HHN 34: Tips, Tricks & Planning Thread

[grlhowl]

I have to fly to Orlando, and I didn't think I'd be going to HHN this year... but my friends offered me to fly down with them to go on 10/12. Is that Hell Week? Express is sold out, so I'm already very worried about it. I'd love to go but I'm not sure it's worth it for me if our one night will be insanely crowded.

 

[SeventyOne]

I have to fly to Orlando, and I didn't think I'd be going to HHN this year... but my friends offered me to fly down with them to go on 10/12. Is that Hell Week? Express is sold out, so I'm already very worried about it. I'd love to go but I'm not sure it's worth it for me if our one night will be insanely crowded.

Not only Hell Week, but promises to be the most hellacious night that week, if not the event. Virtually all local schools out the next day, and plenty down from up north who always had Columbus Day off.

That said, such a good year, I still recommend going if that's your only option. Concentrate on two "big" houses and two or three "minor" ones, take in the zones, see Ghoulish. Just prioritize because you won't see everything.

 

[gbird]

Advice please. We are going Sunday night and maybe weds next week. Can’t seem to buy express online for either nights what’s the chances of buying in the park. Or are they sold out completely?

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

Advice please. We are going Sunday night and maybe weds next week. Can’t seem to buy express online for either nights what’s the chances of buying in the park. Or are they sold out completely?

i've seen crazier things happen but i'd estimate like a less than 5% chance success rate.
They do have unspecified limited allotments saved for the parks, but i've heard it's a crapshoot.
If it's sold out online, and you've already tried calling and asking someone over the phone, i'd make an effort to get there super early and ask guest services before the park even opens that day - even if you're NOT going to USF or IoA that morning.

 

[grlhowl]

I have to fly to Orlando, and I didn't think I'd be going to HHN this year... but my friends offered me to fly down with them to go on 10/12. Is that Hell Week? Express is sold out, so I'm already very worried about it. I'd love to go but I'm not sure it's worth it for me if our one night will be insanely crowded.

So... I bit the bullet and I am going on Sunday. I'm a bit terrified but just excited to be back at HHN regardless of the crowds since it's been two years! I haven't been keeping up with things this year, so I've got a few questions:
1. How has S&S changed? When do the houses open this year?
2. What are the best houses to do early and which will have less-awful waits in the middle of the night? What is best to save for the late late hours near closing?

 

[SeventyOne]

So... I bit the bullet and I am going on Sunday. I'm a bit terrified but just excited to be back at HHN regardless of the crowds since it's been two years! I haven't been keeping up with things this year, so I've got a few questions:
1. How has S&S changed? When do the houses open this year?
2. What are the best houses to do early and which will have less-awful waits in the middle of the night? What is best to save for the late late hours near closing?

1) As a practical matter, plan on being right outside the line for your first house of the night by 3:55. In theory you can just wander the park until houses open, but I wouldn't recommend that Sunday.
2) Terrifier and Jason seem to be the casual fans' favorites, and the wait times reflect that. Unfortunately, not that close to one another. Avoid them at peak if at all possible, as well as Five Nights and Fallout. Best plan for middle of the evening is Hatchet, Dolls and Galkn, with the shows and time in Cat Lady. All three will probably top out around an hour, maybe 75 minutes, while the main IPs will certainly be double that.

 

[Casper Gutman]

A few questions about the after 11 express:

1) is it available this year?
2) is it ever available on nights when normal express has sold out?
3) At what time during the day or night does the pass become available?
4) where can the pass be purchased?

I’m sure these have all been asked and answered before so I apologize for the repetition. In all my years attending it’s simply not an option I’ve explored. I appreciate any help anyone can lend.

 

[grlhowl]

How long can I expect to wait for Terrifier if I'm able to get out of FNAF early after S&S? I have friends who want to do those two houses most, but I'm trying to gauge if it'd be better to try to do some tent houses after FNAF and save Terrifier for after midnight. Thrill Data (and everyone else) says Terrifier is good to try in the last hour, but it's a major draw for us so I'm not sure when to do it. I had also considered doing Jason in the last hour, but I care more about Terrifier as an IP so I'm willing to sacrifice it if it means I have a shot at doing more houses.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

How long can I expect to wait for Terrifier if I'm able to get out of FNAF early after S&S? I have friends who want to do those two houses most, but I'm trying to gauge if it'd be better to try to do some tent houses after FNAF and save Terrifier for after midnight. Thrill Data (and everyone else) says Terrifier is good to try in the last hour, but it's a major draw for us so I'm not sure when to do it. I had also considered doing Jason in the last hour, but I care more about Terrifier as an IP so I'm willing to sacrifice it if it means I have a shot at doing more houses.

Terrifier's queue for S&S pretty much guarantees an hour wait, even if you make it out of FNAF as one of the first groups. Problem is that by the time you get to Terrifier, it'll be around 5:30 (best case scenario) and express from general public will flood in at 6PM, slowing down your progress significantly.

You can try to stop at Jason after FNAF, but it gets pretty backed up quickly. If your objective is to do as much as possible, going back to the Sprungs is your best bet. Save WWE for the middle of the event once all the other houses hit 60+

 

[Frank Drackman]

A few questions about the after 11 express:

1) is it available this year?
2) is it ever available on nights when normal express has sold out?
3) At what time during the day or night does the pass become available?
4) where can the pass be purchased?

I’m sure these have all been asked and answered before so I apologize for the repetition. In all my years attending it’s simply not an option I’ve explored. I appreciate any help anyone can lend.

I am no expert but I have inquired a few times. My understanding has landed in that 'day of' tends to bring the sale of Express after 4pm AND Unlimited Express. These two items seem to only go on sale day of.

Grain of salt stuff is that the number of units is determined after operational meetings.

I have heard of different 'drop' times so this is where I have no real experience, but I have heard things like 9AM others have said 2PM but no clue if there is a 'true' time.

 

[NotPennysBoat]

This is probably a stupid question, but if you are an AP holder, you don’t have to buy a stay and scream admission ticket. If you are already in the park and have a HHN ticket for that day, then you can take advantage of the stay and scream. Correct?

 

[zombiekimmie]

This is probably a stupid question, but if you are an AP holder, you don’t have to buy a stay and scream admission ticket. If you are already in the park and have a HHN ticket for that day, then you can take advantage of the stay and scream. Correct?

Yes, that’s correct. They scanned my AP and my HHN ticket when I went to get a bracelet during stay and scream.

 

[ViperGTS500]

So are the soundstage houses overall the busiest compared to all the other houses? Trying to figure out a plan...

 

[Tereglith]

So are the soundstage houses overall the busiest compared to all the other houses? Trying to figure out a plan...

According to Thrill Data averages the top tier of business is by far FNAF, Terrifier, Jason. Next tier down is Fallout, Galkn, El Artista, and Dolls, and the three least busy Hatchet, WWE, and Grave are slightly below those.

 

[rhino4evr]

So I have express. Won’t be doing stay and scream, but will be there for park open. Historically I’ve done the back of the park houses first and then front of the park. Basically working counter clockwise, And have gotten to do all the houses. Is this still the best course of action?
FNAF is pretty much a must do, and I’m contemplating doing that first just to guarantee we see it before we get too tired, but also worried it will screw up the flow. Feels like everyone heads their first and it makes more sense to wait until the middle of the night for that one.

 

[RedRightDan]

So I have express. Won’t be doing stay and scream, but will be there for park open. Historically I’ve done the back of the park houses first and then front of the park. Basically working counter clockwise, And have gotten to do all the houses. Is this still the best course of action?
FNAF is pretty much a must do, and I’m contemplating doing that first just to guarantee we see it before we get too tired, but also worried it will screw up the flow. Feels like everyone heads their first and it makes more sense to wait until the middle of the night for that one.

I would suggest saving FNAF for a little later into the night as you mentioned. At open, you'll have all the S&S people PLUS all the folks from the front gate jamming into that queue.

Maybe do the rest of the front houses and Jason. Take a slight break, then hit Five Nights? You have express, so I have no doubt that you'll see everything. If just depends on how tired your group gets, and if they want to tap out early.

 

[rhino4evr]

I would suggest saving FNAF for a little later into the night as you mentioned. At open, you'll have all the S&S people PLUS all the folks from the front gate jamming into that queue.

Maybe do the rest of the front houses and Jason. Take a slight break, then hit Five Nights? You have express, so I have no doubt that you'll see everything. If just depends on how tired your group gets, and if they want to tap out early.

Thanks… this is what I’m afraid of. Even with express I feel like it could be a lot longer in the beginning of the event. I’d much rather knock out a couple houses right away.

 

[SeventyOne]

Thanks… this is what I’m afraid of. Even with express I feel like it could be a lot longer in the beginning of the event. I’d much rather knock out a couple houses right away.

I might start with Jason, then, just because the Express there really seems to back up. Then to Fallout/Galkn, then back corner, knock out 5 with most of the night ahead of you. Marathon the front houses when you get a chance.