zombieman Posted June 20, 2019 Share Posted June 20, 2019 2 hours ago, CharleneTheDM said: Hi all! I'm just piggy-backing on this forum (or should I post to 2019?) I'm visiting Cali for Halloween season for the very first time, so excited! Will be going to DLR, HHN and KSF. I have done Universal's VIP tour and am really stoked that they offer it for HHN! I wanted to ask regarding the RIP tours: 1. Do you get early entry? Or is it a possible add-on? If so, is Hogsmeade open during that time and are you free to explore the park before you meet up with your group? 2. What are the typical nights historically that open for HHN? I'm going from 9/25-29 and am trying to pinpoint which days to do which park. 3. I heard that the park closes at 2AM? Do all the rides run till that late? 4. What were your personal favorites of your previous HHN RIP tour experiences? Thank you in advance! I have NOT read through bggrenville813's response so sorry if I am duplicating answers 1. Early entry is NOT included with RIP. Hogsmeade is closed for HHN. Universal really does a disservice to regular guests on HHN nights, as they start closing lines well before posted closing time. If you want to go for the day and for RIP at night, I'm really not sure how you go about doing that with any sort of combined discount. You should call and ask, but I'm not sure guest relations knows at this point. But know that "early entry" is not intended to get you into rides that won't be open for HHN. 2. On those nights, I would expect HHN to be operating on Thursday-Sunday. Since you are going to RIP, I would say to pick a nice busy night (Fri or Sat). Reason being that the RIP pass will get you into every house with truly zero wait, regardless of how packed the park is. Also, weekends are when scareactors are going to be most plentiful and at their best. 3. Select rides are open during HHN: Mummy, Transformers, JP. Things like Despicable Me, Potter, Simpsons, and Studio Tour will not be open. Kung Fu Panda is an unknown, but likely to not be open. The rides that are open will be open till HHN closes. With your RIP, you will walk right on. 4. RIP experiences have not happened the past couple of years. Let me be clear about my definition of RIP experience: A small private tram takes you to the backlot for some experience, such as walking through Western streets in the dark with just a flashlight. Stuff like that. Last RIP I know of was centered around Insidious, and happened about three years ago. My personal fav was the walk through Western streets in backlot that I described. NOTHING happened, but the anticipation created in your mind was enough. We also got to walk along Jaws lake where they had some special effects happening in the facades nearby. That same year was one when they did Walking Dead as a house and I got to meet some of the cast at the buffet. Really, the reason you do RIP at HHN is just so you can skip the lines multiple times. But I have another suggestion for you.... Last year they did something unique. You could go online and buy a Front of the Line pass (which includes admission and ONE TIME line skip for all houses). But when you went to check out, they offered you the ability to buy UNLIMITED line skip for an upgrade (i.e. $40). That was a fantastic deal. Don't know if they will offer it this year or not. It cost a whole lot less than the "RIP pass". Ok, so if you are coming out for Halloween season then there are some very important things to see beyond HHN and KSF.... Specifically be on the lookout for two events: Delusion and The Willows. These are absolute must experience events. They are not cheap, but they are worth every penny. They have not been announced yet for this season. Tickets sell out FAST - get on their Email list. They are an immersive haunt experience. Nothing where they make you do or eat disgusting things. It's theater in which you play a big role. Unlike anything you've done. Delusion has been going on for around six years, and every year is different and better than the last. The Willows has been going on for a couple of years. Delusion is an hour or so, and Willows is a couple of hours. Other haunts to see that are cheaper yet awesome: Reign of Terror - About 25 miles west of HHN Sinister Pointe - Around 10 miles from Disney Like escape rooms? The Basement is a horror based room with gore - About 15 miles north of HHN Murder Co is another horror experience created by the person who designed the best Knott's mazes There is also Queen Mary Dark Harbor, About 15 miles South of Knotts. This is a haunt that takes place on one of the most famous ships. That alone is a reason why many visitors make special plans to go. Unfortunately, it's an ok haunt that in my opinion sounds better than it is. If the thought sounds exciting, though, go for it. Last one I'll mention is the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. People either love this or hate it. The people who run it got a Shark Tank deal with Mark Cuban - biggest deal in Shark Tank history. Some off-night suggestions (multiple things you can do in one night): Reign of Terror + The Basement (early slot at Basement, then drive to Reign, or even to HHN) The Basement + Murder Co (may have early afternoon slots at one or the other) Queen Mary + Sinister Pointe (would need to VIP one or the other). Could finish Queen Mary in about 3 hours with VIP, then run to Sinister and wait. It's hard to do Delusion and anything else because the wait at Delusion can be long even though it's scheduled. Not uncommon to wait 1 or 2 hours after scheduled timeslot. No VIP available. The Willows is scheduled and it's possible to do something else the same day. Could even couple with HHN if you are RIP at HHN. Very hard to do LA Hayride fast because the place is packed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharleneTheDM Posted June 20, 2019 Share Posted June 20, 2019 (edited) Wow, thank you for your elaborate and quick responses, @bggrenville813 and @zombieman! I didn't think about more Halloween haunts! You guys are so well-knowledged in your recommendations, I'm totally blown away. I've never attended anywhere for Halloween and have such as short visit (flying down from Vancouver, Canada), so I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the fantastic options! Since I won't be driving and am staying in Garden Grove, are there any other recommendations you have for haunts or attractions near the area? This is so exciting, total bringing me ghoulish delight! Edited June 20, 2019 by CharleneTheDM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombieman Posted June 20, 2019 Share Posted June 20, 2019 19 hours ago, CharleneTheDM said: Wow, thank you for your elaborate and quick responses, @bggrenville813 and @zombieman! I didn't think about more Halloween haunts! You guys are so well-knowledged in your recommendations, I'm totally blown away. I've never attended anywhere for Halloween and have such as short visit (flying down from Vancouver, Canada), so I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the fantastic options! Since I won't be driving and am staying in Garden Grove, are there any other recommendations you have for haunts or attractions near the area? This is so exciting, total bringing me ghoulish delight! Garden Grove is between Disney and Knotts. "Nearby" would be Sinister Pointe and Queen Mary. Delusion and Willows are not far apart. Absolutely consider these. They are not too far away. Haunted Hayride is a bit farther. Even farther out is MurderCo. Way far out is The Basement Fuggedaboutit is Reign of Terror. I am not familliar with haunts in Huntington Beach/Irvine area... Repeat after me: Delusion. The Willows. In my opinion, they are both better than all the rest (including HHN Hollywood) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharleneTheDM Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 On 6/20/2019 at 4:59 PM, zombieman said: Garden Grove is between Disney and Knotts. "Nearby" would be Sinister Pointe and Queen Mary. Delusion and Willows are not far apart. Absolutely consider these. They are not too far away. Haunted Hayride is a bit farther. Even farther out is MurderCo. Way far out is The Basement Fuggedaboutit is Reign of Terror. I am not familliar with haunts in Huntington Beach/Irvine area... Repeat after me: Delusion. The Willows. In my opinion, they are both better than all the rest (including HHN Hollywood) I definitely wish I could hit Delusion and The Willows. I wish a lot of these haunts could happen in the daytime (but I know, doesn't work!) so I could do them en route to HHN. Since I'll be Uber/Lyft-ing, going out towards Hollywood back and fort would be a little more pricey than I originally planned I'll keep these in my mind though! Thank you for the insights! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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