clueless newbie, help with HHN?

[Lisa F]

My husband and I have one day left on passes that we bought last year for Universal and were thinking of spending a weekend at Universal before starting our disney trip next year. We are thinking of arriving the weekend before halloween and staying onsite at universal for a couple of nights.

First of all, I've gathered that HHN refers to universal's halloween celebration, but I'm not even sure what it stands for. What's it like? How does it work? Is it a hard ticketed event that you need to purchase in advance? Is it worth going to? Will they have it the saturday BEFORE halloween (october 23rd I think)?

Also I found a $209 rate at the Royal Pacific. Is that a good rate for that time of year? We are staying Friday and Saturday, will the rate likely drop or should I book it now because availability may be spotty even this far in advance?

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[chainsawwolf]

HHN is Halloween Horror Nights, Universal's annual Halloween event. It usually runs for 21 nights in October, through the Saturday after Halloween. It will definitely be there tthe Saturday before Halloween, but that will be a peak night and probably quite crowded. The week of halloween it usually runs all week except Monday. I would recommend going on one of the non peak nights (Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday). It is a hard ticket event and Saturdays have a tendancy to sell out early. They do have a "Stay and Scream" discount for people who have daytime park tickets. This years event featured 6 haunted mazes, and each of the islands of IOA (except Seuss) had a different scare zone theme. If you like haunted houses and creepy things, I highly recommend it (and not just because I've worked the event for 9 years!).

Wolf

 

[minijeanie]

we did HHN for first time this year. Actually went Halloween nite. Had a great time. And yes indeed, it is creepy,scary, etc. If you like to get scared, this is your thing

Actors are great...They really get into their roles. I loved it.

Think that rate of $209 is way too high. If you don't have an entertaiment card, get one. They can be purchased over the internet, churches, fund raisers of all kinds.

for 2003, they offered 50% off rate we got HRH (deluxe room) for $149 a nite. Could of had reg. room for $129. I have heard RPR was lower than that this year.

Not sure if they are offering rate for 2004. I got the new book and the Lowes hotels were not in there.

Other than that, I would try Expedia.com online or possibly a AAA rate Also believe discounts are given for Universal fan club. But I think the only way to get that card is through work.

You will love US and IOA ......but I would recommend doing it after Disney. Once you get used to Express Pass at either one of these parks, it is tough to wait in line at the disney parks.

just a thought

anything you might want to know, e mail me direct. will be happy to help you any way I can

 

[highlander447]

Rate does seem pretty high know other people this year who got $110 rate this year for RPR but it was discounted and as yet discount rates are not out for next year

 

[Lisa F]

Actually, we have leftover passes for USF, so we HAVE been there before, but it was for a couple of days around christmas, and I had no clue about HHN (maybe newbie was the wrong word?)

We thought USF was okay when we went, not great, and would probably do it first as I think it would be a let down after Disney for us. We're not really thrill ride people and found precious little to do at IOA (though we loved spider man, it was the highlight of our visit there, but it was so busy around christmas that when we went back to do it again in the afternoon, the express pass line was an hour long and the regular line was about 3 hours long, eek! we were staying on site though)

We are really more food and wine festival kind of people (the real reason for the trip that time of year) and figured we'd check out Halloween stuff too. Thanks for the description of HHN, I think my husband would hate it. He doesn't like horror movies (I like some of them, older ones like the exorcist and spooky ones but not really gorey ones like jason marries freddy or whatever those things are!)

Oh well, I think I will just bite the bullet and pay saturday night points at our DVC resort. Doesn't sound like it's for us, but thanks for all of the feedback

 

[edie w]

I hate horror movies and but I loved HHN. It was just so funny and delightfully scary. I screamed lots, but laughed as well, and was so impressed with the cast. The only maze I wouldn't go in again was Psycho Scareapy. I work in health care and it was just a bit too realistic!

Chainsawwolf - I wonder whether you were the one with the chainsaw who scared my DH so much in Jurassic Park that he almost fell over. He also got lost in the hanging mattresses in one of the mazes (Freddy Krueger was there) and got chased by someone with a big knife. Oh how we laughed!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

If I'm not mistaken, chainsawwolf was one of the Caretakers this year.

 

[chainsawwolf]

You are correct DM. I was a Caretaker in Screamhouse this year.

Wolf
www.chainsawwolf.com

 

[edie w]

What's a caretaker? That doesn't sound very scary!

Can't remember which one was Screamhouse. Whereabouts was the entrance?

 

[the Dark Marauder]

The Caretaker

He was originally in the first room of Screamhouse, but was moved to the last.

 

[SpideyHulk24]

Definitely wait for discounted room rates. $209 is kind of high for RPR. Worth it, but high...

 

[chainsawwolf]

Originally posted by edie w
What's a caretaker? That doesn't sound very scary!

Can't remember which one was Screamhouse. Whereabouts was the entrance?

The Caretaker (Dr. Albert Kane) was the mascot in 2002. Screamhouse was his home/mortuary.

The entrance to Screamhouse was through Seuss Landing over by 1 Fish 2 Fish.

For the first 1.5 weeks of the run, the Caretaker was only in the parlor at the front of the house, after that he was in the parlor, and at the end after the graveyard.

Just a bit of trivia.... The hearse/carriage near the end of the graveyard of Screamhouse is the same on that was used to carry the bride in the plexiglass coffin (still used for the Rat Lady) in the first Festival of the Dead Parade at HHN VI.

Wolf

 

[MelindaKiah]

I hope HHN will be on when we're there. We're going October 17-20 next year. It's a Sunday-Tuesday. My teenage boys would love this and so would DH and I!!!

Sounds like a great time!!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

HHN will be going on during that time frame. The Sunday is basically guaranteed.

 

[MelindaKiah]

Thanks DM!!! I wasn't sure. I think I'll surprise the boys with tickets to that. I know our girls (10 and 12) won't want to go but they can stay at the hotel with grandma!!!