holloween nights

[LoraJ]

We'd like to go on Thursday October 30th. Since it's a Thursday and not Halloween, there's a good chance it won't sell out, I hope.. fingers crossed.

We went on Halloween in 2006 and bought tickets in advance. Ended up getting an employee discount offered a few weeks ahead of time so it was kind of a pain to cancel the other ones. I want to hold out on buying advanced tickets as long as I can in hopes of an employee discount.

But if it sells out, do they have a standby line?

 

[macraven]

We'd like to go on Thursday October 30th. Since it's a Thursday and not Halloween, there's a good chance it won't sell out, I hope.. fingers crossed.

We went on Halloween in 2006 and bought tickets in advance. Ended up getting an employee discount offered a few weeks ahead of time so it was kind of a pain to cancel the other ones. I want to hold out on buying advanced tickets as long as I can in hopes of an employee discount.

But if it sells out, do they have a standby line?

no stand by line but a couple of years ago, think it was in 03, tickets were over sold by accident and all were honored to the park for hhn.

there are some situations at the hotel that do make it possible for a guest at the hotel to obtain hhn tickets even when it is sold out. it is not a sure bet but can happen.

a few years ago when i was at hrh, the concierge stand in the lobby had a couple that flew in from europe that day and did not have tickets for hhn.
the park was sold out that night but the couple was able to get tickets for the next night at hhn.
this is not something you want to bet on for getting tickets on a sold out night.

buy the tickets in advance then do the refund for the employee discount to guarantee you get in.

the express passes sell out before the hhn tickets do usually.

last year oct 31 was not bad in the parks.
many locals used that night to take their kids to trick or treat or go to other places for celebrating the night.

 

[macraven]

We will be there for the 1st time, at universal on Oct29th to Nov 4th 2008.Do you think they will be doing it that Wed Oct 29th? Can you get your pass at your hotel? We are at the RPR. And you all have been a great deal of help.You should do your own travel book. Thanks

you can buy tickets through the concierge at the hotel rph.
my cousin stayed there and did not have tickets.

i told him to go to the far end side of the lobby, away from the check in counter and buy them there. he did. no problem


check the universal/ioa park calendar for hours.
if you see the park closes at 5 at the studios on that wednesday, that is a sure bet hhn will happen then.

the park hours are not out yet for october. i just went and checked for you.

 

[macraven]

Hmm, Todd, will you be doing the RIP with me and Raven this year?!

The RIP (VIP tour for HHN is the best). That is the only true way to FOTL for the houses. As in, you cut even the express pass people. Plus, you don't have to show up early to hold your seat at the shows. It rocks!

i also have bonny and lee going with us and 2 other homies are a maybe.
i'm calling mid april for the set up with the guide.

 

[Metro West]

i also have bonny and lee going with us and 2 other homies are a maybe. i'm calling mid april for the set up with the guide.

A private DIS RIP tour huh? I like it!

 

[macraven]

Okay, I've got 8 years too, just not in a row - couldn't go last year so I'm REALLY looking forward to this year. It is an awful lot of money, but the advice about mid-week (or early in the month is great too) is terrific, and Stay and Scream makes a big difference.

Also Bill and Ted is a don't miss - some of the funniest stuff ever, year after year after year!

i totally agree with you.

since i come down from the chicago area, i also hit the hhn nights for 3 times in a row. last year and this year i have it planned to get the thursday night in too. 4 nights in a row.

it is a lot of money but i won't stay away because of it.
i'm too addicted.

i have used the stay and scream plan since i have been attending.
i always buy the express pass, needed or not. to me, i think of it like car insurance.......if you need it, you got it.

i have a touring plan on hhn nights. start with s & s to get a head start on the houses and don't use the ex pass until lines are at 25 minutes.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

i also have bonny and lee going with us and 2 other homies are a maybe.
i'm calling mid april for the set up with the guide.

Yep, we're definitely in ...

A private DIS RIP tour huh? I like it!

We're gonna have a blast!

 

[Metro West]

We're gonna have a blast!

 

[VonBaroketch]

I have some thoughts regarding the Express Passes during HHN. I attended my first HHN in 1996 and have been to most of them since then. I also worked as a scare-actor for the event from 2001-2003. What I learned from attending as a guest and from actual attendance stats while I worked there (not available to the public) is that the event has grown in popularity to the point of regularly exceeding capacity, especially on the weekends of October.

I have purchased the Express passes the past two years and have found them necessary, although not ideal. With 8 houses and 4 shows last year, I only barely managed to go through all 8 houses, see 1 show, and ride 1 ride. Also, half of those Express lines I waited over 30 minutes (45 minutes max) to enter the houses. While this definately was better than waiting the 2+ hour lines, it was very expensive and left me unsatisfied.

My recommendation would be to get the Frequent Fear Pass and attend HHN at least twice. There is plenty to see and do to make it a two-night event, and even if you are not going to be in the Orlando area for more than a few days, purchasing a FFP and visiting 2 nights is a better deal than purchasing a single night + Express passes. Of course, FFP is only good Sun-Thurs. with the exception of the first weekend, so if you can only go on an October weekend, get the Express passes.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I have purchased the Express passes the past two years and have found them necessary, although not ideal. With 8 houses and 4 shows last year, I only barely managed to go through all 8 houses, see 1 show, and ride 1 ride. Also, half of those Express lines I waited over 30 minutes (45 minutes max) to enter the houses. While this definately was better than waiting the 2+ hour lines, it was very expensive and left me unsatisfied.

My recommendation would be to get the Frequent Fear Pass and attend HHN at least twice. There is plenty to see and do to make it a two-night event, and even if you are not going to be in the Orlando area for more than a few days, purchasing a FFP and visiting 2 nights is a better deal than purchasing a single night + Express passes. Of course, FFP is only good Sun-Thurs. with the exception of the first weekend, so if you can only go on an October weekend, get the Express passes.

This was our experience as well - more so in 2007 than 2006. We were very surprised at the long express lines but were grateful we had the EPs as we definitely wouldn't have waited in the regular lines for 2+ hours. 2007 was the first year we waited in excess of 5-10 minutes for the express line.

We too buy the Frequent Fear Pass and attend on more than one evening and to ensure we do get to see all the houses/shows we also have booked the RIP tour for the past 2 years and will continue to do so as long as they are offered.

 

[macraven]

last year i bought the FFP as it was to my advantage.
used it for 2 nights and bought tickets for the fr/sa nights.

didn't have to buy the express pass for the night we did the RIP.

RIP will be a repeat each year for me now.

 

[RAPstar]

last year i bought the FFP as it was to my advantage.
used it for 2 nights and bought tickets for the fr/sa nights.

didn't have to buy the express pass for the night we did the RIP.

RIP will be a repeat each year for me now.

that sounds so fun! i wish I could go this yr. who knows maybe there will be a hurricane the week I'm supposed to go and i can reschedule it for when you're going! lol knock on wood of course.

 

[macraven]

you know you want to.........................


how can you wait another year for hhn................

 

[RAPstar]

you know you want to.........................


how can you wait another year for hhn................

well, unless i rob a bank, or win the lottery, I have to. Or i could starve for a week when I'm there in September, convince my super. to let me take off again in Oct. and use the vacation money i'm saving for this yr instead. but i'm not that obsessed yet. maybe after '09...........

if jodie's screaming doesn't scare me away! j/k

 

[RAPstar]

ooh! and mother might be going with me next yr too!!

 

[Metro West]

I have purchased the Express passes the past two years and have found them necessary, although not ideal. With 8 houses and 4 shows last year, I only barely managed to go through all 8 houses, see 1 show, and ride 1 ride. Also, half of those Express lines I waited over 30 minutes (45 minutes max) to enter the houses. While this definately was better than waiting the 2+ hour lines, it was very expensive and left me unsatisfied.

My recommendation would be to get the Frequent Fear Pass and attend HHN at least twice. There is plenty to see and do to make it a two-night event, and even if you are not going to be in the Orlando area for more than a few days, purchasing a FFP and visiting 2 nights is a better deal than purchasing a single night + Express passes. Of course, FFP is only good Sun-Thurs. with the exception of the first weekend, so if you can only go on an October weekend, get the Express passes.

This will be my 5th HHN in a row with the FFP, EP and doing S & S. I went five times last year so I always get my money's worth on the FFP. I'll do all the houses on opening night to get them out of the way and then when I return, I'll mix in some shows. After that, I'll just go over and hang out having done everything.

Oh and.........

 

[thumbalyna]

what is the RIP tour? how much does it cost? and how do i get one?

we waited almost 3 hours to get into freddy this year and would prefer not to do it again - we are going 2 nights (10/4 and 10/5) and i am looking at express pass i am afraid of the lines - even though people i know had them and still waited almost an hour to get into jacks

 

[raph_b]

I think we will be there on opening night and I am deinitely thinking about doing the RIP tour.

Macraven, which night are you thinking of arranging it for?

If its opening night and you have space for 2 others I'd be honoured to join you guys!

 

[macraven]

I think we will be there on opening night and I am deinitely thinking about doing the RIP tour.

Macraven, which night are you thinking of arranging it for?

If its opening night and you have space for 2 others I'd be honoured to join you guys!

we are planning on the columbus day weekend.
why don't you some during that time period and we'll get the homies together for the rip tour.

our group loves the houses and shows.
we hit them all and some of the rides. jaws at night, mummy, etc


i'll be putting a thread up soon to get more in the group.

 

[macraven]

what is the RIP tour? how much does it cost? and how do i get one?

we waited almost 3 hours to get into freddy this year and would prefer not to do it again - we are going 2 nights (10/4 and 10/5) and i am looking at express pass i am afraid of the lines - even though people i know had them and still waited almost an hour to get into jacks

it is a private tour that allows up to 12 people in a group with one tour guide.

our group was set but since we did not have 12, we had some newbies added to it that signed up thru universal tours.

we had requested in advance to have our group do all the houses, zones and shows. also got in some of the main rides.

when you do a private tour such as rip, you go ahead of the express line.
you can enter into the houses on a side door that is not used by the public.

your group stays together the entire time.
for the shows, you have reserved seating and do not have to enter the show area until prior to the start of the event. no wasting an hour of your time in line in order to get the best viewing seats in the house.

i love the tours.
i'm doing it again this year and already have 6 people that have talked to me about it.

i'll put a thread up in the forums later to see who else wants to join in.

it is not cheap but you can get a discount with your ap for the tours.