HHN for someone not wanting to do houses....

[angryduck71]

So, I'm going on an "adult" trip in September with a couple of buddies. They are doing the VIP tour of HHN. I have no desire. I love creepy Halloween stuff and decorations... but, not much in for jump scares and this year, none of the houses appeal to me much. If I were just to go and get a regular ticket and walk around (and hopefully Death Eaters will be there again this year) and ride rides (mostly Gringotts, which is my favorite), is it really worth it? Or, should I do something else with my time while they are there? (FYI, I have an annual pass.)

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I guess, is seeing the death eaters, a nice quiet Diagon Alley, and looking at the creepy scare zone decorations worth $90+ to you? You will be able to get on the open rides with mostly short waits. The weather at night is likely to be nicer than the weather during the day (much cooler, at least).

Because you love the creepy vibe, I'm inclined towards it may be worthwhile for you. Think of it as an after hour party where you get the shorter lines for rides and different decorations. You can try the themed food. You can really take your time in Diagon Alley.

There will be unholy masses of people in the scare zones and most of the walkways. In the scare zones, which do have well done props & makeup, the scare actors will attempt to startle you but there really are a lot of people and many of them are trying to pose with the scare actors, so they kinda become mostly creepy foggy photo op zones.

Quite frankly, the jump scares in the houses are pretty meh for the most part - you really have to time it right (or wrong, for you?). You might be able to do the tamer houses, or at least give one a try at the end of the night.

BTW, if your friends want actual jump scares, they should check out the Sea World Howl-o-Scream event. That one you'd have a harder time going through the scare zones (and houses), they are much more jumpy. Much more effective scares. Fewer people, more pleasant to walk around. Scare actors banter with you. For the houses, you enter in groups, not a continuous conga line, so you can't always see what's coming and the scare actors can time the scares much more effectively. Jack the Ripper show is fantastic. For the $40 admission or whatever it's up to now, it's totally worth the evening away from Universal. I'd do Howl-o-Scream over HHN in a heartbeat.

 

[schumigirl]

Alice, go for it!!

The park itself is busy but you can roam around and take your time and enjoy the atmosphere.

I`d also agree with CAPSLOCK, HoS is excellent and far better than HHN, we loved our night there and plan to go back next year for sure as we are done with HHN.

 

[angryduck71]

I guess, is seeing the death eaters, a nice quiet Diagon Alley, and looking at the creepy scare zone decorations worth $90+ to you? You will be able to get on the open rides with mostly short waits. The weather at night is likely to be nicer than the weather during the day (much cooler, at least).

Because you love the creepy vibe, I'm inclined towards it may be worthwhile for you. Think of it as an after hour party where you get the shorter lines for rides and different decorations. You can try the themed food. You can really take your time in Diagon Alley.

There will be unholy masses of people in the scare zones and most of the walkways. In the scare zones, which do have well done props & makeup, the scare actors will attempt to startle you but there really are a lot of people and many of them are trying to pose with the scare actors, so they kinda become mostly creepy foggy photo op zones.

Quite frankly, the jump scares in the houses are pretty meh for the most part - you really have to time it right (or wrong, for you?). You might be able to do the tamer houses, or at least give one a try at the end of the night.

BTW, if your friends want actual jump scares, they should check out the Sea World Howl-o-Scream event. That one you'd have a harder time going through the scare zones (and houses), they are much more jumpy. Much more effective scares. Fewer people, more pleasant to walk around. Scare actors banter with you. For the houses, you enter in groups, not a continuous conga line, so you can't always see what's coming and the scare actors can time the scares much more effectively. Jack the Ripper show is fantastic. For the $40 admission or whatever it's up to now, it's totally worth the evening away from Universal. I'd do Howl-o-Scream over HHN in a heartbeat.

Thank you for all the info! I am ok with just hanging out soaking up the atmosphere I think. May give it a try!

 

[angryduck71]

Alice, go for it!!

The park itself is busy but you can roam around and take your time and enjoy the atmosphere.

I`d also agree with CAPSLOCK, HoS is excellent and far better than HHN, we loved our night there and plan to go back next year for sure as we are done with HHN.

Yeah… part of my reluctance was you not liking it much. But I am cool just looking at the decorations and hanging in the Harry Potter area.

 

[schumigirl]

Yeah… part of my reluctance was you not liking it much. But I am cool just looking at the decorations and hanging in the Harry Potter area.

I think you`ll enjoy that to be honest, for one nights admission you`ll have fun, I just don`t think it was worth buying the type of ticket we used to buy which was the RoF with EP, for the cost we just didn`t see any value in it anymore. So while our days at HHN are done I like the sound of what you want to do as a one of.

It`s a decent plan Alice, we enjoyed hanging in DA even before the Death Eaters.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

You know, I'm really glad you brought this up angryduck71. I've always discounted going to HHN because I don't really care for haunted houses or jump scares BUT... I do like scary movies and very much enjoy a good scary ambiance (as in Darkmoor was my fav portal at EPIC when I thought it would be HP.) I'm going to seriously consider going to HHN now thanks to you !

 

[wdwrule]

So, I'm going on an "adult" trip in September with a couple of buddies. They are doing the VIP tour of HHN. I have no desire. I love creepy Halloween stuff and decorations... but, not much in for jump scares and this year, none of the houses appeal to me much. If I were just to go and get a regular ticket and walk around (and hopefully Death Eaters will be there again this year) and ride rides (mostly Gringotts, which is my favorite), is it really worth it? Or, should I do something else with my time while they are there? (FYI, I have an annual pass.)

I vote to go along to HHN. I’m right there with you with disliking jump scares. However, we go for one night each year as our level of AP includes a free night. My son loves it as he loves horror and jump scares.

With that being said, I do love the vibe and aesthetics at HHN. There’s just something about it and the design team does an amazing job. I absolutely love Diagon Alley during this night especially early in the evening as there are very low crowds. Not that it’s guaranteed every year but the Death Eaters are incredible to watch. I love their interactions and watching them duel with some guests. Here are some pics from HHN…





We also ate at Leaky Cauldron which was practically empty.

Another thing I love to do is find a spot to sit and watch the scare zones. It is so much fun watching the scare actors scare other people.





Some of the scare zones are really stunning with cool music etc.

Ride waits are typically low and it’s also fun to try special item food and/or drink. I always feel the lines are longer for specialty food compared to ride lines so if you have a specialty food in mind, you might want to get that early in the evening.

I think you’ll have an enjoyable time.

ETA: I just saw something on social media that the park is yet again setting up areas in Diagon Alley for the return of the Death Eaters

 

[angryduck71]

I vote to go along to HHN. I’m right there with you with disliking jump scares. However, we go for one night each year as our level of AP includes a free night. My son loves it as he loves horror and jump scares.

With that being said, I do love the vibe and aesthetics at HHN. There’s just something about it and the design team does an amazing job. I absolutely love Diagon Alley during this night especially early in the evening as there are very low crowds. Not that it’s guaranteed every year but the Death Eaters are incredible to watch. I love their interactions and watching them duel with some guests. Here are some pics from HHN…

View attachment 981703

View attachment 981704

We also ate at Leaky Cauldron which was practically empty.

Another thing I love to do is find a spot to sit and watch the scare zones. It is so much fun watching the scare actors scare other people.

View attachment 981705

View attachment 981707

Some of the scare zones are really stunning with cool music etc.

Ride waits are typically low and it’s also fun to try special item food and/or drink. I always feel the lines are longer for specialty food compared to ride lines so if you have a specialty food in mind, you might want to get that early in the evening.

I think you’ll have an enjoyable time.

Excellent ideas! Thank you!

 

[wdwrule]

Excellent ideas! Thank you!

I just edited my post that I just saw on social media that they are in fact setting up props for the return of the death eaters.

 

[disneyseniors]

So, I'm going on an "adult" trip in September with a couple of buddies. They are doing the VIP tour of HHN. I have no desire. I love creepy Halloween stuff and decorations... but, not much in for jump scares and this year, none of the houses appeal to me much. If I were just to go and get a regular ticket and walk around (and hopefully Death Eaters will be there again this year) and ride rides (mostly Gringotts, which is my favorite), is it really worth it? Or, should I do something else with my time while they are there? (FYI, I have an annual pass.)

I'm with you on this one! I do not like to be jumped out at or startled or especially followed (I don't know if they follow you though). It's not my idea of fun and the houses are not for me either. I would do like others have suggested and ride attractions and hang out at HP land. I could spend a day in there without HHN. It's so magical to just hang out there.
I don't know how you would avoid passing by the scare actors? I wonder if they are everywhere or just by the houses. I admit I have never had the urge to go there. Have fun and let us know how it goes.

 

[angryduck71]

I'm with you on this one! I do not like to be jumped out at or startled or especially followed (I don't know if they follow you though). It's not my idea of fun and the houses are not for me either. I would do like others have suggested and ride attractions and hang out at HP land. I could spend a day in there without HHN. It's so magical to just hang out there.
I don't know how you would avoid passing by the scare actors? I wonder if they are everywhere or just by the houses. I admit I have never had the urge to go there. Have fun and let us know how it goes.

Hopefully I won’t get kicked out for cussing if I get scared.

 

[Skippyboo]

If you have Premiere AP, you get a free HHN night. IOA is going to be open , you can go there and just go to HHN when it’s gets darker. Rip Tour is going to take a couple of hours. The Coconut club will be themed for HHN.

 

[disneyseniors]

Hopefully I won’t get kicked out for cussing if I get scared.

You won't! They didn't kick me out, LOL when I've accidentally slipped out a cuss word or two at some of the attractions

 

[Skippyboo]

Cussing is okay. You just can’t touch the scare actors. That’s a big no no. They can’t touch you, you don’t touch them

 

[LilyWDW]

Hopefully I won’t get kicked out for cussing if I get scared.

I would have been kicked out multiple times last year if they did that! I curse so much when I am scared. That and laugh scream. Where you laugh, then scream, then laugh again.

But in all seriousness, I used to hate haunted houses. Would NOT do them. But I went to HHN last year to push myself and now I am going back this year and planning it to be a yearly thing. These houses are so much better then the ones you see other places. They are just fun and creative. So I would suggest doing one or two, just to see. You may still hate it, but at least you tried.

 

[angryduck71]

Cussing is okay. You just can’t touch the scare actors. That’s a big no no. They can’t touch you, you don’t touch them

No problem there! Unless I faint. Lol

 

[angryduck71]

I would have been kicked out multiple times last year if they did that! I curse so much when I am scared. That and laugh scream. Where you laugh, then scream, then laugh again.

But in all seriousness, I used to hate haunted houses. Would NOT do them. But I went to HHN last year to push myself and now I am going back this year and planning it to be a yearly thing. These houses are so much better then the ones you see other places. They are just fun and creative. So I would suggest doing one or two, just to see. You may still hate it, but at least you tried.

I heard they usually have a legacy house, yes? I would try that.

 

[georgina]

Never had any desire to go to HHN, but I do miss the death eaters roaming in Hogsmeade. I have photos from 2021of them there. It's always been a pain when I go in Oct and US closes early every night of my trip, maybe I will get up the courage to try to make it through the nasty scare zones to be at US at night (50-50 chance probably that I won't!)

 

[Skippyboo]

I heard they usually have a legacy house, yes? I would try that.

Almost all of the houses have been announced- Jason from Friday 13th, Fallout, Terrifier , Five Nights at Freddy’s, plus 5 original houses. The last house that hasn’t been announced yet is a WWE house.