Back from HHN & HOS!

[Slacking]

We went through 3 times and no Slacking! Was you slacking?

I was there the whole time my cast was out. I was on the outside of the truck, leading people into it and scaring in the process.

I guess there is an off chance you saw 2nd shift all 3 times, but I'm not sure.

 

[Motherfletcher]

We had an 18 y.o. guide, Anna who was a lot of fun. I rode Sheikra for the first time and we're still working on getting the stains out of my clothing! Twice in the Hunted they kidnapped a planted "guest" out of the line and totally freaked my son out.

 

[Strawman]

We (wife, daughters 10 and 12) just returned from a weekend at Busch Gardens, took advantage of the $79.95 4 day/night weekend package (Thrills and Chills). This was our first trip to HOS, we did it both Friday and Saturday nights, we did HHN 3 times this year and several times in prior years, so we are HHN veterans. We were in line early on Friday night expecting that the gates would open earlier than the advertised 7:30, but they didn't allow us in until precisely 7:30. There was quite a line to get in, we were near the front of the line and pretty much dashed into the park. We skipped the first houses and went straight for the back of the park, very few people around which was great, we got to do the first three houses virtually alone. I can't stress enough the importance of this, it is SO much better in the houses when no one is around. When you're in a crowded line of people it just isn't the same. Anyway, without going into too much detail about every aspect, I'll just share my overall thoughts about the two. First, I felt that the houses at HOS were superior. Definitely longer, scarier, and better themed. But that's about where the HOS advantage ends. The scare zones at HOS are weak, although the scareactors hidden amongst the bushes are a neat effect. Obviously no Bill and Ted's at HOS, we did one show at HOS and it was just OK, a song and dance. Busch Gardens is really big and it's easy to get turned around. Both HHN and HOS get very crowded, go early! HOS was more crowded on Saturday than Friday, as expected. I believe only beer is served at HOS, no liquor? Perhaps to some that would be important. Overall, both are fun but I'd have to give the nod to HHN, there's just something about HHN that makes you want to stay all night, I didn't feel that way at HOS. Both are alot of fun, we'll definitely do both again next year.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I felt that the houses at HOS were superior. Definitely longer, scarier, and better themed. But that's about where the HOS advantage ends.

We couldn't agree more. We are also HHN vets but this was our first HOS. We took the RIP tour at HHN and the Embalming Tour at HOS so lines were never an issue for us at either event. We did HHN on a Sunday (RIP tour), Wednesday (Express Passes), and Thursday (daytime Unmasking the Horror tour). We did HOS on a Thursday night.

While we won't get into specific reviews of each house in each park, we will say that we did prefer those at HOS. The PUTS house at HHN was really the only house we found totally ineffective out of both parks. As much as we enjoy the detail in the HHN houses, neither of us have ever actually gotten a scare in them as they use the same lot of scare techniques in every house every year and therefore are quite predictable. We both got a few genuine scares in the HOS houses and were extremely impressed with the detail and the length of each house. Perhaps what set the HOS houses apart the most for us was the fact you could move through a bit slower and actually appreciate the details as opposed to the steadily moving conga line they have to force people into at HHN.

As far as the scarezones went, we thought the ones at HHN had a much better design as they had a lot more detail and the theming seemed more consistent throughout each zone. The scareactors in both parks did their jobs well and we wouldn't say one group was better then the other.

While there was nothing particularly wrong with the HOS shows, in our opinion they simply weren't as good as the ones at HHN. This is just personal taste.

While we're glad we did both, overall we preferred HHN despite the fact that HHN had larger crowds and a lot more obnoxious drunks on the nights we were there.

Just our 2 cents.

 

[yaytezIOA]

My biggest complaint about HHN was the crowds. We went to HOS on a Friday night, and got every house at least 4 times. The scares, I thought, were a lot better in the HHN houses as they made me scream like a girl quite a bit, where at HOS, I would just get jumped. They used a lot more "boo holes" distraction and creep up scares at HHN where HOS they jumped out at you. I love both attractions, but the overall edge does belong to HHN...though as someone else said on another board......they should really be meant to compliment each other instead of compete with one another. Neither one should be missed.

 

[Amity 3]

crowd control at HHN was horrible this year. HOS had it's own problems, but they're doing a good job at catching up with HHN as far as houses and overall experience.

 

[jpeppers]

I'm a HHN fan (4 yrs in a row) and I say HOS blew it away in every area except Bill and Ted