Halloween Horror Nights

[wilma-bride]

I know, I know, Christmas is only just out of the way and already I am thinking about Halloween I have a couple of questions if anyone would be good enough to help me out.

Firstly, those who have been to HHN, could you tell me whether it is suitable for a 12 and 13 year old. They are both into horror movies big time and I think they would enjoy it but, having never been, I'm not sure how suitable it would be for them.

Secondly, how does the FOTL work for HHN (if it is even available). Does staying at an on-site hotel for HHN give you FOTL privileges for the houses as well during HHN or is it only for the rides during normal hours? Can you buy FOTL passes like you can for normal park opening?

Many thanks in advance

 

[lovetheparks]

[Whether or not it's suitable for a 12/13 yo really depends on the individual. HHN is geared more toward adults but if they are really into gore and horror, then they would probably have a blast.

Express Pass at HHN is a total separate beast. During HHN your normal onsitel FOTL privileges are invalid (can still use during the day) They sell a separate express pass for HHN and varies in price depending on the night you attend.

It's never too early to think about HHN!

 

[JulieWent]

Well, as long as you started it already.... DS is just dying to go this coming year. (No pun intended, I guess.) So, they DO sell an express pass for HHN? Even if you're staying onsite you have to buy this one separately?

Are Sunday night HHNs generally less crowded?

Are most of the attractions open? (Besides the HHN houses?)

Julie (Asking for very eager DS Austin)

 

[Slacking]

Express pass are sold. Hotel guests don't get Express pass privilieges for HHN, they also have to buy the passes.

Sunday nights are viewed as "Off-Peak" They are generally viewed as being less busy, but Universal seems to keep these nights understaffed compared to peak nights and lines still seem to get around 45-60 min. for houses (non-Express times). This past year, more attractions were open on Peak nights than on off-peak nights.

Speaking of attractions, most everything in IOA (except Toon Lagoon rides and Poseidon) was open and on peak nights Production Central and NY rides were open over in USF.

I'm just hoping this coming years event is better than last years. I'm still a bit disappointed with HHN 2005.

 

[Laurabearz]

We did the VIP tour in 2004 and zipped past the crowds. But that would run you $100 pp...

2005 wasnt good?? When I read about the miner house I thought that sounded cooler than cool!

We are in town for HHN2006, but DH said he didnt care if we went again

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I agree with Slacking. Many aspects of HHN 2005 were cool, but 2004 HHN > 2005 HHN.

 

[ChrisFL]

We did the VIP tour in 2004 and zipped past the crowds. But that would run you $100 pp...

2005 wasnt good?? When I read about the miner house I thought that sounded cooler than cool!

We are in town for HHN2006, but DH said he didnt care if we went again

went in the Miner House...wasnt much special about it...except since it was in the Poseidon building they used fire inside which created a cool backdrop

 

[Slacking]

2005 wasnt good?? When I read about the miner house I thought that sounded cooler than cool!

Yeah, if you like your mines to have burlap sack walls and rope hanging down from the ceiling while scareactors wearing the same alien type costume scare you in the dark, then yeah I guess its pretty cool.

Actually there were only 3 houses for me this last year which weren't disappointments. I hope 2006 HHN delivers a bit more.

 

[F-L-A]

2005 was probably my second least favorite HHN. The tragic part is that it could have been one of the best, if not the best HHN if the soundstage houses had delivered like they could and should have. They really dropped the ball with those and Terror Mines. Demon Cantina and The Skool were genius considering the buildings they were in.

 

[Slacking]

2005 was probably my second least favorite HHN. The tragic part is that it could have been one of the best, if not the best HHN if the soundstage houses had delivered like they could and should have. They really dropped the ball with those and Terror Mines. Demon Cantina and The Skool were genius considering the buildings they were in.

Yup, those were two of the three that didn't disappoint me. But even then I had walkthroughs of both houses where the casts were totally off.

A lot of people seemed to dislike The Skool though,

 

[Jason71]

12 or 13 is on the cusp, but should be alright, especially if they are into horror movies already. FYI, alcohol is marketed very heavily during the event, I know that could offend some parents.

Whichever night you go, even Sunday, plan on buying an Express Pass if you want to see more than two or three houses (or plan on being at the gate by 5:30 and doing so sprinting).

Not only do you have to buy an express pass even if you are staying on-property, it only works once at each house (tho some employees are more lax about checking this than others). So you cannot even use it to go through your favorite a second or third time.

BTW, Demon Cantina and the Skool were awesome, and I actually liked Cold Blind Terror when it was fully staffed, but I know I am in the minority there. Agreed that Terror Mines didn't live up to the hype, unless you were one of the few to be issued a helmet (maybe 1 in 5).

 

[macraven]

i totally and completely love hhn............

i make an annual trip from the north to do universal in october for the hard ticket event.

yes, 2005 had some low points but to me just to be there at universal was worth it.
i would spend the day in the parks, go back to the hrh and change into my chain saw wolf tshirt and then go back to the park. not leaving until they closed the park down then.

i buy the express pass for each night i am at hhn. i think of it as insurance. if i need it, i have it. lines get too long later n the evenings. last year body collectors and skool had a 90 minute wait on one night i was there.

i go to the stay and scream area at 5 and wait until the all clear to leave.

by being in the park early, i can cover 2 houses right away and hit two more before i have to use my express pass. you can only use that pass one time per attraction / ride/house...then its stand in line baby.

once in a house is not enough for me.

i have only attended on fri/sat/ sun and do say the sundays have less of a crowd.
on peak nights hhn is open to 2 am
non peak nights they close at midnight.

in mid october, weekdays are added for hhn.

tickets and express pass cost more on peak nights. they can be ordered on line thru the universal on line store in the summer. you can get the discount if you order a multi day pass and hhn at the same time. this is what i always do.

i think the others have already posted much of the stuff you asked for.
sorry, but i get carried away when hhn is over for me.

i started planning this years trip on the plane ride back home last october.

 

[disneyfreakk]

I dont think your boys will be too young for HHN seeing how they are into the whole horror thing. By the way, If you have a prefered annual pass you can get discounts on the HHN tickets ( not the express passes tho, sry ) for up to 6 people. you can check out last years prices here : HHN APH discount prices

Here is a link to answer all of your questions!!

 

[henrydog]

We also love HHN, went in 2003 and are going again this year. Our daughter was 12 at the time & she was a bit scared, she refused to go into some of the houses. but this year we are taking her friend as well, so she says she will be ok with it now.
we went off peak & didn't buy fotl, managed to go in all of the houses without too much of a wait & went in some twice, so hoping to do the same this year.

changing subject slightly, has anyone been to the horror nights at Busch gardens ? is it as good as HHN & worth the drive from Orlando ? thinking of doing that as well when we are there.

 

[F-L-A]

Howl-O-Scream is basically a smaller, lower budget spin-off of HHN. They're the same type of event. You can try it if you have the time and money. If I were a tourist already doing HHN, I personally wouldn't bother making the drive. I haven't had any urge to go back after my first experience.

 

[Slacking]

changing subject slightly, has anyone been to the horror nights at Busch gardens ? is it as good as HHN & worth the drive from Orlando ? thinking of doing that as well when we are there.

I attended Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens as a guest in 2003 and 2004. I will add as a disclaimer that I worked in one of the houses in 2005, but I did get through each of the houses this past year too.

A lot of people look at HOS as a lesser product than HHN. Maybe its because its a younger event, not quite as crowded (or popular as some would say), because it does have a lower budget (not that this should be a reason to judge against it), or because they do repeat some of the houses from the previous year (and while they do have repeats, the houses aren't quite the same, they do tweak and improve upon the houses to make them better experiences.)

I have to say that in 2004 (the only year I did both HHN and HOS as a guest), I probably enjoyed HOS a bit more than HHN.

One major factor in this decision is the crowds. Unless you go to HOS on a Saturday, you will have no problems with crowds and lines. Every night I have attended HOS I have had no problem walking straight into houses or having a minimum of a 5 minute wait. Part of this is probably because HOS doesn't attract the same number of crowds HHN does, but also because BGT is a large and spread out park. In fact, the coasters will usually have the longest waits.

The houses, while they may not be a pretty as HHN's houses are always fully staffed and are pretty scary themselves. With a few exceptions (3d house, mortuary, fear fair) I usually prefer HOS' houses over HHN's.

With HHN having a down year, HOS, imo had the 2 best houses this year with The Hunted and After Hours (neither of which I worked in).

So yeah, if you have an extra night I do recommend the drive over to Tampa. Uusually through Wendy's or Pepsi you can get discounts too.

F-L-A, what year did you visit? If The Hunted and After Hours return this year (and I don't see why they wouldn't, hopefully Freaked and Mortuary will be retired) I highly recommend you give HOS one more shot.

 

[F-L-A]

2003.

 

[chainsawwolf]

changing subject slightly, has anyone been to the horror nights at Busch gardens ? is it as good as HHN & worth the drive from Orlando ? thinking of doing that as well when we are there.

(Wolf delurks outr of the shadows...)

Asking if HOS is "as good as" HHN is kind of like asking if Busch Gardens is "as good as" Universal. They are two separate events, and each should be taken on their own merits.

I have been an HHN scaractor since '94, and have made a point of getting over to HOS for at least one night of their run for the past three years. I highly recommend it.

Wolf
(Returns to the shadows)

 

[Slacking]

2003.

Out of the 3 years I have gone through the houses, 2003 has been my least favorite year.

 

[yellowfish78]

I'm new to HHN's. Please be patient. We are planning a weeklong trip from Sept 30th and flying home October 8th. I understand that on the days of HHN's the parks "close" early, and I undertand the Express Pass issues too.
What days does UO normally do HHN's? About when should I plan for dates to officially be out? Should I plan on doing HHN on the first night we are there, then come back for US and IoA another day? Or someone mentioned a Sunday night for HHN's...
Basically what I'm asking I guess have any ideas on how to get in at least one full day of US and IoA AND HHN?
Thanks everyone!