Halloween Horror Nights 2023

[Tom Morrow]

Both the event capacity and the number of Express passes sold is WAY too high these days. Lowering just one or the other would possibly do wonders for the overall event experience for everyone.

The third option is to eliminate the Frequent Fear passes. I don't think they should be a thing, or allow as many nights as they do. Half of the area residents have decided that they MUST hang out at HHN as many event nights as possible and it just jams everything up.

It's frustrating because they probably won't do anything though, they have a winning formula that prints them money BUT results in kind of a bad time for anyone that didn't fork over money for Express or for Frequent Fear.

The only way for a one-night only, no Express pass visitor to see all 10 houses is to do Stay and Scream, stay until the end of the event, and accept that 90% of the night will be standing in very slow moving lines. They will not be able to just hang out, likely won't have time to see Nightmare Fuel, and will have to rush around in the last hour of the event.

 

[maxairmike]

I recognize that Express is broken, but as someone who uses the passes in question, I'm not sure I can agree. Having to buy Express separately would not only be a lot less convenient but also likely even more expensive than it already is, and FFP with Express already costs an arm and a leg.

Of course, if they continue to price gouge at their current rate, they'll be asking for 4 digits in a few years for the standard FFP, and those of us who don't actually go every night will have no choice but to buy Express separately. But if that doesn't relieve the lines, then what?

My personal thought on such a structure would entice those like me who don't buy the FFP with Express to splurge on Express a few nights a year, and possibly reduces the incentive to visit so much to take it all in. Instead of having the tier with Express, provide an option for say...$200 when you buy your pass to either pre-select something like 3-4 nights during the event to have Express (because I suspect an equally large number of FFP buyers are those who either only intend/end up going 4-5 nights during the run, or are distant "local" APs like Miami/Tampa/etc. that book a few nights at a resort for their one HHN trip), activate Express that many times on any nights you choose during the event, or provide FFP-holders the option to purchase Express for $50/night for that many nights during the event if not already sold out.

The deal for an after 11pm Express purchase (if they're still doing that) for half the price of that's night price or whatever it was would typically still end up being $60+, for the time of the night when lines are typically starting to wind down anyway. That's pretty pointless to me, but the option to purchase a few full nights of Express at a steep discount would absolutely get me to spend money I otherwise wouldn't at least twice during the event. Gives those who buy the Express tier FFP a less expensive choice to still lock that experience in for several nights, opens a higher level of additional purchases from the non-Express tier FFPs, and likely lowers overall Express utilization by the most frequent visitors creating a better experience for the higher value single night Express purchasers, and possibly a better moving standby queue. Or, just start really limiting the quantity of the Express tier FFPs, like to limited edition levels.

 

[sedati]

In 2017 I finally got to experience HHN and had been singing it's praises ever since (big crowds and long lines but we got a fair amount done and were impressed by most everything) Finally got back this year and it was the low point for an otherwise great trip. Lackluster execution and absolutely horrendous lines and line management. (We went on a Wednesday with light rain and lightning in the area. We had early access and even got in even earlier than expected and yet... well, skimming the other posts I can see our experience was not unique. We did not have Express pass but I talked to some who did and even they were disappointed as it seemed the only way to have a good time of it was to go with a VIP tour. Even those seemed oversold as we noticed that once our line had finally merged with Express we were often held several additional minutes at the door as one group after another was escorted on in.)

 

[Tom Morrow]

Something about this year's event seems to have soured a lot more people than normal and I'm wondering what changed.

I felt like last year was just as bad crowd level and crowd management wise (though I felt the houses were much stronger last year). This year it seems like more people are noticing, even people who are very "all-in" with HHN.

 

[Rob562]

Something about this year's event seems to have soured a lot more people than normal and I'm wondering what changed.

I felt like last year was just as bad crowd level and crowd management wise (though I felt the houses were much stronger last year). This year it seems like more people are noticing, even people who are very "all-in" with HHN.

With the Rush of Fear pass dates now ended, I'd be interested to hear from someone who's already gone to HHN who is also going back in the next couple weeks to see if there's a change in the crowds.

It wouldn't surprise me if there are a bunch of locals who splurge on a multi night ticket but only get the cheapest option. (I have a similar theory that that's why the Friday night of our trips in '21 and '22 were slower than the Wed and Thurs, because people who only got Freq Fear and not the Plus were blocked from Friday nights)

-Rob

 

[JT3000]

The third option is to eliminate the Frequent Fear passes.

With the Rush of Fear pass dates now ended, I'd be interested to hear from someone who's already gone to HHN who is also going back in the next couple weeks to see if there's a change in the crowds.

It wouldn't surprise me if there are a bunch of locals who splurge on a multi night ticket but only get the cheapest option. (I have a similar theory that that's why the Friday night of our trips in '21 and '22 were slower than the Wed and Thurs, because people who only got Freq Fear and not the Plus were blocked from Friday nights)

-Rob

It won't make a difference. The Rush of Fear is only valid early in the event for a reason -- it only gets more crowded from here. If they wanted to, they could make it valid for the last few weeks of the event instead, closer to Halloween, but they won't do that because it would be counter-intuitive.

 

[Tom Morrow]

When did Rush of Fear start? Its purpose seems to be to inflate the crowds in September, which used to be more manageable.

Maybe half of Orlando doesn't need to hang out at HHN 30+ nights a year though. That's the main problem with the pass - it's too good of a deal. If you go more than twice it's worth it to buy, but then you get 30 days so people go even more than they would have otherwise, which leads to inflated crowds, which leads to a worse time for everyone all around.

Similarly to how Disney is seeing a downturn in attendance from years of overcrowding the parks, I hope we see Universal reverse the trend of "HHN as a hangout" and packing every night of the event as much as possible at the expense of people having a better time and coasting by on the event's reputation.

 

[JT3000]

When did Rush of Fear start? Its purpose seems to be to inflate the crowds in September, which used to be more manageable.



Maybe half of Orlando doesn't need to hang out at HHN 30 nights a year though.

ROF starts when the event does. I never really saw the point and wouldn't mind seeing them get the axe. It's not like a standard FFP is that expensive (yet.)

Half of Orlando needs to hang out at HHN at least once a week. And by "half of Orlando" I mean me.

 

[Tom Morrow]

No I meant, what year did they start offering Rush of Fear? It's newer than Frequent Fear, right?

 

[JT3000]

No I meant, what year did they start offering Rush of Fear? It's newer than Frequent Fear, right?

Yes, by a good amount, although I wouldn't be able to tell you the year. I was using a FFP back in 2003 and ROF definitely didn't exist.

 

[Rob562]

Well this is a first AFAIK, especially this early in the season... Frequent Fear passes are *gone*.

"humans, frequent fear passes for #hhn32 are now sold out for the remainder of the year but dont fear single night tickets are still available for select nights"

-Rob

 

[Andrew25]

this year's crowds have been ridiculous

 

[sedati]

I’ll also add that I don’t recall the transition being so intrusive. The park closed at five, but was segmented and blockaded in a way that made it all but unnavigable by around three. Also, those holding pens looked like absolute torture- standing in the blinding sun for hours.

 

[Rob562]

I’ll also add that I don’t recall the transition being so intrusive. The park closed at five, but was segmented and blockaded in a way that made it all but unnavigable by around three. Also, those holding pens looked like absolute torture- standing in the blinding sun for hours.

I haven't been yet this year, but in the past New York has been the worst area for day guest traffic flow once they start setting up. We made the mistake of going on Mummy right before heading to Stay & Scream and had to backtrack to the street between what's now Minions Cafe and VillainCon. Though I do kinda understand why they have to do it that way.

-Rob

 

[Andrew25]

I’ll also add that I don’t recall the transition being so intrusive. The park closed at five, but was segmented and blockaded in a way that made it all but unnavigable by around three. Also, those holding pens looked like absolute torture- standing in the blinding sun for hours.

welcome to Universal operations

love Uni, but they'll never match Disney's operations team

 

[Tom Morrow]

Interesting that they stopped frequent fear when we were just talking about this as an option.

 

[Andrew25]

Interesting that they stopped frequent fear when we were just talking about this as an option.

it busy

 

[JT3000]

Interesting that they stopped frequent fear when we were just talking about this as an option.

For this year. It's still a pretty unusual move on their part, but to be honest, I think anyone who was serious about getting one already has one at this point, likely making the actual impact minimal.

The interesting part will be how quick they are to make the same move next year.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The only way for a one-night only, no Express pass visitor to see all 10 houses is to do Stay and Scream, stay until the end of the event, and accept that 90% of the night will be standing in very slow moving lines. They will not be able to just hang out, likely won't have time to see Nightmare Fuel, and will have to rush around in the last hour of the event.

This is why I'm only planning to do 2-3 houses when I go, and treating it more like a regular USF day, starting with Stay and Scream. Since I'm probably not going more than once to USF, it'll be more about the rides, atmosphere and shows for me.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Something about this year's event seems to have soured a lot more people than normal and I'm wondering what changed.

I felt like last year was just as bad crowd level and crowd management wise (though I felt the houses were much stronger last year). This year it seems like more people are noticing, even people who are very "all-in" with HHN.

Just got back from Horror Nights a few days ago, the houses this year were much weaker than last year. I have also been "soured" in a way, the crowd management for HHN is some of the worst I've ever seen (year after year).

The food & drink booths pricing and portions are just outrageous, and the NEED for express has made an event I really once enjoyed less and less enjoyable.

We arrived at 5:15pm and were not aware of the "stay and scream" option, which is basically just if you have an AP you can get access to select houses before the 6:30pm opening time, so at 6:15(ish) when they opened the gates, Stranger Things was already at 120 minute wait.

Also do they reuse sets from the year prior? Because the Yeti one was where Dead Man's Pier was and has striking similarities, I would say the same for the Darkest Deed. It could also just be that they are unimaginative with the placement of things. But even the Stranger Things house, which was very well done (detailed wise) was pretty lackluster in the scare factor.

The Chucky house was also a massive disappointment, and the scare zones seemed very light with actors this year. I hope this was just an off year for Uni and they can step it up next year.