Definitely some points this year where I felt legitimately overwhelmed and stressed out due to crowding. I think the Ops and overall layout of this year is substantially better than last year's, and this is still a really big issue.
General opening weekend thoughts (that don't quite rise to the level of a review):
- Parking remains awful, even fairly late. Not specific to HHN but both garages looking rough, ton of busted escalators and moving sidewalks. Dark and dingy.
- With the exception of Museum (which may have been a fluke), Express is lightning fast this year. The goal seems to be 10 minute waits no matter the standby line and they generally meet or exceed that. Goblins was posted 85 last night, I was inside in 5!
- Streets are as jammed as ever, maybe worse than ever. And still enough Express that the reduction in sales doesn't seem to have cut standby lines very much. Food lines still seem bad, but Sunday the bar lines looked fairly empty (at 11, HHN Bar was serving a single couple). Whether this reflects a younger crowd because school out for Labor Day or something more will be interesting to watch.
- Physical lines on the whole much better than the past couple years--nothing on a par with the hike to Parade 2. Really like the potential of the "courtyard" by Monsters/Goblins. Hopefully next year they expand on the idea with food booths, a larger bar, maybe even like a DJ. Make it a food court and party central.
- I miss paper maps, if only as a souvenir.
Interesting to hear your Express take -- it sounds like some others weren't nearly as lucky, but I've seen a fraction of the complaints I was seeing opening weekend last year. Nothing like the regular Oddfellow backups.
Can anyone on the ground report on whether standby waits are being inflated? They typically are to some degree, but I'm curious about to what extent.
Interesting to hear your Express take -- it sounds like some others weren't nearly as lucky, but I've seen a fraction of the complaints I was seeing opening weekend last year. Nothing like the regular Oddfellow backups.
Can anyone on the ground report on whether standby waits are being inflated? They typically are to some degree, but I'm curious about to what extent.
We got in a little faster but it opened at opening scaremonies with the rest of the crowds.Sorry to double post but trying to plan for this weekend. Has anyone used the Universal Resort guest entrance this year? Is it the same as last year where it's a dedicated entrance that puts you in at the same time as general admission? This has varied in the past with one year provided early access to Hell Block. Thanks in advance.
Haven't tried yet this year, but sorry, your memory is foggy, hasn't been an Express entrance to that theater in over a decade, if ever. Only RIP tours and guest assistance passes.Does anyone know if the Express Pass allows an express entry into Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus show.
Past years I have gone the Express Pass did allow you an express entry into the show, but last year it did not.
That’s my recollection as well.I definitely remember NF having Express either last year or the year before but it was only for the first performance of the night.