Official 2023 Halloween Horror Nights 32 (Orlando)

[mamapenguin]

On the spec map, why is Megan so oddly placed?

 

[namelessoracle]

I saw this when googling and reading up on HHN, does anyone know if this is the case this year and if so how I would register?

The Springfield section near Fast Food Boulevard features priority access to the first two haunted houses that open each evening. Guests in this area can queue as early as 4 p.m., and are allowed into the two houses with entrances there between 5:30 and 5:45 p.m. Guests are released from the area at 6 p.m., and can be the first to queue for the house nearest to the MIB Gear shop. There is a limited selection of food and drink vendors available in this location. Note that on the first two weekends, this area is restricted to annual Passholders who have registered online for an exclusive Passholder event, during which 3 houses are opened as early as 5:30 p.m.

Do you have a source for this other than TouringPlans.com? I havent seen this done for the last 2 years, and I have no idea where they got this from. It would be cool if they did do this! But I haven't seen any evidence to back this up other than this single website. It looks like a guide book from 2018 mentioned it being a perk, so it sounds like an old and outdated piece of info to me.

 

[patster734]

Do you have a source for this other than TouringPlans.com? I havent seen this done for the last 2 years, and I have no idea where they got this from. It would be cool if they did do this! But I haven't seen any evidence to back this up other than this single website. It looks like a guide book from 2018 mentioned it being a perk, so it sounds like an old and outdated piece of info to me.

This is what I was thinking too. I did it back in 2018, and the holding area was pretty packed. I think when the houses opened, my first house was probably a 20 minute wait, and the second house had already crept up to 60 minutes by the time I got to the queue. I did get to see a actor swap while waiting in line.

 

[gssmks]

This is my first time at HHN and I am trying to get a feel for how it works. I have watched a lot of youtube videos from previous years. In some of the videos it appears that groups of 10-15 are led through together at a pretty fast pace, and in other videos it appears that individuals or small groups (2-4) find their way through on their own at a much slower pace. Is there a set way that this works, or does it depend on how busy that night is? Or, does it differ from house to house? If it is a larger group of people going through together, am I right that most of the encounters with the actors occur when the group first enters a section of the house? In some of the videos it seems that these things happen before those in the back are even completely in the room. My reason for asking is that I am short, and if I get stuck behind 10 or more other people, and those encounters or interactions occur as the group first enters, I am probably going to miss most of the fun.

 

[patster734]

This is my first time at HHN and I am trying to get a feel for how it works. I have watched a lot of youtube videos from previous years. In some of the videos it appears that groups of 10-15 are led through together at a pretty fast pace, and in other videos it appears that individuals or small groups (2-4) find their way through on their own at a much slower pace. Is there a set way that this works, or does it depend on how busy that night is? Or, does it differ from house to house? If it is a larger group of people going through together, am I right that most of the encounters with the actors occur when the group first enters a section of the house? In some of the videos it seems that these things happen before those in the back are even completely in the room. My reason for asking is that I am short, and if I get stuck behind 10 or more other people, and those encounters or interactions occur as the group first enters, I am probably going to miss most of the fun.

It’s a continuous conga line, and the scares are random. If you’re lucky, you’ll encounter every scare. If you’re unlucky, the scares will hit both before and after you. Most likely, you experience some of the scares, but not all of the scares. Although the line might temporarily stop because of a scare, workers are in there to keep the line moving. They have to do this because the waits can easily go over an hour for the popular houses, and attempting to pulse the line would greatly increase wait times.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Yes, it's literally an ongoing line of people walking through each house. There is no front or back, you are part of one humongous merry group.

At the very end of the night you might get to be semi-alone if no one else is in line.

 

[Skippyboo]

There are 3 types of groups- you have the rip tour people who are smaller groups who get escorted to front of the house by tour guide. The house entrance out in the park has 2 different types of entrances- express and stand by. These two lines will eventually merge into one line going into the house.

There is going to be a lot of walking to get to most houses once you get in line and then back to the park. So be prepared with comfortable shoes. Also pack a secondary shoe because it’s most likely going to rain at some point and some of the paths to the houses can have a small river going. Looking at you- parade building house.

 

[gssmks]

It’s a continuous conga line, and the scares are random. If you’re lucky, you’ll encounter every scare. If you’re unlucky, the scares will hit both before and after you. Most likely, you experience some of the scares, but not all of the scares. Although the line might temporarily stop because of a scare, workers are in there to keep the line moving. They have to do this because the waits can easily go over an hour for the popular houses, and attempting to pulse the line would greatly increase wait times.

Okay....now the videos make more sense. We are going two nights with express passes both nights. Hopefully we will be able to do several of the houses more than once and combined get to experience most of the scares. Either way, I can't wait to go. I usually have as much fun watching other people get scared as I do getting scared myself anyway.

 

[Skippyboo]

You can only use your express pass once per house. So say you use express for stranger things 4 when you first get inside the park . Can’t get back in express line for that house later in the evening.

 

[patster734]

Okay....now the videos make more sense. We are going two nights with express passes both nights. Hopefully we will be able to do several of the houses more than once and combined get to experience most of the scares. Either way, I can't wait to go. I usually have as much fun watching other people get scared as I do getting scared myself anyway.

My advice is to get into the Stay & Scream (S&S) holding area both nights if you have both a day ticket and a HHN ticket for each night.

Don’t use your Express Pass for the first couple of houses while the standby line time is short, especially if you did S&S. Save it for later in the night when the wait time for those same houses will probably be longer.

On the second night, stay in the S&S holding area that releases into your favorite houses. Beware though that even the S&S can become a long wait for houses. Last year, we did the Halloween house from S&S, and it was still nearly a 60 minute wait because it was so popular.

With the event lasting until 2AM each night, you should be able to see all houses each night with Express, with a repeat of one or two house if you also did S&S, assuming your feet hold out. HHN is notorious bad on feet because of the constant walking from house to house, through the lines, and through the houses.

Expect Express to cut your wait in half, and possibly by 2/3rds from the standby line, so a 60 minute standby line will typically be 20 to 30 minutes with Express. Less if your lucky or slightly longer if unlucky.

 

[namelessoracle]

My advice is to get into the Stay & Scream (S&S) holding area both nights if you have both a day ticket and a HHN ticket for each night.

Don’t use your Express Pass for the first couple of houses while the standby line time is short, especially if you did S&S. Save it for later in the night when the wait time for those same houses will probably be longer.

On the second night, stay in the S&S holding area that releases into your favorite houses. Beware though that even the S&S can become a long wait for houses. Last year, we did the Halloween house from S&S, and it was still nearly a 60 minute wait because it was so popular.

With the event lasting until 2AM each night, you should be able to see all houses each night with Express, with a repeat of one or two house if you also did S&S, assuming your feet hold out. HHN is notorious bad on feet because of the constant walking from house to house, through the lines, and through the houses.

Expect Express to cut your wait in half, and possibly by 2/3rds from the standby line, so a 60 minute standby line will typically be 20 to 30 minutes with Express. Less if your lucky or slightly longer if unlucky.

We used to do what you are saying for Express. Dont use em the first 2 houses while lines were short. But as we have gotten older we realized by the end of the night we didnt actually want to go walk back to the house and get back in line and wished we would have just burned it for the 10 to 15 minutes it would have saved us. Your mileage may vary.

My advice. Make a decision about if you are staying till close of the event at 2am or plan to leave as soon as you finish all the houses/shows. If you plan on leaving once you are "done", just burn your Express immediately. Even if you plan on staying till close, decide if you really want to walk to the other side of the park, and be aware that even express lanes you will be standing in line for 15 minutes. At the end of the night for myself personally, I am in "sit down or keep walking" mode, standing on my feet not doing anything is awful.

 

[keishashadow]

We used to do what you are saying for Express. Dont use em the first 2 houses while lines were short. But as we have gotten older we realized by the end of the night we didnt actually want to go walk back to the house and get back in line and wished we would have just burned it for the 10 to 15 minutes it would have saved us. Your mileage may vary.

Patster is sharing great advice here, a seasoned HHN vet. Thanks

I also now tend to slow my pace as a multi night stay progresses. Still trucking’ just in the slow lane lol.

Only time I now find myself saving an EP early on in night, is if the stated wait time is under 30 min

 

[patster734]

We used to do what you are saying for Express. Dont use em the first 2 houses while lines were short. But as we have gotten older we realized by the end of the night we didnt actually want to go walk back to the house and get back in line and wished we would have just burned it for the 10 to 15 minutes it would have saved us. Your mileage may vary.

My advice. Make a decision about if you are staying till close of the event at 2am or plan to leave as soon as you finish all the houses/shows. If you plan on leaving once you are "done", just burn your Express immediately. Even if you plan on staying till close, decide if you really want to walk to the other side of the park, and be aware that even express lanes you will be standing in line for 15 minutes. At the end of the night for myself personally, I am in "sit down or keep walking" mode, standing on my feet not doing anything is awful.

I hear ya! Because we only go one night, my group does RIP. In years past, we’d do a private tour so that we could repeat houses. Last year, we did a public tour, and doing the houses only once was more our speed. We are doing the public tour this year. HHN is a killer on feet. Universal should probably have a house dedicated to “feet killing” some year.

Patster is sharing great advice here, a seasoned HHN vet. Thanks

I also now tend to slow my pace as a multi night stay progresses. Still trucking’ just in the slow lane lol.

Only time I now find myself saving an EP early on in night, is if the stated wait time is under 30 min

Thank you for the kind words, Keisha! Hopefully, you and your family are doing well!

 

[nurseberta]

Trying to make a plan for a one night only event this year.
How long are the RIP tours from beginning to end?

May want to splurge on it and make the most out of my one night!!
Tours are available at 7 and 8:30pm, thinking 8:30pm would be good because we will have time to do some rides beforehand especially since they close at the end of the night. thoughts?

and lastly, please tell me the RIP tours save you some steps? because you are not waiting or walking through the million switchbacks?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

and lastly, please tell me the RIP tours save you some steps? because you are not waiting or walking through the million switchbacks?

And because you can go through some back stage areas, and cut directly between houses that are grouped together instead of going alllllllll the way out and back around again.

I don't know if you might be able to get the RIP lanyards earlier in the evening, to use for rides? You do get EP on each ride "after" the RIP tour. Plus the EP ride lines save more steps.


(Edited out mis-information)

 

[gssmks]

My advice is to get into the Stay & Scream (S&S) holding area both nights if you have both a day ticket and a HHN ticket for each night.

Don’t use your Express Pass for the first couple of houses while the standby line time is short, especially if you did S&S. Save it for later in the night when the wait time for those same houses will probably be longer.

On the second night, stay in the S&S holding area that releases into your favorite houses. Beware though that even the S&S can become a long wait for houses. Last year, we did the Halloween house from S&S, and it was still nearly a 60 minute wait because it was so popular.

With the event lasting until 2AM each night, you should be able to see all houses each night with Express, with a repeat of one or two house if you also did S&S, assuming your feet hold out. HHN is notorious bad on feet because of the constant walking from house to house, through the lines, and through the houses.

Expect Express to cut your wait in half, and possibly by 2/3rds from the standby line, so a 60 minute standby line will typically be 20 to 30 minutes with Express. Less if your lucky or slightly longer if unlucky.

You guys are all giving me valuable information.

I didn't realize that my HHN express pass wasn't unlimited. That means I will probably be limited to doing each house just once. My original plan was to divide the park in half, and do 5 houses, 2-3 scare zones, etc, on the first night and then do the remaining houses the second night. Each night, I planned to repeat any house that we wanted to before leaving the park. I guess I won't be doing that. I know that most people would have no problem getting through all 10 houses in one night with express passes, especially mid-September, but the whole reason we are doing two nights and express passes both nights is that I have a medical issue with one foot that is going to make the walking and standing in line that long difficult for me. My plan was to focus on just half of the park and use express passes in order to allow me to move slower and rest when I needed to.

If we are already in the park and we get in one of the holding areas, is there a separate line for those with express passes? I'm just wondering if there would be less waiting in line if I get in the holding area or if I stay outside the park and just enter through the hotel guest entrance when the gates open.

 

[gssmks]

And because you can go through some back stage areas, and cut directly between houses that are grouped together instead of going alllllllll the way out and back around again.

I don't know if you might be able to get the RIP lanyards earlier in the evening, to use for rides? You do get 1 time EP on each ride "after" the RIP tour, and the EP lines are very very short because they don't sell ride EP for HHN. Plus the EP ride lines save more steps.

I have purchased HHN express passes. Are you saying that those are only for the 10 houses and can't be used at the rides that are open during HHN?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I have purchased HHN express passes. Are you saying that those are only for the 10 houses and can't be used at the rides that are open during HHN?

Went & looked, I was incorrect - per Universal:

• The Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass entitles one (1) guest one (1) time express ride access for a specific event date during the 2023 Halloween Horror Nights event. Express ride access is a separate line with a shorter wait time at ALL haunted houses and participating rides and attractions. Subject to availability. Present ticket to the attendant upon entering the queue for a haunted house or participating attraction.

 

[SPAM]

Last year I had a frequent fear pass and had 4 nights at HHN and did stay and scream each time and was able to hit 2-3 houses early, this was a good strategy but waiting in the heat and sun to be at the front of the line was a little brutal. I am toying with the idea of getting the rush of fear plus express this year for my Sept 16-23 trip, my go-go-go mentality makes it hard for me to "take it easy" lol, what would be my experience either not coming into park until hhn opened and using express (wouldn't be looking to do houses more than once) or I could go into a stay and scream area but not right at opening and maybe not get in the line right away but maybe get some food if I am in an area that has some available? I am never a stay all night kind of person, I like to hit a good amount of houses, see some scare zones, get some snacks and see the show.

 

[zavandor]

Last year I had a frequent fear pass and had 4 nights at HHN and did stay and scream each time and was able to hit 2-3 houses early, this was a good strategy but waiting in the heat and sun to be at the front of the line was a little brutal. I am toying with the idea of getting the rush of fear plus express this year for my Sept 16-23 trip, my go-go-go mentality makes it hard for me to "take it easy" lol, what would be my experience either not coming into park until hhn opened and using express (wouldn't be looking to do houses more than once) or I could go into a stay and scream area but not right at opening and maybe not get in the line right away but maybe get some food if I am in an area that has some available? I am never a stay all night kind of person, I like to hit a good amount of houses, see some scare zones, get some snacks and see the show.

I was wondering exactly the same. I'll stay near Universal for the last two weeks of September. I have purchased an AP and the rush of fear with express and I'll work from (timeshare) home during the day and go to the parks in the evening. I could get into the park by 5pm for Stay and Scream, but probably it's too much hassle to do every day.
If I get to the park by 6:30pm, to avoid the worst of the crowds at the gate, how will the situation be? I guess I must expect multi hours wait for some houses (I bet on Stranger Things and Last of Us being the worst), which the Express would halve but it's still a lot.