Halloween Horror Nights 33 (UOR) - News & Information

[GA-MBIT]

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.

 

[Clive]

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.

 

[Brian G.]

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've had a few issues with Express in the SS houses, but overall it was a good experience. Based on what I saw - I don't think stand-by waits were being inflated during peak times. It was busy AF this weekend, with Sunday as the busiest of 3 nights, though Friday was a close 2nd. Our RIP guide on Friday mentioned how crazy opening weekend has become.

 

[johnathanm]

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.

Can’t give you a ton of examples, but I can tell you Triplets was listed as 60 opening night and we waited 30, and Museum has been regularly inflated in my experience. Was listed as 60 and I waited maybe 30-40 yesterday.

Also, there’s a continuation of the trend in years past where waits are particularly inflated at the end of the night. That’s especially true in the back four (Sprung) houses, which are frequently walk-ons around close.

 

[Wesker69]

This randomly popped up in my FB feed so I figured I'd share it... apparently this person attended with Express last night

Thought this might help those still "plotting" their visit

 

[ssirin88]

I feel better and better about waiting until after ROF ends

 

[Tobias]

It'll be interesting to see how the crowds are this week, since as we've all mentioned before, opening weekend has really become its own thing and it can be an outlier in some cases. Add in Labor Day weekend right on top of that, and you've got another reason why that weekend is busier than normal, especially for Sunday as a good chunk of folks have today off.

 

[CassiusEvans]

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.

 

[Grabnar]

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.

We got in a little faster but it opened at opening scaremonies with the rest of the crowds.

 

[RacKoons]

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.

 

[SeventyOne]

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.

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.

 

[srbmarc]

I definitely remember NF having Express either last year or the year before but it was only for the first performance of the night.

 

[ParkRumors]

I don’t recall Nightmare Fuel ever having express for the first showing, but I know I used Express for the first showing of Bill and Ted almost every night during its final year. I even looked up a map from HHN 27 to verify I wasn’t crazy, and it is noted that express was valid for first showing only. I couldn’t find that note on any subsequent maps for Aov/Nightmare Fuel, so either it wasn’t widely advertised or HHN 27 was the final year of it.

 

[Chumpieboy]

I definitely remember NF having Express either last year or the year before but it was only for the first performance of the night.

That’s my recollection as well.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Since this is apparently the general discussion thread...

I haven't been paying attention to Hollywood, but it seems like they got an improv comedy show, Chucky. There's really no excuse at all not to have found someplace to put this in Orlando - the event desperately needs more shows and more humor.

 

[Lucky Planet]

Since this is apparently the general discussion thread...

I haven't been paying attention to Hollywood, but it seems like they got an improv comedy show, Chucky. There's really no excuse at all not to have found someplace to put this in Orlando - the event desperately needs more shows and more humor.

we all expected Chucky to show up here, it looked like it was going to happen, it just never happened

 

[Mad Dog]

Probably tight budget result. Maybe next year with a larger budget.

 

[Brian G.]

Just clarifying that everything HHN-related gets included in the budget, including those shiny new tents with new walkways and exits.

Add in some effects-heavy houses and you can find your answer along the way.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

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.

I attempted to use it around 6:45 on Saturday, it had switchbacks and was really long, moved to regular entrance and it took less than 5 minutes to get in.

 

[saint.piss]