Official 2025 Universal Studios Orlando HHN 34 Discussion Thread

[KrzyAsian]

Interesting - I've always heard they pulse people through in smaller groups. They also allow photos etc..

Standard can be a nightmare - 90 -120 minute waits are not unusual - and this year will be crazy.

They may have pulsed groups at the beginning of the night, but by 9pm, it's just a constant stream of people, unless you're interrupted by one of the litany of celebrities that come through. (So annoying, even for Express, since they clear out the whole house for some of the VIP's)

Also, I wish they didn't allow photos. The streamers and influencers can be obnoxious in their endeavors to get content. I'm talking about slowing down so that they can try to film every scare/actor/sound, even if it means ruining the flow or taking scares from others. It's not like any of these POV's from an iPhone are worth watching anyways. Even the pros can't capture everything in a haunted house.

Since Hollywood is still an hour drive for me, I only go once a year, typically on a Saturday with Express. Sometimes, those standby lines creep up to THREE HOURS. Like I'm not ready to stand for the entire runtime of Titanic just to walk through a 3-5 minute house. And the crazy thing is, it'll usually be 3 or 4 houses with those kinds of waits.

 

[GhostHost24]

Stay the Day and Be One of the First in at Night.
New for 2025: When you arrive at the park starting at 3pm, you’ll get a wristband at one of the check-in locations listed below. After that, instead of being in one designated area, you’ll be free to explore the park to catch a ride or show, grab a bite, shop for merch or simply take in the sights before the event opens. Then starting at 4pm, you can enter select haunted house queues with a wristband.

The designated check-in stations are located at:

• Lombard's Seafood Grill
• Illumination's Minion Café
• Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast

 

[MinnieMSue]

Ok I have a few questions because I am doing RIP for first time this year in Orlando (well Hollywood too but it is easier). We always have purchased and also did this year all of our tickets for will call. I always just get printed at the hotel. This year we changed express to public RIP scheduled 8pm. We don’t have early access at this time. All admission tickets on same order (HHN RIP and epic one day).
1) Can I pick up the HHn and epic at the hotel and then RIP at the vip entrance wherever that is?
2) what time should we be at vip entrance? We don’t want to be stuck behind a huge crowd and trying to figure out where exactly the vip entrance is since we have always have the stay and scream ticket and not done RIP
3) should I add early entry to make our lives easier even if we don’t get there until after our hotel room is ready? (Sapphire falls)
4) Does public RIP tour stop at any bars? I have a could have young 20-something’s with me who enjoy an occasional drink. I know there is a bar at the snack area before tour begins. (Also when can you check in at the pre tour snacks? Tour starts at 8).
Thanks all. We have done HHN for awhile but doing the tour since we have a newbie with us and only have one night there. I am lucky to also have my first Hollywood RIP tour also this year since my brother who lives in CA has no family who will go with him to HHN and I gladly sacrificed myself to go with him lol. Fun fact he works for naughty dog and for Neil and worked on Last of Us games. Poor guy missed the houses but he educated me on clickers and bloaters etc

 

[GhostHost24]

I missed this but apparently uo confirmed the tribute store will be in the arcade

 

[soniam]

Stay the Day and Be One of the First in at Night.
New for 2025: When you arrive at the park starting at 3pm, you’ll get a wristband at one of the check-in locations listed below. After that, instead of being in one designated area, you’ll be free to explore the park to catch a ride or show, grab a bite, shop for merch or simply take in the sights before the event opens. Then starting at 4pm, you can enter select haunted house queues with a wristband.

The designated check-in stations are located at:

• Lombard's Seafood Grill
• Illumination's Minion Café
• Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast

I’m confused as to the purpose of the wristband. This sounds like what I have always known S&S to be until the insanity of the last few years: enter the corral area between 4-5 and houses open sometime after 5 but before the main entrance opens. Are these actual queues that will start moving or just the normal corral areas?

 

[GhostHost24]

I’m confused as to the purpose of the wristband. This sounds like what I have always known S&S to be until the insanity of the last few years: enter the corral area between 4-5 and houses open sometime after 5 but before the main entrance opens. Are these actual queues that will start moving or just the normal corral areas?

No corral areas. You can walk around the entire park and then starting at 4 you can enter the actual house queue. So no corral for like 3 houses.. So the wristband will the tell the tm to let you in the queue

 

[soniam]

No corral areas. You can walk around the entire park and then starting at 4 you can enter the actual house queue. So no corral for like 3 houses.. So the wristband will the tell the tm to let you in the queue

What time will the house queues start moving, 4? Otherwise, it sounds like a corral but now it’s in the house queue line.

 

[zavandor]

What will prevent people without the wristband to stay for the scare zones, even if not allowed in the lines? Will they have checkpoints in certain areas? Snipers on the roofs?

 

[GhostHost24]

What will prevent people without the wristband to stay for the scare zones, even if not allowed in the lines? Will they have checkpoints in certain areas? Snipers on the roofs?

They'll sweep the park

 

[tony67]

What will prevent people without the wristband to stay for the scare zones, even if not allowed in the lines? Will they have checkpoints in certain areas? Snipers on the roofs?

Yeah - they do this for many of the Disney events - so you cant get into lines without a wrist ban.

What time will the house queues start moving, 4? Otherwise, it sounds like a corral but now it’s in the house queue line.

Somewhat. It stops all the crisscross mess and confusion in the NY area. It means they don't have to set up all those barriers and redirect people. It was a headache for those not staying since you could not easily get from point A to B directly. It also gives a bit more freedom to those that just want to walk around and not get into a house early. I know I've said it 100 times but getting into the houses early is just not worth it - they are 90% of the time disappointing during Stay & Scream.
And it also stops them keeping us in the pen while they walk one family out of the park - which I have seen - and sometimes those families can be difficult and purposefully walk slow holding up everyone.

 

[Robo56]

1) Can I pick up the HHn and epic at the hotel and then RIP at the vip entrance wherever that is?

Yes, your can pick all your tickets up at the guest services at the hotel. I always present my email ticket confirmation papers that have my confirmation number on it and have never had a problem.

Just make sure to take the time to take a close of up photo of hour tickets in case they are lost. It will be quicker and easier to replace them.

2) what time should we be at vip entrance? We don’t want to be stuck behind a huge crowd and trying to figure out where exactly the vip entrance is since we have always have the stay and scream ticket and not done RIP

Park opens at 6:30, but I have seen them open the gates sometimes sooner in the past.

3) should I add early entry to make our lives easier even if we don’t get there until after our hotel room is ready? (Sapphire falls)

There should be a separate resort guest entry for all resort guests that are staying onsite so you don’t have to go to front gate which is mobbed at opening. It has typically been over by the stage 18 area where the old Blue Man group show used to be or the far right of guest services at the front of the park.

In the past you can check in at the podium half hour to 45 minutes before your tour starts. They try and make sure the area where the snacks are is not mobbed with people as they have tours starting at different times.

It should clearly state when you can check in and where to check in on your emailed information from your purchase of your RIP Tour.

Everyone has to have a HHN ticket as well as the ticket for their RIP Tour for the event night. This has been the case in the past.

In my opinion you will be on your feet enough in the heat. I would not like to show up to early and be walked out and over heated before my tour starts.

There is something new this year which I posted below for Sonia’s, but you don’t need to be on your feet waiting in house line queue as you will be taken to the front of the line of all the houses by your tour guide in your tour.

In the past I just have gone through the Resort guest entrance with my HHN ticket and then checked in half hour before my tour at cafe La Bamba with my RIP Tour ticket.

Again double check with your emailed information and call VIP services if anything is not clear.

4) Does public RIP tour stop at any bars? I have a could have young 20-something’s with me who enjoy an occasional drink. I know there is a bar at the snack area before tour begins. (Also when can you check in at the pre tour snacks? Tour starts at 8).

Yes, you have the ability to purchase cocktails at the snack area (Cafe La Bamba) before the tour starts. You also have access to water, tea, lemonade and soda before your tour starts. As well as hot and cold snacks and desserts. There is usually a nice assortment of veggies and dips, fruit, Meats and cheeses and hot items to choose from.

You typically stop at two airconditioned lounge areas for you to relax a bit and purchase drinks if you desire.

The tour guides can take you back to he Cafe La Bamba during the tour to relax for more snacks and to pick up some additional water during the evening.

Wear comfy shoes and stay hydrated.

I’m confused as to the purpose of the wristband. This sounds like what I have always known S&S to be until the insanity of the last few years: enter the corral area between 4-5 and houses open sometime after 5 but before the main entrance opens. Are these actual queues that will start moving or just the normal corral areas?

 

[tony67]

Just make sure to take the time to take a close of up photo of hour tickets in case they are lost. It will be quicker and easier to replace them.

You can also scan them into the Universal app - that is usually what I do - having the paper ticket is better since you have to show it at every house (well if you have express and maybe this year with the wristband thing) and in the past they had issues with scanning - although they have gotten better.

Anyway having a backup in the phone really helps - more than once I have left my ticket in the room in the AM planning to go back for a break in the afternoon but then stayed at USO

 

[LilyWDW]

Does Stay and Scream sell out?

I am contemplating it for one main reason... to get in early and not have to deal with the line outside. It would be nice to be in the park, be able to get something to drink, sit down, and have access to bathrooms. If I was able to do this, I could head over a bit earlier then originally planned. TMI, but I have a medical condition where access to a bathroom it needed every 2 hours or so and I am traveling solo so no one to hold a spot. I also have physical disabilities that make standing in line for a long tome painful (thus why I have express).

So for quality of life, what would you do? What time can I enter for Stay and Scream? I also read you can not enter after 5?

 

[GhostHost24]

Ive never seen it sell out.

This is just my personal opinion. If I were in your shoes, id prob wait til 630 or so to enter. Lines outside the gate should be gone.

However if you want to add the scream early ticket you wouldn't have to enter a queue at 4 or 5 but you will have to be inside the park by 5...im assuming you'd be allowed to roam the whole time (hence why they have wristbands now). You could just wait til houses officially open to then enter a queue.

 

[LilyWDW]

Ive never seen it sell out.

This is just my personal opinion. If I were in your shoes, id prob wait til 630 or so to enter. Lines outside the gate should be gone.

However if you want to add the scream early ticket you wouldn't have to enter a queue at 4 or 5 but you will have to be inside the park by 5...im assuming you'd be allowed to roam the whole time (hence why they have wristbands now). You could just wait til houses officially open to then enter a queue.

Again, I wish I could buy you a drink at the event to thank you for all the help.

I highly doubt I will make it the whole night. Right now my aim is to make it to midnight. I'm getting old, have fatigue issues, and just am trying to make the best plan I can to experience things the best I can. I have time to think it over since I don't go until Oct 1.

 

[Robo56]

I am contemplating it for one main reason... to get in early and not have to deal with the line outside. It would be nice to be in the park, be able to get something to drink, sit down, and have access to bathrooms. If I was able to do this, I could head over a bit earlier then originally planned. TMI, but I have a medical condition where access to a bathroom it needed every 2 hours or so and I am traveling solo so no one to hold a spot. I also have physical disabilities that make standing in line for a long tome painful (thus why I have express).

So for quality of life, what would you do? What time can I enter for Stay and Scream? I also read you can not enter after 5?

I did Stay and Scream a few years ago and I also have issues with standing for long periods of time. Never…..Never …….Never again. I had Expess, but had someone who did not. I wanted to see what all the hoopla was about it and whether it was really worth it. NOOOOOOO…… You have Express……so no reason to get caught up in those throngs of people.

Remember there are going to be tons of people who are going to be standing and waiting to be let go to go to the houses. They will want to sit toooo.

With the Express you will be able to go at your pace and hit the bathrooms as needed.

Having the Express will not keep you from standing in line totally. Just being honest. Last year the longest I waited in line with Express to get into a house was about 20 minutes, but when you see the regular line you are happy you have Express.

Also the walk to the Houses is not short….The houses are on the back lot. You enter the entrance for the houses from the regular park lanes then have to hike to the houses on the backlot……The houses in the back of park by MIB have longer walks.

The houses that are in the front of the park also have a good walk to the houses, but it is a short walk compared to those in the back of the park.

Stay hydrated and bring a small hand fan or neck fan….they help a lot. There is not a lot of air movement in the back lot areas especially on the backlots in the front of the park.

 

[GhostHost24]

Again, I wish I could buy you a drink at the event to thank you for all the help.

I highly doubt I will make it the whole night. Right now my aim is to make it to midnight. I'm getting old, have fatigue issues, and just am trying to make the best plan I can to experience things the best I can. I have time to think it over since I don't go until Oct 1.

If you take it slowly and take some breaks, I think you'll be ok! Don't try to do too much quickly. We always go on men in black as quick ac break... Sometimes chill in the food court or duffs in Simpsons.

Good thing is you have plenty of time to read reports and see how the operations are. I'm going with my friends Sept 11 so I can give a first hand experience then. Not sure if we're gonna do stay and scream or not since we have express as well and staying on property

 

[tony67]

Does Stay and Scream sell out?

I would assume it cant sell out - as long as you have an HHN ticket Id assume they will sell you a stay & scream.

This might be useful to you - I thought it was decent.
Of course this year there is a lot of new stuff so you want to keep watching this thread and some of the streamers.

 

[Sherlee]

Please advise on a plan for us...
We will be at WDW for the week and had not planned on UO this trip. That is, until FNAF was announced. That is the only priority for DD. We will need to UBER back and forth. We will be at Typhoon Lagoon the day of our HHN tickets, so not really looking at S&S. Thank you!

 

[KrzyAsian]

Please advise on a plan for us...
We will be at WDW for the week and had not planned on UO this trip. That is, until FNAF was announced. That is the only priority for DD. We will need to UBER back and forth. We will be at Typhoon Lagoon the day of our HHN tickets, so not really looking at S&S. Thank you!

Water Park & HHN on the same day?!? I'm tired for you already.

I would suggest getting Express and heading over to Universal after 6:30pm to avoid the initial rush.