HHN and day park visit/ how to blend both day and night

[nurseberta]

We are heading to the parks in September 15-19 Thursday -Monday. will have 4 park-park 3 park tix and rush of fear to do any and all attractions. split stay CBBR/HRH so EE all days and Express park days. No HHN express

Thurs is arrival, hang by pool/rest.... then head to dinner either CW or in US enter park 3-ish, get to stay and scream area before 5pm stay until fatigued

Fri cabana rental at volcano bay

sat/sun/ unplanned Mon departure late afternoon

not sure if I should early entry, pop back and forth. I am so confused about how to approach the weekend

 

[Monykalyn]

Where are you staying? if no express pass then going early to see park attractions, back to hotel for rest then head out for early dinner/stay and scream-->rinse and repeat. I've found it exhausting to do parks for more than a few hours without a good long afternoon break before HHN.
If you have express for parks then don't need to get up for EE-still allow some rest/time off feet before HHN
If have express for HHN then don't necessarily need to get in for stay and scream allowing for longer afternoon break.

If no express for either-frankly I'd take Saturday for EE day and hit favorites in both parks, short break with stay and scream to hit houses you didn't get on Thurs or friday and bail out early from HHN as Saturdays tend to be way busier. Rest those tootsies to hit highlights on Sunday HHN, then quick favorites in parks Monday am before departure.

 

[ClapYourHands]

@Monykalyn is right on the money about resting and changing strategies based on whether you have EP or not. I think the biggest take away is not to try to do too much or you’ll burn out.

If I’m reading this correctly, it looks like you have tickets for 4 park days, but will actually be there for 5, including arrival and departure. If that is the case, I would not use a regular park entrance on Thursday. I’d recommend either coming at regular entrance time and not worrying about getting a lot of houses done (Thursday is typically pretty light so you can do them if you want, but also ride the rides and explore scare zones) OR paying the extra $35 for a stay and scream ticket. This will allow you to go to the parks on Monday with your 4th day.

I did a similar trip last year - arrived Thursday, left Monday. We did 4 nights of HHN with RoF. We did not have any kind of EP (not daytime, not HHN), and it was amazing. We would get up and do early entry, then go back and rest at the hotel. We’d come back for stay-and-scream, and leave HHN early (by around 10 most nights), which meant we were tested enough for early entry. We did all the houses, and our favorites multiple times. We didn’t exhaust ourselves because we didn’t ever have to cram everything into one night. Most of the rides are running in Studios at HHN, and the wait times were sometimes minimal, so we rode without daytime crowd levels. If you want to explore Diagon Alley, the best time is HHN because it can be nearly deserted at points. There was a special Dark Arts light show at Hogwarts and Death Eaters roaming Hogsmeade, so one evening we ducked out of HHN for a bit to go experience that. Just take it easy, knowing you have more than enough time for everything.

 

[Monykalyn]

@Monykalyn is right on the money about resting and changing strategies based on whether you have EP or not. I think the biggest take away is not to try to do too much or you’ll burn out.

If I’m reading this correctly, it looks like you have tickets for 4 park days, but will actually be there for 5, including arrival and departure. If that is the case, I would not use a regular park entrance on Thursday. I’d recommend either coming at regular entrance time and not worrying about getting a lot of houses done (Thursday is typically pretty light so you can do them if you want, but also ride the rides and explore scare zones) OR paying the extra $35 for a stay and scream ticket. This will allow you to go to the parks on Monday with your 4th day.

I did a similar trip last year - arrived Thursday, left Monday. We did 4 nights of HHN with RoF. We did not have any kind of EP (not daytime, not HHN), and it was amazing. We would get up and do early entry, then go back and rest at the hotel. We’d come back for stay-and-scream, and leave HHN early (by around 10 most nights), which meant we were tested enough for early entry. We did all the houses, and our favorites multiple times. We didn’t exhaust ourselves because we didn’t ever have to cram everything into one night. Most of the rides are running in Studios at HHN, and the wait times were sometimes minimal, so we rode without daytime crowd levels. If you want to explore Diagon Alley, the best time is HHN because it can be nearly deserted at points. There was a special Dark Arts light show at Hogwarts and Death Eaters roaming Hogsmeade, so one evening we ducked out of HHN for a bit to go experience that. Just take it easy, knowing you have more than enough time for everything.

This was our first HHN trip almost exactly back in 2018. Since then I've gotten EP for HHN to try to save the feet lol. Multiple nights make it easier to not push to exhaustion and I think HHN newbies seriously underestimate the walking in HHN - I know I sure as heck did!

 

[nurseberta]

@Monykalyn is right on the money about resting and changing strategies based on whether you have EP or not. I think the biggest take away is not to try to do too much or you’ll burn out.

If I’m reading this correctly, it looks like you have tickets for 4 park days, but will actually be there for 5, including arrival and departure. If that is the case, I would not use a regular park entrance on Thursday. I’d recommend either coming at regular entrance time and not worrying about getting a lot of houses done (Thursday is typically pretty light so you can do them if you want, but also ride the rides and explore scare zones) OR paying the extra $35 for a stay and scream ticket. This will allow you to go to the parks on Monday with your 4th day.

split stay CBBR/HRH so EE all days and Express park days. No HHN express

for tix, 4 days is $398 w tax and 3 day 363 so its $32 more, which is actually cheaper than stay and scream if we wanted to use it for stay and scream we could or save the 4th ticket day for Monday morning, if Thursday is less crowded maybe that's what I will do.

I did a similar trip last year - arrived Thursday, left Monday. We did 4 nights of HHN with RoF. We did not have any kind of EP (not daytime, not HHN), and it was amazing. We would get up and do early entry, then go back and rest at the hotel. We’d come back for stay-and-scream, and leave HHN early (by around 10 most nights), which meant we were tested enough for early entry. We did all the houses, and our favorites multiple times.

Do you think Thursday would be decent without stay and scream? with Hard rock we opted to try club level for two days/nights. Is this a waste of time seeing as dinner time 5-8 would be the best time at HHN? I am thinking I should just keep the cabana bay 4 night stay and do some later evening dinners

We didn’t exhaust ourselves because we didn’t ever have to cram everything into one night. Most of the rides are running in Studios at HHN, and the wait times were sometimes minimal, so we rode without daytime crowd levels. If you want to explore Diagon Alley, the best time is HHN because it can be nearly deserted at points. There was a special Dark Arts light show at Hogwarts and Death Eaters roaming Hogsmeade, so one evening we ducked out of HHN for a bit to go experience that. Just take it easy, knowing you have more than enough time for everything

This is exactly what I am hoping for!!
thanks so much, I am getting nervous because the hotels are all sold out our week

 

[nurseberta]

Where are you staying?

split stay CBBR/ HRH club so EE all days and Express park/club level 2 days. No HHN express. Hard rock we opted to try club level for two days/nights. Is this a waste of time seeing as dinner time 5-8 would be the best time at HHN?

if no express pass then going early to see park attractions, back to hotel for rest then head out for early dinner/stay and scream-->rinse and repeat. I've found it exhausting to do parks for more than a few hours without a good long afternoon break before HHN.
If you have express for parks then don't need to get up for EE-still allow some rest/time off feet before HHN

Would stay and scream still be a necessity for Thursday ? there is no HHN Wednesday that week so I was nervous about crowds.

If no express for either-frankly I'd take Saturday for EE day and hit favorites in both parks, short break with stay and scream to hit houses you didn't get on Thurs or friday and bail out early from HHN as Saturdays tend to be way busier. Rest those tootsies to hit highlights on Sunday HHN, then quick favorites in parks Monday am before departure.

We are doing Volcano bay Friday as I have rented a cabana, maybe Saturday would be a better day for VB instead? midday breaks will be a must!!!

 

[ClapYourHands]

split stay CBBR/HRH so EE all days and Express park days. No HHN express

for tix, 4 days is $398 w tax and 3 day 363 so its $32 more, which is actually cheaper than stay and scream if we wanted to use it for stay and scream we could or save the 4th ticket day for Monday morning, if Thursday is less crowded maybe that's what I will do.



Do you think Thursday would be decent without stay and scream? with Hard rock we opted to try club level for two days/nights. Is this a waste of time seeing as dinner time 5-8 would be the best time at HHN? I am thinking I should just keep the cabana bay 4 night stay and do some later evening dinners


This is exactly what I am hoping for!!
thanks so much, I am getting nervous because the hotels are all sold out our week

I think Thursday will be decent without stay and scream, and you’ll be glad of a chance to hit the parks on Monday, if only briefly. Look at it this way: there are 10 houses, and you have 4 nights. That means even if you only do 2-3 houses per night, you’ll get through them all. You can easily do that with the general entry time. IME, the stay and scream got us through one house and into a line for a second house before the gates opened. If you only had one night, that extra house or two would be important, but with 4 nights, you don’t need that early every night. In your position, I’d just do the regular entry on Thursday and save your park entrances for Friday-Monday.

split stay CBBR/ HRH club so EE all days and Express park/club level 2 days. No HHN express. Hard rock we opted to try club level for two days/nights. Is this a waste of time seeing as dinner time 5-8 would be the best time at HHN?

Would stay and scream still be a necessity for Thursday ? there is no HHN Wednesday that week so I was nervous about crowds.

We are doing Volcano bay Friday as I have rented a cabana, maybe Saturday would be a better day for VB instead? midday breaks will be a must!!!

I think CL is a waste of money in your case because you’d want to be at HHN during dinner time. Also, you are doing Volcano Bay for a day, and VB does NOT take the express pass included in premier hotel access. As far as I can see, EP would be of no value to you on Thursday (HHN only) or Friday (VB day), and limited value on Monday (partial park day you weren’t even sure about using), which leaves only Sat and Sun where EP would really make a difference.

 

[nurseberta]

I think Thursday will be decent without stay and scream, and you’ll be glad of a chance to hit the parks on Monday, if only briefly. Look at it this way: there are 10 houses, and you have 4 nights. That means even if you only do 2-3 houses per night, you’ll get through them all. You can easily do that with the general entry time. IME, the stay and scream got us through one house and into a line for a second house before the gates opened. If you only had one night, that extra house or two would be important, but with 4 nights, you don’t need that early every night. In your position, I’d just do the regular entry on Thursday and save your park entrances for Friday-Monday.

this is a great plan! thanks so much for helping me map it out!!

I think CL is a waste of money in your case because you’d want to be at HHN during dinner time. Also, you are doing Volcano Bay for a day, and VB does NOT take the express pass included in premier hotel access. As far as I can see, EP would be of no value to you on Thursday (HHN only) or Friday (VB day), and limited value on Monday (partial park day you weren’t even sure about using), which leaves only Sat and Sun where EP would really make a difference.

Thanks for the advice! do you scheduled meals before and after HHN? of snack/eat through the event

 

[ClapYourHands]

this is a great plan! thanks so much for helping me map it out!!

Thanks for the advice! do you scheduled meals before and after HHN? of snack/eat through the event

We eat first. I have learned the hard way that hangry kids = no fun. Last year, I went to the Subway that’s a quick walk from Surfside, and got subs. We had a picnic in Central Park while waiting during stay and scream. I plan to do something similar this year while waiting.

There are a ton of different foods at HHN, and there are people for whom the food is a highlight. Buuuttt - it’s not particularly healthy (lots of fat and sugar), it gets pricey (snack/appetizer sizes add up quickly if you’re buying a bunch of them), and the lines can be long (I’ll be standing in lines for the houses so I’d rather not stand in a bunch of different food lines). So if we eat first, we can choose a snack or two as a supplement because it’s something yummy to nosh on, but we’re not forced to stop and shovel food into hangry teens.

 

[Monykalyn]

Would stay and scream still be a necessity for Thursday ? there is no HHN Wednesday that week so I was nervous about crowds.

Really unknown this year. Apparently it’s Microsoft buy out day so that’s why there’s no HHN Wednesday. That Thursday could be busier if the MS peeps stay and do an HHN?

your position, I’d just do the regular entry on Thursday and save your park entrances for Friday-Monday.

do you scheduled meals before and after HHN? of snack/eat through the event

So if we eat first, we can choose a snack or two as a supplement because it’s something yummy to nosh

@ClapYourHands is giving excellent advise-and it’s what we do too. We tend to have early heavier dinner then power through several houses, the show then take our time through scare zones. Hit up snack/food spots when getting feeling need for a snack-but because we aren’t starving it’s not hard to chill in line for a bit.
We’ve also gotten on waitlist for Finnegans around 3- by time we get dinner, get into scream early pen we don’t have long to wait to be released. Will do that once usually but we prefer Citywalk restaurants though

 

[Monykalyn]

Also agree I’d rethink club level-don’t think you’ll want to take full advantage when HHN is going on. Depending on when you need to leave you could just do HR Sunday-you’d have EE all day Sunday and Monday before you leave to really get regular rides in.
Is VB a must do? The resorts are amazing and a water park is tiring-maybe save that for another trip?
I thought about Volcano Bay for my upcoming trip-I’m staying for 12 days-and decided against it - the resort pool is fun enough for me. I’m staying Sapphire falls and if I want a different pool I’ll just hop to cabana bay for the day. It’s really hard to not try to overplan when there’s so much lol!