Express passes for HHN

[archersgirl1]

Hey everyone

I'm getting super excited about our trip coming up to Disney/ Universal on Sept.19-30th ! I noticed you can now by Express passes for HHN's but I have also noticed that a few people have commented that you should just by them when at Universal. Seeing we are going the first two nights (25th &26th ) do you think we have to worry about buying these? I'm planning to buy the $99 unlimited Universal pass seeing we're staying at the HRH from the 25-30th. I will also buy the unlimited HHN pass that is valid for the 25th & 26th.

I'm sorry for such a run on sentence :S I was just curious if I have to buy the Stay and Scream pass to be eligible for the discounted express pass that Universal seems to sell the day of. Or could I just go those 2 nights and buy the express passes when I get to the gate ?

I know there a lot of more experienced people out there in this matter....so any suggestions are appreciated I just want to get the most out of the event for the best price ( as I'm sure we all do ) hehe

TIA

 

[Metro West]

Hey everyone

I'm getting super excited about our trip coming up to Disney/ Universal on Sept.19-30th ! I noticed you can now by Express passes for HHN's but I have also noticed that a few people have commented that you should just by them when at Universal. Seeing we are going the first two nights (25th &26th ) do you think we have to worry about buying these? I'm planning to buy the $99 unlimited Universal pass seeing we're staying at the HRH from the 25-30th. I will also buy the unlimited HHN pass that is valid for the 25th & 26th.

I'm sorry for such a run on sentence :S I was just curious if I have to buy the Stay and Scream pass to be eligible for the discounted express pass that Universal seems to sell the day of. Or could I just go those 2 nights and buy the express passes when I get to the gate ?

I know there a lot of more experienced people out there in this matter....so any suggestions are appreciated I just want to get the most out of the event for the best price ( as I'm sure we all do ) hehe

TIA

There are no discounts off the Express passes for anyone so those are full price. Since you will have the Frequent Fear pass and the seven day tickets for daytime admission, you're all set...you don't need anything else to do S & S. I would seriously advise waiting until you are inside the park to buy any Express passes because of the cost. They were offering CHEAP EP's last year in the S & S holding areas so don't spend the money if you don't have to.

 

[archersgirl1]

Okay thanks So if I have the park admission already I automatically can stay in the S& S holding area ? What if I just came up to the gates before HHN's started without going to a Universal park in the morning ( but I still had the unlimited passes ) would I still be able to get the discounted EP's or do I have to be in the Stay and Scream area ?

 

[chataro]

Just in my opinion.

I have gone the past three years to the opening weekend and I would have been real hacked if I would have spent the money on the EP.

Last year, the first night. My wife and me were done with all the houses by 8:30 p.m. the first night and 9:00 p.m. the second night. We were able to go back and do the ones over that we wanted and the lines really never got above 20 min. that I saw. It made such an impact on me how "dead" it was because we just kept seeing those people that had EP and feeling sorry for them because it just wasn't needed.

You have to be able to get the lay of the land and not follow the crowd, but I would advise saving the money for drinks.

Just my opinion, but we really figured out the "system" last year and really never had a need for the EP's.

 

[inkkognito]

There was one night when we bought 'em last year and were really hacked off too. It was a peak night pricewise but they were totally unneeded.

My favorite thing to see at HHN is the people who do Stay and Scream, then run to use their Express Passes the minute it opens, when there is absolutely no line. Last year it was a total irony; DH and I were one of the first in line for one of the houses, and a family used their EPs and were so proud of being the first EP users. They ended up getting into the house behind us and many others in the standby line because they had to stop twice to show the EPs and then to have 'em scanned.

 

[chataro]

It really does make you shake your head doesn't it?

I always loved the ones that we would get to the lines and they would say that whole, "we got the express passes" and go their way and we would go in the normal entrance and then meet them right at the front of the house. It was mean pleasure, but still a pleasure.

 

[vinvader]

How about the people who sneak into the empty express line even though they don't have the pass.... only to get busted by the staff at the house entrance with ticket scanners.

 

[inkkognito]

It was mean pleasure, but still a pleasure.

That would be known as Schadenfreude. Those who have seen Avenue Q know what I mean, and those who haven't can search it in YouTube (can't link here 'cause the song has naughty words).

 

[Metro West]

Okay thanks So if I have the park admission already I automatically can stay in the S& S holding area ? What if I just came up to the gates before HHN's started without going to a Universal park in the morning ( but I still had the unlimited passes ) would I still be able to get the discounted EP's or do I have to be in the Stay and Scream area ?

You would have access to S & S ONLY if you're already in the park before closing. Otherwise...you would have to wait outside with the crowd and since you are getting the Frequent Fear passes to go along with your day tickets, it would be a huge mistake to not utilize S & S.

 

[patster734]

It really does make you shake your head doesn't it?

I always loved the ones that we would get to the lines and they would say that whole, "we got the express passes" and go their way and we would go in the normal entrance and then meet them right at the front of the house. It was mean pleasure, but still a pleasure.

We saw that in 2004 when going to the RUN house. We got in the standby line while 2 other got in the Express Line and we were only a few people behind them when entering the house. Of course, I would have probably done the same thing if not for the advice on this board!

You would have access to S & S ONLY if you're already in the park before closing. Otherwise...you would have to wait outside with the crowd and since you are getting the Frequent Fear passes to go along with your day tickets, it would be a huge mistake to not utilize S & S.

 

[callahanjulie10]

We have never been any other time than the Sunday night before Columbus Day. The first year we went (4 years ago) we only got in 3 houses before the event closed and watched 1 show, no rides without express. The next year we did express and did all the houses but 1 and show 2 shows before the event ended, last year with express we did all the houses and 1 show before it ended. This year, even though for it is the 2nd tier price, I am getting express passes. Its not that money is running freely but I want to be able to "enjoy" all the houses and watch a show or two without feeling like we missed out because we were waiting in lines. Last year the first 2 houses had no wait at the beginning of the event, but by the 3rd the lines were forming and the express lines still had a wait. You have to do what right for you. If you are going for 2 nights, do the first half of the houses and watch a show and the next night do the other. If I had 2 nights I am not sure I would buy express.

 

[Disneyhappy]

We normally purchase the express passes but I may hold off after learning they were offering them at severely discounted prices last year. My concern is that they sell out and them I am SOL! Didn't they used to sell out of EPs? I recall they were sold out three years ago for the first Saturday. Have the EPs not been selling out since the large price increase? I suppose I can call an ask if they are close to selling out and if not, wait until we get to parks. I did not make it ti HHN last year. Exactly where were they selling them? September 25 is taking forever to get here!

 

[Metro West]

Exactly where were they selling them? September 25 is taking forever to get here!

They were selling the lanyards and Express passes for $15.00 in the S & S holding area and the individual EP's for $5.00 at the same time.

 

[Disneyhappy]

They were selling the lanyards and Express passes for $15.00 in the S & S holding area and the individual EP's for $5.00 at the same time.

Thanks, Metro! I think I will make periodic calls to find out if the EPs are getting close to selling out and decide whether to wait or purchase ahead of time. I am assuming they still only sell a limited number of the passes.

 

[Metro West]

Thanks, Metro! I think I will make periodic calls to find out if the EPs are getting close to selling out and decide whether to wait or purchase ahead of time. I am assuming they still only sell a limited number of the passes.

 

[macraven]

Hey everyone

I'm getting super excited about our trip coming up to Disney/ Universal on Sept.19-30th ! I noticed you can now by Express passes for HHN's but I have also noticed that a few people have commented that you should just by them when at Universal. Seeing we are going the first two nights (25th &26th ) do you think we have to worry about buying these? I'm planning to buy the $99 unlimited Universal pass seeing we're staying at the HRH from the 25-30th. I will also buy the unlimited HHN pass that is valid for the 25th & 26th.

I'm sorry for such a run on sentence :S I was just curious if I have to buy the Stay and Scream pass to be eligible for the discounted express pass that Universal seems to sell the day of. Or could I just go those 2 nights and buy the express passes when I get to the gate ?

I know there a lot of more experienced people out there in this matter....so any suggestions are appreciated I just want to get the most out of the event for the best price ( as I'm sure we all do ) hehe

TIA

each year things change.

the last 2 years, opening weekend, sat and sun, were not sell outs on express passes.

last year, opening weekend was not bad for crowds.
the hhn ticket price was low........for both nights.
the frequent fear pass was valid for opening night.........

if i went opening weekend, i would hold off on buying the express pass until i was there.

later in the season, i would buy early.

 

[disney0505]

Silly question but what is the S&S holding area? I went to HHN last year but did not see anyone selling express passes on the night of the event.

 

[macraven]

S & S = stay and scream

it is a specific holding area in the park.

those that have been in the park during the day and have the hhn hard ticket, do not have to leave.

they are told to stay in the holding area until the park has been cleared out of guests.

you are in this section of the park at 5:00 and wait until released to do the hhn event.

around Finnegans (restaurant) area, it is sectioned off.
that is the holding area you would wait in.

in years past, there was another S & S section near jaws but it wasn't used last year for the first 3 weekends of the event.


last year, a TM was selling the special discounted eep to those in the holding area each night i was there.

 

[disney0505]

Thanks for the info. That is good to know. You can save a lot if you are able to get them on the day. If you are in the park do they keep you in this area from 5:00 until 6:30 when HHN begins? I guess if you do the IOA after 4:00 PM add on that you are unable to access this area, correct? If you are not in the park prior will you be able to get into the entrance early or only after 6:30?

 

[macraven]

the sweet part of doing the stay and scream is you are released when security gives the heads up.

i have been released from the holding area before at 5:30 on some dates, other times it can be 5:45 or up to 6:00.

the latest i ever was held was to 6:00.

you are released then to start the houses. you are NOT held in this section to 6:30.

due to this, there will be 2 houses and usually 3 houses open when you are released to start the event early.
it all depends on the date you are there if the park is crowded in the day time prior to 5:00.

you can be ahead of the crowd when the general admission is let in at 6:30pm.



if you are in the park that day and decide to stay for hhn, you can buy an "add on ticket", S & S tix for hhn and stay in the park in the holding area.
yes, those hhn tickets are discounted. universal is encouraging guests to stay and do hhn that night.

a few years they have had a separate entrance from ioa to the studio side.
those in ioa were able to "cross over" to hhn shortcut way.

i don't know if they will do it again this year.
it's best if you are in ioa that day, just leave there and come to the studios side before 4:55.


for those that are not in the park that day and only have the HHN ticket (no day ticket), they will have to line up outside the gates of the studios side.

i have seen people starting to line up at 4:55.
if you go on a weekend, get in line early.
be there around 5ish and wait the time until 6:30 to get in.

the line will get very long.

don't come at 6-6:15 and expect a short wait to be able to enter the park.

all that come in thru the general admission way (6:30) at official opening time, must go thru a metal detector, empty pockets, etc.

this can be a long procedure especially if a person ahead of you makes the detector go off.
they usually have many TM and police there to monitor it all. those that make the M.D. go off, will be pulled aside for the wand and further check.
when that happens, the line will move again.