First time US/IOA visit and have some ticket questions

[Disneyliscious]

We have always done Disney and still love it, however as my boys have gotten into their teens they are seeking more thrills. On our next visit we plan to go to US and IOA as well as Disney. We will be going in the month of October.

My questions for you seasoned folks are:

Can the park be experienced on a HHN? (like when we went to MNSSHP we also got to enjoy the whole park without a regular daytime admission).

Regarding tickets, Im thinking we may also want to do SeaWorld and I noticed there is a flex ticket which allows admission to all 3 parks during a 14 day period. Im thinking that would be the best deal even though we will be only doing one park per day (unless all the regular park stuff is available during HHN). There are so many ticket combinations out there that it gets confusing at times.

Is the Meal Deal arm band that allows you unlimited trips through a restaurant line for the same price worth it? If I read correctly, you have to purchase the drink separately and its almost as much as the arm band.

TIA for any suggestions or tips.

 

[Badge]

Well, HHN nights is a major event that has about 8 houses to go in. While some of the rides are open during this event, they are not the focus. Also, this event is around $60 or $70 per person for the ticket. It is a lot different than MNSSHP becuase you are paying the extra charage for the MNSSHP tickets for the parade and fireworks, but mostly for shorter waits on rides. For HHN, you are paying to get scared in the houses and scarezones around the park and not to ride the rides. Also, Universal normally closes around 6pm every night in Oct (no matter if it is a HHN or not), so you are not "wasting" half your day if you go to the parks on a HHN day, becuase the park closes when it normally would.

The flex ticket is NOT worth it for you! Based on what you have said, you will do one day at each park, so three days total. For a 2 day park hopper ticket for Universal, you will spend $134.99 per person. One day Sea World will cost $71.99 (this ticket gives you a 2nd day free if you want it). So, the total for those three days is $206.98 per person. Now, the Flex ticket cost $274.95. So, if you only plan on using three days of the ticket, then it is not worth it becuase you save $40.97. Even if you got 7 day Universal Tickets and did one day at Sea World, you are STILL cheaper than the Flex ticket. 7 Days at Universal with seaworld will cost $246.98. The Flex Ticket is only worth it if you are going to be in the area for longer than a week and want to go to all the parks that are offered (two water parks, seaworld, both Universal ). If not, the Flex Ticket is not worth it.

We love the Meal Deal plan. If you can eat three meals, you get your moneys worth. Each time in the line you get one meal and one dessert. You can go through the line as many times as you want each day, up until 30 minutes before the park closes. However, it really depends on the park hours! Since you are going in Oct, the parks close early, so you might not eat enough since the places will stop serving food around 5:30. However, if you go when the parks are open later, it can be really worth it. It also depends on if you like the food that is offered. You cannot eat at every place in each park, you can only eat at three different places per park. It depends on how much you are going to eat and how late the parks are open. As far as the drink goes, it is not worth it! Get the other mug that they offer becuase you can refill it for about $.85 for LIFE! The meal deal cup costs almost the same price, but you get free refills only for THAT DAY. Just buy one or two of the normal cups and share them. You can also get water for free.

 

[Metro West]

Can the park be experienced on a HHN? (like when we went to MNSSHP we also got to enjoy the whole park without a regular daytime admission).

Badge has covered your other questions so I thought I would expand on your HHN question. You must pay for the HHN ticket separately from your daytime ticket and a park sweep is done to make sure the daytime guests are gone. The Studios will close at 5pm on the nights HHN is staged but there is the Stay & Scream option that allows you to purchase the HHN ticket at a discount and allows you to stay in the park while they are setting up. There are very few props left out during the day...except the ones that are too big to constantly move. Scarezones are easily found since most of the props are left outdoors but you will not see any part of the houses during the day.

Tickets can be very expensive depending on what night you want to go. Weekends are always more expensive and a lot busier. If you are interested in going to HHN one night, it would be to your advantage to do S & S as it gives you a head start on the houses.

There are only about four attractions open during HHN. Last year those were: Revenge of the Mummy, The Simpsons, Jaws and MIB. Rides can be done during the day so focus on the houses, scarezones and shows since HHN is a limited time event.

So basically...If you are visiting for the day and do not want to participate in HHN, you will be asked to leave the Studios at 5pm (an hour early) but if you DO want to go to HHN that night, make sure you purchase the HHN tickets using the S & S upgrade.

 

[Disneyliscious]

Thank you SO much! Sounds like my best deal is to get the 2 day park hopper and add on S&S for one night (I believe its $30-$40 cheaper by doing it that way, versus only going to HHN).

That will make for a LONG day but hopefully that time of year we wont be rushed and can relax some throughout the day.

 

[Badge]

I also wanted to add that if you are staying onsite, your Express pass that allows you to skip almost every ride in the park will NOT work during HHN. They have an Express pass you can buy to skip the lines of all the houses, but you will not be allowed to use your room key. I do not know if the room key will work during HHN on the rides, but I know that the houses can not be skipped with the room key.

 

[Disneyliscious]

We wont be staying on site so the room key option wont be for us.

We went ot Disney in October and the crowds were great! We never had over a 10 min wait on rides and sometimes they were back to back riding. Im *hoping* for close to the same at US/IOA if we go on weekdays (fingers crossed). I do expect longer than 10 minutes, but hopefully not more than 30 mins or so.

 

[Metro West]

I also wanted to add that if you are staying onsite, your Express pass that allows you to skip almost every ride in the park will NOT work during HHN. They have an Express pass you can buy to skip the lines of all the houses, but you will not be allowed to use your room key. I do not know if the room key will work during HHN on the rides, but I know that the houses can not be skipped with the room key.

Any onsite perks do not work for and hard ticket event. The onsite benefits only work during regular park hours. HHN and Rock The Universe do not extend the benefits.

But...the EP for HHN includes all houses, all rides open and the first seating of Bill & Ted's show.