HHN Planning Questions for Experts

[lauren5406]

I understand that the time is quickly approaching for my favorite night of the year.

This is not a what will be there or when will it be post.

I want to know some HHN tips from experts. This will be my 3rd annual trip down and I just want to make sure I'm doing it right.

The first year we just went on a Sunday with a regular ticket and took our time getting in. Big mistake! Couldn't believe the wait times, didn't bring enough cash (for in line refreshments), and it had rained really hard that afternoon and the scare zones were non-existant.

So, last year we learned our lesson a little. We went on a Sunday and purchased the Express Pass and got there early. We had a fabulous time and I am itching with anticipation to begin planning our trip for this year.

I just wanted to see if any of you Universal experts had any advice or insider tips.

 

[inkkognito]

Don't just get there early. Do Stay & Scream if at all possible. They almost always open a couple of the houses early so you can knock those out, and usually a couple more towards the back of the park, before the general public makes the lines go insane. Hopefully you'll enjoy the houses you did early enough to do them again with your Express. I tend to like to do 'em multiple times, so that's what we always do.

And I don't know if this one is an insider tip or a warning, but watch what you carry through the houses. I like the carnival games and usually win some kind of stuffed animal, and those tend to be a magnet for the scareactors.

 

[patster734]

I understand that the time is quickly approaching for my favorite night of the year.

This is not a what will be there or when will it be post.

I want to know some HHN tips from experts. This will be my 3rd annual trip down and I just want to make sure I'm doing it right.

The first year we just went on a Sunday with a regular ticket and took our time getting in. Big mistake! Couldn't believe the wait times, didn't bring enough cash (for in line refreshments), and it had rained really hard that afternoon and the scare zones were non-existant.

So, last year we learned our lesson a little. We went on a Sunday and purchased the Express Pass and got there early. We had a fabulous time and I am itching with anticipation to begin planning our trip for this year.

I just wanted to see if any of you Universal experts had any advice or insider tips.

When you say "got there early", do you mean you were in the park before regular park closing to take advantage of Stay and Scream? Or do you mean that you were near the front of the entrance line to get into the park when HNN began?

If you are in the park during the day with a day ticket, and you have a HHN ticket, you don't have to leave the park. Instead you'll be told to go to a waiting area when you show your HHN ticket to a staff member. This is the Stay and Scream. Then a few minutes before the main gates are opened, those in the Stay and Scream area will be allowed out and directed towards a couple of haunted houses. This will allow those that were in the Stay and Scream wait area to get a head jump on the mass of people at the park entrance.

The second suggestion is that if you purchased an express pass, check the wait time when you arrive at a haunted house. If the wait time is low (less than 20 or 30 minutes), save the express pass for that house til later in the evening, when wait times will probably be an hour or more.

 

[macraven]

you would have to have the day park ticket to be in the park "early".

if you only bought the HHN ticket, you would have to wait in line and go thru the metal detectors for when hhn opened.

if you have a day ticket, buy the "add on" ticket which would be called the stay and scream ticket.

as long as you are in the park by 4:50, yes, you have to use a park ticket to enter, you should go to the stay and scream holding areas.
there should be two of them available depending on the date that day.

(many assume you can enter the park and go directly to the holding area called stay and scream. you still need the day park ticket to enter the park if you plan to wait in the S & S section)

(if you only have the HHN ticket, you wait in line to enter the park. that line usually starts around 5:10)


at stay and scream your hhn ticket is scanned which allows you to stay in the holding area while the rest of the park is being cleared out.

once the entire park is cleared, security will give the heads up for those in the holding area to be released.

last year they had 3 houses available and ready for 6:00.
the rest of the houses were not opened until after the official hhn opening time. a few houses had a 7:00 opening time when i was there.

you will be able to do the 3 open houses without the crowds.



i always do the houses without my epp.
once it is dark and crowds have started, then i use my epp for the express lines.

the epp is only valid for the first show of bill and teds.
all other shows are not valid for the epp.


came back to add that the S & S hhn ticket is a discounted hhn ticket

 

[lauren5406]

When you say "got there early", do you mean you were in the park before regular park closing to take advantage of Stay and Scream?

We were in IOA and used the cross over in Suess Landing. But, this coming trip I'm guessing we should try and already be in US.

The second suggestion is that if you purchased an express pass, check the wait time when you arrive at a haunted house. If the wait time is low (less than 20 or 30 minutes), save the express pass for that house til later in the evening, when wait times will probably be an hour or more.

Do they limit the amount of times you can use the pass for each house? I do not remember that but maybe they did.

I think last year the closing time got extended due to crowds (I swear that the posted time was midnight but when we went to leave they were staying open later). Can that happen or am I imagining this?

Are the crowds on Thursdays any better than Sundays? Even with the EP later on the night the wait times got very long.

 

[macraven]

yea, don't do the cross over from ioa to the studios.
you waste a lot of time.

last year when i went they were held to 6:30. which is supposed to be the official time they are released to cross over.

do the holding area which is called Stay & Scream for best use of your time.


the express pass is only valid one time per house or ride or show.


i can only speak on the th- fr- sa- sundays i have gone since 2000.

the last 3 years, sunday is no longer a true non peak night.
it gets crowded and stays crowded.

the best non peak night i have been to are the thursdays.

i go the 3rd weekend of hhn.
sunday is crowded on those weekends due to monday being a holiday for many.

the thursday in hell week can be crowded.


non peak nights are cheaper and usually less crowded.
thursday would be my first choice if you could only chose one night to attend.

i' m totally and completely addicted to HHN.
i go to it 4 nights in a row each year.
that's why i pick the 3rd, columbus day weekend to go

 

[patster734]

We were in IOA and used the cross over in Suess Landing. But, this coming trip I'm guessing we should try and already be in US.



Do they limit the amount of times you can use the pass for each house? I do not remember that but maybe they did.

Yes. The express pass is good once for each house. So save it if you can for later when the crowds are heavier.

I think last year the closing time got extended due to crowds (I swear that the posted time was midnight but when we went to leave they were staying open later). Can that happen or am I imagining this?

That's definitely possible, but that is at the discretion of Universal.

Are the crowds on Thursdays any better than Sundays? Even with the EP later on the night the wait times got very long.

Last year, I went on a Friday only, so I can't comment on the Thursday vs Sunday crowds. For my upcoming HHN trip, I am planning on doing Express on Thursday and RIP (HHN VIP) on Friday.

 

[Akdar]

I have one word for Stay and Scream

Finnegan's

 

[macraven]

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2192401


check out the prices.

all nights are the same this year.


rats............

hoping the HHN tix AP rates will be better.

 

[Metro West]

I have one word for Stay and Scream

Finnegan's

 

[macraven]

hey metro.......remember last year at finnegans when i was inside and went out to look for you.......


i was the homie on the right in your smilies.........

 

[Metro West]

hey metro.......remember last year at finnegans when i was inside and went out to look for you.......


i was the homie on the right in your smilies.........

Ah yes...I remember that night well. Bonny and Lee sitting around the table to make sure no one stole it!

 

[patster734]

I have one word for Stay and Scream

Finnegan's

And I have one word for that!


YUM!

 

[lauren5406]

yea, don't do the cross over from ioa to the studios.
you waste a lot of time.

Yes, we wasted about 45 minutes in line.

the thursday in hell week can be crowded.

Maybe I should know this but what is hell week?

For my upcoming HHN trip, I am planning on doing Express on Thursday and RIP (HHN VIP) on Friday.

What is the RIP like? That sounds like a great plan.

I have one word for Stay and Scream

Finnegan's

I'll add that to the list.

check out the prices.

all nights are the same this year.

Do you think they'll change that at all? They have me either way, maybe we'll get the FFP and just come down twice.

 

[mmaikisch]

I have a question....I have never been to hhn...how scary is it? I'm a big chicken, but my husband really likes this type of thing and really wants to go. What should I expect?

 

[patster734]

What is the RIP like? That sounds like a great plan.

It's express to the express. Universal offers guided tours called VIP tours year round. Information about these VIP tours can be found here: http://www.universalorlando.com/tickets/vip-tours.html.

For HHN, the VIP tours are called RIP tours and cost a little bit more than the regular VIP tours. With RIP tours, a tour guide will lead their group to the front entrance of each house without having to wait in either the normal line or the express line. In time, information about RIP tours and their cost will be added to the HHN website.

 

[patster734]

I have a question....I have never been to hhn...how scary is it? I'm a big chicken, but my husband really likes this type of thing and really wants to go. What should I expect?

Its pretty scary. My wife refuses to go, so she'll find something to do at Citywalk, while I do HHN. Last year, my parents came to Universal with us. My parents and my wife did the Aloha Friday event that was at RPR, while I did HHN. This year, my wife is talking about visiting the spa at PBH, while I'm at HHN.

 

[macraven]

Yes, we wasted about 45 minutes in line.




Maybe I should know this but what is hell week?

this is when the high schools in florida are out of school for fall break.
Hhn will happen from Wed thru sun that week.
it gets crowded quickly that week and i always avoid going then.



What is the RIP like? That sounds like a great plan.

it is faster than the express line.
the tour guide takes the group ahead of all others to enter the houses.
you have reserved seats for the bill and ted show so you don't have to show up an hour in advance to get in to claim good seats.



I'll add that to the list.



Do you think they'll change that at all? They have me either way, maybe we'll get the FFP and just come down twice.

Yes.
they have changed the prices since they first put the site up.
prices have changed, they have gone south.....woo hoo.....

wait a few days before you buy tickets.
i heard there might be a special sale. that is just a rumor at this point though.





i always post when i find out new info on hhn.
there are others here also that will post on what they find out.



i am totally and completely addicted to HHN........

 

[Mad Hattered]

I have one word for Stay and Scream

Finnegan's

Am I to assume that one of the "holding areas" is near Finnegan's? Can we hang out there until they release us?

 

[patster734]

Am I to assume that one of the "holding areas" is near Finnegan's? Can we hang out there until they release us?

Yes. Last year, the side street with the Blues Brothers stage was the Stay and Scream holding area. Stay and Scream guests had access to Finnegan's.