Halloween Horror Nights 2023 (USH) - Tips, Tricks, & Planning

[SailwiththeTide]

200 mins on a Sunday night is bizarre. The longest I saw it yesterday was 160 mins.

It didn't feel that crowded last night but I left by 9:30.

Edit: posted review here. moved it to correct thread.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Is the early entry unofficial holding spot for Stranger Things still the same little area behind the Studio Cafe like it’s been for the past few years? Going tomorrow and I’m so used to being right there at the front of the line that I figured I’d ask if it’s changed now that SNW is open and the entrance is smack dab right there.

If you did start with Stranger things, where was the line before EA started?

 

[highdefrex]

If you did start with Stranger things, where was the line before EA started?

Yesterday, they had the SNW barriers curving left and away from Transformers, but if you stuck to the right of them and then followed them on the exterior, we all lined up right alongside that, right near where the post sign will be for ST4/where the wheelchair access ramp is for the Transformers queue.

 

[saint.piss]

The wait times yesterday weren't that bad. The only house that had consistently bad wait times was Chucky

 

[Clive]

I think the Chucky waits are trending worse than some of the other venues due to the nature of the house. It all but invites you to move slowly to view the clips and take in the theatrical moments - there aren't a lot of scares that propel you forward.

 

[DTH]

Not only that, it's the most well-known property. Sure Last of Us is popular right now, along with Stranger Things, but the amount of people dressed as Chucky is insane -- they're all here to see him. I guess I didn't expect this outcome because the previous Chucky mazes/trams didn't have this outpouring of support. He is 100% this year's Freddy, Jason, or Michael, and I was kinda blindsided by that haha. On top of that, it's one of the best reviewed mazes this year and so word of mouth must be spreading. Another factor is that location just gets slammed in weird droves. There's only 2 mazes there and people don't care as much for the other one, which means everyone just goes to Chucky. Last of Us and Stranger Things are big at opening because of Early Access but I feel like if Chucky was on the lower lot, it'd probably overtake those in wait times too from the offset.

 

[Horror Lover]

Not only that, it's the most well-known property. Sure Last of Us is popular right now, along with Stranger Things, but the amount of people dressed as Chucky is insane -- they're all here to see him. I guess I didn't expect this outcome because the previous Chucky mazes/trams didn't have this outpouring of support. He is 100% this year's Freddy, Jason, or Michael, and I was kinda blindsided by that haha. On top of that, it's one of the best reviewed mazes this year and so word of mouth must be spreading. Another factor is that location just gets slammed in weird droves. There's only 2 mazes there and people don't care as much for the other one, which means everyone just goes to Chucky. Last of Us and Stranger Things are big at opening because of Early Access but I feel like if Chucky was on the lower lot, it'd probably overtake those in wait times too from the offset.

What's stranger about the situation is that Chucky isn't on the formal marketing/billboards/ads and yet he still eclipses the IPs that are!!

 

[ParksandSights]

Is Chucky fully staffed when it first opens? I'm going Thursday and I plan to head straight there after Early Access

 

[Clive]

Is Chucky fully staffed when it first opens? I'm going Thursday and I plan to head straight there after Early Access

Things happen, but it opens at 7, meaning night-of casting has more time to place people and get them to their spots.

 

[SailwiththeTide]

Is Chucky fully staffed when it first opens? I'm going Thursday and I plan to head straight there after Early Access

If you really want to do Chucky I would suggest getting to the Potter area around 6:40. They let people start walking over at about 6:45. I was one of the first 30 or so people but they do prioritize express and the line gets pretty long at opening.

 

[Spookies n' Stuff]

It didn't feel that crowded last night but I left by 9:30.

Edit: posted review here. moved it to correct thread.

Honestly, having gone thursday and saturday along with last night, sunday was definitely the least crowded of the weekend from my experience. Pretty much only chucky stayed that high and everything else was like 30-40 minutes for most of the night.

 

[KlownzNskullZ]

Things happen, but it opens at 7, meaning night-of casting has more time to place people and get them to their spots.

you be suprised how not orginzed the event is when it comes to the actors lol, but I def think if some scares are down, try and go again. my first 2 times not everything was working. once everything was staffed it was awesome

 

[Clive]

you be suprised how not orginzed the event is when it comes to the actors lol, but I def think if some scares are down, try and go again. my first 2 times not everything was working. once everything was staffed it was awesome

I'm well aware of how things go with the actors at this event specifically. Mazes in these venues tend to fare a little better in terms of casting when they open versus the early entry offerings. Casting can also deteriorate over the course of the night as actors become injured without enough bodies to replace them, so it can really go either way.

 

[KlownzNskullZ]

I'm well aware of how things go with the actors at this event specifically. Mazes in these venues tend to fare a little better in terms of casting when they open versus the early entry offerings. Casting can also deteriorate over the course of the night as actors become injured without enough bodies to replace them, so it can really go either way.

Once they go to 5 days a week I’m sure we’ll see the quantity of actors go down

 

[Spookies n' Stuff]

I'm well aware of how things go with the actors at this event specifically. Mazes in these venues tend to fare a little better in terms of casting when they open versus the early entry offerings. Casting can also deteriorate over the course of the night as actors become injured without enough bodies to replace them, so it can really go either way.

Probably also just becomes an issue of situations beyond an individuals control, like if theres a long line to clock in, and it takes a while to get makeup or costumes on, and then on top of that for most venues you need to take basically a bus to get to your break room, which could be delayed by studio activity or anything else, and precise timing becomes near impossible.
Frankly they should just make talent call times like an hour earlier at minimum if they want everyone to be ready for early entry especially when theyre charging 10-20 bucks a piece for it, but then thats an extra hour you have to pay hundreds of talent and staff for and the universal big wigs are probably gonna start getting a little bothered. Frustratingly, probably just a case of corporate interests working to screw over both the guest experience and the talent themselves.

 

[Clive]

Probably also just becomes an issue of situations beyond an individuals control, like if theres a long line to clock in, and it takes a while to get makeup or costumes on, and then on top of that for most venues you need to take basically a bus to get to your break room, which could be delayed by studio activity or anything else, and precise timing becomes near impossible.
Frankly they should just make talent call times like an hour earlier at minimum if they want everyone to be ready for early entry especially when theyre charging 10-20 bucks a piece for it, but then thats an extra hour you have to pay hundreds of talent and staff for and the universal big wigs are probably gonna start getting a little bothered. Frustratingly, probably just a case of corporate interests working to screw over both the guest experience and the talent themselves.

You’ve summed it up. Horror Nights performers used to get called in the 2pm-4pm range (basically 2.5-3 hours before venue open). Now it’s 4:30-6, with some performers getting about an hour from checkin to get to their spots.

 

[Rideguy70]

And given how long lines for all the lower lot mazes can get, they really need another restroom in the area where Holidays and Exorcist are. The only bathroom available is the main one near Jurassic World... that's a long way to go from those two mazes

 

[Michael S]

And given how long lines for all the lower lot mazes can get, they really need another restroom in the area where Holidays and Exorcist are. The only bathroom available is the main one near Jurassic World... that's a long way to go from those two mazes

They should’ve set up some trailer restrooms down by the stages there.

 

[KlownzNskullZ]

And given how long lines for all the lower lot mazes can get, they really need another restroom in the area where Holidays and Exorcist are. The only bathroom available is the main one near Jurassic World... that's a long way to go from those two mazes

Definitely add the trailer bathrooms there.

 

[Jerroddragon]

And given how long lines for all the lower lot mazes can get, they really need another restroom in the area where Holidays and Exorcist are. The only bathroom available is the main one near Jurassic World... that's a long way to go from those two mazes

If only they had a new land with bathrooms in it.....