If I am being completely honest, even with Early Entry, this event has ALWAYS been dang near impossible to see all in one night since like...2011. However, I am a great planner and have always managed. I have long recognized that us (those on the boards) and maybe a select few are truly the 1% in that regard -- most people I have talked to have said the event is one of the worst when it comes to lines and look at my like I am crazy when I say I love the event. Even when I explain to them how I do it, their eyes glaze over and just say that's too much work or impossible.
Then, post-Covid, I started to notice the scales being tipped in a way that almost felt impossible to see everything even with a great plan. I had too many close calls. Then, they started charging for Early Access and that was it for me. I finally said I had enough, I was done with planning, and I was going to start doing Express. And you know what the crazy thing is that I found? Even WITH Express, the event is nearly impossible to do everything (HHN related is fine, but I mean everything-everything that is open -- which, if I am paying THAT much, you're damn sure I am going to do all that). I thought, wow...so you're telling me even now I still NEED Early Entry?!
So the last 2 years, I've done Express + Early Entry. It's insanely overpriced, nowhere NEAR worth it...but it's the ONLY way to even slightly enjoy this event anymore. I hate it, because it feels like the bad guys won, and my pockets hurt for it, but I just couldn't do it anymore...the constant stress, the hours of waiting, the pivoting and trying to keep my group together so we can hit everything...on top of that, the parks were getting more and more crowded. I had enough. With that said. the answer is VERY clear: eliminating Express or have Express-free nights. I said it somewhere on this forum before, but I outlined how I think a more fan friendly experience should go. Charge more for regular tickets (I'm talking 200 range), lower capacity, they could call it fan appreciation night or whatever they want. But until Express is gone, the only way to do this event is with Express. I wish I could believe me boycotting Express would actually matter, but I did this event for 15 years without Express and somehow the situation got worse? Yeah, that ain't helping. At this point, it's only up to Universal to see the opportunity that there is a need they are creating for an alternate Horror Nights experience that can cater to fans. Either that or this event needs to be more nights, more attractions, more space to do literally anything. It's a HUGE issue and the bubble is bound to pop before everyone turns on the event.