Monsters, Haunted Houses, Scare Zones and more. HHN 30 fun trip.

[Robo56]

After a nice rest I wanted to try and get to HHN while it was still light out for a few pictures and we wanted to get back to Diagon Alley for some more spell fun with the wands before out Tour started.

So rested and refreshed we packed our wands, ROF Passes and RIP Tour tickets. I had purchased a lightweight material HHN bag and my niece had her small Haunted Mansion backpack so our wands fit nicely.

We left about 6:30 caught the water taxi and headed to HHN.

The on-site Resort guest entrance to the left was open. That entrance is located on the sidewalk that leads to what was Blueman Theater. A TM was standing in front of the Studios with a pole sign directing on-site guests. It is between the right side of Hard Rock and the back of one end of RRR coaster.

It is a nice perk for on-site guests especially if the regular entrance turnstiles are busy you can breeze through there.

The on-site Resort guest entrance that was used in years past to the right of VIP was closer and more convenient. Not sure as to why they don’t use that anymore.

We breezed through the Resort entrance.



We decided to walk through the 30 years, 30 Fears Scare Zone








Then a photo in front of Monsters Cafe….LOL


To be continued

 

[Robo56]

It looked cute for sure! I've only purchased the smaller dome cakes before. The size of the petit cake was a little much for just me. I thought it tasted okay, but didn't think it was worth $23, but it was adorable!

You're dinner at Ruth's Chris looked delicious! & I never made it over to the Jack experience at Cabana Bay, but it looks awesome!

The cake is to much for one person. Your right $23 is kind of steep for a tiny cake, but I have found nothing is inexpensive at Springs.

If I remember correctly last year Amorette’s had a Wanda Vision cake that was a small TV that had a screen with a picture from the series’s. There were tiny TV knobs and even a TV antenna. They are very creative.

Jack`d Up Experience at Cabana Bay does look good. I think I would have to venture over to see that if they do it again next year.

It seems to have caught on. Hopefully they will have another one next year. I think you would enjoy seeing it.

I think Ruth`s Chris was a better experience for us in NYC than the Orlando one, and yes, those plates are nuclear hot!!! I agree, Eddie V`s and Ocean Prime are superior.

It’s nice to have your input. As I know you and your hubby have eaten at a number of the local steakhouses.

Nice merchandise items.......enjoying your report and pictures too.

Thank you. That means a lot to me.

 

[Raeven]

The cake is to much for one person. Your right $23 is kind of steep for a tiny cake, but I have found nothing is inexpensive at Springs.

If remember correctly last year Amorette’s had a Wanda Vision cake that was a small TV that had a screen with a picture from the series’s. There were tiny TV knobs and even a TV antenna. They are very creative.

The Wandavision one looked awesome!

 

[J'aime Paris]

Such fantastic pictures!! Loving your TR more and more with each update!

What a special bday celebration for your sister

 

[Robo56]

The Wandavision one looked awesome!

I found a online pic of the Wandavision cake.



It was cute, but now that I look at it again I don’t believe I would have liked having my mouth dyed from sampling this cake as it had black fondant on it and it was pretty tiny. It was about 1/4 size of the Haunted Mansion cake. It cost about $20 if I remember correctly. It is an awesome looking cake though for sure.

Such fantastic pictures!! Loving your TR more and more with each update!

What a special bday celebration for your sister

Thank you Lori. I’am so glad you are continuing to enjoy the trip report.

My sister liked her birthday meal. It is always so nice to celebrate my sisters and families birthdays when we can.

 

[Robo56]

Wednesday, September 15th continued

After the photo outside Monsters Cafe we walked over to the Seek and Destroy Scare Zone. This area of New York had been the home of The Purge Scare Zone In 2017, Vamp 85: New Years Eve 2018 and if I remember correctly Zombie Land Double Tap In 2019.

The use of the large digital talking head on screen was interesting.

Like my previous walk through of this Scare Zone there were young ones that had been chosen to pledge their loyalty to The Controller having fun in front of the stage with the Scare Actors. This was a thought provoking Scare Zone for sure.










After finishing our Walk through of Seek and Destroy we headed to the Crypt TV Scare Zone



This Scare Actor seemed to enjoy changing his menacing poses much to the delight of everyone taking photos including myself.

 

[Robo56]

The Scare Actor doing Santa was awesome.








After our walk through and photos in the Crypt TV Scare Zone we went into Diagon Alley and took out our wands and enjoyed casting some spells again.

I looked down at my watch and it was 7:50. We were supposed to check in for our 8:30 pm Tour at 8:00 pm. We stowed our wands and walked quickly over to La Bamba Cafe.

We checked in at the podium and we were told who our tour guide was going to be. She was standing outside by the door. She introduced herself to us and gave us our tour lanyards. Her name was Marriah and she was very nice.

We were invited inside to enjoy some food and drink.

There was a very large option of hot food items compared to years past.

 

[Robo56]

 

[Robo56]

The food was refreshed quickly. I took my photos just after a large group had gone through.

For those who have done the RIP Tours in the past the desserts were usually displayed and served to the right of dining room towards the back. That area had been turned into a bar, but you could go there and ask for Coke, Diet Coke and Sprite as well as cash bar items. The sodas were served in the bottle so you could easily take these with when your tour started.

The desserts were served up on the food bar in front. There were not as many as in years past, but with the increase in other options were not really needed.

The food was good and there were plenty of options to choose from. This was a very nice presentation of snack foods for The RIP Tour. Universal did a great job with this.

The dining room lighting had a reddish glow to it. Nice idea for colors in setting the mood for a Horror night tour.

Clown Shoes. I’am guessing these were a nod to Jack.


Talk about a creepy dining room center piece. This really set the mood for the start of the tour




to be continued

 

[Pumpkin1172]

Wow...great pictures!!!!!!

 

[J'aime Paris]

Lots of good food offerings!

Do the scare actors talk to guests?
I only went to HHN "light" version last year, and there weren't any walking the streets.

 

[Robo56]

Wow...great pictures!!!!!!

Thank you Pumpkin. So glad you are enjoying the pictures.

Lots of good food offerings!

They did a really good job with the food this year.

Do the scare actors talk to guests?
I only went to HHN "light" version last year, and there weren't any walking the streets.

With HHN being canceled last year my guess is they already had Tooth Fairy and Bride of Frankenstein house up already and decided to show those house to all the park guests. I saw them last year and was so glad they left something up to see.

Did you like Tooth Fairy and Bride of Frankenstein last year?

The only time you would have Scare Zones with walking Scare Actors would be during HHN.

None of the Scare Actors in the Scare Zones talked, but they really did a lot of nice posing for everyone wanting to take photos.

The Beetlejuice Scare Actor who was up on the riser when you entered the Beetlejuice House was interacting with people. He was fun.

 

[J'aime Paris]

Yes, I went through both houses twice!

The first time in each house I was sooooooooo scared....I clutched my dad's arm probably to the point of it hurting, and had my eyes closed a lot. Thank goodness for the plexi glass! At least I was assured nobody would "get me"!

The second time was a bit better, since I had an idea of what was happening around me. But still a member of the scaredy cat club!!!!

 

[Robo56]

The second time was a bit better, since I had an idea of what was happening around me. But still a member of the scaredy cat club!!!!

I think you would love attending HHN. Maybe doing the Unmasking the Horror Tour first and getting to see everything in the houses and getting the backstory during the daylight then doing a RIP Tour one evening. You might get addicted to going to HHN like all of us.

 

[Robo56]

Wednesday, September 15th continued

While my niece and I were sampling some of the snacks my older sister called me and asked if I knew that a rocket ship was getting reading to be launched with a crew. I told her I did not and she told me to go outside and look to the east.

A few of the TM’s were standing by the exit in the back of La Bamba and I told them about the ship going up. We all went out the back and were able to see it. I did not take any pics of it, but my sister sent me these from the front of her yard.




My sister lives a little southeast of Orlando.

Our tour guide told us to meet her out side the back door at 8:25. When we had all gathered to meet her there were 12 of us in the group.

As you leave the back entrance to La Bamba there is a large metal container of water bottles in ice. If you are going on a tour make sure to take a couple to keep hydrated.

She told us we were going to really hustle. She said we would do the houses in the back of the park first then move to the front.

If I remember correctly we did Haunting of Hill House, Beetlejuice, Puppet Theatre, Wicked Growth and then Welcome to Scarey.


When we went into the Beetlejuice House there was a Scare Actor up on a riser once you entered. He was a hoot. He was interacting with People who talked to him. I hollared up to him Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. He looked at me and said “Hey you none of the B word” LOL.......

I had my Apple Watch tracking mileage walked and we completed 5 houses in a hour and 5 minutes.

Then thankfully back to LaBamba for a break. She had told us 15 minutes for our break, but it lasted about 25 minutes. I think everyone needed a few more minutes after that hustle of houses in such a short time.

30 Years, 30 Fears Scare Zone





After the break we did Case Files Unearthed, Bride of Frankenstein and Chainsaw.

We then took a cocktail break at the area next to Jimmy Fallon.

My niece and I decided on the Ghoul juice cocktail in the light up cup. This was a premixed cocktail in a container. We had about a 25 minute break. The line for the bar was busy so I went to the bathroom to put a large bandaid on my right foot. I had developed a blister on the pad of my foot and I also noticed the rash on my lower right leg.


The rash is caused from excessive walking in heat. You have probably heard it called the Disney rash. It’s actually called vasculitis. Strangely it does not matter your age, weight, height etc... if you are prone to it you get it.

It was pretty warm and humid and with the rapid walking it helped the rash appear. A blister and a rash was a small price to pay for a evening of HHN.

I always carry the large bandaids for vacation. I use them for my feet and if someone else needs one I have some to share.

I purchased our drinks and sat down for a quick rest.

B enjoying her cocktail.




In the past it was required that your drink cup be empty by the time you reached the door to enter the Haunted House. If it was not they required you to get rid of the contents before entering the house. There were garbage cans there to do so.

This year you were required to drink or dump your drink at the start of entering the line. This is an issue if you have just left the lounge and purchased an expensive cocktail and were enjoying it. My niece and I chugged our drink and off we went to see the Tooth Fairy.

Our last house of the evening was HHN Icons.

After our last house our tour guide told us to walk through The Seek and Destroy Scare Zone and meet her on the other side.

My niece and I went to the other side of the Scare Zone and the Tour guide was going to take us all to see the Halloween Nightmare Fuel Show.

I talked to my niece and asked her if she wanted to see the show. I was not interested. The thought of sitting in that hot area around so many people was in no way appealing to me. If she wanted to go I was game though. She was ready to leave also. Looking back at the tour group everyone looked exhausted.

I tipped the tour guide and we were ready to leave.

There was not much time for photos during the tour, but I did get a few. I had not planned to take many.

We stopped in the Five and Dime on our way out. The Universal Monster displays are awesome in there and there is a nice selection of HHN merchandise.







To be continued

 

[Robo56]

Wednesday, September 15th continued


Thank goodness the water taxi was waiting we arrived at the boat dock.
The Captain hung around for a little while as there was a slow trickle of people making their way to the boat.

When then set off for the Portofino.

I think it was about 12:30 am when we made to the room.

We took turns in the bathroom with shower and bath then I put some extra strength Cortisone cream and extra strength Benadryl cream on my lower legs to help treat the rash and off to sleep I went.



Thursday, September 16th

We slept in today a little. We made it to Starbucks about 10:30 am. We had our coffee and a nice chat about the fun we had experienced in the last few days.

B was flying out this evening from Sanford so we decided to just have a relaxing day at the pool.

We went to the Villa pool again and settled in for a relaxing afternoon. I swam some laps as the pool was not busy yet.

B enjoyed some reading and pool. We ordered lunch. It was a nice restful day after the busy evening yesterday.



I was sad B was leaving. She said she had a wonderful time. She was missing her sweet little J. Grandma had been sending pictures of their adventures to B.

My niece is so much fun to be around. I was glad she was able to get away for a few days to enjoy some relaxing pool time; shopping and HHN fun.

We headed back up to the room about 3:30 and took turns getting shower and bath. Then B needed to start packing.

We left the Resort for Sanford about 4:30 pm. When we approached Sanford there was a lot of dark clouds moving in. It looked like rain.

I dropped B off at the drop off zone for Allegiant Air. I prayed for her safe passage and gave her a hug and off she went into the airport.

I told her to text me if there were any issues.

A few minutes later she texted me to let me know she was through security.

I had planned to hang around Sanford until her plane took off.

I went and topped off my gas tank. Made a stop at Walmart for a couple things. Then went back to the cellphone lot at the airport. By now it was raining pretty bad.

B had texted me and let me know that the plane take off was delayed 25 minutes.

I watched her plane take off in the rain and prayed for her safe passage home. Her mom my little sister would be waiting for her at the airport.

I headed back to Orlando and to the Portofino.

Tonight would be a early night.

I called my hubby before I went to sleep. I brought him up on the days events then off to sleep I went.

 

[Robo56]

Friday, September 17th

I woke up early this morning. Opened the curtains and the sun was was bright and the sky was blue. I went out on the balcony and watched people loading onto the water taxi for early entry. There were quite a few and it looked like the boat would be full.

I sat there for awhile then went for a bubble bath. I straightened my hair. ...LOL....not sure why. It had been very humid since I had been in Orlando and it would eventually frizz up and be put in a pony tail.

I dressed and put my wallet, phone and rain poncho in the light weight HHN bag I bought. I found this bag to be very comfortable to wear.

Then off to the boat I went. The boat filled up and we were off to CityWalk.

I stopped by Voodoo Donuts to pick up a couple of donuts to sample.




Stopped for a selfie....which I’am not good at on the Voodoo Donut chair.



There was a small line inside the store. The inside of the store is colorful.







I bought the Universal Orangesicle and the Limited addition Vampire jelly donut.




With my Voodoo donut box in hand I went to Starbucks to get my coffee.

I bought the pumpkin cream cold brew and found a table to sample the donuts. I sat down and watched a massive amount of people coming in from the parking garage.

I tried the Orangesicle first. It was a donut on a stick with orange vanilla cream icing and orange coated chocolate pearls and small vanilla coated pearls on it. There was also a orange cream center that had orange zest in it. It was ok, but after a couple of bites I was through.



I tried the Vampire donut next. I can’t remember if it was raspberry or cherry filling. It had powder sugar on the outside and was a bit messy. It was good. I liked it better the the Orangesicle. I had a couple bites of this one and I was done. I find that Voodoo donuts tend to be big and mildly dense.

I have had the Voodoo doll donut in the past and it is good. I almost bought that one, but felt I needed to try something else.

After I finished my coffee I decided on IOA.

I always like walking through the big Islands Trading Post Store.

I looked at some of the HHN T-Shirt options and HHN merchandise.

There were some TM’s I had never seen before out in the Port of Entry. They were very nice.


I went to Spider-Man. I stopped to watch people on Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. Then I went to Kong. I really like Kong. I always take the glasses off at the end to see Kong. I think he looks better with out the glasses.

After Kong I slowly wondered around to Jurassic Park. I stopped to watch people on the Velocicoaster. Then onto the bridge that leads to Hogsmeade.

Hogsmeade was packed. The line for the Hog’s Head Pub was way out the door and the line at the Butterbeer cart was long.

I slipped into Dervish and Banges to see If there was any new merchandise in there.

Then I walked out of Hogsmeade into the Lost Continent.

to be continued

 

[J'aime Paris]

Sad to see your niece leave, but I'm sure she was ready to see her little one!

I usually give in to temptation for the Voodoo Donuts as well!

 

[schumigirl]

I do like the creepy dining room, very atmospheric!

Lovely pictures again, sorry to your niece leave, but I guess she was missing the little one......glad you had such a lovely time with her on a trip.

You did fine with the selfie.......took us a while to master it!

I had heard of the new characters in PoE, they look like a fun group for sure.

 

[Robo56]

Sad to see your niece leave, but I'm sure she was ready to see her little one!

I usually give in to temptation for the Voodoo Donuts as well!

Yes, she was ready to get home to little J. Her trip had been planned for only four days so she would not be away from him to long. We did a lot in her 4 day trip. She had a nice time.

I call Voodoo donuts vacation donuts in that if they were local to me I would not purchase them, but if I’am at Universal I will sample them sometimes. The store is pretty cool too.

I do like the creepy dining room, very atmospheric!

Lovely pictures again, sorry to your niece leave, but I guess she was missing the little one......glad you had such a lovely time with her on a trip.

You did fine with the selfie.......took us a while to master it!

I had heard of the new characters in PoE, they look like a fun group for sure.

My niece is sweet. She needed a little mini vacation and It was so nice to get to spend time with her.

The Mayor of POE and the other 2 fellas were so nice. I keep telling people what nice TM’s they have at Universal.