HHN 33: Tips, Tricks & Planning Thread

[Acandrews12]

I don’t really think I’ve seen the scaffolding of times being talked about on here as much as it should be. They are doing a great job this year. What I did was:

S&S at Lombard’s. Did Monsters and Goblin right at 5:45 when those opened. Ran over and did SS2 and Museum right at 6:00 when those opened and then did Sweets right after. 5 houses done in the first hour I was there. Then I rode Mummy and did Triplets. So by 7:15 (90 minutes in), I had 6 houses and a ride in.

I probably didn’t need the Express pass that I bought doing it this way. But at least it allowed me to do all of the originals twice and skip the long IP lines.

 

[IzzyB]

Anyone know if you can swap out Doritos for Fritos in the walking tacos? The vegan taco features Fritos but the meat one has Doritos.

Doritos is the better one anyways. At least for Girl Scouts that is the traditional walking tacos.


Can anyone tell me what the most open, least claustrophobic house is? My daughter has personal space issues and just wanted to know which house he might like more than others.

Also, from NY S&S which is the first house you go into?

 

[Chumpieboy]

Doritos is the better one anyways. At least for GS that is the traditional walking tacos.


Can anyone tell me what the most open, least claustrophobic house is? My daughter has personal space issues and just wanted to know which house he might like more than others.

Also, from NY S&S which is the first house you go into?

Tight houses are the better ones anyways. At least for the GS that is the traditional HHN-goer.

/I’d rather insert my opinion than answer your question

 

[SeventyOne]

Can anyone tell me what the most open, least claustrophobic house is? My daughter has personal space issues and just wanted to know which house he might like more than others.

I'd say Frozen Empire. Definitely not Insidious.

 

[Tobias]

When it comes to crowds, this second week wasn't bad at all. I was there Weds - Sat, and really the only busy night was Saturday which was to be expected. Wednesday was quiet, Thursday was a little busier...but then cleared out significantly after a particular long period of rain. Friday was busier than the other two, but still pretty manageable.

It could've been the on and off rain all week, and it could've also been the sheer fact it's not the insane combo of opening weekend + Labor Day weekend.

What are the must-try foods and drinks of this year?

When it comes to food, I definitely enjoyed the Red Door (Hand Pie), Heart "Beet" Tostada and Wooden Board Eclair as a snack. For something a little more filling, I really enjoyed the Eggs in the Further.

 

[IzzyB]

Tight houses are the better ones anyways. At least for the GS that is the traditional HHN-goer.

/I’d rather insert my opinion than answer your question

Point taken. Just saying try it before changing it lol

I mean for me I agree tight houses are better, but for my daughter that doesn't want anyone touching her ever, not so much.

 

[EAS]

If you start in one Stay & Scream, how quickly can you pivot to the houses in the other? For example, if you start at New York Stay & Scream to do Insidious before the crowds get crazy, how soon after could you pivot and head over to Goblin's/Monsters if you preferred those houses to Ghostbusters/A Quiet Place?

 

[UniversalRBLX]

If you start in one Stay & Scream, how quickly can you pivot to the houses in the other? For example, if you start at New York Stay & Scream to do Insidious before the crowds get crazy, how soon after could you pivot and head over to Goblin's/Monsters if you preferred those houses to Ghostbusters/A Quiet Place?

Depends on how quickly they clear out the park, but around 5:40 they start to clear access to Major Sweets and the rest of the San Fran area/S&S.

Theoretically, you can do Insidious and then hit Major Sweets at 6 before making your way over to the tents.

After a couple of visits now, I think this year's ideal touring plan is to prioritize Insidious and then Ghostbusters for S&S. (Insidious gets busier, word is out that it's the best house this year) and then hit Candy Factory and the back tents.

Monstrous gets busy earlier on in the night, but gets quiet towards the end. Leave Quiet Place for after midnight.

 

[Rikku]

Seeing a lot of posts on here and fb about parking taking a while and about teenagers being awful. Is it truly worse than usual or just the usual shenanigans here and there with the teenagers? Also as for parking if parking is worse I like to sneak into the park right before it closes for Stay & Scream, although might bump it up earlier so I don’t get shut out of New York S&S, what time are you getting to the toll plaza to get in on time?

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Seeing a lot of posts on here and fb about parking taking a while and about teenagers being awful. Is it truly worse than usual or just the usual shenanigans here and there with the teenagers? Also as for parking if parking is worse I like to sneak into the park right before it closes for Stay & Scream, although might bump it up earlier so I don’t get shut out of New York S&S, what time are you getting to the toll plaza to get in on time?

On parking, it's a bit random depending on the day. On Saturday I arrived at the toll booth at 4:30PM, it was backed up a bit, and we didn't get into USF until 4:55PM with us speed walking through CityWalk. They had just opened a few additional security lines as we got there, so that helped us breeze through security, but it was quickly building up behind us. I'd say aim to be at the parking booth no later than 4:15-30PM. They do open the secondary parking plaza on HHN nights and is less busier, so recommend that if you from Hollywood Way.

However, if you want to do NY zone, I'd aim to be at the zone by 4:30PM. They are enforcing capacity limits this year.

On teens, they're annoying but not any worse than years prior. Did see a group start dancing for Tik Tok in the middle of a zone before they were quickly shut down by zone supervisors.

 

[Rikku]

On parking, it's a bit random depending on the day. On Saturday I arrived at the toll booth at 4:30PM, it was backed up a bit, and we didn't get into USF until 4:55PM with us speed walking through CityWalk. They had just opened a few additional security lines as we got there, so that helped us breeze through security, but it was quickly building up behind us. I'd say aim to be at the parking booth no later than 4:15-30PM. They do open the secondary parking plaza on HHN nights and is less busier, so recommend that if you from Hollywood Way.

However, if you want to do NY zone, I'd aim to be at the zone by 4:30PM. They are enforcing capacity limits this year.

On teens, they're annoying but not any worse than years prior. Did see a group start dancing for Tik Tok in the middle of a zone before they were quickly shut down by zone supervisors.

Thanks!!! Was getting worried with all the comments!

 

[TheCodeMan95]

What are the must-try foods and drinks of this year?

For me personally - the Spinal Column Pinchos were fantastic.

 

[EAS]

One more question from me in advance of this Friday - have folks scoped out what food booths are open in each Stay and Scream location?

 

[UniversalRBLX]

One more question from me in advance of this Friday - have folks scoped out what food booths are open in each Stay and Scream location?

New York - Universal Monsters (Fish 'n Chips), Twisted Taters, Ghostbusters, both standard NY snack stands (Pizza Skulls, Street Corn Riblets, etc.) & the Transformers Bar. Insidious/Quiet Place booth open once security clears the park.
San Francisco - Bar open behind Lombard's, unfortunately not many food options.

 

[EAS]

New York - Universal Monsters (Fish 'n Chips), Twisted Taters, Ghostbusters, both standard NY snack stands (Pizza Skulls, Street Corn Riblets, etc.) & the Transformers Bar. Insidious/Quiet Place booth open once security clears the park.
San Francisco - Bar open behind Lombard's, unfortunately not many food options.

Thank you!!!

 

[HHN Maddux]

Very good tip: The back houses are typically dead by midnight, especially Bloodlines and Goblins.

 

[Fritz]

New York - Universal Monsters (Fish 'n Chips), Twisted Taters, Ghostbusters, both standard NY snack stands (Pizza Skulls, Street Corn Riblets, etc.) & the Transformers Bar. Insidious/Quiet Place booth open once security clears the park.
San Francisco - Bar open behind Lombard's, unfortunately not many food options.

This is super helpful! Are there any indoor seating areas open in the SF S&S like Richter's?

 

[UniversalRBLX]

This is super helpful! Are there any indoor seating areas open in the SF S&S like Richter's?

Unfortunately no. There's a few seats/table available behind Lombard's, but that's about it.

 

[Chumpieboy]

Note on the hotel entrance for those who still haven’t gone yet. It’s still on the left side of the main entrance but it’s not thru the old BMG building like in recent years.

The park exit turnstiles are also the hotel entrance area, which is nice since you can still see the opening show and the initial “scare zone” without immediately being shunted into the park past all that.

Only problem: Signage.
As you walk up the bridge toward the arches, there were no signs indicating that the hotel entrance existed. The sign then telling you to turn in towards the part exit turnstiles is facing the wrong way. We and several groups went up to the BMG entrance only to find that the fence was closed.

I passed this feedback to an ops person after scanning my ticket and he said they were working on it. Dude it’s the third week of the event and it’s 6:35 get it together Universal!

 

[MrRoamer]

just an FYI bringing in sealed drinks is still problematic. Last Friday we came through with 1 sealed gatorade bottle and security told me it had to be dumped or thrown out.

I told them the sign said 1 bottle per person and he indicated that it really only applies to water