Official 2016 HHN-26 Thread

[Kellyww]

I am not sure this will show up in the right area but...I have an 8 and 10 year old visiting Universal oct 7-12. I had no idea this HHN was going on. If we go to City Walk to eat at night will there be people there dressed up in scary fashion each night we are there? Is there any night better to go and not let them be scared? Thank you!

 

[Metro West]

I am not sure this will show up in the right area but...I have an 8 and 10 year old visiting Universal oct 7-12. I had no idea this HHN was going on. If we go to City Walk to eat at night will there be people there dressed up in scary fashion each night we are there? Is there any night better to go and not let them be scared? Thank you!

No...Halloween Horror Nights is exclusively inside the Studios park...nothing at CityWalk.

 

[agame2323]

Any update on how the crowds have been since opening night?

 

[CAS239]

I am not sure this will show up in the right area but...I have an 8 and 10 year old visiting Universal oct 7-12. I had no idea this HHN was going on. If we go to City Walk to eat at night will there be people there dressed up in scary fashion each night we are there? Is there any night better to go and not let them be scared? Thank you!

HHN is only within Universal. There's no scareactors outside the park, and guests aren't allowed to dress in costume. So while you'll likely see crowds at city walk, there won't be anything scary

 

[pattyw]

I want to report back on our recent HHN experience. My family attended the 9/24 HHN. We stayed onsite at HRH and had the non-private RIP tour. We got to the VIP gate at 6:15 pm with no wait. The resort line looked fine as well. We got to our tour meeting location by 6:25pm. They have appetizers, soft drinks and desserts(complimentary) and a cash bar. It was very nice. We were able to do all 9 houses on the tour with no wait. Our tour started at 7 and we were done by 11:30pm. Then, we went on rides with our EP. We also rode Transformers on the tour and did the Bill & Ted show. We got on Gringotts at the last second- it closes at 11:30. The Diagon Alley stores were staying open until 1am(park close that night). The crowds were manageable that night- for a Saturday. This was our first HHN and I was very impressed at how it was run. We thoroughly enjoyed the party- even though it was terrifying at times

 

[Metro West]

Any update on how the crowds have been since opening night?

I went opening night and it was as busy as I've ever seen it on opening night...been going the first night 8 years of my 13 years of the event. Since then, Friday 9/23 was busy but manageable. Crowds have really been all over the map. People at work went Thursday 9/22 and said it was busy early then slowed down around 10PM but on 9/24 it was slow in the beginning and picked up around 9PM. Take your best guess.

 

[schumigirl]

I went opening night and it was as busy as I've ever seen it on opening night...been going the first night 8 years of my 13 years of the event. Since then, Friday 9/23 was busy but manageable. Crowds have really been all over the map. People at work went Thursday 9/22 and said it was busy early then slowed down around 10PM but on 9/24 it was slow in the beginning and picked up around 9PM. Take your best guess.

Would agree with you.........that's the busiest opening night we've seen in a while..........

Last Saturday we thought was exceptionally busy, but the Sunday wasn't anywhere near as bad.........but friends found it much busier later after we left...........

Best guess is a good description..........

 

[tony67]

I went 4 nights over the last weekend. Thursday was really good - many houses were 25-30 minutes. I did Chances house by myself as I got there just after they let us out of the holding area - that was cool
Because it was slower a lot of the scareactors were doing houses before they clocked in - so I was able to chat with them in line also kind of cool

Saturday was really busy - but I was still able to do two houses and really focus on the scare zones.
The good thing about being really busy is the scareactors can hide in the crowds and really get some great reactions

When the houses are just a conga line through it looses a lot, but not much you can do there are just so many people and they really rush you through so you cant look at the detail they put into it.
I regret not doing a VIP tour or meal - although the food looked pretty blah it looked like a really good time - and if you like Chance she seemed to really interact with people from the videos I saw.

I'd highly recommend trying the second weekend and going a few nights - you can get the flash of fear for $90 or so and that gets you the first 11 nights - so I was able to do 4 nights for next to nothing - can't beat that and you can really spend time checking out things and soaking in the atmosphere.

I was surprised by how many young kids were there - one couple walked out of Bill & ted after 5 minutes.
The other problem is these young kids were trying to show off and pick fights with the scare actors since they know they cant touch them - gets kind of old.

There always seemed to be a few 10-12 year each night watching Chance - and I think one girl was like 7 - was funny to see Chance comment on their parenting skills and such as well as interacting with them- her Jokes do get a bit repetitive though - still amusing

Will most definitely do the same weekend next year.

One other tip if no one has mentioned it - if you are staying at one of the Loews hotels they have heavy stock unfolded tear offs of the HHN park map at the concierge desk - its a cool souvenir that cost nothing

 

[TaylorsDad]

I went 4 nights over the last weekend. Thursday was really good - many houses were 25-30 minutes. I did Chances house by myself as I got there just after they let us out of the holding area - that was cool
Because it was slower a lot of the scareactors were doing houses before they clocked in - so I was able to chat with them in line also kind of cool

Saturday was really busy - but I was still able to do two houses and really focus on the scare zones.
The good thing about being really busy is the scareactors can hide in the crowds and really get some great reactions

When the houses are just a conga line through it looses a lot, but not much you can do there are just so many people and they really rush you through so you cant look at the detail they put into it.
I regret not doing a VIP tour or meal - although the food looked pretty blah it looked like a really good time - and if you like Chance she seemed to really interact with people from the videos I saw.

I'd highly recommend trying the second weekend and going a few nights - you can get the flash of fear for $90 or so and that gets you the first 11 nights - so I was able to do 4 nights for next to nothing - can't beat that and you can really spend time checking out things and soaking in the atmosphere.

I was surprised by how many young kids were there - one couple walked out of Bill & ted after 5 minutes.
The other problem is these young kids were trying to show off and pick fights with the scare actors since they know they cant touch them - gets kind of old.

There always seemed to be a few 10-12 year each night watching Chance - and I think one girl was like 7 - was funny to see Chance comment on their parenting skills and such as well as interacting with them- her Jokes do get a bit repetitive though - still amusing

Will most definitely do the same weekend next year.

One other tip if no one has mentioned it - if you are staying at one of the Loews hotels they have heavy stock unfolded tear offs of the HHN park map at the concierge desk - its a cool souvenir that cost nothing

 

[TaylorsDad]

We will be there Friday through Sunday. I am thinking about the scareacter dining. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[nj2ftl]

Hello! The time has come again for HHN for us. We've gone for the past 2 years as AP holders without fast passes but instead taking advantage of the holding areas by doing the park during the day. Which holding area should be stay in to reach the AHS house first? I've read that this year that is the house with the longest wait time and we want to get it done first. Thank you.

 

[nj2ftl]

Also, any reviews on the VR experience and if it's worth $50? Thanks.

 

[Metro West]

Hello! The time has come again for HHN for us. We've gone for the past 2 years as AP holders without fast passes but instead taking advantage of the holding areas by doing the park during the day. Which holding area should be stay in to reach the AHS house first? I've read that this year that is the house with the longest wait time and we want to get it done first. Thank you.

That would be the holding area in front of the Hello Kitty/Betty Boop store. You'll have to get there early as the line to get in to the holding area grows very fast. Then...make your way over to the far side of the area across from the house entrance to get through it w/o much of a wait. I waited about 15 minutes last Friday night.

Also, any reviews on the VR experience and if it's worth $50? Thanks.

I don't think it opens until tomorrow night.

 

[Chumpieboy]

We will be there Friday through Sunday. I am thinking about the scareacter dining. Does anyone have any experience with this?

We went last Friday, (and went to the first sitting of the first night last year for comparison).

• Food was OK. Worse than last year. Seemed like more generic flavorless sides and more time spent under a heat lamp. Last year's food was more interesting and fresher.
• There was a Michael Myers and a Tree Witch character walking around among the tables. They were great with the interactions and scaring while eating, and posing for pictures etc. Last year there was lots more characters. The two this year were great but there were clearly fewer than last year.
• Then there was Chance. She ignored half of the tables in the room. It's not like she was on a specific pattern and eventually circled back to certain tables - she just walked the fsck past people.
• On her second pass through the room a short time later with the same guests at the same tables (it's not like the tables were turned over and new guests were there etc.) she did the same thing. Re-visiting with the same people and ignoring the same people. Being at one of the loser tables I finally got up to chat with her photographer/handler. He kinda weaseled out and said that she goes where she wants to go and he has no control.
• I am not normally a big complainer about this kind of thing but if the event is billed around Chance specifically, she better damn well stop at every table. On the way out, I asked for a manager and calmly explained what our issue was. The manager gave an explanation saying basically that they had changed how Chance went to tables because some guests had complained that she was spending too much time at some tables and not at others. ***? The solution to that isn't to make the time spent at some tables 0 minutes.
• Last year there was a specific location for character M&G pictures that were included with the package. The Usher, Storyteller, etc. were there to take pictures. This year there was no such thing - it was supposed to be replaced by Chance at your table.

So in conclusion, I can't recommend this event, and would not do it again next year.

 

[chikita]

Have seen reports on Twitter, that Diagon Alley is no longer a holding area for HHN 26. Apparently they are closing Diagon Alley at 5pm and reopening it when HHN starts. Can any one who is there now confirm this. Thank you

https://twitter.com/Orlando_United/status/781595173792911360

 

[Metro West]

Have seen reports on Twitter, that Diagon Alley is no longer a holding area for HHN 26. Apparently they are closing Diagon Alley at 5pm and reopening it when HHN starts. Can any one who is there now confirm this. Thank you

https://twitter.com/Orlando_United/status/781595173792911360

I'll check tomorrow night if I remember. You aren't missing much anyway...the early house for that area is Lunatic's Playground which is not very good.

 

[macraven]

I had the same experience as chumpieboy last year with sa ignoring guest
I'm taking a pass on it this year

Not worth the Money since same thing happening again this Hhn season

 

[tony67]

We went last Friday, (and went to the first sitting of the first night last year for comparison).

• Food was OK. Worse than last year. Seemed like more generic flavorless sides and more time spent under a heat lamp. Last year's food was more interesting and fresher.
• There was a Michael Myers and a Tree Witch character walking around among the tables. They were great with the interactions and scaring while eating, and posing for pictures etc. Last year there was lots more characters. The two this year were great but there were clearly fewer than last year.
• Then there was Chance. She ignored half of the tables in the room. It's not like she was on a specific pattern and eventually circled back to certain tables - she just walked the fsck past people.
• On her second pass through the room a short time later with the same guests at the same tables (it's not like the tables were turned over and new guests were there etc.) she did the same thing. Re-visiting with the same people and ignoring the same people. Being at one of the loser tables I finally got up to chat with her photographer/handler. He kinda weaseled out and said that she goes where she wants to go and he has no control.
• I am not normally a big complainer about this kind of thing but if the event is billed around Chance specifically, she better damn well stop at every table. On the way out, I asked for a manager and calmly explained what our issue was. The manager gave an explanation saying basically that they had changed how Chance went to tables because some guests had complained that she was spending too much time at some tables and not at others. ***? The solution to that isn't to make the time spent at some tables 0 minutes.
• Last year there was a specific location for character M&G pictures that were included with the package. The Usher, Storyteller, etc. were there to take pictures. This year there was no such thing - it was supposed to be replaced by Chance at your table.

So in conclusion, I can't recommend this event, and would not do it again next year.

Interesting....did she seem to be focusing on the "bloggers" - the few videos I saw were pretty good...but maybe she is just focusing on the people that will get her exposure...thoughts? That is a bit disappointing - based on the videos i saw I was planning on doing it next year.
The food did not look even slightly interesting...I know your not there for the food..but they can do a better job..seems like they are getting more and more like Disney and just slopping stuff out.

 

[tony67]

Have seen reports on Twitter, that Diagon Alley is no longer a holding area for HHN 26. Apparently they are closing Diagon Alley at 5pm and reopening it when HHN starts. Can any one who is there now confirm this. Thank you

https://twitter.com/Orlando_United/status/781595173792911360

Seems odd that they would re-open it then. I know there was a rumour she was going to have them close it completely because of some HHN lighting on the facade.
They were also allowing people with park to park tickets to stay till 6 and then take the train back to IOA which seemed like a good option for people as well since the park closed so early.

Maybe they decided they did not like all the non HP folks hanging around - it was pretty obvious that there were a lot of folks that had little or no interest in HP sitting on the ground in that air conditioned alley...and with all the crazy rules around the HP stuff maybe they decided to close it off.
I know the area was not particularly popular...and the house was empty when I got to it - I went through on my own so that could also be a factor - but it is a very good controllable holding area.

 

[nj2ftl]

Any reports from the VR Experience yet?