HHN Questions

[xtinewashere]

Hey All! We are attending HHN for the first time since XI and XII!! Now we have 3 kids in tow so we've only got one night to do it all!!

We booked a RIP tour (on the 25th of Sept) which starts at 8pm or so. I am not sure what to do with our time before. The uber fan in me wants to find a place to wait at stay and scream so we can get a head start and possibly hit some houses before our tour. Or the other option is to have a nice dinner somewhere with just hubby and I and then make our way over for the tour.

Anyone have any opinions or tips? It's been awhile since we've been back and a lot has changed.

Thanks in advance!!
Christine

 

[macraven]

I always prefer to be in the park and do the holding area


I like to avoid the long line to the gate and the metal detectors

Once Hhn opens, finnegans will be quite empty at 6-6:30

You could easily get a table there once all leave for starting Hhn

Or you could go to city walk and eat there around 6:00 or so

And use the hotel line to enter the park
Do take your email to show you have the tour that night

 

[xtinewashere]

I think the RIP tour includes a VIP entrance... however, that is true as I didn't think about lines thru security and that will eat into our time. I am not sure if I can sit still in Finnegans with HHN going on around me. Are you able to eat while waiting during the stay and scream? I guess I just need to figure out if I want a nice leisurely meal somewhere or spend a lot of our energy to get out of the hotel once the babysitter checks in and try to make our way back into the park so we can find a home for stay and scream. I honestly would put a nice meal as 2nd priority so I'd even be happy grabbing a burger in the Simpsons area and waiting there. I am also wondering if we should do the houses before the tour or if it's better to wait for the tour and the backstories before we go thru.

 

[macraven]

Finnegans stays packed until the holding pens are released

Very easy to get seated and order food there once it is 6:30

Not sure if Simpson area will close at 5 and then reopen at 6:30 for food

Last year I stayed there one of the nights for Hhn
Got tacos at the taco truck
Food was meh

What time is your tour?
Is it the non private one ?

If it is one that starts later, you could eat once Hhn opens
You won't find crowds in the eateries then

If you are staying onsite , you can use the far right gate
It is designated for hotel guests from 6:00 to 8:00

I believe rip tour peeps can use it also


I prefer waiting in the park so I can avoid the metal detectors
Just my personal preference

People that are entering the park for Hhn, guest services, tours do go thei metal detectors and bag searches
Also all empty pockets into the bowl to be checked out by running it thru the machine

Normally not a problem but it is time consuming if the outside lines are full l

 

[xtinewashere]

my husband is not keen on spoilers before our tour and i sort of want to wander thru the scare zones at least before our tour. he likes the idea of eating at finnegans too! thanks for your help!! we're try to play it by ear best we can but i'm still aiming for waiting in the holding areas and getting a full night at HHN.

Our tour starts at 8pm and we need to check in approx 7:30.. it is a public tour. Next year, if i go- i'd like to use this forum to find people who want to sign up for a private tour. I didn't know how much more is offered in a private tour.

 

[macraven]

I've been booking private tours over ten years

Always looking to add peeps if some from the group can't make the date

I always book for the Friday of Columbus Day weekend
I also book a non private tour to do solo each year

Private tours I prefer as you are the one to decide the evening
I always set up seeing both the A team and the B team in action in the houses
Same with scare with scare zones

Bill and Ted has preferred seating with both tours

Private tours last 7.5 hours
When you break the costs down and compare private to non private there is not much money difference

And I use my AP for the tour discount for the group

If you can do the weekend I listed, keep my name handy and give me a heads up

 

[heidijanesmith]

We love the non-private tour!! It is a great way to see all of the houses in one night. We found that we did not have much time to do the scare zones during our tour. If you want to just do the scare zones prior to your tour, that would be a great way to get some HHN touring in before your tour starts.