HHN accessible to wheelchair user or not?

[loadsapixiedust]

Can anyone tell me how accessible Universal Halloween Horror Nights are for a wheelchair user?
Are the scare zones and houses wheelchair accessible?
If not is there a discount offered for disabled guests?
Can we use a GAP pass at HHN?
On a weeknight how long might we expect to wait in line for the houses?
Anything else a wheelchair user needs to know?

 

[OKWMom]

I don’t know the answer to any of your questions as I haven’t ever been to HHN and it was the early 90’s since my last trip to Universal (just studios then). However, I noticed you had not received a response.

I am going to Universal at the end of this month. We check in at HRH on 9/28 and check out on 10/1. We have tickets for HHN on both Friday and Saturday nights and are traveling with friends who are HHN veterans. If no one on this board is able to help you with the information you are requesting, I would be glad to make inquiries while there and report back to you on my return.

However, there are several experts on the Universal board and I think if you posted a thread on that forum, someone there would be able to answer your questions. If not, I’ll get back to you after 10/1 if that won’t be too late for your trip.

Also, as a quick edit, I meant to say you might want to email Universal directly and ask them. Surely they have someone who can answer your questions.

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

From what I have read I would say no. With all the effects, people running around and screaming I would take DH in his chair.

 

[loadsapixiedust]

OKWMom, thankyou for your kind response, have a great time at HHN and please report back, we leave the UK on October 5th, I would love to hear some feedback before we set off.

I have received a reponse to my questions from Universal Guest Services, it sounds positive, hope this maybe helps others too.

Thank you for contacting Universal Orlando regarding our 16th annual Halloween Horror Nights. Universal Orlando has been carefully designed, and our staff specifically trained, to help our guests who may need assistance. All attractions and houses will be wheelchair-accessible.

Universal Orlando offers a fifteen percent discount to persons with disabilities which can be utilized at the Pass Sales windows.

Again, thank you for contacting us. We sincerely hope you will visit us soon.

This is the first time I have heard of a discount for disabled guests.

 

[Absimilliard]

Some parts of the houses will not be accessible unfortunately! I remember 2-3 years ago, there was an awesome house called "Castle Vampyr"... problem was... most of the house was on a non accessible second floor!

 

[ktglads]

I know the one house last year had stairs as well - the one with the Storyteller. I don't remember if there was some sort of alternate exist for handicapped or people who could not do stairs. I'm sure there was some sort of plan in place, but I just never saw it executed

 

[blushandbruise]

We attended HHN last year. My OH is in a wheelchair and only one of the houses wasn't completely accessible. When it came to the part for other guests to go upstairs, a scareactor pointed us in the direction of an accessible alternative route - there were also scareactors here, so we didn't feel we missed out on any scares, even though it'd have been nice to see all the house like others did!

My OH uses a powerchair and can get around the houses easily, though some of them are very dark and can be a tad disorientating. He at times had to hold back and find his bearings for a second, this goes for outside too in the scarezones when the fog gets a little too much.

All in all though, we had a brilliant time and will be returning this year!

 

[phamton]

Can anyone tell me how accessible Universal Halloween Horror Nights are for a wheelchair user?
Are the scare zones and houses wheelchair accessible?

Yes, but not always ECV accessible. Some areas do have an alternate route though.

If not is there a discount offered for disabled guests?

15% for the disabled guest only.

Can we use a GAP pass at HHN?

Yes, but only for two people. GAP is normally for up to 6 people but during HHN it is limited to 2 people.

On a weeknight how long might we expect to wait in line for the houses?

Lines are long for HHN. If at all possible I would buy express passes. If that is out of the question, then do Stay and Scream so you can hit the houses early before the HHN crowd is admitted into the park.

Anything else a wheelchair user needs to know?

Yes, it is dark and fog is everywhere. It is often hard to see or be seen in the scarezones especially. A flashlight would keep you safe from someone tripping over your wheelchair in the dark. You can't use the flashlight in the houses but travelling around the walkway with some kind of a light would help. There are scareactors around and often people run from them when they jump out. I would hate for someone to run into your wheelchair accidentally.

 

[OKWMom]

Ok, we've just returned today and I don't have all of the information for you that I would like to have. DH and I went through only three of the houses and all of the scarezones. As we walked through, we tried to pay close attention to any problems you may have.

As was mentioned before, sometimes the fog from the machines is quite thick and you may have a difficult time getting your bearings. I would second the suggestion of some kind of light on the chair to lessen the likelihood of someone falling into you. There were quite a few people there who had a great deal to drink and the number of intoxicated patrons increased as the night wore on. I think that, coupled with decreased visibility, may cause an accident if the chair were not easily visible on the street.

I know the light wouldn't be allowed in the houses, but I also don't think it would be necessary. If the crowd size the first two nights are any indication, you will have someone directly in front of you and someone directly in back of you, sort of like a large conga line going through each house.

The first house we went into was called "Run" and it seemed to be the least accessible. There was a section with open doors to the right and left of you on the hallway which you had to turn to get through. I honestly don't know how a chair would make it down that hallway. They may close the doors slightly, or divert you, but otherwise, I don't see it happening. The other two houses had tight corners, but seemed to otherwise be fine.

I asked an employee in a motorized chair if she had been to the staff preview, but she had not. However, she indicated she had also been told all of the houses were accessible.

We did not go through all of the houses because at times, the lines were over an hour long and we are just not that patient. If seeing all of the houses is a priority, I strongly suggest that you get an express pass.

I know this was not very helpful, but I hope you have a great time.

 

[Laurabearz]

This year all the houses are wheelchair accessable... Some have tight turns though and some have uneven floors... but doable

 

[loadsapixiedust]

Well here's an update on what we found at HHN.

All the houses we did were accessible for wheelchairs. There were some very dark spots, a few bits of uneven surface and some very tight turns but all were possible to get through. The scare actors were brilliant often coming right down to DS's level in the wheelchair to give him a real scare which he loved. He enjoyed the night the most I think and laughed all the way through.

The only thing we did find really annoying is that the small number of wheelchair spaces in the theater meant we ended up in line for the Bill and Ted show 3 times before we eventually got in. This wasted a lot of time and we weren't able to get round all the houses then.

We also had problems riding MIB again, they really do need to get their act together at this ride, CMs are obviously not receiving correct training and just spout lies about wheelchairs not being able to ride which DS found very upsetting as this is his favourite ride in any park. A lot of time was also wasted here arguing with CMs and waiting for a supervisor to be called before he could ride. From lining up to riding took over an hour

On the whole it was a good night and we would do it again just because DS enjoyed it so much, it was the highlight of his whole trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the update.
Sorry to hear you encountered trouble though.