Halloween Horror Nights Discussion Thread

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Now that the HHN season has officially started, I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread whereby we could discuss everything HHN related - from the houses and scarezones, to the shows and merchandise ... post your thoughts (what you liked or didn't like), pictures and links to reviews here!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Here is a video from Attractions Magazine of opening night (caution spoilers - so do not click on the link if you are going to the event and would rather be surprised)

 

[macraven]

i was reading Metro West's thread and he has 2 more reviews from others on it that went last night.

it sounds so exciting!

i'm sure others will post here now they see you opened a new thread.

 

[inkkognito]

I posted a mini review of the houses on the other thread, but click here to read my official review with photos. Meanwhile, here are a few random comments:

I didn't really see the Usher much other than in his house and of course the Team Members in costume at the front. It surprised me that the icon character wasn't more visible.

For those who have concerns about this one being too movie heavy, they did an awesome job with Chucky, Saw, and the Spawing. The soundstages are rich in detail so I like those too, but those other three totally rock. I suspect the soundstages are going to get better over time.

We didn't get to experience the scare zones a lot due to being on a tour, but I must have "screamer" written on my forehead because I did attract several scares in a couple of them and it was still during the day. I shudder to think how it will be at night.

Times were erratic, with waits ranging from 10 mins. to 75 all at the same time, depending on the house. Lots of smoking in line, which is a pet peeve of mine...was nice to her on the tour this time but I'm gonna be a real whiner about it when we go back next week.

You homies who haven't gone yet are in for a real treat. Can't say it's better than the last two years (yet) but definitely worth a go-to.

 

[macraven]

i have kept up on another board about universal/hhn which i am a member.

everyone has different favorites it appears.

from what i have read, chucky and spawning will need to be changed around in order to entice more to go to those houses.

for me, chucky was just meh for me, in the chucky movies.
the first one was good and all others after that went down hill.
i never found anything frightening about chucky.

i did read quite a few think that leave it to cleaver and spawning may be the sleeping giants this year.

i'll have to wait and see.

i could never not revisit a house just because it was low on my list first time around.

many times it just takes Team A or Team B to make a difference for the guests going through a house or SZ.

all i do know is i am looking forward to hhn and all it has to offer....
totally and completely addicted to it.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I agree Macraven - favorites are subjective to the person ...

I was looking forward to the Frankenstein house, however, after seeing pictures of the costumes and hearing about the steampunk twist on it - I really don't know how I feel about it I understand about wanting to bring things into the present, but to me, the classics should never be meddled with in that way. I'll have to see if my feelings change after I actually go through the house.

 

[PAcpl]

We didn't get to experience the scare zones a lot due to being on a tour, but I must have "screamer" written on my forehead because I did attract several scares in a couple of them and it was still during the day. I shudder to think how it will be at night.\

Thanks for another great review. This will be our first RIP tour, do you not go through the Scare Zones? What time is the tour typically over?

Thanks again

 

[laurainsem]

This is probably a silly question, but I was wondering if the EP can be used for the rides? Since we are going to Universal for the first time, I have a feeling we'll want to do at least a couple of the rides. Hopefully with the EP's we'll have enough time to mix this up with all the scare houses!

 

[Metro West]

This is probably a silly question, but I was wondering if the EP can be used for the rides?

Yes...the HHN EP is for all participating attractions including the rides but from what I saw Friday night, you might not need to use them. The longest wait I saw for any ride was 10 minutes.

 

[laurainsem]

Yes...the HHN EP is for all participating attractions including the rides but from what I saw Friday night, you might not need to use them. The longest wait I saw for any ride was 10 minutes.

Yay! Thanks again Metro, you have been so helpful! I'm loving all of the reports of shorter wait times and of course all the details about the houses and scare zones. We are getting so close! Can't wait to see our sisters face when we surprise her with the tickets. Hopefully it is worth all the secrecy; i've almost blown it several times now!

 

[THE DENTIST]

Hi guys,

Sooo looking forward to being there next month. Can you tell me where my DW and i can buy outfits and get our faces painted for the event?

 

[Metro West]

Can you tell me where my DW and i can buy outfits and get our faces painted for the event?

Most of the stores at the Studios are open during HHN so buy t-shirts and stuff isn't an issue. I saw several places doing face painting...the most popular was in the Amity section near the midway type games.

 

[RAPstar]

I read on HHNVault that there is a Bill and Ted T-shirt this year, but it is in very limited supply (one person said only 24 of each size).

 

[macraven]

Thanks for another great review. This will be our first RIP tour, do you not go through the Scare Zones? What time is the tour typically over?

Thanks again

i have taken the UTH tours, RIP non private tours and the last two years the RIP private tours.

which one are you taking?

the non private RIP tours are for 4 hours. they are held on non peak and peak nights.
you have to schedule the start time you want to be in.

the private tours are for 7 hours on peak nights.

prices are different for the different tours.

the UTH is a day tour of 2 hours. it is a presentation of 3 of the houses with the lights on in the house.

 

[PAcpl]

i have taken the UTH tours, RIP non private tours and the last two years the RIP private tours.

which one are you taking?

the non private RIP tours are for 4 hours. they are held on non peak and peak nights.
you have to schedule the start time you want to be in.

the private tours are for 7 hours on peak nights.

prices are different for the different tours.

the UTH is a day tour of 2 hours. it is a presentation of 3 of the houses with the lights on in the house.

Sorry Mac I should have specified. We are doing the 4 hour non-private tour from 7-11 on Saturday 10/3. Should be plan on doing the scare zones after the tour by ourselves?

 

[JackandSally79]

Here are some pictures from http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=11997

 

[macraven]

Sorry Mac I should have specified. We are doing the 4 hour non-private tour from 7-11 on Saturday 10/3. Should be plan on doing the scare zones after the tour by ourselves?

yes, when you are done with the tour at 11:00, you are free to do the park any way you wish.

you could do stay and scream and do about an hour before your tour begins.
you could catch a couple of houses in advance if you get out of the holding area at 5:30ish.

saturdays have more crowds. it is a great way to do hhn on a saturday.
you'll have more access to the houses and avoid the long lines while you are in the tour.

hopefully you won't get caught up in long lines for any of the shows or repeating houses.

the last time i did the non private tour of 5 hours, it included bill and ted and the houses.

i assume the 4 hour tour will cover the houses and bill and ted also.
you could be walking through some of the scare zones on your tour.

i like the private tours as you can request the agenda for your group that night.
you also will only have people you chose to be in your group.

one year i did the private tour and 6 homies signed up for the same one so we could be altogether.

some of the others in the group were a real downer.
they didn't want to do the houses, they wanted to do rides or just sit and look around i guess. we did have 2 other couples that went with the flow on doing the houses and shows.

six of us knew each other from the boards, the others we didn't know.
you were put in groups up to 20 that year. if i remember correctly, we had 15-6 in our group.
now, it is more limited to the number of peeps in each group.

it was after that tour, i decided to book the exclusive/private ones for future tours.


no matter which tour you take, the RIP tours will spoil you.
you will thoroughly enjoy it!

 

[PAcpl]

yes, when you are done with the tour at 11:00, you are free to do the park any way you wish.

you could do stay and scream and do about an hour before your tour begins.
you could catch a couple of houses in advance if you get out of the holding area at 5:30ish.

saturdays have more crowds. it is a great way to do hhn on a saturday.
you'll have more access to the houses and avoid the long lines while you are in the tour.

hopefully you won't get caught up in long lines for any of the shows or repeating houses.

the last time i did the non private tour of 5 hours, it included bill and ted and the houses.

i assume the 4 hour tour will cover the houses and bill and ted also.
you could be walking through some of the scare zones on your tour.

i like the private tours as you can request the agenda for your group that night.
you also will only have people you chose to be in your group.

one year i did the private tour and 6 homies signed up for the same one so we could be altogether.

some of the others in the group were a real downer.
they didn't want to do the houses, they wanted to do rides or just sit and look around i guess. we did have 2 other couples that went with the flow on doing the houses and shows.

six of us knew each other from the boards, the others we didn't know.
you were put in groups up to 20 that year. if i remember correctly, we had 15-6 in our group.
now, it is more limited to the number of peeps in each group.

it was after that tour, i decided to book the exclusive/private ones for future tours.


no matter which tour you take, the RIP tours will spoil you.
you will thoroughly enjoy it!

Awesome, thanks for the info. We are having a car service pick us up, so maybe we will plan on being in Universal from 7-1.

 

[Lizboo]

I am new to HHN and have a question.

How can the Saw house be in the queue for Jaws? When you enter Jaws, I think (depending on how busy it is) there are queues to the left and right (but when it is not busy, you just go to the left). Is it on the right and they just took up the rows? Must be small.

Also, are all the houses "mazes"? I see this word interchanged with "house" frequently.

I am getting so excited. I was telling hubby this morning that it looks intense and scary but looks like so much fun also.

TIA

 

[macraven]

if you can stay close to 2 am, you'll have less lines hopefully.

if you are using car service, they will pick you up when you tell them to.