HHN - Skip the Houses?

[CoopTroop6]

DH & I are avid Disney fans, but have never been to US. We've always wanted to go (huge HP fans), but the kids have never been big enough to take them. The only thing I've NEVER wanted to do was HHN. I've been avoiding it for YEARS. So guess who just won 2 passes at work for THIS weekend? My question is, is there stuff to do besides the houses? We're both big horror movie/TV fans, but HATE haunted houses. Weird, right? The shows look awesome and walking around would be cool, but I'm not sure I'd like people jumping out at me. Can anyone explain what the scare zones are? A couple look interesting (trick or treat, fest of the deadliest, invasion) but how similar are they to a house? Also, I see that the Gringotts ride will be open. Does that mean the rest of the wizarding world will be too? We'd love to explore that area. Any other tips/suggestions? Is it even worth it to go?

 

[shh]

Definitely not worth it...here's my advice: Just mail me your free passes post-haste and in return, I'll lend you my Disney APs for the night LOL.

Go! If nothing, else to admire how they transform the place, hang out by the scare zones and laugh yourself silly at everyone else, have one of the specialty cocktails and enjoy whatever other rides are open. You don't have to set foot in a house to have a great time. At least that's my two cents.

 

[CoopTroop6]

I'll trade you HHN tickets for MNSSHP tickets, k?

So if we're not IN a scare zone we won't get approached right? Still not sure on what a scare zone actually IS...

 

[DOOM1001]

A scare zone is a walking path themed with props and scare actors in the same way a house is,you're just not in a smaller,darker hallway doing a conga line walking through a house.Will the scareactors jump at you or interact with you,maybe,but I've never found HHN scary,that of course could be different for others,but simply put HHN is the greatest Halloween event anywhere and the level of detail and theming is amazing,that and its fun!!Those are the reasons I've done like 20 of the 26 years of the event.As others have said if you have no use for the tickets I'll gladly take them off your hands.If you do decide to go I wouldn't be surprised if you go and try to do a house and enjoy it so much you end up going through all of them,go try it out,like I said its a fun event!!

 

[kylieelizabethhh]

Aaaaah, please go! Look past your fear of haunted houses and walk through them - you have to see the detail that is involved! They're so incredible. But if you ditch the haunted houses, there's still more to do! 6 rides are open, there are 2 shows, and lots of yummy food and carnival games! The scare zones are definitely spooky, but they're so fun. The actors are totally on improv in these spots - they don't have a box of speakers above them with set things to say. So any scares that they provide are 100% authentic and random.

Once you go, I think you'll be hooked. Especially since you're a horror fan. Have fun!

 

[cschaaf]

Search YouTube for scare zone videos. There were a few posted from the TM previews last night.

In some of the scare zones, you can walk towards the outside edges and sidewalks and you are typically left alone. The scare zones in the San Francisco Warf area and between Simpsons and the Hollywood Dine-In are much harder to avoid the scare actors.

The biggest differences between the scare zones and the houses are:

• The houses are usually pretty 'tight'. You get funneled into areas where there will be jump scares.
• The SZ areas are mostly open with roaming scare actors. The scares are much more random. An actor may follow you through the whole zone, you might get a few jump scares, or you may walk through unscathed. It all depends on timing and how you 'look' and 'act'.
  • If you look scared or scream, you will likely attract more actors.

I thought I'd hate the houses the first time we went. I'd worked in a few haunted houses growing up, but hated going through them. But I ended up really enjoying them and we've been back. I don't think a trip is in the cards this year since we have a Christmas trip planned instead, but I think we'll plan on a 2018 HHN trip.

As others have said, you can ride all of the rides that are open, so there are things to do. I'd recommend you try one of the houses to see if you like it or not.

Most times in the houses, you can figure out where there might be a scare and prep for it. If they are clearly trying to draw your attention in one direction, there is very likely a jump scare coming from the opposite direction. That's not always the case, though.