Halloween Horror Nights!

[laurainsem]

My younger sister and I are surprising our oldest sister with tickets to Universals Halloween Horror Nights on the 18th of October. We have never been but are very excited to go!

Has anyone else been to this? What is your experience? Any tips you might be able to offer? Is it imperative to get there right at 6:30? Alright, I know, to many questions! We just a wee bit excited to go!

 

[Metro West]

We love talking about HHN and to many of us is our favorite time of the year.

Depending on what night you're going...you should consider purchasing the Express Passes. They are expensive but if you're only going to be there for a single night, it's about the only way to see all the houses. I wouldn't fool with the rides...you can do those anytime but the houses are only around for a brief time. Since you're going on a Sunday night, I would advise you to get there at 5pm when the park closes and be in the front of the line. If you are too late, you will spend the majority of the evening in line before even getting into the park and that's no fun.

If you have an annual pass, make sure you take advantage of Stay & Scream which is when you stay in the park after it closes and after the holding area is released, you will get to do several houses before the outside gates are opened.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

 

[laurainsem]

Thanks for the info! We are only going for that one night. It will be our first trip to the Universal properties.

I can't believe how expensive the Express passes are; it's like a whole other ticket per person! Are these really worth the cost? If they are, we will definitely get them. I'd hate to miss everything. It's just a lot of money for one night. How much wait time does it cut down on?

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for the info! We are only going for that one night. It will be our first trip to the Universal properties.

I can't believe how expensive the Express passes are; it's like a whole other ticket per person! Are these really worth the cost? If they are, we will definitely get them. I'd hate to miss everything. It's just a lot of money for one night. How much wait time does it cut down on?

Express Passes will cut your wait time down from 2 hours to about 30 mins in most cases and they are expensive but worth it.

 

[laurainsem]

Holy smokes, that is a difference! I think we'll definitely get the express pass. This is why I come to Disboards; I don't know what I would do without this valuable info.

So can I ask, what is a scream zone? Also, I heard about a Bill and Ted thing, what is that? I am so completely clueless and the website didn't help me much.

 

[Metro West]

Holy smokes, that is a difference! I think we'll definitely get the express pass. This is why I come to Disboards; I don't know what I would do without this valuable info.

So can I ask, what is a scream zone? Also, I heard about a Bill and Ted thing, what is that? I am so completely clueless and the website didn't help me much.

The scare zones are areas that you walk through to get from house to house...some are really good and some are kinda lame. They are situated in different sections of the park. The Bill & Ted show is a crowd favorite but I don't usually stay to see it since I would rather do the houses. The show fills up very quickly so you might spend time waiting in line for the show instead of doing the houses. The Express Pass gets you into the first show of the night. Some people have to see B & T every year and some don't. The show is a skit type show featuring the latest news and trends. They make fun of celebrities and it's more of an adult type show.

In my experience at HHN...here's the secret. If you act scared walking around outside the scareactors will be all over you like ugly on an ape but if you don't act scared, they will pretty much leave you alone.

 

[Planogirl]

It's pricey but if you break it down into a per house cost and compare to the regular single haunts out there it's not so bad. We wanted to go this year but even with this logic we couldn't quite afford it this time. Someday!

I hope that you have a blast. There's a long thread all about HHN on here.

 

[RACEFAN9]

We went last year on a Friday and Saturday night.We bought express pass for Friday night only.We didn't even need it,lines were not long at all.Saturday night was horriable and of course no express pass.Hoping to go this year on Friday night and Sunday night with no express pass.

 

[laurainsem]

Well, we couldn't afford it really but decided to get the express passes. I already feel more relaxed about it! I'm thankful for the advice as I never would have even thought about it. Looking at crowds on youtube, i'm extremely glad we'll have these.

In regards to rides, which ones are open? Are the lines short or should we not even bother? We have never been to IoA before so are a little interested. I doubt we'll even have time, but it could be fun to try a few.

By the way, thanks for letting me know there is a big thread about HHN; i'll go search for it!

 

[WWEDUDE]

In regards to rides, which ones are open? Are the lines short or should we not even bother? We have never been to IoA before so are a little interested. I doubt we'll even have time, but it could be fun to try a few.

Last year Simpsons, Mummy, Disaster, Jaws, and MIB were open. But that could change this year. Most likely HRRR will be open too. Unfortunately you will not be able to access IoA, as HHN is housed at the Studio side.

 

[donaldduck352]

We went last year on a Friday and Saturday night.We bought express pass for Friday night only.We didn't even need it,lines were not long at all.Saturday night was horriable and of course no express pass.Hoping to go this year on Friday night and Sunday night with no express pass.

What dates you go last year?

 

[laurainsem]

Oops, I meant Universal; sorry, my mind is not quite turned on today!

 

[macraven]

My younger sister and I are surprising our oldest sister with tickets to Universals Halloween Horror Nights on the 18th of October. We have never been but are very excited to go!

Has anyone else been to this? What is your experience? Any tips you might be able to offer? Is it imperative to get there right at 6:30? Alright, I know, to many questions! We just a wee bit excited to go!

this will help answer some of your questions:
http://halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/faqs.html

i'm completely and totally addicted to HHN.
10 years of attending.
i go during the month when i can attend hhn 4 nights in a row.

i buy the epp, wouldn't dream of not buying them.

sundays with it's crowds seem more like a peak night since last year.

Metro gave you great advice.
go in the daytime and do the rides.
buy the add on ticket/stay and scream for the discount.
buy the epp.

if you do the stay and scream, you'll have 6 hours of HHN that sunday.

check out the website:

www.halloweenhorrornights.com

you will understand the characters, houses and scare zones better.
then when you go to HHN, you'll understand the houses a lot more.

 

[atricks]

Bill & Ted is my favorite part of HHN (with the houses a close second). It's the "Fun" part of HHN and not scary. I know more than a few people that are scared to death of the houses but still go just to see this show.

It's different every year, and it features some of the best actors and comedians from across Disney and Universal in it.

 

[laurainsem]

I really wish we could go and experience the park during the day. No matter, i'm just glad we'll get to do HHN! I am so thankful for all the advice. I've already cancelled my ADR at Ohana for that evening. We're just going to do counter service and try to get to Universal by 4:30-5pm to line up. I would have never thought of lining up that early if it hadn't been for all of you.

Those of you who have gone multiple years; how have you seen the houses change? Do you think it has gotten milder/scarier? I have heard a lot of excitement over the theme for this year. My sister is especially excited about the Chucky scare house! We haven't seen Saw; it has always scared us too much to see. I guess i'm going to have to rent a few of these that are already out on DVD and educate myself. The only movie I have seen out of them is Child's Play!

 

[macraven]

The line for HHN outside the gate usually starts around 5ish.

be there early and you could be the closest up front in the line.


it is best to do it that way as you have to go through metal detectors.


the houses do change during the season.
the kinks are worked out from the beginning of the season and you might find a few things different.
maybe more scareactors added, maybe they will do additional activity?
the houses themselves do not change.

bill and ted's show does change during the season.
what you would see on the first night might be different from the ending of the season.

if some antics/humor fails, some scripts can be rewritten for a better reaction from the audience.

i read the trippie from the link you have in your post.

i see you are a minister.
be aware, you will hear language used in a way that you wouldn't in a church.

 

[laurainsem]

i see you are a minister.
be aware, you will hear language used in a way that you wouldn't in a church.

LOL, don't worry, i'll be able to handle it! I am a ELCA (Lutheran) minister. We are fairly liberal and I grew up in a family that did not attend church. We Lutheran pastors love our beer and do enjoy having a good time. Plus, I probably swear more than a pastor should (not from the pulpit of course ).

 

[tbird89]

Another piece of advice regarding the Express Pass is make sure you check the lines to the houses before having to use your pass. If you're in the park early enough, you may be able to do 2 to 3 houses before having to use your Express Pass. This will allow you to do those houses again later in the night when the wait times are . I find it funny when there is a 5 minute wait for a house and I see people using express.

Bill & Ted Show is a MUST!!!! Don't leave without watching it.

 

[Metro West]

Another piece of advice regarding the Express Pass is make sure you check the lines to the houses before having to use your pass. If you're in the park early enough, you may be able to do 2 to 3 houses before having to use your Express Pass. This will allow you to do those houses again later in the night when the wait times are . I find it funny when there is a 5 minute wait for a house and I see people using express.

Yeah...I think the cardinal rule is under 20 mins you don't use your pass.

 

[yaytezIOA]

New official pics here.