HHN: How frightening is it, honestly?

[Darlynne]

I do not enjoy being scared, I do not like clowns and dolls with sinister expressions. I have read accounts from visitors who wished they'd never gone to HHN, who wish they could un-see what they saw. OTOH, many, many people cite HHN as their favorite Universal event. Keeping in mind that this is meant to be entertainment, I'm torn being wanting to see for myself and thinking I should avoid the entire evening.

So my question: If I decide that I cannot venture into any of the "houses" or shows, what's it like to just be at the park on a HHN night, ride the rides as usual, walk around? I've been to Universal during the day when everything HHN-related is shrouded, but what will I encounter out on the streets, as it were?

I don't mind owning up to being easily frightened and I'm 60, not 13, but I don't want to spend the rest of my time in Orlando with all the lights on. Any ideas?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Bluer101]

It all depends on the person. To me the whole night is not scary at all. I enjoy how elaborate the houses are. They are not your run of the mill local haunted houses.

As for sights some rides are open and the scare zones are a hoot to watch. I would say go for it, worst case senerio is you spent the admission to get in.

 

[schumigirl]

To be honest it's just pure scary fun.........

But, if you don't like being scared as in getting frights with people jumping out at you then it doesn't sound like you would have much fun.........

I don't find it scary.......but love being scared.....iykwim.........I love the scares, the frights, the atmosphere......everything about it.

We can go 10 nights this trip to HHN but I'm sure one of those we may just wander around without doing the houses and just soak up the scares and the atmosphere........it is so much fun.

Sorry not much help...........we just love it!!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Let me start by saying that I went for my first and only time about 20 years ago - so I know it's changed dramatically, but from the looks of the advertising each year, it looks even worse than when I went - but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will confirm either way!

But I was petrified! I too, am someone that gets quite jumpy, and whilst I love horror films, I do often hide behind pillows to watch them! Anyway.... I managed one haunted house and found it so terrifying that I decided to take a break, but the year I went there was no escape!

Zombies were walking towards me, there were mad men with chainsaws running around, people hanging from things with blood trailing down them. I managed to bore holes in my Dh's arm with my finger nails whilst I was grabbing him so tightly!! In the end we left after just 45 mins as I was a nervous wreck!!

I would say though, there were lots of large groups of teenagers the year I was there, and I do think I felt a bit intimidated as we were just a couple on our own. I think I might possibly given it another go if I was going with a group of friends - strength in numbers and all that!!

 

[macraven]

i've raised four boys.

hhn is a piece of cake compared to that.


at hhn, i don't jump at loud noises, scare zones or houses don't spook me at all.
nothing shocks me.

but i am completely and totally addicted to HHN.

 

[Anchored]

I went one time 15 years ago and never again. I have a heart condition and I think I almost died when I walked past a bush and it came to life and jumped out and sparked a sword on the ground in front of me. Add the creepy chainsaw guys, and the fake pee in the insane asylum house bathroom, and I swore HHN off for life

 

[agavegirl1]

I went for the first time last October and I do not enjoy being scared. However, DH loves it and I "took one for the team". I actually thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I did de-sensitize myself by watching all the movies and series being featured so I knew what to expect. It is more startling than scary. The street experiences (scare zones) can be very startling. If you do not enjoy this kind of experience, save the money.

 

[Bluer101]

i've raised four boys.

hhn is a piece of cake compared to that.

Lol

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I don't enjoy watching horror movies, usually- they tend to stick with me afterward. I can't take gore/slasher films.. if my friends watch this kind of movie when I'm over I'll just go to sleep!

HHN on the other hand is my favorite Universal event and one of my most favorite things on the planet.. period. It doesn't stick with me afterward like a movie does (so no being afraid of the lights out), the sets and the costumes are incredible, and it's just so much fun! It's also easy to mentally check out of being scared if you so choose (at least it is for me), but that ruins the fun.

 

[cola]

Are you thinking of going by yourself? I love HHN, BUT what keeps it in check is having someone else with you to clutch their arm if need be. Also going through the houses tends to turn into a conga line, with little gaps between groups of friends; if you're by yourself with a little gap in front and behind it means the scareactors can reset and lunge at you ALL THE TIME, which gets a bit more exhausting.

The scareactors can only lunge at you, no touching, so that helps ease things up a bit.

If you are going by yourself, do the VIP tour, it makes it MUCH easier. Actually, I'd recommend the VIP tour anyway for an older patron (I'm one too ) they get you to where you need to be and a few extra special options. They scrapped the VIP tour in Hollywood this year, but I think it is still running in Orlando.

 

[macraven]

yes, public and private rip tours happen still at orlando.
also the unmasking the horror tours during the day on select dates, is a great way to ease into the hhn event.

lights are on in the houses and the tour guide will explain all the key action of the houses.
you can see the detailed work inside the houses as you miss the majority of that going during the night.

if you are a big fan of hhn, this is the tour for you.
you understand the background and theme of the house in these day tours.

when jaws was removed, one of the houses that fall had a good bye symbol of jaws.
hard to see it at night but in full view during the day tour.

 

[Drfate102]

I get easily scared and I am in my early 40s. I can't do horror movies and and Zombies freak me out as one of my major phobias. But I love HHN. It is a blast and the scares just pass. We now try to go to at least two nights per year to get all of the houses in.

 

[Octoberbaby]

I have been following along.

I am TERRIFIED of this! My husband said that we are going to HHN or he isn't going to the food and wine festival at Epcot with me. What??! How dare him....but anyway...

I bought tickets last night. I went to check out several times, and exited, before finally buying them around 10pm. Whew...I am NOT going to have fun. There's alcohol, right? Because I NEED to be slightly intoxicated to handle this.

 

[Mrs bluer101]

I am not one that enjoys being scared but I do enjoy HHN. I just stick behind DH and we go together. Last year DS went with us and he did great.

 

[nkereina]

You can watch some of the house walk-throughs on YouTube to get a feel for them. One thing I like is that they really usher a lot of people through the house at one time, so it seems like a clustered line walking through. At local haunted houses, they have about a 10-15 second space between you and the next party for "individual" attention. Don't like that!

It's my understanding there's only a couple rides open. It's not like MNSSHP where most attractions are open and operating as usual. With as expensive as HHN is, I'm not sure I'd bother going if I weren't going to go in the houses.

 

[Darlynne]

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts about HHN. I'm leaning toward giving it a try, kind of like the one time I flew down Humunga Kowabunga at Typhoon Lagoon because I didn't know any better; I'll never do it again, but my sister and I still laugh about the experience.

We're getting the annual pass, which I think provides a discount for the event tickets, and maybe I'll steel myself to go into the American Werewolf in London house. Maybe.

Last question: Are all rides open during this event or only those mentioned in the Rides and Attractions segment of the HHN website?

Thanks for your help.

 

[macraven]

I have been following along.

I am TERRIFIED of this! My husband said that we are going to HHN or he isn't going to the food and wine festival at Epcot with me. What??! How dare him....but anyway...

I bought tickets last night. I went to check out several times, and exited, before finally buying them around 10pm. Whew...I am NOT going to have fun. There's alcohol, right? Because I NEED to be slightly intoxicated to handle this.

drink while at hhn and nothing will upset you.
in fact, you might not even remember hhn if you drink enough.......

 

[macraven]

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts about HHN. I'm leaning toward giving it a try, kind of like the one time I flew down Humunga Kowabunga at Typhoon Lagoon because I didn't know any better; I'll never do it again, but my sister and I still laugh about the experience.

We're getting the annual pass, which I think provides a discount for the event tickets, and maybe I'll steel myself to go into the American Werewolf in London house. Maybe.

Last question: Are all rides open during this event or only those mentioned in the Rides and Attractions segment of the HHN website?

Thanks for your help.

only the 5 rides that are listed on the hhn website.
if they add a 6th ride, it will go on the site later.

in past years, the max of rides open during hhn have been 6.
some other years less than 6 are open.

most people are to interested in the rides during hhn.
houses, scare zones and shows have been the main interest.

 

[heidijanesmith]

I am terrified of our local haunted houses, as they reset in between groups and give a fresh scare for each group. I am also claustrophobic and do not like to crawl through tunnels or super tight spaces. I love Halloween and wanted to try it.

I was very nervous about HHN and found that I love it! The houses are conga line, so I could see the scares for the most part (I still got startled some). I could see security guards though out the houses, see the ceiling and overall felt ok. I did not go through the house with the spiny tunnel/3D.

There is alcohol all over the park, so no worries there. I think there is a cart every 2 feet

 

[Bluer101]

I am terrified of our local haunted houses, as they reset in between groups and give a fresh scare for each group. I am also claustrophobic and do not like to crawl through tunnels or super tight spaces. I love Halloween and wanted to try it.

I was very nervous about HHN and found that I love it! The houses are conga line, so I could see the scares for the most part (I still got startled some). I could see security guards though out the houses, see the ceiling and overall felt ok. I did not go through the house with the spiny tunnel/3D.

There is alcohol all over the park, so no worries there. I think there is a cart every 2 feet

Every 3 feet I think.

Also if you don't drink (like us) everyone else becomes our entertainment.