Halloween Horror Nights Opening night

[pschro1]

So we are going to be traveling to Disney in August. We have a free day Friday August 29th, opening day of HHN. Am I crazy to consider getting tickets for myself and my 14 year old son? We will have a car so transportation isnt an issue, but we leave for home August 30th, so this is the only day we can go.

The kicker is, neither myself or my son have been to Universal....period.

Im waying my options. Is HHN Express Pass a must for opening night? I'm also considering buying a one park day ticket (no express) and then HHN (with express). But I'm also trying to be budget conscience. Can you get just a stay and scream ticket?

Or is opening night just going to be miserable and we should just consider skipping?

 

[GhostHost24]

I've gone opening night every year since 2019...

Itll be crowded yes, but with express you'll still easily do all 10 houses plus the show.

Some rides are open during the event (usually mummy, gringotts, mib, and rrr (til they close it for good)

Also be prepared it will rain and it'll be a monsoon. You will get soaked

 

[pschro1]

I've gone opening night every year since 2019...

Itll be crowded yes, but with express you'll still easily do all 10 houses plus the show.

Some rides are open during the event (usually mummy, gringotts, mib, and rrr (til they close it for good)

Also be prepared it will rain and it'll be a monsoon. You will get soaked

Thanks! If we do express pass, is stay and scream needed?

 

[GhostHost24]

Thanks! If we do express pass, is stay and scream needed?

In my opinion no.

Only reason to do it is if you wanted to do a house for a second time.

That time of year S&S is pretty miserable due to the weather. You need to be there by 4 to grt in line than you're jsut standing there for 2 hrs

 

[Skippyboo]

Not really if you get Express. You don’t need to do stay and scream ticket. You can make a reservation somewhere in City Walk and then walk in after the gates open.

 

[pschro1]

Not really if you get Express. You don’t need to do stay and scream ticket. You can make a reservation somewhere in City Walk and then walk in after the gates open.

What am I in for if I don't even do Express? Would I even be able to do one or two houses before the lines get too long?

 

[Skippyboo]

Without express the lines are probably going to over 1 hr plus from 8-10. The times will probably go down after midnight. Big IPs will probably be over 90.

They stagger the house openings some will open to stay and scream people before the front gates open. A tip is go to the houses in the back of the park not the soundstages. I was able to do multiple runs of the 2 new tents with little to no lines.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Wonder if they'll do the "preview" night again? That got good reviews and seemed like a pretty good value.

 

[GhostHost24]

What am I in for if I don't even do Express? Would I even be able to do one or two houses before the lines get too long?

It's still possible to do all 10 but you'd need to really plan it and probably do S&S

So essteislly you'll be there from 3pm-2am

 

[tony67]

Wonder if they'll do the "preview" night again? That got good reviews and seemed like a pretty good value.

I forgot about that. Yeah it did get really good reviews. I may consider that. It's really early in the season but you can at least do everything in one night multiple times and get the food items as well.

Of course I think if they do offer it it will be much busier

 

[GhostHost24]

I get a feeling if it's done again it's going to look much different..

I heard they lost a lot of money on that night.

 

[tony67]

I get a feeling if it's done again it's going to look much different..

I heard they lost a lot of money on that night.

Yeah they are always adjusting, but hopefully not too much.
Even though they lost money on it I'm sure all the publicity was good though - not sure they need it - but it did seem to be one of the few positives for last year - and every influencer was there covering it. There is a value to that.

Also I see it as a good test run through as well with real guests - especially since they kick it off on a very busy weekend - I still think they should start the weekend before to give the SAs a chance to get into it without a crazy holiday weekend crowd.
I don't think the team member preview is enough before being thrown into the deep end.

One thing I would change is smaller portions of food items - there was way too much waste.
You can always get 3 small portions if you really want it or give the option.
I would say the same for Orlando Informer.
Too many influencers taking one bite of an Item to try and and throw the rest it away.

Any thoughts on the rumor of 12 houses? I doubt it as I don't see where they could do it unless some things have moved to Epic.

Also I see that Mike Aiello will be much more involved this year now that Epic is close - and that may be a positive for Orlando.

 

[Skippyboo]

I don’t know where you put house 12. The permits for one soundstage has a B but no A that’s where people think house 11 might go. The 2 parade buildings are apparently no gos with the new parade. Maybe the can use that soundstage in the front that they use for a queue for Montrous .

 

[GhostHost24]

I don't think I like the idea of 12...im afraid it'll cut onto quality.

They already had an issue last year staffing some of thr houses. It's not gonna get better until they implement policies

 

[zavandor]

How much was the preview night last year?

 

[pschro1]

Do you think they would make 8/29 the preview night? Or would they make it like 8/28?

 

[pschro1]

Yea we are still on the fence whether or not we are going to go for the day or not. My son is a big potter fan so going for the day would give us more time in Diagon Alley. I know its open during HHN but I figured we should commit most of the time to the houses.

 

[GhostHost24]

Ya that makes it for a VERY long day.

I'll be very hot too. So If you do that find places to take breaks drink tons of water

 

[tony67]

I don't think I like the idea of 12...im afraid it'll cut onto quality.

They already had an issue last year staffing some of thr houses. It's not gonna get better until they implement policies

Yeah - Im not sure there is any credence to the rumor.

The only reason to go to 12 is to disperse the crowds more - and good point - the staffing was pretty bad last year.

I don’t know where you put house 12. The permits for one soundstage has a B but no A that’s where people think house 11 might go. The 2 parade buildings are apparently no gos with the new parade. Maybe the can use that soundstage in the front that they use for a queue for Montrous .

Agreed - It just does not add up.
It may just be something someone started for clicks and then others commented on.

One of the problems with places like YouTube is you can say whatever you want as far as rumors.
To be fare its not that different than when the news says "people are saying" - who are those people exactly?

On the rare times they are actually right they can refence that - so throw enough stuff at the wall and something stick.
And anything that does not happen - well just a rumor or they went in another direction or whatever.

There are a lot of those folks on the Disney side of things and now that Universal is getting popular we seem to be seeing more of it.

 

[spewey]

How much was the preview night last year?

It was $350, which as noted included all you can eat food and non-alcoholic drinks. Did they lose money? That's what they say, but if UO looked at the night as a dress rehearsal they were going to do anyway but this time with paid guests? Maybe not so bad.

From a guest point of view, it was simply awesome.

Do you think they would make 8/29 the preview night? Or would they make it like 8/28?

It wouldn't be the 29th - that's the official Opening Night. If they did it again like last year, it would be the night before - Thursday the 28th.