halloween horror nights for next year (2014)

[PDJPrinceCharming]

This is just speculation but based upon last years event, these are the potential dates for HHN 24

September: (Employee Preview) 17th, All Guests: 19th, 20th, 21st, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th
October: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 30th, 31st,
November: 1st

Last years dates were

September: 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 & 29
October: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 & 31
November: 1 & 2

I went the first 6 nights of the event last year, if you have any questions just let me know.

 

[mickeysmith]

Jumping in on the conversation (love posts about HHN!) . . . . Looking at Sunday, Oct. 5th. Are the crowds pretty manageable on a Sunday early in the month? TIA!

 

[PDJPrinceCharming]

Crowds really can be hit or miss, I did a Friday night at the beginning of the event last year that we hit Walking Dead, La Llorona, Afterlife, Havoc, An American Werewolf In London & Resident Evil in 2 hours. And that wasn't rushing, it was just a slow "peak" night. It may depend on the houses for the year what the crowd does.

 

[Metro West]

Since we are already getting questions about HHN, I'm going to stick this thread so we can keep all the information in one place.

 

[BYC]

This is just speculation but based upon last years event, these are the potential dates for HHN 24

September: (Employee Preview) 17th, All Guests: 19th, 20th, 21st, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th
October: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 30th, 31st,
November: 1st

Last years dates were

September: 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 & 29
October: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 & 31
November: 1 & 2

I went the first 6 nights of the event last year, if you have any questions just let me know.

Thank you! This is perfect! Here is what I am trying to figure out. There will be 3 young adults going. We only have one day to spare for them to go to Universal and/or IOA. What I am trying to figure out is what kind of ticket to buy. They want to ride several rides at IOA. If they got a one day-one park ticket for IOA, and also a Horror night ticket for Universal...is that doable? What time does the party start and end? What time do they let you in? Are all rides open (are any rides open??) As you can see, I don't know too much about it. Thank you!

 

[PDJPrinceCharming]

Thank you! This is perfect! Here is what I am trying to figure out. There will be 3 young adults going. We only have one day to spare for them to go to Universal and/or IOA. What I am trying to figure out is what kind of ticket to buy. They want to ride several rides at IOA. If they got a one day-one park ticket for IOA, and also a Horror night ticket for Universal...is that doable? What time does the party start and end? What time do they let you in? Are all rides open (are any rides open??) As you can see, I don't know too much about it. Thank you!

I would do a Stay & Scream ticket in addition to your park admission to IOA since it doesn't sound like they want to go to the Studios side, that said though they'll miss opportunities to see Diagon Alley & ride Escape From Gringotts.

Party hours are usually 6:30-Midnight for early in the event but it can go to 1 or 2 am on some peak nights. If you have the Stay & Scream, you can wait in a holding area(Finnegan's or Kidzone) & they let you in a little earlier to experience a house or two before most of the people have entered.

Not all rides are open. The Mummy, Transformers, Kang & Kodos, Rip Ride Rockit, Men in Black, The Simpsons & Despicable Me were open last year. It remains to be seen if Escape From Gringotts will be open or if they will close off Diagon Alley all together for the event.

 

[BYC]

I would do a Stay & Scream ticket in addition to your park admission to IOA since it doesn't sound like they want to go to the Studios side, that said though they'll miss opportunities to see Diagon Alley & ride Escape From Gringotts.

Party hours are usually 6:30-Midnight for early in the event but it can go to 1 or 2 am on some peak nights. If you have the Stay & Scream, you can wait in a holding area(Finnegan's or Kidzone) & they let you in a little earlier to experience a house or two before most of the people have entered.

Not all rides are open. The Mummy, Transformers, Kang & Kodos, Rip Ride Rockit, Men in Black, The Simpsons & Despicable Me were open last year. It remains to be seen if Escape From Gringotts will be open or if they will close off Diagon Alley all together for the event.

OK...so that I am sure I get this straight-----We buy a one day-one park ticket (for IOA). They spend the day there. Then...they have a Stay and Scream ticket. They walk over to Universal, and enter there. Is there actually time to ride rides during HHN, or are you too busy with the houses?? Sorry if I am asking stupid questions. But, no matter how I see it, it's an expensive endeavor! Don't want to purchase anything I don't need!

 

[Mikkimús]

I will be in Orlando from the 12th to the 23rd of September.
Myself, boyfriend and my brother really want to go to HHN it would be our first time
We(and by that I mean I) were planning on the 18-20th staying at HRH, hopefully attending HHN on the 19th, crossing fingers that it has started.

As at this moment their are just speculation on the dates but we will stay optimistic

and yes I might be planning 6 months in advance but would you recommend the express pass?

 

[PDJPrinceCharming]

OK...so that I am sure I get this straight-----We buy a one day-one park ticket (for IOA). They spend the day there. Then...they have a Stay and Scream ticket. They walk over to Universal, and enter there. Is there actually time to ride rides during HHN, or are you too busy with the houses?? Sorry if I am asking stupid questions. But, no matter how I see it, it's an expensive endeavor! Don't want to purchase anything I don't need!

You can ride rides during HHN, I did a few times but it was only because I had the times. With the lines, sometimes you don't have times to do all the houses, see the scarezones or watch the shows much less take time for a ride. It is a way to be able to ride the rides at the Studios since you only got a one park ticket.

 

[Metro West]

OK...so that I am sure I get this straight-----We buy a one day-one park ticket (for IOA). They spend the day there. Then...they have a Stay and Scream ticket. They walk over to Universal, and enter there. Is there actually time to ride rides during HHN, or are you too busy with the houses?? Sorry if I am asking stupid questions. But, no matter how I see it, it's an expensive endeavor! Don't want to purchase anything I don't need!

There is no S & S ticket...only HHN tickets. Stay & Scream is the discount you receive when you purchase your HHN ticket after you've purchased the theme park ticket. But...yes...you would use the HHN ticket to gain admission to the Studios once the park is opened to the general public...usually around 6:30pm. If you are only going for one night, don't do the rides...those are open during the day. Stick to doing the houses and shows since those are only around during the event.

Here's something that might help them. In years past there has been a crossover from IOA into the Studios for S & S folks who hold HHN tickets but are already inside the park. Normally you would have to be inside the Studios park before closing to stay but there has been an area at IOA (Suess Landing) too. I haven't used that entrance in many years so I don't know if that's still an option. The advantage is they would get into the event a little earlier than the general public and would have access to several houses before the main gates are open. Otherwise they will have to wait outside the main Studio gates in a mob of people which can take quite a while to wade through. If there is going to be an IOA crossover this year, we won't know until right before the event starts so you won't be able to plan for it.

 

[PDJPrinceCharming]

I will be in Orlando from the 12th to the 23rd of September.
Myself, boyfriend and my brother really want to go to HHN it would be our first time
We(and by that I mean I) were planning on the 18-20th staying at HRH, hopefully attending HHN on the 19th, crossing fingers that it has started.

As at this moment their are just speculation on the dates but we will stay optimistic

and yes I might be planning 6 months in advance but would you recommend the express pass?

All signs point to its opening night being the 19th, it's my first day down as well. I didn't do express due to its price as I already had a Rush of Fear pass & took two Unmasking the Horror Tours(both of which I recommend highly) but express is a guarantee for one time through every house & it works also for one ride of all of the rides during the event as well so if you would go a peak night, it might be sometime to look into. Given that the 19th is the first day, it won't be as busy as you'd expect. Weather depends on it as well but the diehards will be out regardless with all their rain protection.

 

[schumigirl]

I will be in Orlando from the 12th to the 23rd of September.
Myself, boyfriend and my brother really want to go to HHN it would be our first time
We(and by that I mean I) were planning on the 18-20th staying at HRH, hopefully attending HHN on the 19th, crossing fingers that it has started.

As at this moment their are just speculation on the dates but we will stay optimistic

and yes I might be planning 6 months in advance but would you recommend the express pass?

We 'll be there.............we are staying at RPR from 9th till 27th September.............will be at HHN providing it's not all zombie themed again ..........we'll have to say hi I won't recognise you unless you look like your avatar though

And yes to express pass

 

[BYC]

Thanks so much for all the info!!

 

[Kathy427]

Hello.

I want to plan another trip to Universal in Fl. This will be our third time going and I'm sure I really missed alot of the park details because we try to take more advantage of the fast passes. We stay at an on-site location so we can get the fast passes included. Is this the better option of us?or stay at an offsite and get 3 fast passes? I really want to wait until Gringotts in open in IOA.,to do both, but my daughter is 10 now and wants to go sooner and she likes watching The Walking Dead. She wants to go for her birthday around the end of September.
When does HHN start and when does it end? How much is it to go per person?
How many rides are available? How frightning is it really for a young child? Thanks for any suggustions.

 

[PDJPrinceCharming]

Hello.

I want to plan another trip to Universal in Fl. This will be our third time going and I'm sure I really missed alot of the park details because we try to take more advantage of the fast passes. We stay at an on-site location so we can get the fast passes included. Is this the better option of us?or stay at an offsite and get 3 fast passes? I really want to wait until Gringotts in open in IOA.,to do both, but my daughter is 10 now and wants to go sooner and she likes watching The Walking Dead. She wants to go for her birthday around the end of September.
When does HHN start and when does it end? How much is it to go per person?
How many rides are available? How frightning is it really for a young child? Thanks for any suggustions.

I don't think that Escape from Gringotts will be doing Express, Forbidden Journey doesn't have it & it's now almost 4 years old. The starting dates for HHN have not officially been announced & won't be for a few more months.

You should be able to start buying tickets sometime in June then again things can always change so prices also are not available yet. Last year a one night ticket was $92 plus tax but there are discounts for residents & passholders. You can add HHN to an already existing park ticket as well, those prices last year were Sun-Thu $39 plus tax, Fri $54 plus tax & Sat $70 plus tax. There are also Frequent Fear passes to get you multiple days for one price as well as Express you can buy in addition to get FOTL to the houses & the rides running for the event.

Rides that were running last year were Mummy, Transformers, MiB, Simpsons, Despicable Me, & Rockit. It remains to be seen if Gringott's or even the Diagon Alley area itself will be open during the event.

About how frightening it is, you know your child better than anyone & some are better prepared to deal with the event than others. I've seen children screaming in terror wanting to leave & other children enjoying themselves as they go through the houses. It never failed, every house I went into last year I was in front or behind a young child in one form or another.

 

[Metro West]

I really want to wait until Gringotts in open in IOA.,to do both, but my daughter is 10 now and wants to go sooner and she likes watching The Walking Dead. She wants to go for her birthday around the end of September.
When does HHN start and when does it end? How much is it to go per person?
How many rides are available? How frightning is it really for a young child? Thanks for any suggustions.

Hello and welcome to the DIS!

I think staying onsite is the way to go if you can swing it. Since you are interested in HHN make sure you look for the Gory Getaways the onsites have during HHN. There may be a two night minimum during that time of year so keep that in mind.

The onsite Express does not work for HHN so you would need to purchase Express Passes if you want to go that route. They can and are very expensive depending on the dates. However...onsite guests are allowed early entry into HHN at 5pm through special gates at the Studios...which is nice.

I haven't heard if Diagon Alley will be open during HHN or not but I'm thinking it won't be. Since JK Rowling didn't want WWoHP to participate in HHN, they have pretty much abandoned IOA in terms of the event and have stuck with the Studios...no reason to think she will allow DA to be included...but we'll see.

Much more information will be coming out about HHN over the summer so stay tuned and keep checking back.

 

[trickiwoo]

Here's something that might help them. In years past there has been a crossover from IOA into the Studios for S & S folks who hold HHN tickets but are already inside the park. Normally you would have to be inside the Studios park before closing to stay but there has been an area at IOA (Suess Landing) too. I haven't used that entrance in many years so I don't know if that's still an option.

We used it last year! We had a regular Universal admission ticket (no Park-to-Park) and the HHN Rush of Fear pass (admission to every night of HHN during the first 3 weeks) We went to IOA during the day, then met at the HHN area in Suess Landing, showed them our HHN tickets and they let us into the park early. It was nice because the IOA entrance was right next to the line for the Cabin in the Woods house, so we were able to do that house with no line!

 

[Metro West]

We used it last year! We had a regular Universal admission ticket (no Park-to-Park) and the HHN Rush of Fear pass (admission to every night of HHN during the first 3 weeks) We went to IOA during the day, then met at the HHN area in Suess Landing, showed them our HHN tickets and they let us into the park early. It was nice because the IOA entrance was right next to the line for the Cabin in the Woods house, so we were able to do that house with no line!

When I went through that house opening weekend, the line looked surprisingly long but...it was only about 15-20 minutes I think. Now later in the evening the line was well over an hour!

 

[mickeysmith]

HHN ticket questions:

We will be buying 2 or 3 day park to park tickets. If DD and DH plan to stay for HHN and have already purchased those tickets, do they just stay in the park and not have to go back out of the gate?

How does a Stay and Scream ticket differ? Is it a better deal?

I really like the idea of already being in the park!!

Also, do you buy the express pass for HHN in the park or can you get them online?

Thank you for all of your help!!

 

[keishashadow]

Jumping in on the conversation (love posts about HHN!) . . . . Looking at Sunday, Oct. 5th. Are the crowds pretty manageable on a Sunday early in the month? TIA!

I'm curious as to those who have visited the first Sunday in October too. We've typically gone the end of that week and a few times the 2nd full week.

Hopefully, once the search function is up and running we can find some posts re that night.