Oh Yeah! Biggest Birthday Monster Mash Bash

[JungleCruiser]

It's my birthday and I will cry if I want to....

How about the fact that I am booking a trip so that I can spend my 40th birthday on HALLOWEEN at Universal Studios..Horror nights....


Anyone have tips?

 

[Metro West]

It's my birthday and I will cry if I want to....

How about the fact that I am booking a trip so that I can spend my 40th birthday on HALLOWEEN at Universal Studios..Horror nights....


Anyone have tips?

That's excellent! I'm sure you will have a blast! As far as tips...just keep checking back...the HHN 2009 website should be going up soon and of course, you have several people on this board who are very knowledgeable. We can answer any question you might have.

 

[tlinus]

I want to do my 40th down there too......unfortunately, its in mid september. How about another delayed trip (like last year for the girls? )

Anyhoo

Plan it.
GO.
Enjoy it.

There are plenty of peeps on this board who are HHN experts and will have no problem helping you out!!!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

It's my birthday and I will cry if I want to....

How about the fact that I am booking a trip so that I can spend my 40th birthday on HALLOWEEN at Universal Studios..Horror nights....


Anyone have tips?

The most important advice I can give you, other than enjoy yourself, would be to make sure you get yourself an Express Pass for the evening, especially if you are only planning on going one night. Historically Friday and Saturday nights (peak nights) at HHN can be extremely busy and without an express pass you'll find you can maybe get through 2 or 3 houses at the most. We've found that in more recent years, it's not uncommon that wait times are over 120 minutes by 9:00 pm and even the express lines can have a 20-30 minute wait for some houses on non-peak nights. Combine that with Halloween falling on a Saturday, and you're going to find it's more than likely going to be crazy busy.

A better option (if you are able) would be to shell out the extra money and book yourself a VIP tour (called RIP tours during HHN). Last year they were around $150 per person (in addition to your HHN ticket) but you are guaranteed to see all houses and shows in one evening. You are grouped with about 10-12 others and get escorted to the front of the line for each house/show.

We've been going to HHN since 2003 and over the past 3-4 years haven't gone to HHN without doing the VIP/RIP tour.

 

[donaldduck352]

Your so right Bonny.RIP Tour is the only way to go!!Will never do it anyother way anymore..
If you get the full blown 7hrs RIP tour your group can almost do each house twice.Worth every penny.....

 

[seadd67]

We will be going a couple of weeks after my Bday.Me and my 16yo DS,do you know If you get a discount If you stay at the HR?

 

[donaldduck352]

No dicounts on the hard ticket at all.Now if your A AP holder you can get the frequent fear pass.At least they did this last year!!
Give it time another month will give us alot of info!!

 

[JungleCruiser]

The most important advice I can give you, other than enjoy yourself, would be to make sure you get yourself an Express Pass for the evening, especially if you are only planning on going one night. Historically Friday and Saturday nights (peak nights) at HHN can be extremely busy and without an express pass you'll find you can maybe get through 2 or 3 houses at the most. We've found that in more recent years, it's not uncommon that wait times are over 120 minutes by 9:00 pm and even the express lines can have a 20-30 minute wait for some houses on non-peak nights. Combine that with Halloween falling on a Saturday, and you're going to find it's more than likely going to be crazy busy.

A better option (if you are able) would be to shell out the extra money and book yourself a VIP tour (called RIP tours during HHN). Last year they were around $150 per person (in addition to your HHN ticket) but you are guaranteed to see all houses and shows in one evening. You are grouped with about 10-12 others and get escorted to the front of the line for each house/show.

We've been going to HHN since 2003 and over the past 3-4 years haven't gone to HHN without doing the VIP/RIP tour.

Thanks for the advice! Where do I get the RIP pass? Also, since we aren't taking the kids on this trip...any advice for the grown ups? Is there a fun dinner spot? Something that would feel like a "celebration"? (My birthday is on Halloween, the 31st)

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Thanks for the advice! Where do I get the RIP pass? Also, since we aren't taking the kids on this trip...any advice for the grown ups? Is there a fun dinner spot? Something that would feel like a "celebration"? (My birthday is on Halloween, the 31st)

What I would do is email VIP tours now (VIPTours@universalorlando.com) and ask to be put on their mailing list for RIP tours for this year's HHN. They will then email you once the RIP tours are available for booking.

Universal is notorious for having liquor carts every 2 feet during HHN, so without the kids you can definitely have a few drinks while walking around and enjoying the evening. As for dinner, the RIP tour usually starts at 7:00 pm and they close the park at 5 pm to all guests except those that have a ticket for HHN and have been in the park during the day (basically called Stay and Scream), so your options are somewhat limited (That is unless you want to leave the park, eat at CityWalk and fight the crowd back into the park at 6:30 pm). They have designated areas where they "corral" the Stay and Scream guests while they clear out the park and get everything set up for HHN. One of the areas last year (and the past few years) has been Finnegans.

One of the benefits of doing the Stay and Scream is that you are "released" into the park earlier than the gate crowd coming into the park (around 5:45 pm), so you can easily get through a couple houses before the crowds start (usually the sound stage houses).

 

[JungleCruiser]

Good to know about Finnegans! Thanks...this is helpful, really!

So if we do the RIP tour...we have to buy a FULL day pass into the park on top of the RIP tour pass? Correct?

How fast do the RIP tour passes sell out?

 

[macraven]

Good to know about Finnegans! Thanks...this is helpful, really!

So if we do the RIP tour...we have to buy a FULL day pass into the park on top of the RIP tour pass? Correct?

How fast do the RIP tour passes sell out?

when you book the RIP tour, the confirming email you receive back, will state you are required to have a park ticket for HHN.
you don't need to buy the EPP when you do the RIP tour.

RIP does not really sell out.
the group that you are placed in can be up to 18 others if necessary.
last year there were 3 different time periods to choose from.
there are quite a few tour guides available to do the tour.
the tours are available on hhn nights for the most part unless they are blacked out due to a special function.

we had a group planned in advance last year and booked the exclusive RIP tour of 7 hours.

most people book the inexclusive RIP tour which is less time and with other guests you don't necessarily know.

the regular rip tours don't necessarily put "your group" of friends in the same tour. it all depends on the numbers in that group.

the only way to guarentee your group stays together is to book the exclusive rip tour.

it cost us $2000 last year for the exclusive rip tour i booked.
you can have up to 12 people in that tour.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Good to know about Finnegans! Thanks...this is helpful, really!

So if we do the RIP tour...we have to buy a FULL day pass into the park on top of the RIP tour pass? Correct?

How fast do the RIP tour passes sell out?

You don't have to buy a full day pass into the park unless you are planning on spending the day at the park before your RIP tour. You can do the RIP tour without having a day pass, however, you will also need to buy a HHN ticket in addition to your RIP tour. You just can't utilize the stay and scream option if you aren't already in the park during the day. You'll need to line up outside the gates with everyone else and will be admitted into the park when the gates open for HHN that evening (usually around 6:30ish I believe).

As Macraven said, RIP tours don't usually sell out, however, some dates are more popular than others. It's all really first come first served, so the sooner you buy your tour, the better your chances are for the date/time you want.

 

[JungleCruiser]

Ok...so, it is just my Husband and I (no group of 20, although that would be fun) and I saw that the HHN site is up for 2009 (thanks MaCraven!). What do I need to buy? I signed up on the mailing list that macraven noted...but there are all these passes, etc.

Here is what I am thinking...and sorry for being a complete HNN newbie....We would go to the park for the DAY and have a fabulous Birthday EARLY dinner...and stay for the HHN fun. I don't want to leave the park..I want to be smart about this so I get to see it ALL!

Again, you guys are the BEST when it comes to advice and timing.

 

[macraven]

Ok...so, it is just my Husband and I (no group of 20, although that would be fun) and I saw that the HHN site is up for 2009 (thanks MaCraven!). What do I need to buy? I signed up on the mailing list that macraven noted...but there are all these passes, etc.

Here is what I am thinking...and sorry for being a complete HNN newbie....We would go to the park for the DAY and have a fabulous Birthday EARLY dinner...and stay for the HHN fun. I don't want to leave the park..I want to be smart about this so I get to see it ALL!

Again, you guys are the BEST when it comes to advice and timing.

go to the park at noon time.
have lunch at mythos and do rides at ioa.

around 4ish, head over to the studios side.

you can do rides until the park closes at 5:00.
at closing time, security will be ushering non hhn ticket holders out the front and sending guest with the hhn tickets to the holding area. that is called the stay and scream where everyone hangs out at until the park is given the all clear.
that can be anytime between 5:45 to 6:00.
guests in the stay and scream area are then released to do the houses.
usually, there will be 3 houses open for those guests to do.

the official opening time for hhn is 6:30.
now the crowds will begin.....


if you have the 7 day pass or a one day ticket for the parks, you can go to guest studios and buy what is called the "add on " ticket.

this is a discounted hhn ticket for those that have day tickets to the park.

later on in the season, the add on, stay and scream tickets, will be available to the general public.

in the past, people that have bought the day tickets or passes thru the website, can call and tell the TM over the phone the order number of the tickets they bought. that number will be brought up and the TM could sell you the add on/stay and scream ticket then.

you have a few ways of buying them.
phone, on line, guest services.

some park goers decide the day they are in the park they want to stay for hhn. they are able to buy their tickets that day then.


never leave the park and try to come back when it is just about 5:00.

you need to be in the park by 4:50 in order to be allowed to stay in.

if you were in the park during the day and have the stay and scream hhn ticket, don't leave. go to the holding area.


2 years ago i left the park and went back to my hotel room to change to my chainsaw wolf tshirt.

i did not give myself enough time to get to the studios until 4:56.

security tried to stop me and tell me i had to wait in line.
while they were talking to me, 6 people started to walk by us.

the security dude left me and went to stop them.
i ran like hell into the park.......

bottom line, they start setting up the metal detectors near 5.
they discourage guests coming into the park right around that time period.

i have the AP so i should not have had an issue of entering but crowds were already starting to form.



if you are not in the park by 5, you have to stand in line outside the gated area.
if you are in that line by 5:15 waiting for the 6:30 opening, you should get in within 10 minutes.

people that are in that line are always delayed due to the metal detectors all must go thru.

if you are already in the park, the metal detectors won't mean a thing to you.


only buy the hhn ticket and the express ticket for the date you plan to be there.
be sure the date is correct as you can not change it in case you decide on another date.


i can tell you more about how to tour the park for hhn if you wish.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Ok...so, it is just my Husband and I (no group of 20, although that would be fun) and I saw that the HHN site is up for 2009 (thanks MaCraven!). What do I need to buy? I signed up on the mailing list that macraven noted...but there are all these passes, etc.

Here is what I am thinking...and sorry for being a complete HNN newbie....We would go to the park for the DAY and have a fabulous Birthday EARLY dinner...and stay for the HHN fun. I don't want to leave the park..I want to be smart about this so I get to see it ALL!

Again, you guys are the BEST when it comes to advice and timing.

They just updated the website today. Unfortunately the RIP tours are not available for booking yet - that's why you should send an email to VIP tours asking to be added to their mailing list for the RIP tours. You'll get an email when they are available for booking (usually about the same time or just before they are put up on the website). When you book your RIP tour, you can add the "stay and scream" option macraven was talking about - they will do that for you when you book your tour.

And not to worry if it's just you and your husband, you can still do the RIP tour ... you'll just be put into a group with others who want to go on the same date and time (your group will be about 12-15 people).

If you choose not to book the RIP tour, you can still buy the stay and scream pass (in order to stay in the park) and you will definitely need an express pass for each of you so you are sure to see everything. The stay and scream option is available on the website right now - http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/stay_scream.html - however, express passes aren't available yet. Keep checking the website as they'll be updating it between now and the event starting at the end of September.

Also as macraven said, these tickets are specific to a certain date so make sure you have the same dates for both your HHN ticket (stay and scream) and express passes.

 

[JungleCruiser]

You guys are AWESOME! Thank you. This makes it so much easier! Thanks for helping this HHN newbie.

 

[JungleCruiser]

Do I have the option to do a reservation at mythos? do they do the same as WDW where you book way in advance?