Hhn 2012

[agame2323]

So is the Express Pass the same as have FOTL but only for HHN? And is there any advantage to staying onsite?

 

[DCTooTall]

Not to take this thread in a different direction but could someone please explain to me what Stay and Scream is and how it works?

Stay and Scream, around here, can refer to 2 different things (Though related).

1. A "Stay and Scream" ticket is a single night ticket for the HHN event that Universal offers at a discount for those who already have a day ticket for the park. These can either be purchased in advance when you order your Universal tickets from Universal, or at Guest Services once at the park.

2. The "Stay and Scream" area at the park is ultimately a holding pen inside the park where those with HHN tickets who are already inside the park can wait while they clear the park. To utilize this are you just need a valid HHN ticket for the night, which can be a full priced ticket, a "Stay and scream" ticket, AP or other discounted ticket, or even a multi-day pass like Rush of Fear or Frequent Fear. The HUGE advantage to utilizing the Stay and Scream at the park is that not only can you avoid the crazy lines, security, and mass of people waiting at the front gates to enter when HHN officially opens around 6:30.... And not only can you get a head start on your tasty adult beverage consumption at Finnegan's before the event starts.... Not to mention that you are closer to the first several houses than the front gates... But they will often release you from the S&S holding area once security has given the all clear that the park has been completely cleared of day guests, which will often give you a 30min head start or so from the crowds waiting outside the park to enter. (Which because of traffic flow will basically help keep you ahead of the crowds)



Does that answer the question for you?

 

[DCTooTall]

So is the Express Pass the same as have FOTL but only for HHN? And is there any advantage to staying onsite?

Lol... looks like you edited the post after I started my reply.


The Express pass for HHN is more like the purchased Express at the parks during the day. It is good for 1 use only at each of the houses and opened attractions.

For HHN, the advantages of staying onsite are a bit more limited. 1. You don't have to worry about getting back to your room/hotel offsite after a night of drinking during HHN. 2. I believe Resort Package delivery is still valid if you decide to purchase any HHN souvenirs, and 3. If you do not have a day-ticket to access the Studios park so that you can take advantage of the Stay and Scream holding area, They do have a "priority entrance" to the park at the front entrance for onsite guests which can get you thru the front gates quicker.

 

[agame2323]

Lol... looks like you edited the post after I started my reply.


The Express pass for HHN is more like the purchased Express at the parks during the day. It is good for 1 use only at each of the houses and opened attractions.

For HHN, the advantages of staying onsite are a bit more limited. 1. You don't have to worry about getting back to your room/hotel offsite after a night of drinking during HHN. 2. I believe Resort Package delivery is still valid if you decide to purchase any HHN souvenirs, and 3. If you do not have a day-ticket to access the Studios park so that you can take advantage of the Stay and Scream holding area, They do have a "priority entrance" to the park at the front entrance for onsite guests which can get you thru the front gates quicker.

Hey thanks for the insight! And yea... I did edit my last post because I found the answer. lol.

So if I stay on do I need to purchase Stay and Scream tickets since there is a priority entrance to the park?

 

[DCTooTall]

Hey thanks for the insight! And yea... I did edit my last post because I found the answer. lol.

So if I stay on do I need to purchase Stay and Scream tickets since there is a priority entrance to the park?

The Stay and Scream holding area is still better than the priority entrance. They may release the stay and scream people before they open the priority entrance, and you are also MUCH closer to the first several houses in the Stay and scream area than the front gates are. (The holding area is over by Finnegan's, the Blues Brother's show area, and where the Delorean/ Train used to be... The first houses to open are over in the Soundstages behind the Concert Amphitheater)

 

[agame2323]

The Stay and Scream holding area is still better than the priority entrance. They may release the stay and scream people before they open the priority entrance, and you are also MUCH closer to the first several houses in the Stay and scream area than the front gates are. (The holding area is over by Finnegan's, the Blues Brother's show area, and where the Delorean/ Train used to be... The first houses to open are over in the Soundstages behind the Concert Amphitheater)

Got it! Okay so last question... typically how many days is needed to see and do the HHNs? And do you advise staying on site?

 

[DCTooTall]

Got it! Okay so last question... typically how many days is needed to see and do the HHNs? And do you advise staying on site?

For this, I'd defer to the judgement of some of the more experienced HHN people here. Last year was my first year attending HHN, and so most of my expanded knowledge on the subject comes from my research here before my trip with a bit of real life experience on the 1st Thursday of the event last year (so not as crowded as weekends or as it would get later in the season).


That being said.... It can really depend upon when you are going, and how you plan to tour. Generally, you should be able to see all the houses on a single night w/ Express, or over 2 nights without. Depending on the time and night you go however, you may still not have time to fully experience all the scare zones within the park or catch those cool little details within the houses that you may miss the 1st time thru. One thing i know I missed last year I kind of wish I had the time to see more of was the "7" scarezone. The scarezone actually evolved (de-volved?) thruout the night as the stages went from pretty much beauty queens at the start of the night, to full-on deformed monstrosities based off the sin which they were representing. i'd have loved to been able to see more of that transition than I did.

Early in the evening there is also the daylight factor. Since the even starts when the sun is still up and setting, Your eyes can take a few moments to adjust to the dark of the houses when you first enter them. That can make it extremely easy to miss some of those early little details within the houses. That makes for yet another reason to sometimes do some of the houses a 2nd time so that you can go again after it's dark out.

 

[Metro West]

The Stay and Scream holding area is still better than the priority entrance. They may release the stay and scream people before they open the priority entrance, and you are also MUCH closer to the first several houses in the Stay and scream area than the front gates are. (The holding area is over by Finnegan's, the Blues Brother's show area, and where the Delorean/ Train used to be... The first houses to open are over in the Soundstages behind the Concert Amphitheater)

This is the only advantage to S & S over priority entrance for hotel guests. Is it worth it to do S & S? Absolutely...you will be able to do three or four houses before the real crowds show up. The priority entrance was only started in the past couple of years and I wouldn't be surprised if few people really knew about it. I haven't seen it advertised anywhere although I'm sure it's on the HHN hotel packages information.

 

[Rip]

This is the only advantage to S & S over priority entrance for hotel guests. Is it worth it to do S & S? Absolutely...you will be able to do three or four houses before the real crowds show up. The priority entrance was only started in the past couple of years and I wouldn't be surprised if few people really knew about it. I haven't seen it advertised anywhere although I'm sure it's on the HHN hotel packages information.

I'm betting you're right, because we stay onsite every year and I only heard about the priority entrance on here a few days ago.

 

[badandy]

I think I'm going the weekend of the 29th and 30th. Its my birthday!

 

[macraven]

the priority entrance of onsite guests was allowed from 6 to 8 pm.

if the park is not opened yet, those using the priority entrance must go to the holding/s & s section and wait there.


if the guests uses this entrance after the park is opened to those in the holding area, then they are allowed to proceed to the houses in the park.


that is how it has been in the past couple of years.
who knows if it will be available again this hhn season.

 

[Marquibiri]

Stay and Scream is the best.. I think the earliest we've been released was at 545 pm back in HHN 19, or was it XX..

It wasn't until last year that I saw for the first time the crowd coming in from the onsite guests! I was with Metro West, and was in awe!

I've gone by myself for HHN 19 and 21, and will do too this year for 22.
I went with friends for HHN 18 and with DW for 20.

I love going by myself, I can do everything at my quick pace.. I've been able to do houses up to three times a night!

Without Stay and Scream, I would not be able to do so..

Cheers!

Marquibiri

 

[LMO429]

I was going to make a dinner reservation for finnegans during the holding time for stay and scream. what time would you make it for?

 

[Marquibiri]

I was going to make a dinner reservation for finnegans during the holding time for stay and scream. what time would you make it for?

I always go at around 3:30 pm, to enjoy the appetizer, main dish, dessert, and lots of drinks, plus the live music!

By 5:40 pm I'm outside in the holding area waiting for the event to start...

I don't want to spend actual event time dining....

Cheers!

Marquibiri

 

[tricky1]

I was going to make a dinner reservation for finnegans during the holding time for stay and scream. what time would you make it for?

I really don't think you would need a ressie, You will be there before 5:00(park closing) , and you get let out at/around 6:00ish. The bar side of Finnagans gets really crowded, standing room only. but the dinning area is less crowded ,bigger area, lots of tables. So to answer your question I would like to be done with dinner, paying the bill and standing out by the gate(where they release you) at 6:00, so dinner no later than 4:45.

 

[macraven]

sometimes i stop in at finnegans around 2:30 and ask to be on the wait list for a certain time.
usually ask for 4:30-45 that day.


then when i do get back there around 4:30, i check in with the hostess.


when i do a meet up with a group, i make a ressie in advance.
otherwise, i go solo.

 

[Lorrained]

your entire family, especially the kids are going to be 'wowed' by the hhn experience.


tell your daughter hhn is awesome!


she'll be so thankful you are taking her to it, she'll probably clean your house every weekend out of gratitude.

well, maybe she will at least clean her room without you asking instead of house cleaning for a year....

Haha ya think????

Thanks for info. I keep watching past HHNs to prepare myself.

One question, we stay at Lake Buena Vista and will be heading up there on the iride, so am reading re Stay and Scream but obviously this isn't going to apply to us.

What time should we be getting there? What time does it open?

 

[idgy]

So, for all you HHN veterans:

If you have an early lunch around 4 or 430, then go to HHN till late,aren't you hungry again before bed? Are there any restaurants (in the park, at hotels or city walk) still open around midnight or is it all just counter service? We will be staying on site. Thanks.

 

[tricky1]

The restaurants at city walk would be open, All the on site hotels have
24hr room service.

 

[Lycaon]

If you have an early lunch around 4 or 430, then go to HHN till late,aren't you hungry again before bed? Are there any restaurants (in the park, at hotels or city walk) still open around midnight or is it all just counter service? We will be staying on site. Thanks.

I actually eat lunch around 11 to noon-ish and don't eat again until I've got all the HHN houses done. Adrenaline keeps me going

Eating after the event... I believe most of the CityWalk restaurants are open until 2 AM when HHN is going on. If you can't wait that long, nearly all the counter services are open during the event, and you can't throw a rock very far without hitting a food stand. You'll have no problem finding dinner.