Non HHN person during late Sept or Oct?

[sharona]

Hi. Trying to plan a short visit before our APs expire on 11/8. Most of the dates that work for us involve multiple HHN nights. Since HHN is not really our thing, I'm wondering how much of an impact it has on the normal park crowds and enjoyment. I understand that US would be closing at 5pm on party nights and that is ok for us since we'll be spending time at City Walk and at IOA as well but will it be extra crowded at IOA at night after US closes or are the majority of park visitors there for HHN? Are any of the US attractions negatively affected by HHN during regular park hours? Any other impacts that we should know about while we choose our dates? Do the park goers dress up as well? Wondering if DD will be freaked out by costumes she'll see outside of HHN?

TIA!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Do the park goers dress up as well? Wondering if DD will be freaked out by costumes she'll see outside of HHN?

Guests are not allowed to dress up for HHN:

http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/information.html

"No masks or costumes allowed. Your own terrified face will be enough."

 

[Lynne G]

I think the crowds will be going to US to get ready for the HHN starting in the early afternoon. So, I would think IOA would have some crowd, but not that much, as most that come that night want to go to HHN. I don't think most of the rides are effected, and you won't see most of the decorations that are scary, though some of the HHN stuff you can see in daylight. I don't think it will be that scary. And, like Gina posted above, no costumes. The most you may see are T shirts with characters on them, as some may be visiting the park before going to HHN. I'd go, as I think those dates will not be that crowded, and use early entry or come early to get the best of the day. And, like you said, have a nice dinner at CityWalk or one of the hotels, and play a round of golf or see a movie. Might even be warm enough to take a early night swim, and enjoy the resorts too.

 

[macraven]

i've been doing hhn for years.
started back in 1999.

the only crowds i see in the parks have been on sat/sun in the late afternoon.
people want to get in by 3:00 to hit the rides as only 6 rides will be open during the hhn event period.

have found the studios to be lighter in the mornings on hhn dates, especially after a hhn night.

mondays and tuesdays have longer park hours and not crowded in october.

any prop that is being used for hhn, will be covered in the daytime.
nothing creepy to see in the day time.

go to the park in the daytime in october and it will appear to be like any other park day.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

This is very good information!

OP, this probably won't help you, but we have Disney APs so I've booked FP+s for the HHN nights that we're going to be at Universal. I figure we can hop to Disney if we feel like doing something in the evenings and will at least have 3 rides to entertain us. This is one of the few situations in which the FP+ system works well for us!

 

[Lynne G]

How about one of the nights go to MNSSHP? Easy drive to Disney and very not scary. I love the park during the party.

 

[sharona]

How about one of the nights go to MNSSHP? Easy drive to Disney and very not scary. I love the park during the party.

That's a really great idea but I think not for this time around. We're going to WDW in December and the only way I can justify this "extra" trip to myself is that we can use points for the flights and we already have APs so the only real expense will be the hotel and a few meals. Love your thinking though!!

 

[SingLikeC]

Are any of the US attractions negatively affected by HHN during regular park hours? Any other impacts that we should know about while we choose our dates?

TIA!

I believe the Universal Cinematic Spectacular isn't showing during HHN nights, but I'm wondering if they shut it down for the full HHN season? As mentioned above Monday's and Tuesday's have longer park hours so it may mean that the show will go on on those nights. Maybe. Also, I think someone mentioned that Beetlejuice is replaced with Rocky Horror Picture Show which, if true, would be a bummer for me.

Someone please correct this info if I'm wrong!

What else is different during HHN season?

 

[macraven]

correct on no cine show on hhn nights.
i have been in october on non hhn nights and have watched the cine show then.

i enjoy watching it at least one time per visit.
but have seen most of the movies on the clips they have so that makes it more entertaining for me.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

correct on no cine show on hhn nights.
i have been in october on non hhn nights and have watched the cine show then.

i enjoy watching it at least one time per visit.
but have seen most of the movies on the clips they have so that makes it more entertaining for me.

Whew!! What a relief! We missed the Cinematic Spectacular on our May trip, and its one of my must-do's for October.

 

[dixonsontour]

I didn't think the cinematic was on in October - is it definitely on on non HHN days? We missed it last year if it was.

We don't do HHN and are there October again, will be our 3rd October Universal trip. We didn't think it negatively impacted at all. All the park stuff is covered so nothing to scare DD (or me) We did find the bus from cabana bay back to the parks Saturday early evening was very busy with HHN visitors.

I've planned to visit universal on one of the nights it is open late to see Diagon alley in the dark. Other nights we will do I of A, citiwalk, minigolf at citiwalk and blue man group.

 

[dixonsontour]

I've checked and Universal is open until 8pm on 2 days we are there 19th and 20th October (out of a 10 night stay)

How do I check if cinematic is on those nights?

 

[macraven]

at the studios during october, that park closes at 8pm on mondays and tuesdays.

cinema show begins when it is dark.

guessing that show when shown will be determined later.

have no idea this far out which nights it will be held.

i'm anxious to see it again too!

 

[sharona]

Thanks for all the info!

Booked it! Could not resist the incredible AP rate at RPR that popped up this morning (171 avg/night). And to add to my great luck that I'm having today, while I was booking my flight on SW I checked our Dec flights for our WDW trip and caught a 2409 point price drop (X4 of us thankyouverymuch paid for my Sep flight)! I might have to go buy a lottery ticket today.

 

[SingLikeC]

Wow, I wish I could've caught that great deal at a deluxe! Awesome!

 

[Lynne G]

Awesome Sharona. See, it was meant to be. Have a great trip. It's a perfect time to be in Orlando.

 

[godders]

Sorry to hijack buuuuut: I've had to move my trip to Universal to the end of September so I'm there for the HHNs on 26th and 27th but I'm not attending because I'm a complete wimp....anyway, I was wondering how busy Citywalk gets on HHN so whether I'd be better off staying at my hotel (RPR) than going to play a game of mini golf or going to the cinema for example

TIA