Opinions on gojng to HHN

[aaronr121]

DW has been going HHN crazy for the past few months and seems to REALLY want to go to HHN 14 this year. After I told her the event will be at both parks, I think she decided she HAS to go. Not a problem for me, I'd love to go myself! We went last year for HHN 13 and long ago we went to HHN 10.

Only problem being we are going down to US in July for 4 days and staying at the RPR. So, funds might be a little tight for a return trip. Plus we would like to go to HHN more than one night. Will Universal offer the FREQUENT FEAR PASS for off-peak nights?

What about the dates? The calendar on the HHN ticket site is a little messed up. It says Oct 1 is a sat. and it is really a Friday. So, I'm not quite sure if they have their dates right.

I was thinking being down there to go the 9th (Sun) and the 10th (mon), but I don't know if that calendar is correct for those days.

What about opening weekend (1 & 2), I heard that typically isn't too crowded. While it isn't an Off-Peak night, well just have to pay the $60 a night I suppose (anyway to get a better deal on that price?)

Since we have gone down in Oct. 2x before, the crowds, during the day, never seem that bad. So we were thinking of staying off-site this time. Any recomendations on hotels near Universal. Preferably something that has transport to and from the parks. Any recomendations?

Any advice on how to make this a decent budget trip with at least 2 HHN nights would be great! I need some kind of strategy, and am at a loss. (Still having to think about our trip in 2 weeks!)

Thanks

 

[JT3000]

I'd expect them to still offer the FFP closer to the event. They just don't have it on the site yet. You might have to get it at the park since they take your picture. From what I'm hearing there won't be any peak nights this year. Not designated ones anyway.

 

[macraven]

i can't really comment on most of your questions but can tell you first hand that last years hhn was great!!!

we went for the opening weekend fri, sat, sun and bought the stay and scream hhn passes. friday was not bad at all for crowds, limited problems on lines for the houses. saturday was a joke.........way too crowded for lines, houses and walking............ so many drunks that night.
sunday was ok for crowds a bit of waits for some things.
one of the nights was so bad for crowds and ride problems i went to guest relations and received a refund for our three hhn tickets. i showed the receipt and was reimbursed. dueling dragons was shut down two times while we were to about get on. some one had a nose bleed and the seats had to be cleaned up, that type of delay. had other delays on rides. one house temp. shut down due to the fire it had.

the tickets will probably go on sale this summer. it is still early yet. there was a site listed on one of the over boards about buying them now. $5x.xx per night. didn't list non peak /peak on that though.
i plan to wait until i am at the hotel to buy the hhn tickets or could buy them when the stay and scream ones come out.
raven

 

[robvia]

I'm in the same boat.

The calendar you read in incorrect. October 9th is Saturday, October 10th is Sunday. October 10th is the first Sunday, which is usually a light night. Plus, going early in the month, you get to see the event, and then talk about it on the boards afterwards.

The good thing about HHN is that the park is empty during the day. The crowds arrive at night for HHN.

I'm looking at calling RPR for the entertainment rate. It's probably sold out, but who knows, maybe something will "mysteriously" appear when I tell them I'm calling the cheap hotels on I-drive. I've got plenty of them in my pocket, so it's no big deal.

I was just waiting to see if the Dis Boards would plan a meet now, because most need to plan time off work, plane rides, ect.

 

[aaronr121]

Thanks for the info. so far.

As far as the Entertainment rate at RPR, my wife called the other week and they claim to already be sold out.

I'd love to stay on-site, just for the perk of being able to work to the parks and not have to rely on any hotel/taxi transport. But unless we can find a rate around $130 a night, I'd consider an off-site hotel. Just need to find one with a shuttle, so we don't have to get a taxi every midnight after HHN.

So the first weekend of HHN wasn't bad? I heard elery in the month the crowds aren't that bad. We'd like to try and hit the least crowded nights so we can do everything without waiting 40+ minutes. Plus our Power Passes run out Oct. 15th.

So many decisions to make, so little time!!! I wish Universal would get all the info. on HHN out earlier.

BTW, I did see the HHN DIS BOARD/IOA Central gathering last year. Looked like you guys where having a good time.

If you have any more info. let me know. I'm shooting on being able to go down there for 2 nights 3 days and fly, stay and get HHN tickets for under $800. The lower the better actually.

 

[karin037]

The Frequent Fear Pass is on sale now at: http://www.univacations.com/halloween/index.asp?RTType=TO&vendor=IUN&referrer=&pl=

The Frequent Fear Pass allows you to attend Halloween Horror Nights unlimited nights Sunday through Thursday only.

The fear is spreading. The horror is growing. And it will be here before you know it. Get ready for an all new Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando.

You'll experience 360 degrees of fear as you encounter gut-wrenching haunted houses, hideous new creatures, and inescapable scare zones that will stretch your sanity to the limit. You have been warned!!!

Valid Frequent Fear Dates:

October 10, 13, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31

 

[aaronr121]

Thanks for posting that Karin. ANd I found it under the vacation section. Looks like the best time for us will be the 13-14. I guess we need to get crackin' on this if we wanna go.
Thanks!

 

[robvia]

Just for fun I went online to the RPR reservations system and looked to see what is available. Oct 1-2, and 8-10 are completely sold out, and that's not even using any codes.
If it is true, then it must mean the rooms have been bought up by travel groups, or something. The first date that is available is the 14th and the rates are up in the $200 area. Using a code of FLO for Florida resident knocks it down by $30, but I can't see paying that much when I can stay elsewhere for half. Yes, it would be nice to walk from the event to a room, but I don't think it's going to happen. FOTL isn't really needed during the day, as crowds are light. And for the event, being in the park before it starts is the key to doing a few houses before the GP (general public) is let in.

 

[phamton]

I still can't find the "frequent fear" pass there. Can someone post how much the FF pass costs this year?

 

[Tenacious D Fan]

I went to Halloween Horror Night 10. That was great when you got to walk on the bottom of the King Kong ride, The Clown Jack attacking you on Jaws and on Earthquake where you die and go to hell. You may as well go back because there might be all sorts of different things to do

 

[Metallicat]

Yes HHN 10 was great! I loved being able to walk around the bottom of Kong in the fog and the one where you go to hell was the scariest house I've been in. last year was pretty good, but my favorite HHN 's were at the Studios. this year sounds like its gonna be a good one too. can't wait! I would really like to see them bring back some of the classic Universal monsters in their HHN's. its sad that they have all but abandoned the monsters that made them famous. I'm so glad they are at least bringing back the parade. I loved the HHN parades.

 

[2BigKIdz]

Maybe the Monsters will make an appearance b/c of Van Helsing.

 

[Tenacious D Fan]

And League of Extrodanary gentlemen as well as Van Helsing. There might be Dracula,werewolf, dr jekyll/Mr hyde

 

[robvia]

The 2004-2005 Orlando school calendar is here
http://www.osceola.k12.fl.us/Pages_2002/AnnualCalendars/2004-2005 SCHOOL CALENDAR.pdf
Appears the kids have October 14th and 15th off school.

I may go the first weekend now, like Saturday the 2nd. I mean, when you think about it, every night is packed. The trick is to be in the park before it starts.

 

[Metallicat]

There might be a dracula? oh no. I have always had this horrible fear of dracula since I was a little kid. once in one of the houses (HHN) I saw a black caped figure hiding behind a corner. I closed my eyes and took off. when we were out my DD ask if I was alright. it was him and she knows how I am about draculas. can't explain it, I am terrified of him. if one ever chased me I would have a heart attack. seriously! but I have to admit the one in fly flys picture looks kinda cute Linda

 

[aaronr121]

Robvia DW just called vacation services and the best rate we could find for 10/13-15th was $170 a night at the HRH (with the Fan Club), everything else is gone. You are right, it really isn't worth spending that much for such a short visit. Jeeze it will cost $1000 for airfare and hotel alone! Well, she really wants to go and I really want to go. We just watched our HHN DVD and are just so really jonesin' for HHN. Like you said if you do the Stay and Scream, hit the houses first thing, it isn't a problem. If we decide to stay off-site, maybe we'll get EPs for one night. Just so we can get back into the houses one more time.

Now, just gotta find a decent hotel with transport or a vacation package with a car (oh god, I hate driving on vacation). It can be done for $800 or less. I just gotta keep telling myself that, or before I know it, I'll be spending the $200 a night to stay on-site and a 3 day trip will turn into another 6 day vacation. Too easy to let things get out of hand.

I was seriously thinking of doing a short 2 day trip. Maybe the 2nd of October to the 3rd. Could hit HHN Saturday night. Get tickets, EPs, stay on site one night. Might not be too bad. Just one night of HHN tho would suck. But a lot better than no nights! I'd love 2 nights at HHN, but just kinda hard to rationalize spending $240 for 2 people for 2 nights of fun, ya know? Plus it would be over a weekend, don't have to worry about using vacation time, be easy to get a baby sitter, and a ride to the airport.

And yes HHN 10 was awesome. I loved walking through the lower half of Kongfrontation for Nightmare Creatures! I couldn't believe the incredible detail on the street level. And since I was never at an event like this before, I was just in awe that they could find so many people who could walk on stilts!

 

[robvia]

The Hilton Garden at 6623 Hospitailty Way is going for $89 a night, and that's with no AAA code entered.
http://www.hiltongardeninn.com/en/g...5FJTZZPMBECSGBIYM22QKIYFCXUUC?ctyhocn=ORLIHGI
This hotel is less than 1 year old, and .5 mile South of USF. You could almost walk to it if you wanted. It's just the walk back would take about half an hour. I'll probably end up here because there won't be any "hotel smell."

I doubt any off site hotels will have shuttles running that late.
If you really don't want to drive, you'd stay at the Double Tree, Best Western, or Amerisuites across the street and walk.

Best Western on Vineland Road is going for $99 a night, no codes entered.
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwes...8250BE7B55BB39F3FC0FA92C98?propertyCode=10285

 

[4greatboys]

robvia-had you thought about the last weekend? I was able to book AP rates at RPR for $129 standard Oct 29 & 30. No Ent rates for the weekends I checked--the first and the last.-

 

[robvia]

Thanks for the info, but I can't wait until the middle or end of the month to visit HHN. I did that last year and went nuts reading all the messages. Naw, I'm going on the 2nd this year. I'll let them work out the bugs on the 1st, and visit Saturday night taking advantage of the stay and scream area.
Can you imagine hearing about the corn field for a few weeks, wondering what it looks like? No way, I'm there early.

 

[aaronr121]

Thanks for those links to other hotels Robvia. I think we will consider the 2nd also. Reading someother posts it sounds like that could be a very dead night at the parks. If not, we can always pick up an Express Book. I kinda planned on just buying EPs to begin with, so those would be in the budget.

As far as walking back to the hotel (after 2am), I don't like that idea. We did that on our trip to HHN 10, and walking through the paths down Universal Blvd. at midnight is way to freaky. I was just waiting for someone to mug us. Luckily didn't happen.

A taxi shouldn't be more than 10 or so dollars to the close hotels, and they are always waiting down at the bus rotunda.

Then again DW tried to convince me that staying at the Portofino for one night would be great. Yes it would... we'll see what happens.