HHN questions for commando type!

[cressy]

We'll be arriving in Orlando at around noon Thurs the 25th. We havew APs at USF/IOA and WDW.We'll go for acouple of hours to WDW , then to HHN.Is it worth trying a couple of hours at USF to get in some rides on MIB before the HHN?We're spoiled by onsite FOTL, but won't have it this time. Will there be express passes available close to closing time?I noticed there weren't in the summer, but I figure it was way more crowded.Do I have this right-HHN tickets with an AP are 19.95 for nonpeak night? Can the HHN tickets be purchased at USF? I've read the trip reports about the holding area before opening for HHN, is this right-you have to be in the park before it closes, then tell them you're staying for the HHN? Is this necessary to beat the crowds on a nonpeak day? Thanks alot for those HHN trip reports!!This will be our first HHN-I'm nervous that it could be disappointing after always having used FOTL.

 

[MsDisney]

Yes, you must be in the park before the event starts, you will need to head to Jurassic Parks Discovery Center, you will need to give the guy inside your ticket and you will get a souvenir ticket and wait inside till it's set up. I sat from 5-6pm then headed out.

They changed the location to the Enchanted Oak this weekend...

Of course, it could change again, but I know this is where they had people held before the event both Friday and Saturday nights...

Now, I'm guessing, cressy, that you mean Thurs. the 24th? I'm guessing that even though that's non-peak, that it will be jammed, as I know the 10th was and your date is right before Halloween....so I'd definitely plan on being in the park at 5 to go to the waiting area, the mob coming in Sat. night was scary, and then they all have to wait in line at the turnstiles, you'll avoid all that by being in already.
I would think going to the Studios and getting some rides on MIB would be NO problem, the crowds aren't that bad there now-a-days, you can always use single riders too...

Karen

 

[BarryHom]

Actually, there were signs that said Stay and Scream was at both the Enchanted Oak Restaurant and the JP Discovery Center. I stayed in the JP Discovery Center. I think you can do one or the other.

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by Barry Hom
Actually, there were signs that said Stay and Scream was at both the Enchanted Oak Restaurant and the JP Discovery Center. I stayed in the JP Discovery Center. I think you can do one or the other.

Cool...was that both nights? I thought you said on Friday they had changed it to Enchanted Oak...and we were at the Discovery center on Sat. at about 5 and they were kicking people out and the sign said to go to Enchanted Oak...Or were there just THAT many people that they needed two holding tanks? We were leaving against the "flow" at about 6:30 and there were a LOT of people coming in!

Karen

 

[Judge Doom]

You had your choice of either one. If they told you to go to the other it was probably due to it being filled to capacity. The two holding areas are for peak nights only I believe.

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by Judge Doom
You had your choice of either one. If they told you to go to the other it was probably due to it being filled to capacity. The two holding areas are for peak nights only I believe.

That makes sense...that they would need two holding areas on a peak night...
We were actually leaving the Discovery Center at 4:30 when they closed it, and the sign in front of it said to go to the Enchanted Oak, so they must have used that one first, I'm guessing, then when it filled, they filled the Discovery Center? Did they have Studio 666 open then or just the Enchanted Oak? Seems like a small area to put a LOT of people if it was just inside...

We were wondering, do they actually sell MORE tickets on a peak night as opposed to a non-peak night, or do they consider "capacity" to be the same for either. (the non-peak nights have shorter hours, etc. so we wondered)

And, is Sinbad still running? We have a map from Saturday and it wasn't even listed on it...

Karen

 

[robvia]

I was there on Thursday the 10th and waited in the JP discovery center, in the back looking at Hulk. The place had a few people in it, only the top level was open. I was wondering where everyone was, then a security guard told me to head over to the Enchanted Oak. A family was eating dinner, so if you're eating, I guess they'll let you stay. Someone must have read my comments about drinks, because the Enchanted Oak is next to the bar, plus you get the Techno music. If you want quiet, then stay at JP if they let you.

Cressy, you can do your schedule of 2 hours at WDW, then 2 hours at USF, but your feet may be tired after all that walking.

You must be in IOA early, even on non peak nights. I think that 5pm is the cutoff, the signs in the park say to head over to the Enchanted Oak at 05:30pm. The head start at 6pm really helps. The main gates open at 06:30pm, and it's like a wave of people that appear all at once. When they let you go at 6pm, walk fast to the maze near JP. If it's open, do it, then keep going counter clockwise around the park. Next is the maze near JPRA, do it. Look at the huge empty piece of land and think of the roller coaster they could build on it, wow. The maze next to Popeye didn't open until 8pm, so you keep moving. You'll plass the main gate and see the wave of people entering. Keep going to the maze in Suess landing that goes over to USF. It will have a 30 minute wait.
Then you can come back and do the maze next to Dr. Doom, and then go back to the one next to Popeye. I'm not using the maze names because many of you don't know them, don't have a map, and it's easier to talk about ride names. The 6pm start for people in the park will get you thru a couple attractions fast, but once they let everyone at 06:30pm, the park fills up fast.
If you do what I've just said, you'll end up missing the first Bill and Ted show. It's your choice to do the maze that goes between IOA/USF, or stay back and watch the show. The next Bill and Ted show is at 10:15pm.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by MsDisney
And, is Sinbad still running? We have a map from Saturday and it wasn't even listed on it...

Karen

it's only running on peak nights, and isnt on the map itself. it's on the little paper insert that has all the showtimes and operating hours.

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by the Dark Marauder
it's only running on peak nights, and isnt on the map itself. it's on the little paper insert that has all the showtimes and operating hours.

Oh ok...I thought it was odd that it wasn't on there since Bill and Ted's was...
Thanks...I'm bummed out that we're going to miss it

Karen

 

[cressy]

Of all the timing, less than a week before our trip and our computer goes down with "corrupt files"-don't even know what that is. Had to have someone reset everything !!
Thanks for the particulars, just what this commando wanted to know!

 

[luvpooh]

dumb question - do you have to have a regular day's park admission to get into IOA early on HHN (say 5 PM) or will your HHN ticket grant you early access to get to the waiting area? It seems that if you just have a HHN ticket and did not attend IOA that day, you will have a serious disadvantage over those already there...

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by luvpooh
dumb question - do you have to have a regular day's park admission to get into IOA early on HHN (say 5 PM) or will your HHN ticket grant you early access to get to the waiting area?

yes. that's the only way.

 

[robvia]

Those who wait outside are at a big disadvantage, especially if they're not first thru the gate. You wanna be in the park and head over to the Enchanted Oak around 5pm. Yes, you need a regular day ticket to do this, or be an AP pass holder.

Anyone go last weekend (17th - 20th)?
Wondering if it sold out on Saturday and how the crowds we're Thursday night.

 

[Trixie]

We went on Oct 12 and missed getting into the park before they closed by 15 min. So we waited at the turnstiles for 45 min and they let us in at 6:00 even though they say that it starts at 7:00. We headed straight to Scream House and were walking in the house by 6:15.

Its more comfortable to wait in the holding area but I don't think it is necessary to pay for a ticket in order to get an early start.