Avoiding Halloween Horror nights?

[sirvin12]

So I am thinking about a trip to Universal before we go on a cruise. I have two little girls 9 and 5 and don't think that the Halloween Horror nights will be appropriate for them. Our dates in the park would be October 1 and 2, both Halloween Horror Nights days. Is it worth it for us to go if we have to leave the park at 5 on the only 2 days we will be there? Will Harry Potter still be open for us to go too?

Thanks!

 

[Soupermom]

I'm am wondering a similar question. We will be planning our first trip to Universal for the weekend of October 24th and 25th, the focus of our trip will be the WWOHP. Right now the crowd calendar says a 3, but with the HHN make that number skyrocket? We don't want to stay for the special events, but would like to enjoy the parks as long/much as possible. Thanks. The whole Universal thing is quite new to me!

 

[kbelle8995]

I went during HHN and really enjoyed myself. On the days of that we were there and HHN was going they opened the park at 8. I really had a great time and was able to complete what I wanted before 5. I would check park hours on the Universal website and see when they are open. I did not go to HHN at all. Just not my thing.

I was there in late September and the parks were pretty quiet until the weekend.

 

[Bluer101]

The parks are open a normal schedule and close at 5pm. Everything that is questionable scary is covered up during the day. So the parks during the day are just like any other day. Universal Studios side will get a little busier as the day goes mainly in the mid afternoon.

 

[Soupermom]

do both parks close early?

 

[RMulieri]

do both parks close early?

Just the studios.Keep in mind that the Universal parks aren't open that late anyway..So if the studios close at 5pm for HHN, IOA closes often 7 or 8pm on HHN

 

[nkereina]

When we were there in November, no special events, Universal Studios closed at 6pm and IOA closed at either 6pm or 7pm. So for the Studios to close at 5pm is not much of a loss of time. You'll still have ample time to see and do everything even with the Studios closing early, and yes, Hogsmeade will still be open up until 5pm. IOA will be open likely till 7pm those nights.

 

[trickiwoo]

Last year during HHN, Diagon Alley stayed open the same hours as IOA... even though the rest of US was closed for HHN. But in order to be inside Diagon Alley after 5pm you needed a park-to-park ticket.

 

[Soupermom]

So Diagon Alley will be open until close then, correct. Thanks everyone!

 

[sirvin12]

Thanks everyone! That helps.

 

[johde]

So Diagon Alley will be open until close then, correct. Thanks everyone!

The one thing I've learned about Universal is nothing is 100%. Until the first few HHN in September, we won't know for sure what will be going on with Diagon Alley. But, based on last year, yes.

 

[AJ1983]

If you are there for two days, have you considered spending the night of the 1st at a Universal resort hotel ? That would give all of you Unlimited Express Pass for both the 1st and the 2nd, and you would have no problem seeing everything and doing all the rides multiple times. Plus, you could get Early Entry on both days to beat the crowds for Gringotts/Diagon Alley or Forbidden Journey, depending on which park has EE during your trip. If it is at all financially feasible for you, I would recommend it because it really eases the stress of making sure you get everything done when you only have two days.

 

[DCDisney]

We've been a number of times on HHN and it's never been an issue in terms of crowds or seeing scary stuff. We left the park right at closing one night and they had some things moved into the main street area but it was like mini stages and hay bales. The parks always lose early during slow periods of the year anyway and with staying on site it was never an issue for us at all.

 

[bumbershoot]

Last year during HHN, Diagon Alley stayed open the same hours as IOA... even though the rest of US was closed for HHN. But in order to be inside Diagon Alley after 5pm you needed a park-to-park ticket.

That's neat.

So Diagon Alley will be open until close then, correct. Thanks everyone!

Maybe.



In 2010, our first trip, there were some props out during the day that spooked DS, but he was 6.5 and easily spooked by certain things, so it wasn't a surprise. We've been since in October and the props in question haven't been there at all. He's been fine.