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Halloween Horror Nights 31 (UOR) - Tips & Tricks

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brian G.
  • Start date Start date Aug 1, 2022
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Clive

Clive

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  • Sep 5, 2022
  • #161
LikeMike said:
Having checked opening weekend times on the app, it looked to me like Weeknd and Halloween are two most popular houses (averaging around 60-75 mins) which comes as no real surprise.

For those there is that accurate? Which other houses seemed to always maintain big numbers?
Click to expand...

I monitored sporadically from home. Dead Man's Pier and Bugs seem to command the most consistently high waits of the originals, but Blumhouse is no slouch, either, generally staying at or above 45 minutes.

All the other originals see noticeable dips in the last hours of the event.
 
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Tbad556

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  • Sep 5, 2022
  • #162
If you really want to deep dive into the numbers, Thrill Data has been doing their thing and tracking the wait times thoroughly FWIW: Halloween Horror Nights Wait Time Data 2022 - Thrill-Data
 
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Bort

Bort

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  • #163
Thoughts on lines after experiencing 3 nights:

Bugs - longest line for an original this year. Combo of poor ops and (my guess) that guests stop a lot more in this house because, bugs.
DMP - long original line because it's really good.
Coven and Hellblock - shortest IP lines, despite being at the front of the park
Descendents - medium line, probably due to people being used to walking over there for 2 tents, and that both tents dump out next to its entrance
Chupacabra - had a lot of variance. Big time "oh its 30 minutes and the two next to it are 60 minutes" victim

Halloween - Longest IP line, consistently an hour or more.
Weeknd - Draws the majority of the crowd from the Springfield/Central Park S&S
Monsters - Surprisingly hovered around the 35-45 minute mark most of the time.
Blumhouse - Always was around 60 minutes. Combo of a new location, high traffic area, and I think that regardless of quality, Blumhouse is becoming a household name for a lot of guests.
 
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sparky

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  • Sep 5, 2022
  • #164
Bort said:
Thoughts on lines after experiencing 3 nights:

Bugs - longest line for an original this year. Combo of poor ops and (my guess) that guests stop a lot more in this house because, bugs.
DMP - long original line because it's really good.
Coven and Hellblock - shortest IP lines, despite being at the front of the park
Descendents - medium line, probably due to people being used to walking over there for 2 tents, and that both tents dump out next to its entrance
Chupacabra - had a lot of variance. Big time "oh its 30 minutes and the two next to it are 60 minutes" victim

Halloween - Longest IP line, consistently an hour or more.
Weeknd - Draws the majority of the crowd from the Springfield/Central Park S&S
Monsters - Surprisingly hovered around the 35-45 minute mark most of the time.
Blumhouse - Always was around 60 minutes. Combo of a new location, high traffic area, and I think that regardless of quality, Blumhouse is becoming a household name for a lot of guests.
Click to expand...
If I were to do s&s on Thursday night with no express where should we start? Best house options before dark?
 
Bort

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  • Sep 5, 2022
  • #165
sparky said:
If I were to do s&s on Thursday night with no express where should we start? Best house options before dark?
Click to expand...
I didn’t have any light seep through during my daylight run through DoD. The only struggle is the typical adjustment of your eyes going into those houses, but sunglasses usually help combat that. I’d also warn that the casts right out of S&S are much thinner. UCM out of S&S was probably 5th place for me, but a run through it later when the cast was prepared made it either 1st-2nd.

With all that said, I’d say:

1. Halloween out of S&S will save you from a 75-90 minute wait that holds strong really all night. Could probably go right to DMP after and get that at a fair wait time.

2. The Weeknd will probably shape up to be the second highest (as Ops smooth out). The Central Park S&S probably skews 70/30 in favor of going to The Weeknd vs UCM. Queue has good energy with After Hours & Dawn FM music, so it’s not the worst if you have to do it later.

3. If you want to make sure you get strong runs of the big guys (Halloween, DMP, Weeknd, UCM), then I’d say go to San Fran. Knock out Blum, then Bugs and DoD. You can probably get all of those done before 7pm. This means you’ll wait for the big guns, but should get casts that are warmed up and fully staffed.
 
T

Tobias

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  • Sep 5, 2022
  • #166
Bort said:
Thoughts on lines after experiencing 3 nights:

Bugs - longest line for an original this year. Combo of poor ops and (my guess) that guests stop a lot more in this house because, bugs.
DMP - long original line because it's really good.
Coven and Hellblock - shortest IP lines, despite being at the front of the park
Descendents - medium line, probably due to people being used to walking over there for 2 tents, and that both tents dump out next to its entrance
Chupacabra - had a lot of variance. Big time "oh its 30 minutes and the two next to it are 60 minutes" victim

Halloween - Longest IP line, consistently an hour or more.
Weeknd - Draws the majority of the crowd from the Springfield/Central Park S&S
Monsters - Surprisingly hovered around the 35-45 minute mark most of the time.
Blumhouse - Always was around 60 minutes. Combo of a new location, high traffic area, and I think that regardless of quality, Blumhouse is becoming a household name for a lot of guests.
Click to expand...
Bort said:
I didn’t have any light seep through during my daylight run through DoD. The only struggle is the typical adjustment of your eyes going into those houses, but sunglasses usually help combat that. I’d also warn that the casts right out of S&S are much thinner. UCM out of S&S was probably 5th place for me, but a run through it later when the cast was prepared made it either 1st-2nd.

With all that said, I’d say:

1. Halloween out of S&S will save you from a 75-90 minute wait that holds strong really all night. Could probably go right to DMP after and get that at a fair wait time.

2. The Weeknd will probably shape up to be the second highest (as Ops smooth out). The Central Park S&S probably skews 70/30 in favor of going to The Weeknd vs UCM. Queue has good energy with After Hours & Dawn FM music, so it’s not the worst if you have to do it later.

3. If you want to make sure you get strong runs of the big guys (Halloween, DMP, Weeknd, UCM), then I’d say go to San Fran. Knock out Blum, then Bugs and DoD. You can probably get all of those done before 7pm. This means you’ll wait for the big guns, but should get casts that are warmed up and fully staffed.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I have a feeling there'll only be one night I won't have express, and it's looking like it'll be my last night, so I think the San Fran S&S would work nicely for me. Got a feeling that one is way less busy than NY and Central Park, too.
 
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sparky

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #167
Tobias said:
Thanks for the info! I have a feeling there'll only be one night I won't have express, and it's looking like it'll be my last night, so I think the San Fran S&S would work nicely for me. Got a feeling that one is way less busy than NY and Central Park, too.
Click to expand...
What location do I need to s&s to get into the halloween line?
 
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Tobias

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #168
sparky said:
What location do I need to s&s to get into the halloween line?
Click to expand...

NY/Finn's.
 
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Rikku

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #169
Sorry please re-direct me if I missed it but what are the houses for the 3 & 6 house Unmasking?
 
Galactus

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #170
6 House: Blumhouse/Bugs/Descendants of Destruction/Monsters/Hellblock Horror/Dead Mans Pier

3 House: Halloween/Spirits of the Coven/Chupacabra
 
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Rikku

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  • #171
Galactus said:
6 House: Blumhouse/Bugs/Descendants of Destruction/Monsters/Hellblock Horror/Dead Mans Pier

3 House: Halloween/Spirits of the Coven/Chupacabra
Click to expand...

Thanks!!!

But from what I have seen and heard Blumhouse and Hellblock are the clunkers this year are they even worth seeing lights on?
 
Jakemeister

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #172
sparky said:
And I can just hear the excuse. They dont guarantee a shorter wait. They market and sell a shorter wait, but no guarantee.
Click to expand...

Granted, I came from a different side of the Op, it absolutely was sold as "Guaranteeing a shorter wait time saving you 2/3rd of the posted wait time."
 
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TheCodeMan95

TheCodeMan95

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #173
How similar are holding areas to years past? Specifically 2019 and prior?

We typically do Finnegan's, and it looks like the layout changed a bit.
 
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Magzilla

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #174
TheCodeMan95 said:
How similar are holding areas to years past? Specifically 2019 and prior?

We typically do Finnegan's, and it looks like the layout changed a bit.
Click to expand...
New to this forum and this is my first official post. I just wanted to share my Springfield S&S experience on Sunday in hopes it helps others. On Saturday, the line for legends was released around 4:30 to the animal actors area. There was shade and fans. On Sunday, they switched and moved the Weeknd at 4:30. The line for legends was in the sun in Central Park. We sat there from 4 until 5:45, when we were released. The Weeknd line had more space for people to exit to get water and food but the legends line was pretty cramped and was more difficult to maneuver around people. Legends had a 25 min posted wait when we finished it so it didn’t seem worth it to start there. Lesson learned.
 
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Clive

Clive

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #175
Not to beat a dead horse, but I'm once again asking if anyone has had any experience using the Scream Early add-on this year. The language on the official website indicates that you must have HHN admission and provide proof of it when redeeming the Scream Early ticket. This seems to be a change from previous years, as I never remember having to produce evidence of an HHN ticket... but obviously things change.

Has anyone actually used the ticket this year (or know somebody who has) and can describe their experience? Are the folks at the front gate turnstiles really asking for proof of HHN admission when the "Scream Early" tickets are scanned?
 
krazyhorrorkid

krazyhorrorkid

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #176
Clive said:
Not to beat a dead horse, but I'm once again asking if anyone has had any experience using the Scream Early add-on this year. The language on the official website indicates that you must have HHN admission and provide proof of it when redeeming the Scream Early ticket. This seems to be a change from previous years, as I never remember having to produce evidence of an HHN ticket... but obviously things change.

Has anyone actually used the ticket this year (or know somebody who has) and can describe their experience? Are the folks at the front gate turnstiles really asking for proof of HHN admission when the "Scream Early" tickets are scanned?
Click to expand...
I went opening night so this may have changed but no, they ask for your scream early ticket at the front gate then when you get to the Stay N Scream holding areas they ask for your admission ticket.
 
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wutisgood

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #177
No matter what house popularity is like I have found that it always works best to be at the main front of park scare zone (usually Finnegan's) and try to beat the crowds all the way to the back houses. The luck is all in hitting the house opening times just right which can change night to night.

Could someone potentially use the scream early ticket just to hop on a few rides and then bounce? In general I feel like stay and scream was a huge season pass incentive. Next year I am prob letting go of the universal pass and use doing a night at hhn because of this next year.
 
Last edited: Sep 6, 2022
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IHateJumpScares

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #178
Anyone know why food service, even during the day, is a complete clown show right now? We’re noticing consistently only one register open, HUGE lines as a result, and the employees telling everyone to use the app to order, while some of the employees simultaneously tell us the app is not reliable for ordering.

Feels like they are either trying to force people to the app for ordering, and failing, or having staffing trouble and the understaffing is causing the crush.

We were at captain America diner at 11:30 and the single register line was like 15 parties deep. In Springfield they were running a controlled line, like a night club, for the food court- at 3:00!!!! Same story at Mel’s. If you go at an actual meal time, forget it.

Is this a deliberate strategy by them or is it the employee gap? Nearly every ride and restaurant had people training.
 
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sparky

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  • Sep 6, 2022
  • #179
IHateJumpScares said:
Anyone know why food service, even during the day, is a complete clown show right now? We’re noticing consistently only one register open, HUGE lines as a result, and the employees telling everyone to use the app to order, while some of the employees simultaneously tell us the app is not reliable for ordering.

Feels like they are either trying to force people to the app for ordering, and failing, or having staffing trouble and the understaffing is causing the crush.

We were at captain America diner at 11:30 and the single register line was like 15 parties deep. In Springfield they were running a controlled line, like a night club, for the food court- at 3:00!!!! Same story at Mel’s. If you go at an actual meal time, forget it.

Is this a deliberate strategy by them or is it the employee gap? Nearly every ride and restaurant had people training.
Click to expand...
Is the staffing moved to the hhn shifts?
The hotels show wide open availability, and the ride wait times are low, could they have staffed low on the expectation the park would be slow?
I never eat at counter service places because the lines make me twitchy when I am hungry.
 
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Bort

Bort

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  • #180
IHateJumpScares said:
Anyone know why food service, even during the day, is a complete clown show right now? We’re noticing consistently only one register open, HUGE lines as a result, and the employees telling everyone to use the app to order, while some of the employees simultaneously tell us the app is not reliable for ordering.

Feels like they are either trying to force people to the app for ordering, and failing, or having staffing trouble and the understaffing is causing the crush.

We were at captain America diner at 11:30 and the single register line was like 15 parties deep. In Springfield they were running a controlled line, like a night club, for the food court- at 3:00!!!! Same story at Mel’s. If you go at an actual meal time, forget it.

Is this a deliberate strategy by them or is it the employee gap? Nearly every ride and restaurant had people training.
Click to expand...
I think it's mostly lingering effects of the evolving job market post-covid. Customer service-type jobs are struggling badly everywhere. I overheard employees this weekend talking about how Universal is calling back applicants as quick as possible to fill open jobs. And it's pretty evident too. Saw a lot of TMs on their phones in a way that I don't ever remember seeing during previous trips. Doesn't ruin my experience as it's better to at least have these stands open, but the standards, or at least enforcement of them by leadership, has loosened.

Also, I'm no engineer, but it's starting to feel like the "build more lanes for the highway" problem when it comes to all these food stands. It's not that there needs to be more F&B locations (or more TMs manning each booth)...they just need to create more efficient ways to operate them. Don't know what the solution is, but right now it really feels like you have to grab your food during the first hour of the event, or else you're going to sacrifice 30+ minutes waiting.
 
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