What time should I arrive for HHN?

[nkereina]

DH and I will be attending HHN on Wednesday 10/24. Not staying on-site and no day tickets, so we'll be entering HHN with the crowds. We'll be at City Walk around 1pm and want to do a late lunch/early dinner there. What time should we plan on lining up at the Universal entrance if HHN starts at 6:30pm? Do they open the gates any earlier than that? We have express pass so we don't need to be at the front of the pack, but don't want to waste the first hour of HHN in line to get in, either.

Also, is it clearly marked where to line up outside the gate?

Lastly, what's the procedure at the gates? Do they just scan your ticket like they would during the day?

Thanks!

 

[MikeNamez]

If you have express, it doesn't really matter what time you show up. With express we don't usually get into the park until 9-10PM.

 

[schumigirl]

They opened the gates at 5.50 last night. We walked through to hotel guest entrance at 6.30 and the line to enter the regular gate was backed up to the bridge. It was huge. You just line up at regular entrance.........

If you don’t want to be in early I’d leave it till after 7ish.

It was so busy last night with people.

Yes, just a ticket scan.

 

[nkereina]

We do want to be in early! We are not visiting Universal during the day this trip, so we'd like to do the rides in addition to the houses without rushing. Making sure we're in early is important to us so we maximize our time.

So gates opened at 5:50 last night? Is everything open then or do things not open until 6:30 which is the stated opening time?

I'm thinking maybe if we get in line around 4:30-5pm, we won't be too far back? Any thoughts?