Newbie! - HHN and Touring Plan - Oct. 6-10 - Help Please!

[Baconbit]

I am going to Orlando in Oct. with DH (Oct. 1-6 at WL in WDW, and stay night of 6-10 at HRH at US/IOA). DH has never been to US and I haven't in ~10 years. Funny, one of the only things I remember from then is standing in line for Kongfrontation...anyway...I just found out that HHN are the same time we will be there. I didn't know about HHN this wasn't planned on our part. I did some internet searches, and I can't decide if we should pay the extra money for the HHN ticket. I read that the lines are really long and not sure that I want to spend more money than we already are justto buy another express pass since my hotel key won't work at HHN...also, are any of the rides open during HHN? I'm not really big into haunted houses so I think we would just enjoy it more to pay for the HHN ticket and ride Deuling Dragons in the dark!!! Also, we went to WDW for our honeymoon and I had a plan of what we would do and see and in what order so that we could see everything. Really at US/IOA, we will have 3 full days - Oct. 7-9 (only will do Citywalk on the evening of the 6th) but it is Fri, Sat, Sun during HHN...Now, I'm rambling...any advice? Thanks.

 

[F-L-A]

Yes, select rides are open during the event. However, that's not the point of the event. HHN is really fun if you like haunted houses and the Halloween atmosphere in general.... otherwise, you shouldn't bother. It's really not worth the $50 just to go on rides that are there year-round in the dark. Plus, it just adds to the crowds for those of us that are there to experience the actual event.

Dueling Dragons was only open on peak nights last year.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Welcome to the Dis! I think we can really help you plan your trip. Its kind of hard to come up with an actual touring plan for HHN because there are so many variables and unknowns. HHN changes every year and every year its getting bigger, drunker and more crowded but more fun.
You are right in that your hotel keys won't help at night but they will from 9-5 at IOA and 9-6 at US. Rides like Hulk and DD are open during HHN and usually have long lines until really late. DD has to close by a specific time on week nights and later on weekends due to a City noise ordinance.
In your case (being the 1st HHN) I would consider spending an extra $125 per person for the VIP tour. You get to experience front of the line at all of the haunted houses, scare zones, best seats for Bill and Ted, actual front of the line for attractions like the Hulk, Mummy, Spidey, DD, and they alot time for the parade. The tour guides are very knowledgable and will make sure you see it all. We did it last year and thought it was worth the extra money. Last year without VIP or express some people complained that they were only able to see a handful of houses and the lines and people in them got nasty.
Feel free to ramble... it's never stopped me!
What do you remember from the Kong line? Graffitti?

 

[Notatourist]

Motherfletcher-pardon me while I kiss your forehead...

More info on the VIP tour can be found at 407-363-8295.

 

[Baconbit]

F-L-A,

My husband enjoys haunted houses. I will not be there to "add to the crowds for those of us that are there to experience the actual event." I was just wondering if the rides were open so that I would know if there would be anything else for me to do, if my husband wants to go in some houses I am not interested in.
As far as it "not being worth the $50 to go on rides that are there year-round in the dark", my husband and I do not live anywhere near Orlando, so this is our only opportunity to experience US/IOA for everything it offers.

Motherfletcher, thanks for the advice about the VIP tour - I'll check the website for more information...Where did you buy your tickets last year?

 

[Baconbit]

Just saw the phone number posted by Notatourist...thanks.

 

[Metro West]

Baconbit -

Most of the major rides like Hulk, DD, Spiderman, ROTM, etc. are open during HHN for a limited time. I think they closed the rides at 10pm last year. But, Dueling Dragons was open only on the weekend nights during HHN last year due to the fact that not all of IOA was being used. I got to ride DD and the Hulk at night last summer and will again this year. DD is really fun in the dark! Don't worry about anything. You guys WILL have a blast!

 

[Bill Lumbergh]

Motherfletcher-pardon me while I kiss your forehead...

More info on the VIP tour can be found at 407-363-8295.

Here's a trip report on the HHN VIP tour: http://www.ioacentral.com/news/columns/barrys_backwater_bar_stool/horror_vacation_part_two.htm

Scroll down to the bottom and watch a pretty good video. There is no video of the inside of the haunted houses. Videotaping is not allowed in any of the haunted houses. The video does show the fun happenings during HHN, though.

 

[Motherfletcher]

The HHN haunted houses aren't your typical JayCee's. You will probably want to hang close to DH at this event. We went 2 years ago without VIP but had APs for early entry, Express, advanced park knowledge, had pre-planned to the max and attended on an off (not weekend) night. We made all of the houses and had the advantage of some genuine scares at the first 2 houses. After that the crowd grows to a level where everything is pretty predicable as you march zombie-like single file through the elaborate horror maizes. Again, I wouldn't leave DH alone because he might get scared!

 

[macraven]

just want to add that only the hulk closed down early last year. on the weekday,friday and sunday it closed at midnight due to city ordinance on noise.
all the coaster were running last year during hhn...longs were very long once it was 10 pm. if you are interested in going to hhn for the rides, you might be better off to buy the express pass plus. this allows you to ride each ride once and enter each house once.


what a coincedence. you are the first person i have met on the boards that has the same schedule as me. doing the disney thing , then moving over to hard rock at the same time.

 

[bjakmom]

We'll be there at the same time, too ! - also moving over on Friday after a week at WDW and staying until Monday. Hope we don't miss HRH too much - we're trying PBH this trip since last 4 trips have been at HRH (which we love!) - but with little ones along and HHN going on, I thought PBH might be a tad quieter (and I want to give it a try). Sending all the adult & teen kids to HHN on sunday night - wish I could afford the VIP for them, but they'll have to 'suffer' with express passes - I'll be back at the room babysitting - have fun everyone and thanks for all the planning tips !

 

[macraven]

now, you are the second person that has a schedule like mine. and the first one started this thread.

i will be 10 nights at disney then moving friday morn oct 7 to hrh.
checking out late on the monday also.

if i could swing it, i would do more nights at hrh but its pricey as usual. the most i have stayed at hrh is 5 nights..........loved every hour of it!

i plan to check in before 8:30 at hrh. store the luggage and get my room key, start the park. doing rides and attractions can be difficult during hhn if the place is crowded.

you might like pbh. i did one night there once. crazy about hrh and just can't go to another on site hotel.

 

[Foladar]

I have nearly the same schedule as you guys.
Oct 1st thru 5th at Universal, and Oct 6th thru 8th at Disney.

 

[macraven]

i will be at disney sept 27 check out early oct 7
then universal (yay.....) oct 7 late check out oct 10.


how can we arrange and have a mini meet together?
anyone interested?

 

[Baconbit]

Thanks for the input everyone...I think doing both parks will be a blast and I am so excited - also hoping it is far enough into late summer that big storms won't pop up. I hope everybody has a great time! Totally excited about Hulk and Dueling Dragons by the way...