How does HHN affect park hours?

[Richard M Nixon]

I've never been to Universal before and I'm thinking about going down around Halloween to check out HHN and the awesome rides. I understand that the event starts around 7-8pm depending on the date, but what impact does this have on the regular park hours? When making a touring plan at touringplans.com for 10/28/15, I saw that it estimates that USF will close at 5pm and IOA will close at 7. Do the parks close at different times for the event?

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

IOA stays open longer because HHN has only been at USF for several years now. USF usually will close at 5 on event nights. Diagon Alley may be accessible from IOA after USF has closed via the Hogwarts Express. I remember they did that last year but I'm not sure if that will be the case this year.

 

[macraven]

the HHN event begins at 6:30 pm
those in the park waiting in the holding areas (stay and scream) are usually released around 6 to begin the few houses that will open early for them.
that 6:00 time can vary based on the date.

front gate opens at 6:30 but on some hhn nights, i have seen them start to let peeps in around 6:15-20 on a few weekend nights.
guess it depends on the line outside for UO to call.

 

[johde]

I know you were looking at closing times, but last year USF opened at 8:00 a.m. during HHN season instead of the normal 9:00 a.m.

 

[macraven]

I know you were looking at closing times, but last year USF opened at 8:00 a.m. during HHN season instead of the normal 9:00 a.m.

you never know which park will be opened for early entry during hhn 2015.
UO doesn't announced it that far in advance.

 

[johde]

Last year this wasn't Early Entry, it was the normal opening time. Early Entry was 7:00.

 

[macraven]

nevermind

 

[johde]

That's different from what I saw on Orlando Informer. http://orlandoinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/universal-orlando-park-hours-10-2014-3.png