over several nights........

Just to check you know the EP is once per house per night.......no repeats.......

Unless you do stay and scream and do a couple of the houses without EP.

Apologies if you do know, just wanted to make sure..........

I'm pretty good with my Universal knowledge but this is new to me so thanks.... Actually pretty big, i just assumed it was like a day time EP....

Stay and scream... Is that a hotel/ticket package or a ticket pack with EP?

 

[schumigirl]

I'm pretty good with my Universal knowledge but this is new to me so thanks.... Actually pretty big, i just assumed it was like a day time EP....

Stay and scream... Is that a hotel/ticket package or a ticket pack with EP?

When you are in the park before the park closes to the general public not attending HHN, you are ushered into a holding area........there’s one around Finnegans and another at the Simpsons.......basically you are held there till the houses open.

They let folks in the holding area into usually two houses per holding area before the crowds come in......you can usually do two houses without EP and then do them again later in the evening.

It’s worth it if you are going to be in the parks during the day before HHN.

We don’t do them any longer as we go so many nights, but it is ideal for some.