HHN express?

[seadd67]

So I was wondering if it rains Is It still neccery to get the express tickets? and if any one knows how about the same for during the day,just the normal express?. We plan going Thursday the 15th of Oct.

 

[Purseval]

The houses are all indoors, weather doesn't matter to the scareactors. During the day you can buy express passes at any time so I would wait to see if you actually need them first.

 

[Metro West]

So I was wondering if it rains Is It still neccery to get the express tickets? and if any one knows how about the same for during the day,just the normal express?. We plan going Thursday the 15th of Oct.

You won't need the EP during the day...the crowds are light especially during the week. Express passes will greatly reduce your wait time and so far I've only to HHN once in the rain...in 2005 when Hurricane Wilma came across the state...of course I'm knocking on wood.

 

[seadd67]

You won't need the EP during the day...the crowds are light especially during the week. Express passes will greatly reduce your wait time and so far I've only to HHN once in the rain...in 2005 when Hurricane Wilma came across the state...of course I'm knocking on wood.

So I f I do not buy them would I get all the houses In? and the shows?

 

[Metro West]

So I f I do not buy them would I get all the houses In? and the shows?

It's a roll of the dice...it depends on how many people are there. Personally...I don't think you would be able to do all houses and shows w/o the EP...unless it's completely dead that night and there's practically no chance of that happening.

 

[Pyro2008]

The houses are all indoors, weather doesn't matter to the scareactors. During the day you can buy express passes at any time so I would wait to see if you actually need them first.

Weather might not matter to the scareactors but it seems to matter to Universal. It pissed me off royally last year because we had just purchased our express passes and it started raining. Four, yes four, houses were closed and it was only sprinkling. The reason we were told? Because there was a puddle on the walk path to the house. I hopped a rail and saw 500 ways around it.

We ended up talking to customer service but they wouldn't do anything. We hadn't used the express passes yet and basically every house we hadn't hit (we bought the ep after going to some houses and experiencing really long lines) was closed plus it was our last day.

So I wouldn't assume that just because the houses are indoors that Universal wont be insane.

 

[seadd67]

Weather might not matter to the scareactors but it seems to matter to Universal. It pissed me off royally last year because we had just purchased our express passes and it started raining. Four, yes four, houses were closed and it was only sprinkling. The reason we were told? Because there was a puddle on the walk path to the house. I hopped a rail and saw 500 ways around it.

We ended up talking to customer service but they wouldn't do anything. We hadn't used the express passes yet and basically every house we hadn't hit (we bought the ep after going to some houses and experiencing really long lines) was closed plus it was our last day.

So I wouldn't assume that just because the houses are indoors that Universal wont be insane.

Yikes! has this happen to any one else,man I am planing this for our last day,we are flying out the next day this would be a major bummer and not seeing all the houses then they do not give your Money back well I think we are stil;l getting the ep like I said we have one night and I want to make sure we get It all In.

 

[Purseval]

So I f I do not buy them would I get all the houses In? and the shows?

Odds are you won't want to do all of the shows even if you could. Year in and year out the only must-see show has been Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure (and a lot of people even skip that), the others vary in quality. Last year, for instance, they had a magic show that was pretty lame and a Rocky Horror tribute show that was great if you liked Rocky Horror but easily skippable if you didn't. The Scare Zones are all just walkthroughs, no problem with any of them. Worse comes to worse you prioritize your houses and hit the good ones straight out of S&S.

 

[seadd67]

Odds are you won't want to do all of the shows even if you could. Year in and year out the only must-see show has been Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure (and a lot of people even skip that), the others vary in quality. Last year, for instance, they had a magic show that was pretty lame and a Rocky Horror tribute show that was great if you liked Rocky Horror but easily skippable if you didn't. The Scare Zones are all just walkthroughs, no problem with any of them. Worse comes to worse you prioritize your houses and hit the good ones straight out of S&S.

For what we are paying I want to see as much as we can ya Bill and Ted we could miss and not skip a beat,the rocky horror show Is a must for my DS and we diffnetly want to catch all the houses.Scare zones will be pretty neat to see and from getting around we will be able to see them all. Thanks

 

[Pyro2008]

For what we are paying I want to see as much as we can ya Bill and Ted we could miss and not skip a beat,the rocky horror show Is a must for my DS and we diffnetly want to catch all the houses.Scare zones will be pretty neat to see and from getting around we will be able to see them all. Thanks

Yeah, scare zones aren't a problem as you have to walk through most anyways.

I am the opposite when it comes to the shows. I loved Bill and Teds last year but hated Rocky Horror (didn't know what to expect since we had never seen the movie).

Our main goal was to catch the houses as well. I should have mentioned that the rain pushed people out of the park early and the puddle pissed off TONS of other people so it seems like either everyone went to the other side of the park or a lot of people left altogether. They DID reopen the 4 houses after the rain went away and they brought some kind of shop vac out to clear the puddle.

I still dont know why they didnt just reroute traffic. I honestly forget which houses they were but it worked out to be 4 houses. Two houses had their entrances right next to each other and all 4 had their exits running right through the puddle.

We didn't even need to use our express pass on any of the 4 once they reopened. People were no where to be found so we saw it as a waste to have purchased them (we should have purchased in the first place to get full use of them).

Since we couldnt get a refund, we used the express pass to make a second round around the park. For the main house last year, the line was outside the line queue and wrapped around a concession stand. We walked right up and it was only a 5 min wait (took us like 2 min just to walk from the entrance of the express line to the entrance of the house.

This year we are buying an express pass off the bat for the first time we go (Sunday) and doing the RIP Tour for the second time (Saturday).

 

[inkkognito]

The EPs are a roll of the dice. We generally get them but we have been "ripped off" (in my view) more than once by paying a peak night price and pretty much not needing them. There is no way to predict that tho' and you do run the risk that they will sell out. We had that happen once too (sold out in advance online), but we were able to buy individual EPs once we got to the park. I don't know if they always do that on sellout days but I actually liked that better than EP.

If you do stay and scream, you can whiz through two or three houses without even using EP.

 

[seadd67]

Yeah, scare zones aren't a problem as you have to walk through most anyways.

I am the opposite when it comes to the shows. I loved Bill and Teds last year but hated Rocky Horror (didn't know what to expect since we had never seen the movie).

Our main goal was to catch the houses as well. I should have mentioned that the rain pushed people out of the park early and the puddle pissed off TONS of other people so it seems like either everyone went to the other side of the park or a lot of people left altogether. They DID reopen the 4 houses after the rain went away and they brought some kind of shop vac out to clear the puddle.

I still dont know why they didnt just reroute traffic. I honestly forget which houses they were but it worked out to be 4 houses. Two houses had their entrances right next to each other and all 4 had their exits running right through the puddle.

We didn't even need to use our express pass on any of the 4 once they reopened. People were no where to be found so we saw it as a waste to have purchased them (we should have purchased in the first place to get full use of them).

Since we couldnt get a refund, we used the express pass to make a second round around the park. For the main house last year, the line was outside the line queue and wrapped around a concession stand. We walked right up and it was only a 5 min wait (took us like 2 min just to walk from the entrance of the express line to the entrance of the house.

This year we are buying an express pass off the bat for the first time we go (Sunday) and doing the RIP Tour for the second time (Saturday).

thanks for the info,I think I am just going to eat the cost of the express pass and get them any way,hay we spent that much we minds well take It all the way!. We are getting the passes to for during the day to,I know It may be small crowds but still we can get on everything then! and maybe a few times

 

[Pyro2008]

thanks for the info,I think I am just going to eat the cost of the express pass and get them any way,hay we spent that much we minds well take It all the way!. We are getting the passes to for during the day to,I know It may be small crowds but still we can get on everything then! and maybe a few times

Also, I have to make a correction. It was three houses, not 4. I had to look on the map from last year to remember.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paxtonholley/2940995187/sizes/l/

Creatures, Interstellar Terror and Body Collectors were all closed. Was thinking it was 4 but it was 3.

 

[Purseval]

thanks for the info,I think I am just going to eat the cost of the express pass and get them any way,hay we spent that much we minds well take It all the way!. We are getting the passes to for during the day to,I know It may be small crowds but still we can get on everything then! and maybe a few times

I would definitely NOT buy your US/IOA express passes in advance. They sell them throughout the parks and they don't sell out so if you wanted them you could get them on 5 minute's notice. I believe they also go down in price as the day goes on but you would have to check on that.

Since you've made up your mind on HHN express passes remember the 2 rules:

1. DO NOT USE THEM FIRST THING IN THE DAY!!
2. See rule 1.

This would be my strategy, which you can adapt as more info comes in on the events from people who've been there.

1. Get to the S&S area when the park closes. Hang out, have a snack, nosh with some fellow DISers. Look over the schedule for the shows and decide what order you'd like to see them in. If you only have 1 day I would hit the Bill+Ted show first because your son may want to see it a second time, it's really a lot of fun for his age group. But that's up to you. BTW, if you do a search on YouTube for Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure you can see what the show is like, they have the full show posted.

2. Follow the TMs when they open the line, they will lead you to the first house.

3. Do as many houses as you can before the first show. Go back and look at the 2 rules if you're thinking of using you express passes.

4. See a show. By the time you get out it will be time to consider using your EPs. Wait times will be posted outside of each house to help you judge.

5. By now whatever crowds that will be there should be in the park. Wander through the scare zones, see your shows, enjoy the night. If you have some extra time I would consider riding Jaws if it's open, at night it's like a totally different ride.

When you get back to your hotel room be sure to kiss Mickey goodbye. Once your son gets a taste of US/IOA he'll be hooked

 

[inkkognito]

Rules #1 and 2 made me think of the "rocket scientists" I saw at HHN last year. They did Stay and Scream and broke their butts to be the first in the Express Line at one of the houses as soon as we were released. Thing is, there was absolutely no line and therefore no reason to waste the Express. They were so proud that they were the first, and ironically we got in before them beause they had to stop twice to have it scanned. Duh! They were the only ones in the Express line. The rest of us just waltzed right in with no delay. Save your passes for when the crowds come...that way, you can do a second go-'round of the houses you did early on. And if you don't want to do 'em again, give your EP to some poor soul in the line.

 

[bam]

I would definitely NOT buy your US/IOA express passes in advance. They sell them throughout the parks and they don't sell out so if you wanted them you could get them on 5 minute's notice. I believe they also go down in price as the day goes on but you would have to check on that.

Since you've made up your mind on HHN express passes remember the 2 rules:

1. DO NOT USE THEM FIRST THING IN THE DAY!!
2. See rule 1.

This would be my strategy, which you can adapt as more info comes in on the events from people who've been there.

1. Get to the S&S area when the park closes. Hang out, have a snack, nosh with some fellow DISers. Look over the schedule for the shows and decide what order you'd like to see them in. If you only have 1 day I would hit the Bill+Ted show first because your son may want to see it a second time, it's really a lot of fun for his age group. But that's up to you. BTW, if you do a search on YouTube for Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure you can see what the show is like, they have the full show posted.

2. Follow the TMs when they open the line, they will lead you to the first house.

3. Do as many houses as you can before the first show. Go back and look at the 2 rules if you're thinking of using you express passes.

4. See a show. By the time you get out it will be time to consider using your EPs. Wait times will be posted outside of each house to help you judge.

5. By now whatever crowds that will be there should be in the park. Wander through the scare zones, see your shows, enjoy the night. If you have some extra time I would consider riding Jaws if it's open, at night it's like a totally different ride.

When you get back to your hotel room be sure to kiss Mickey goodbye. Once your son gets a taste of US/IOA he'll be hooked

What is the S&S area?

 

[Metro West]

What is the S&S area?

It's the holding area where you have to wait between the park closing and HHN opening.

 

[Rip]

Yeah, scare zones aren't a problem as you have to walk through most anyways.

I am the opposite when it comes to the shows. I loved Bill and Teds last year but hated Rocky Horror (didn't know what to expect since we had never seen the movie).

Same here, last year was the first time we decided to try Rocky Horror. It was too odd for my taste, and they kept having technical difficulties and eventually had to cancel that particular showing......the TMs and police were afraid of a riot!

 

[Metro West]

I loved Bill and Teds last year but hated Rocky Horror (didn't know what to expect since we had never seen the movie).

That was/is the problem with this show. I've seen RHPS I don't know how many times in high school and since so I loved the show. If you haven't seen the movie, it would figure you wouldn't know what was going on. If you see the movie in the theater, you will have a better understanding of the fan base the film has. It's the best audience participation film of all time!