thinking ahead to Horror Nights...

[thebigkahuna]

I know this is pretty far in advance, but I also know you will have the answers!

I am in the early stages of planning for Horror Nights.

I would love opinions on the best time to go! I'm torn because I really would love to go closer to / on Halloween, but I'm afraid the crowds will be so massive it will take away from us being able to see / do everything.

When have you been? Whats your favorite time?

Yes, I know that there will be crowds no matter when we go due to the nature of the event...I want to go several times while we are there - and I would like to go a few weeknights, anticipating that the crowds will be lighter...

Are the crowds so massive on Halloween night that I should choose different dates?

I saw on the website (2009) that the express passes are as much as a ticket so I would like to avoid having to buy those.

Thanks in advance, your input is appreciated!


PS, we will be staying onsite, so no traffic / parking issues.

 

[Metro West]

Generally speaking...the closer to Halloween the more crowded HHN becomes.

If you're looking for as slow a night crowd wise as possible...stick to Thursday or Sunday nights at the beginning of October.

To avoid purchasing Express passes...make sure you take advantage of Stay & Scream to get ahead of the lines. If you're staying onsite during HHN and don't take advantage, you are shooting yourself in the foot.

Any other questions? Ask away!

 

[Purseval]

To avoid purchasing Express passes...make sure you take advantage of Stay & Scream to get ahead of the lines. If you're staying onsite during HHN and don't take advantage, you are shooting yourself in the foot.

HHN is the one time staying onsite doesn't make any difference at all. Perhaps you meant to say if you're in the park during HHN and don't take advantage of it. To take advantage of S&S you have to be inside the park at the normal closing time. The advantage is that it puts you ahead of the people outside plus you get to tour a couple of houses before the event officially opens.

You also don't mention how long you intend to stay in Orlando so we don't know if a Frequent Fear Pass would be of any help. We are annual passholders who live about 7 hours away. We came down opening weekend and for a week in mid October. We planned that week based on how many admissions we could get with a FFP so it was one of the weeks that had a Wednesday HHN. We also took a behind the scenes tour during the day which was, IMO, the best bargain of any HHN event. Because we know we will have multiple visits we never buy express passes.

Those are generalities, when you start loking at specifics like length of stay you can get more detailed information. No matter when you go I'm sure you will have a great time

 

[thebigkahuna]

thanks Metro, that's good info to know. Guess I will have to back away from going on Halloween

We will be on-site for sure, but if we dont go into the parks during the day, how can we do the stay & scream? I want to alternate days - if we are going to Horror Nights, it's a lazy day at the pool, and if we aren't going to Horror nights, I want to hit the parks -

Is Horror Nights ever on days other than Thursday through Sundays?

 

[thebigkahuna]

we must have been posting at the same time - I was curious as to how we would take advantage of the stay & scream if we're not in the parks.

the length of stay will be at least a week - I'm considering an annual pass purchase for the hotel discounts, and I thought I read that passholders get a discount on Horror Night tickets? I could have mis-read. The fear pass- that's a thurs. to sunday pass? and can you tell which Wednesdays will be Horror Nights? (based on the 09 schedule?)

I have no problem going during the week, especially if it means lighter crowds. I know that there will be crowds no matter what, but i need to try!


thanks for answering questions you have probably heard / answered a million times already!!

 

[Metro West]

Is Horror Nights ever on days other than Thursday through Sundays?

HHN is Thursday thru Sunday with an occasional Wednesday night thrown in there for good measure. Check out the calendar from last year to get an idea.

we must have been posting at the same time - I was curious as to how we would take advantage of the stay & scream if we're not in the parks.

the length of stay will be at least a week - I'm considering an annual pass purchase for the hotel discounts, and I thought I read that passholders get a discount on Horror Night tickets? I could have mis-read. The fear pass- that's a thurs. to sunday pass? and can you tell which Wednesdays will be Horror Nights? (based on the 09 schedule?)

Unfortunately you will need to be in the park prior to closing to do S & S. You should get an AP since you're going to be here for seven days. If you have the Preferred or Premier AP, you can purchase the Frequent Fear pass for less than the general admission ticket. My pass is around $55.00 every year and it's good for 13 nights (off peak nights only) and if you have an AP, you can skip the parks and relax in the pools for the day because you would be able to enter the parks during the day. But...you would still be able to scoot into the parks just before closing to do S & S...make sense?

 

[Rip]

we must have been posting at the same time - I was curious as to how we would take advantage of the stay & scream if we're not in the parks.

the length of stay will be at least a week - I'm considering an annual pass purchase for the hotel discounts, and I thought I read that passholders get a discount on Horror Night tickets? I could have mis-read. The fear pass- that's a thurs. to sunday pass? and can you tell which Wednesdays will be Horror Nights? (based on the 09 schedule?)

I have no problem going during the week, especially if it means lighter crowds. I know that there will be crowds no matter what, but i need to try!


thanks for answering questions you have probably heard / answered a million times already!!

What Metro said, plus the discount on the hotel will likely pay for at least one AP if you're there for 7 days. That's not a guarantee, but I have saved a minimum of $50/night and in several cases over $100/night by having an AP.

 

[Metro West]

What Metro said, plus the discount on the hotel will likely pay for at least one AP if you're there for 7 days. That's not a guarantee, but I have saved a minimum of $50/night and in several cases over $100/night by having an AP.

 

[thebigkahuna]

HHN is Thursday thru Sunday with an occasional Wednesday night thrown in there for good measure. Check out the calendar from last year to get an idea.

Unfortunately you will need to be in the park prior to closing to do S & S. You should get an AP since you're going to be here for seven days. If you have the Preferred or Premier AP, you can purchase the Frequent Fear pass for less than the general admission ticket. My pass is around $55.00 every year and it's good for 13 nights (off peak nights only) and if you have an AP, you can skip the parks and relax in the pools for the day because you would be able to enter the parks during the day. But...you would still be able to scoot into the parks just before closing to do S & S...make sense?

totally makes sense - and sounds like a relaxing day will still be possible, just going into the parks a bit earlier than planned - I will see what the 09 schedule looks like & go from there thanks!!

 

[thebigkahuna]

What Metro said, plus the discount on the hotel will likely pay for at least one AP if you're there for 7 days. That's not a guarantee, but I have saved a minimum of $50/night and in several cases over $100/night by having an AP.

is there a way to know how much of a discount I would get on the hotels without physically having an AP? I know the website says 30%, is that all the time? ( I need my budget to be accurate! LOL)

and a semi-related question - if I order my AP online, do I have to activate it before I check-in? do they ask for it at the desk?

you are all great & full of knowledge, thanks so much!

 

[Rip]

is there a way to know how much of a discount I would get on the hotels without physically having an AP? I know the website says 30%, is that all the time? ( I need my budget to be accurate! LOL)

and a semi-related question - if I order my AP online, do I have to activate it before I check-in? do they ask for it at the desk?

you are all great & full of knowledge, thanks so much!

You can use the code "ap" when on the hotel reservation site to see what the ap rate is. They probably don't have them out for October yet, though. As long as you have it prior to check-out, you shouldn't have any problem.

 

[macraven]

the ap rates for 2010 are out.
i booked 7 weeks ago for my hotel room for oct '10 and ap rates were available for the hotels.

 

[Rip]

You can use the code "ap" when on the hotel reservation site to see what the ap rate is. They probably don't have them out for October yet, though. As long as you have it prior to check-out, you shouldn't have any problem.

I tried Oct. 4-11 and there was more than a $200 difference between "rack" rate and AP rate for RPH for now, those rates can change dramatically, though.

 

[AussiePJ]

Excuse my ignorance but what is the AP rate and what do you have to do get be eligible for it?

 

[Metro West]

Excuse my ignorance but what is the AP rate and what do you have to do get be eligible for it?

AP rate = Annual Passholder rate and you would have to have a valid AP to get the discount.

 

[thebigkahuna]

thanks all, I will check out some dates with that code & see how good it can get!