BG Tampa & HOS

[Luv2Roam]

First timers (2 adults) at Busch Gardens Tampa mid October, and we plan a night at Howl O Scream.
Any tips or hints?
Have done MNSSHP and HHN many times and looking for something different. We have day passes to BG already.
Anyone done the Fright Feast or Viewing Tour?

TIA

 

[Slacking]

I am a huge fan of HOS (even worked as a scareactor from 2005-2007), and think it is a solid Halloween event.
I have never done the Fright Feast, but will be doing it this year. I know though from working in the houses, that the half hour head start you get on the crowds is a great time to experience a couple of the houses with pretty nobody else in them (I would recommend hitting Death Row Vengeance, After Hours, and then Reconstruction after the dinner). The dinner also gives you a viewing of the show in the desert Grill, which saves time from having to see it later in the evening.

You'll have no trouble seeing it all in one night (and can even see multiple houses a number of times). The Tours aren't really necessary unless you are going on a Saturday.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Thanks for the info!
DH and I debated, and we did pay for one of the tours (3 hour, plus FotL and other stuff).
The cost was $100 pp, but considering that included HoS admission we did not think it was bad. It was basically paying for the tour and only $40 each for the HoS tickets. (And we are going on a Saturday.)
We have not been to BG, so we thought as first timers the tour may be our best bet.
Compare to HHN -- Something like this would have cost us far more than what we are paying.
Last year I was disappointed by HHN; which was not bad by any means. But other years had been much better. And they keep raising costs and did not even offer behind the scenes tours this year. (Which we had done in the past.) $70 for Express Pass pp on a Saturday night is ridiculous IMO.
We did not realize until we went to buy the HoS tour that it takes place during HoS. Which basically sounds like a HHN version of a VIP tour that is expensive.
I think HoS sounds great and we are looking forward to it.
We are still considering the dinner too. We have to eat somewhere and the price is not bad. I told DH a WDW character meal would cost more than that on a normal day.