HHN 2025: Tips, Tricks & Planning Thread

[deadbydawn]

I'm guessing we don't know which houses will be available for Early Access just yet. They'd be crazy to not have FNAF as one of them though. I do wonder if it's worth doing repeat maze visits as long as EA lines don't look too bad, especially since I have no intention of touching things other than FNAF, Fallout, Chainsaw Man, and maybe Purge (and especially not Terrifier, already been hearing it's as gross as the movies, which means I'm not touching it with a 39 and a half foot pole.

Other than that, some tips would help for if I do go, especially as someone who has never touched HHN until possibly now. I'd imagine EA lines will still be sizable since this isn't FFN though, where you actually could repeat something if you wanted to during EA.

At the very least, I'm contemplating the 2PM combo ticket because of the SNW access. Twice the minimum for Early access (with the AP discount anyway) doesn't sound too bad if it means being able to go into what's effectively a safe zone alongside EA. Also, do we know if Hollywood is getting those Deathly Afraid Necklaces? Those would probably help a lot for someone like me.

I don't think Early Entry houses have been announced yet. I've heard it may be Five Nights at Freddy's and Terrifier, maybe someone else can confirm.

If Early Access works for Five Nights at Freddy's, you should be able to get away with repeating. I expect it will be tough to repeat houses this year, since it's projected to be pretty busy. If you're only planning on those two, you could probably get away with it. The Harry Potter area is also a safe zone as there are no Death Eaters this year, and it's not locked behind a ticketed paywall like Super Nintendo World is. The 2 PM combo isn't a bad idea if you want to be in the park with plenty of time to get ready for Early Entry.

I haven't seen anything official about the no scare necklaces in Hollywood, but I would have to assume they are coming. They don't work in the houses, though.

I should have also asked this, but how are ride wait times compared to normal hours? Still busy because of the HHN draw, or they'll be nothing compared to the lines for the popular mazes? If they're still on the lower side, that'll be a nice thing to take advantage of.

Wait times are very low during HHN. Should be a walk on for everything that is open during the event.

 

[DTH]

I haven't seen anything official about the no scare necklaces in Hollywood, but I would have to assume they are coming. They don't work in the houses, though.

Wait times are very low during HHN. Should be a walk on for everything that is open during the event.

The necklaces are not coming to Hollywood, Murdy has confirmed.

Also, the rides actually do have lines. Transformers is the only one I can say that is pretty much always a walk on. Jurassic is a walk on for the first hour but by 8:30ish, the line can get up to 20-30 minutes. The Mummy I have seen get up to 70-120 minutes depending on the night, and at the lowest will be maybe 40 throughout the night, with it being a walk on maaaaaaybe in the last 15 minutes. Simpsons is always always always 15-20 minutes even if nobody is there, but typically I see it reach up to 40 minutes at HHN and stays in that 20-40 zone all night. Forbidden Journey is kinda unpredictable, in my experience -- I've seen it completely empty and I've also seen it 2 hours, it kinda just depends, but I would count on it being 30-60 at the very least. Hippogriff is mostly short, 5-15, never seen it more than 30.

 

[deadbydawn]

The necklaces are not coming to Hollywood, Murdy has confirmed.

Also, the rides actually do have lines. Transformers is the only one I can say that is pretty much always a walk on. Jurassic is a walk on for the first hour but by 8:30ish, the line can get up to 20-30 minutes. The Mummy I have seen get up to 70-120 minutes depending on the night, and at the lowest will be maybe 40 throughout the night, with it being a walk on maaaaaaybe in the last 15 minutes. Simpsons is always always always 15-20 minutes even if nobody is there, but typically I see it reach up to 40 minutes at HHN and stays in that 20-40 zone all night. Forbidden Journey is kinda unpredictable, in my experience -- I've seen it completely empty and I've also seen it 2 hours, it kinda just depends, but I would count on it being 30-60 at the very least. Hippogriff is mostly short, 5-15, never seen it more than 30.

Thanks for that update. I stand corrected. I realize my experience is always on the first Thursday, which is not indicative of most nights there.

 

[cdogsumo]

I don't think Early Entry houses have been announced yet. I've heard it may be Five Nights at Freddy's and Terrifier, maybe someone else can confirm.

Nothing confirmed but based on last year, I would expect the H-Lot houses (Terrifier & Poltergeist) and the deep Lower Lot houses (FNAF & Scarecrow) to be the early entry houses.

Could be wrong of course, but I think it would be a good balance, with the two most popular houses and the two repeats.

 

[BriefCasey]

The necklaces are not coming to Hollywood, Murdy has confirmed.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hell. O_O''

Well uh, thanks anyway. That's a bummer for someone like me though. Better be braced for scare actors getting the drop on me even if I'm passing through. If not that, getting very in your face when scaring.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hell. O_O''

Well uh, thanks anyway. That's a bummer for someone like me though. Better be braced for scare actors getting the drop on me even if I'm passing through. If not that, getting very in your face when scaring.

I wish they’d treat me like that but I’m 6 foot and don’t get that scared so…they leave me mostly alone and look for others to scare mostly

I’ve had a few that notice me and because I come so much and do cool, acting like creature's wrestler would do some cool swimming through the air stuff but wish they’d treat actors would go after me it’s fun

My tip is act like you don’t care and they most likely will ignore you

 

[DTH]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hell. O_O''

Well uh, thanks anyway. That's a bummer for someone like me though. Better be braced for scare actors getting the drop on me even if I'm passing through. If not that, getting very in your face when scaring.

The entire lower lot is a safe zone, so you're good there. If you have Early Entry or 2pm entry, you can head down there before any of the scarezones even open and you probably won't see them for hours. Simpsons is another safe zone -- they now have a scarezone in front of Studio Tour, so not sure how far that will go into The Simpsons area, but my understanding is not at all. There is a little side entrance to Wizarding World (another safe zone) that I could suggest you take, but my guess is Hellbullyz covers that spot. But if you go down that Simpsons row to Wizarding World, you would only encounter the Crowz which are fairly tame in scares. Chainsaw Man is also in this area. The other maze I know you want to hit is Fallout, so you could cross Murder of Crowz and go through Dia De Los Muertos (a non-scare party theme area) to get to Fallout, avoiding the main hub scarezone. If you want to get to The Purge show, you kinda have to go through the main hub scarezone, but I am sure by that point you'll be fine to get a jolt or two after going through FNAF and Fallout. To be honest, I have walked through scarezones hundreds of times without being targeted.

 

[Brian G.]

Need to Know: A Guide to Halloween Horror Nights 2025 at Universal Studios Hollywood

The horror season is upon us! Halloween Horror Nights 2025 is set to begin Thursday, Sept 4 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

 

[DTH]

It's worth noting that the weather won't be an absolute beast this weekend like last year and seems to top out in the low 90s or mid 80s for the highs. Thank God because last year was brutal and I was DRENCHED all night in sweat.

 

[BriefCasey]

The entire lower lot is a safe zone, so you're good there. If you have Early Entry or 2pm entry, you can head down there before any of the scarezones even open and you probably won't see them for hours. Simpsons is another safe zone -- they now have a scarezone in front of Studio Tour, so not sure how far that will go into The Simpsons area, but my understanding is not at all. There is a little side entrance to Wizarding World (another safe zone) that I could suggest you take, but my guess is Hellbullyz covers that spot. But if you go down that Simpsons row to Wizarding World, you would only encounter the Crowz which are fairly tame in scares. Chainsaw Man is also in this area. The other maze I know you want to hit is Fallout, so you could cross Murder of Crowz and go through Dia De Los Muertos (a non-scare party theme area) to get to Fallout, avoiding the main hub scarezone. If you want to get to The Purge show, you kinda have to go through the main hub scarezone, but I am sure by that point you'll be fine to get a jolt or two after going through FNAF and Fallout. To be honest, I have walked through scarezones hundreds of times without being targeted.

My tip is act like you don’t care and they most likely will ignore you

Thanks for the tips. Had no idea lower lot has recently been a safe zone these past years. Years ago I remember seeing Pyramid Heads lurking there when they had something Silent Hill related there years ago.

I do wonder if having headphones on can make them more likely to scare you though. Was contemplating putting some on to ease nerves if I felt like it.

 

[Freak]

It's worth noting that the weather won't be an absolute beast this weekend like last year and seems to top out in the low 90s or mid 80s for the highs. Thank God because last year was brutal and I was DRENCHED all night in sweat.

I remember how brutal it was last year. My first night was in that Sunday and I think I remember it being 95 degrees at night. Those poor scareactors in the black tents!

Terrifier will get AC so that will be great for this weekend.

 

[Jake S]

It's worth noting that the weather won't be an absolute beast this weekend like last year and seems to top out in the low 90s or mid 80s for the highs. Thank God because last year was brutal and I was DRENCHED all night in sweat.

Yeah, it's a massive relief looking at the weather for next weekend and not seeing a bunch of high 90s.