2011 Horror Nights

[Metro West]

It does seem more likely that year opening weekend will be on the 23-24th rather than on the 30 Sept - 1 Oct.

Yes...those are probably the correct dates for opening weekend. My point was that I certainly didn't feel comfortable with saying 9/23 & 9/24 would definitely be opening weekend when nothing official has been announced...especially when so many people have to travel to get here.

No matter...I'll be there regardless of the date.

 

[simba89]

Me and my bf are very interested in attending this event, where are u finding the park hours? As they are not up on the universal website yet

Thanks

 

[Metro West]

Me and my bf are very interested in attending this event, where are u finding the park hours? As they are not up on the universal website yet

Thanks

Park hours are here:

http://www.universalorlando.com/Resort_Information/theme_park_hours.aspx

You'll have to page through the months for the Studios to find October.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

My husband wants to go to HHN (we'll be at Disney 9/24-10/2) but I'm not a fan of getting scared. I would however like to see the wizarding world. I understand that the attractions won't be open but can I walk around look at everything? Will I get the you know what scared out of me if I just walk around the park with my husband? It's just not in our budget to take the family to Universal this year. Just curious.

I agree with Macraven ... if you do not like being scared, then HHN is not for you. There are scarezones throughout the park which you must walk to to get to the houses, and the "scareactors" do tend to go after those that are easily scared.

As Macraven also said, HHN is usually at the Studios while Harry Potter is at IOA. I believe historically IOA is open until 7:00 pm during HHN (if I am wrong someone will correct me) and HHN has historically started at 7:00 pm so really your husband would be going into HHN as you are leaving IOA.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Me and my bf are very interested in attending this event, where are u finding the park hours? As they are not up on the universal website yet

Thanks

You are correct, the October hours are not available right now for some reason

 

[Marquibiri]

I agree with Macraven ... if you do not like being scared, then HHN is not for you. There are scarezones throughout the park which you must walk to to get to the houses, and the "scareactors" do tend to go after those that are easily scared.

As Macraven also said, HHN is usually at the Studios while Harry Potter is at IOA. I believe historically IOA is open until 7:00 pm during HHN (if I am wrong someone will correct me) and HHN has historically started at 7:00 pm so really your husband would be going into HHN as you are leaving IOA.

True. Last year I took my DW for the first time. I bought her a FFP with Express Pass. She hated it. She was so scared, the poor thing. After the second house, she wandered around the park closing her eyes and grabbing my arm. For the second night, she jumped over to IOA and hanged out around the WWoHP until it closed while I warmed up at Finnegan's before hitting the houses. (I got to use her express pass as well as mine.... )

Sandi, maybe you can catch up with your hubby afterwards at CityWalk...

Marquibiri

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

Ticket information will not be available until this summer. If you don't have an AP you should consider getting one. The AP discounts for HHN tickets are very good. Except for FL resident and AP discounts, there are no other discounts out there.

Hi Metro!

I have the premiere, so I don't pay a lot of attention - but I thought there was some discounts available from Coke cans or Wendy's purchases last year...

 

[Metro West]

Hi Metro!

I have the premiere, so I don't pay a lot of attention - but I thought there was some discounts available from Coke cans or Wendy's purchases last year...

There were but those were for FL residents only...it's in the fine print. I don't know what they are going to do this year.

 

[ocalla]

I'm curious about the crowd levels during regular park hours while HHN is scheduled? I was thinking about maybe a quick trip to USO/IOA during Mid-October, but DO NOT want to see HHN. ( It just so happens DD will have a small break during school )

Does HHN affect daytime crowds?

TIA

 

[Metro West]

I'm curious about the crowd levels during regular park hours while HHN is scheduled? I was thinking about maybe a quick trip to USO/IOA during Mid-October, but DO NOT want to see HHN. ( It just so happens DD will have a small break during school )

Does HHN affect daytime crowds?

TIA

HHN won't affect crowds at IOA and since HHN is staged at the Studios only afternoon crowds are affected there. You will only see large props outside during the day and since they are too big to constantly move, they are left out for the entire month.

 

[macraven]

I'm curious about the crowd levels during regular park hours while HHN is scheduled? I was thinking about maybe a quick trip to USO/IOA during Mid-October, but DO NOT want to see HHN. ( It just so happens DD will have a small break during school )

Does HHN affect daytime crowds?

TIA

on the nights that hhn will be open, leave the studios around 3:30-4:00 and hop to IOA.
you will avoid any crowds then at the studios.

don't know if you will be at UO on a wed-sun time period...
check the calendar for the hours of operation.
if the wednesday has a closing time of 5:00 at the studios, that means it is hell week and some schools are out for fall break in florida.

that could add to crowds, not necessarily saying it will add to crowds.

i experienced crowds on the first wednesday during mid october one time.
it was very crowded with teens.
therefore, i leave for home on that day now.

if you are at the studios on a sunday, that park tends to gather crowds around 3:00ish for the hhn homies.

homies like to do the rides before they have to stay in the stay and scream section prior to the opening of hhn.


if you will be in the parks during the hhn event, as metro stated, items used in the evening set up are covered up.
you won't be bothered by it at all.

crowds tend to form more on the sunday late afternoon on hhn dates.

like i said, do the studios in the morning to afternoon, then skip over to ioa if you are there on a sunday.

 

[Clemson Bama Fan]

We are planning on going on Thursday 10/13/11. I want to take advantage of Stay and Scream and am considering doing the RIP tour. The problem I have is I need to return to HRH to give our dog an insulin shot as late in the day as possible. In your opinion, will it be possible for me to leave the Studios around 3:45 and get back in around 4:30 to be in the park before it closes and then I can take advantage of Stay and Scream? Or will the crowds at the gate be too large and prevent me from re-entering? Any other suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Metro West]

We are planning on going on Thursday 10/13/11. I want to take advantage of Stay and Scream and am considering doing the RIP tour. The problem I have is I need to return to HRH to give our dog an insulin shot as late in the day as possible. In your opinion, will it be possible for me to leave the Studios around 3:45 and get back in around 4:30 to be in the park before it closes and then I can take advantage of Stay and Scream? Or will the crowds at the gate be too large and prevent me from re-entering? Any other suggestions? Thanks.

I doubt the crowds out front will prevent you from re-entering the Studios at that time of day. Historically...if you arrive before 4:45pm you should be able to get in w/o a problem.

 

[macraven]

We are planning on going on Thursday 10/13/11. I want to take advantage of Stay and Scream and am considering doing the RIP tour. The problem I have is I need to return to HRH to give our dog an insulin shot as late in the day as possible. In your opinion, will it be possible for me to leave the Studios around 3:45 and get back in around 4:30 to be in the park before it closes and then I can take advantage of Stay and Scream? Or will the crowds at the gate be too large and prevent me from re-entering? Any other suggestions? Thanks.

do the rip tour.
you'll thank me for that later..........


i would leave the studios around 3:00 to go back to your hotel for the insulin shot. you don't know how crowded the boat could be or what time you will need once you get back to your pet.
i have a cat on injections 2 x's a day so i am aware timing of the shots is important. you can slide the times around if you have an emergency.

you must be at the entrance of the park by 4:50 at the latest.
in case there are lines of peeps ahead of you trying to get in.

the metal detectors are up around 4:45.
the cops are there at the entrance with the TM's.

if you do not get inside by 4:55, you can be toast.

if you do not get inside, you can not go to the stay and scream waiting area at finnegans!!!!!!!!
even telling them you have the hhn ticket.
even telling them you have a tour you paid for.
they will not let you in.


you will have to wait in the regular line outside.
that line starts before 5:00.
the park opens to the general public at 6:30.


i personally went thru that ordeal back a few years.
i went to my room to change to my csw shirt.
i had to wait for the boat.
i got off and ran from city walk to the studios side.

i went around the line to get inside the park at the entrance.
the TM told me it was 4:55 and they had cut off homies entering due to the crowds already in line. (you have to have a park ticket to enter, peeps in the line only had the hhn ticket so they could not enter the park)

i argued with the TM that i had the AP and was going directly to the S & S area to meet my group.
they told me, sorry.

the cop came over as it caught his attention and could see i was upset.
mr cop told me if i didn't leave and get back in the regular line, he would book me.

well.......tears did not help.


just then a group of 5 loud, boisterous 20 somethings was giving a TM a hard time of ignoring his request to get back in the regular line so the cop with me went to help out ......
as he was 'escorting' that group out, i ran like hell inside and down to a shop.

i'm not proud of that moment but i live and breathe HHN and had no options.


don't wait until you feel the park closes at 5:00 to reenter, they can close entrance off to park ticket homies anytime.

give yourself plenty of time so you know you can be back in the park at 4:30 which you stated you would be.

 

[macraven]

i know you posted you would be at hrh, but still, give yourself time.

you will have a bag search at the end of the walkway from hrh to the studios upon your return to the park.
if there is much of a line, it could cut you short.


walking would be better than the water taxi for you to do this.
rickshaw even better to use.

depending on where your room is located, it could take you 15 minutes leaving the park, again, depending where in the park you are when you start to leave, to the time you hit your room.

your dog might want you to love on him and spend moments with him before you leave for the night.
that could cut into your planned time also.

 

[Clemson Bama Fan]

Thanks for the info. We will definitely give ourselves a little more time. This will be our first HHN and want to do it right. Thanks again....

 

[macraven]

Thanks for the info. We will definitely give ourselves a little more time. This will be our first HHN and want to do it right. Thanks again....

you will love hhn.

the policy is strict on those nights on the hhn event.

if you are in the park and on a ride at 5:05, and security tries to escort you out of the park, show them your hhn ticket and go directly to the stay and scream area.
you will be fine.


stay and scream homies are released to the park for hhn events prior to the general admission at 6:30.

once the all clear signal is given, you are released for the S & S section.

there will be 3 houses open at that time you are released.

do those houses first and you will stay ahead of the crowds that enter later.

i buy the express pass as i do enjoy doing the early houses, it is still light outside.

i repeat those houses later in the evening when it is dark.

those lines will be longer then.


the thursdays have not had horrible crowds in the past few years.
but, i still buy the epp, as some houses are very popular and long lines.


i am completely and totally addicted to HHN....

 

[RAPstar]

I cannot wait for HHN this year!!!

 

[GrumpyCAdad]

I can not wait for this October! I am a big HH fan (I do one every year at my house on Halloween night) and I get to go to Horror Nights this year! 5 days in Disney and Horror Nights! Can't wait!!

 

[tarrbear]

once the all clear signal is given, you are released for the S & S section.

there will be 3 houses open at that time you are released.

do those houses first and you will stay ahead of the crowds that enter later.

i buy the express pass as i do enjoy doing the early houses, it is still light outside.

i repeat those houses later in the evening when it is dark.

those lines will be longer then.




i am completely and totally addicted to HHN....

I've been going for a couple of years now, I finally mustered up the courage and went, and I had a blast! Besides that, last year was the first we we did S&S, probably the best decision we ever made due to the fact we could chill out with a snack, and see a few houses early. Being able to see the 3 Soundstage houses first thing saved sooo much time. We were able to get the majority of the houses done before eight. After eight we saw shows and repeated every house but Gates of Hell and Zombiegeddon twice and even a third for two of the houses. No we did not have a express pass, and oddly enough- it was a Saturday night, but then again it was the first Saturday of that month.


Oh, and about you being addicted to HHN.... I would have never guessed