Halloween Horror Nights FAQs?

[pcstang]

How many trips do you think you will make in a year? Staying onsite?

 

[casnider]

If we have a pass, I can see 3 or 4. We will for sure do HHN and I will go to HP Celebration. I would love to sneak in a day or two for Grinchmas. As a whole family going it has to be fall or winter, because husband has a lawn/landscaping business. Yet the kids and I have no problems sneaking off in the summer is need be. I can leave in the morning from my house and be in Orlando by check in.

I love to have things all planned out before I go but I have read all the tips and tricks about piecing the vacations. So if I can just get the great room rate and wait to buy discounted tickets when I get there then it is a no brainer that we only need one AP among us all. Unless I am not thinking of a certain situation that we all four need an AP.

 

[casnider]

Course to add to that would be, let's say that we choose the RPR (our fav) and I have the one AP. Well at the Royal we get the unlimited Express pass but if I don't buy park tickets until I get there, how does the express pass apply?

 

[macraven]

You can buy park tickets at the attractions center desk at rpr lobby

Or buy tickets online

Once you active your ap, you can buy discounted park tickets and get the ap discount rate for them

 

[casnider]

And you can only activate it by going to the park first correct?

 

[macraven]

If all are staying at rpr, the ep is free

Once you check in, create the ep at the hotel
You each need your hotel key card to do so

Those eps are tied into the hotel

If you don't stay at the deluxe, you can buy the ep online in advance or once you are at the parks

Ep is separate from park tickets

You could have 3 separate things
Hotel room key, tickets/ap, ep

 

[macraven]

Attraction desk at the hotel opens at 9am


Believe they close at 8 pm, maybe 9 when I was there early feb

 

[pcstang]

If you're going 3 or 4 times in a year I would get APs for everyone. There are a lot of threads going recently with people getting by 2 get 1 or 2 day tickets and then having them bridged when upgrading to APs. I have no experience with this but I think a 3 or 4 day ticket is the same as an AP so might as well get everyone APs.

 

[pcstang]

And you can only activate it by going to the park first correct?

Yes, you activate when you first enter a park.

I see your location, gotta love that loooong boring drive on I-10.

 

[casnider]

Yes, you activate when you first enter a park.

I see your location, gotta love that loooong boring drive on I-10.

LOL. yeah not the most scenic but way more doable than when we lived in TN. I like the fact that we left one day late, like close to 10 am, and I was standing in front of the young lady at cabana bay checking in at 5 pm. I am cheap though and will not pay the $1000 to fly all four of us when I can just drive it for two tanks of gas. Now if I could just get this "what's the best ticket deal" figured out.

 

[casnider]

If all are staying at rpr, the ep is free

Once you check in, create the ep at the hotel
You each need your hotel key card to do so

Those eps are tied into the hotel

If you don't stay at the deluxe, you can buy the ep online in advance or once you are at the parks

Ep is separate from park tickets

You could have 3 separate things
Hotel room key, tickets/ap, ep

Duh, you are so correct! I completely forget this detail. Thanks and chalk me up to Monday brain.

 

[buzzrelly]

Sorry for all the questions, but I wanted to find out which AP we should purchase. I would be grateful for any advice

October 29-November 1, 2017:
Me and DH-staying at HRH and going to HHN

April 5th-8th, 2018:
Me, DH, DS 16, DD14, DS11

I am assuming that since DH and I are traveling twice and staying for a total of 6 nights, we will be better off getting an AP. I just don't know which one to get. I see blackout dates apply to the seasonal and power pass. Our dates aren't backed out for October, but I think they will be for next April? It doesn't show those dates on the website though. So, would I just be better off getting the Preferred AP for both myself and DH?

 

[macraven]

Tough question for me to answer right now

I have had (renew yearly since 2003) the preferred ap

Until last year or so, only knew the 3 ap that were a available
You know the pluses and minuses for each

With the new system in place last year which added the seasonal ap, I need to read up on all of it again

When I have a question which would suit our needs most, I look at the charts to answer questions

With the new blackout dates for some ap categories, and the no ee perk for preferred in place, I need to update my crib sheet I use

Give me some time to see which ap would be most beneficial for your needs before I answer

My thought is to look and see how this years spring break/Easter time periods effects the ap for entrance

We do not know 2018 blackout periods yet

I'll pm you my thoughts when I think I can guide you better

 

[pcstang]

Adding to Macs reply, we are all waiting to see what the changes will be with APs and the opening of Volcano Bay.

 

[buzzrelly]

Thanks, everyone. I have time to figure this out since we aren't going until the end of October. Hopefully the AP block-out dates for 2018 are released by then. I kind of forgot about Volcano Bay anyway…we are hoping to try that out next April, as well so I hope the AP I choose includes that too.

 

[casnider]

Thanks, everyone. I have time to figure this out since we aren't going until the end of October. Hopefully the AP block-out dates for 2018 are released by then. I kind of forgot about Volcano Bay anyway…we are hoping to try that out next April, as well so I hope the AP I choose includes that too.

I am right there with you on what's the best course of action

 

[janicept]

I have been a Premier AP holder for many years and the free HHN ticket will not likely work for the days you're going. If you buy an AP you can get a discount on HHN tickets but no discount for EP. If you end up only going one night I would highly recommend EP. Check the prices when they come out since going two nights w/ the AP discount might be about the same price as one night plus express. I love HHN since you can ride RRR at night. The houses change every year pretty much so we won't know until the info comes out much later in the year. The lines for the houses from popular shows and movies get long fast so go to those either really early or really late.

When you go with your AP you can get into the park before 5 pm I believe, wait in some waiting areas in the park while it closes for everyone that doesn't have HHN tickets, then get into the park about 30 minutes before the general public - this only work if you have HHN tickets though. I believe last year there was a special AP early entry for HHN in September but I somehow missed that. I'm going to keep a closer eye on the passholder website this year.

I'll probably go in September and October so I get one of the frequent fear tickets which is plenty of nights. I get to the park before regular hour closing, maybe ride something until they start to clear the place, then go to the waiting area. When you get in early you can get into about three houses without express with less than an hour wait each. After the lines get long we go on rides or watch the shows. It's also fun to sit just out of the scare zones and watch people run around.

Whatever you decide will be fine. It sounds like you go to Orlando frequently so you can always try something different another year after you see what it's like for yourself.

 

[macraven]

If you do like Janicept does, it works great
Use the ap before 5 and do a ride
Then go to the holding zone if you have the hhn ticket

I go to the ET ride minutes before 5 on hhn nights

Sometime it takes a bit of time to get on the ride
When I get off E T it is about 5:45

I headbto the holding area the TM directs me to

Short wait there until hhn is open to those in the park at 6

 

[HeatherLassell]

Ok I have a question! This will be my first time going to HHN. I've booked hotel already Oct 4-7 (we leave for a cruise on the 7th) and my friends are joining us on Friday the 6th. We want to do HHN that night. But since we only have one night I'm looking into what is the best option. I hear weekends are super crowded and even with the EP it can be 1hr waits. I want to experience all of the houses, have time to walk through the scare zones and maybe even a ride or 2. Is my only option for this to do the RIP tour? It's so expensive but seems worth it.

 

[macraven]

Don't think your time period will be too packed
Saturday is the most packed night and Friday and Sunday will have crowds but still doable

The columbus day weekend will have much higher crowds