Are we cutting this too close for HHN?

[mzspaz]

DH and I are arriving in Orlando on 9/30 around 3:30. We plan on picking up the rental car from the Emerald Aisle, going to the condo at Star Island to drop off our luggage, and then hightailing it over to Universal for HHN that night.

Is this doable?

Or would it be better to fly in late on Friday night, stay at a hotel near the airport, then go back to the airport Saturday morning, pick up the rental, and leisurely make our way to the condo and then onto Universal?

This will be our first HHN and my DH is absolutely geeked about it. We love haunted houses and that is where we actually met many moons ago. In fact, he proposed to me with a chainsaw in his hand as part of a "skit"!

 

[Amity 3]

it all depends on your stamina. HHN and HOS are late nights in the parks and adrenaline fueled, we're usually wiped the next day.

 

[AllieKat]

Arriving at 3:30 may be pushing it. It can often take a little while to get through the airport, wait for your luggage and wait for the car rental. I myself, would find it a little hectic and I'd be stressed thinking that I would have to miss a house or two due to time issues. Are you guys getting express passes?

Personally, I'd choose the leisure strategy and fly down Friday night. I'd be so stoked about HHN that I'd want to choose the route that helps me get as much enjoyment out of it as possible. Some car rental places are open late, so you can pick up the car before leaving the airport instead of having to go back to the airport the next morning.

I can see my SO proposing to me with a chainsaw. We're both really big fans of horror flicks. We're also trying to plan our first HHN trip.

 

[mzspaz]

Thanks Alliekat,

I am shooting for the more "relaxed" trip. I would hate to be rushing to get to HHN and not being exactly sure where we are going.

Not really worth picking up the car that night. Adds about 50 bucks on to the price of the car and it would just be sitting in a hotel parking lot. We can probably find a hotel near the airport that has a shuttle.

That way we can pick up the car at 11 (giving us some time to sleep in that morning) head to the condo to drop our stuff off and maybe do some grocery shopping, stop for a nice breakfast/lunch. And then head into Universal early and hook up with the stay and play crowd, avoiding the mad rush to get in.

This is sounding better and better!

 

[AllieKat]

Yikes, an additional $50?! Apparently I'm used to getting a corporate discount and paying $15 a day for a rental. Great idea about booking a hotel w/a shuttle to/from the airport. Sounds like your vacation is coming together wonderfully.