HHN 2024: Tips, Tricks & Planning Thread

[Jake S]

I don’t know about last year, but opening night has had limited capacity in the past. We’re also looking at sold out express the first weekend, so I’m not sure how much there is to learn about the reduced FFP price.

We’ll find out soon!

 

[DTH]

Opening night also mainly has to deal with press going through the mazes and imo, that's the most annoying thing. Opening Saturday is also insane and since 2021, my second trips at the end of the month more towards Halloween (usually the most insane time to go) have oddly been more successful. I've debated waiting a weekend, but my hype always gets the best of me.

From what I can tell, more die hard fans go opening weeks, and so they know all the tips and tricks. Early Access is usually filled to the brim. Then, casual fans start to flock and they're the ones who show up at like 8-9pm, and Early Access is way more easygoing. So if you're a diehard who knows what they're doing, you've got most of the stuff done by that time.

 

[Lc.]

Went Opening Night last year and it was probably one of the best and smoothest nights I did. A few scareactors I knew did say it was at limited capactity as it took a page from 2021's Fan Preview Night, and it definetly felt like limited capacity, Chucky wasn't bombarded in the first 10 mins of opening! The only kerfuffle was that some of the wait times were overbloated, Last of Us being the extreme almost throwing a wrench in tye plan being almost 140mins when we got their but in reality it was only 30 XD.
You defintely do got have a plan tho cuz I got every house done just alittle after 10am so we did some repeats after but it was a smoother night than later ones, especially the Sundays.
Hopefully it is similar to that this year, main gripe would be it closing at 1am again, hopefully its 2am this time cuz that was a out left feilder.

 

[DTH]

In my experience, Opening Night is a bit of a "luck of the draw" situation. I've gone and not run into any media or press going into a maze at any point through the night -- smooth sailing. Then there'd be a year where my night would be going super smoothly until I do run into it happening even on one maze and it throws off my entire night as now I am insanely behind because my 30 minute advertised wait just jumped up to 70. Then thered be a time I'd go and deal with it back to back, ruining things from the start. After that, I just decided I wouldn't be going Opening Night anymore lol (this was 2011-2013) but then they moved Opening Night to Thursdays, Saturdays just worked better for all my friends schedules, and in general, I just found Opening Nights to be underwhelming in terms of quality. Plus I love watching the wait times on Thursday and Friday to calculate what they'll be like when I finally go. And in general, let scareactors get into the groove a biiiit more. Don't think I'll be going back to an Opening Night lol and depending how things this year go, we'll see if I do Opening Weekend anymore. I have a feeling it'll be fine, but just prepping myself mentally.

 

[Max]

If we have a frequent fear pass is there a way to get an express pass for a certain night we want to go?

 

[Clive]

If we have a frequent fear pass is there a way to get an express pass for a certain night we want to go?

If you only want/need Express for one particular night, you can just buy the individual express pass for that night. It is separate from event admission!

 

[Jerroddragon]

If you only want/need Express for one particular night, you can just buy the individual express pass for that night. It is separate from event admission!

You can upgrade at the park as well? Right?

 

[Jake S]

You can upgrade at the park as well? Right?

Usually, yes. I wouldn’t count on it but I’ve also never seen it not available at the park.

 

[Michael S]

Usually, yes. I wouldn’t count on it but I’ve also never seen it not available at the park.

If I remember correctly, when express says sold out, they mean online. There’s a large grouping of tickets they leave for upgrades at the gate. And even if that somehow happens to sell out (like you, never seen it) you can still go for the after 11pm express.

 

[Casper Gutman]

When is “hell week” this year and is it as significant as it once was?

 

[gbird]

If we have a frequent fear pass is there a way to get an express pass for a certain night we want to go?

I have just brought express pass for three nights (as with friends who in town for certain days) and added to FFP was really simple to buy and add to app.

 

[Max]

I have just brought express pass for three nights (as with friends who in town for certain days) and added to FFP was really simple to buy and add to app.

I don’t see the option to just buy an express pass. I’m only seeing what it would be for the ticket + express

 

[Spookies n' Stuff]

I don’t see the option to just buy an express pass. I’m only seeing what it would be for the ticket + express

In general you have to upgrade at the gate on the night of your visit, I've done this several times in the past, you wanna just get there early and line up for the ticket booths and let them know that you already have a frequent fear pass. Tends to be a 100-200 dollar upgrade depending on the night.
Personally I haven't heard anything about being able to add it on the app, though I could just be out of the loop.

 

[gbird]

I don’t see the option to just buy an express pass. I’m only seeing what it would be for the ticket + express

You have to buy express pass seperate for the nights you require. I did order online and just added (scanned QR code) to add to my universal app. So when go to park you will have FFP pass and seperate express pass. Hope that helps

 

[Spookies n' Stuff]

You have to buy express pass seperate for the nights you require. I did order online and just added (scanned QR code) to add to my universal app. So when go to park you will have FFP pass and seperate express pass. Hope that helps

I think the issue they mean is that you can't buy Express from the website a la carte, on the website Express is only available with admission included, which is unnecessary when you already have FFP admission and would cause you to spend extra unnecessary money if you were to buy Express with admission on the website.

 

[gbird]

I just went to UNIVERSAL ORLANDO HHN page - Tickets and more - HHN Express Pass- Buy now (starts from $149.44) then picked dates - added to Cart and then had email with the express passes.

They had a disclaimer when buying that didn't include admission.

 

[Spookies n' Stuff]

I just went to UNIVERSAL ORLANDO HHN page - Tickets and more - HHN Express Pass- Buy now (starts from $149.44) then picked dates - added to Cart and then had email with the express passes.

They had a disclaimer when buying that didn't include admission.

This is the thread for HHN Hollywood, it functions differently than Orlando's express system

 

[TheHaunter]

I just went to UNIVERSAL ORLANDO HHN page - Tickets and more - HHN Express Pass- Buy now (starts from $149.44) then picked dates - added to Cart and then had email with the express passes.

They had a disclaimer when buying that didn't include admission.

That's so expensive when you could get Express and admission in Hollywood for cheaper.

 

[Brian G.]

Need to Know: A Guide to Halloween Horror Nights 2024 at Universal Studios Hollywood

The horror season is upon us! Halloween Horror Nights 2024 is set to begin Thursday, Sept 5 at Universal Studios Hollywood. For those who have visited the event in the past, you know what to expect. For those who haven't, get ready for some unforgettable horrific encounters... Universal Studios Ho

www.insideuniversal.net

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Any info on S&S houses by which holding pens and opening times?