Halloween Horror Nights 35 (UO) - Speculation & Rumors

[Jordan]

So, first let me say that I think a healthy bit of debate on this issue is warranted, but I also think that maybe some people may be taking things a bit far. Possibly it is still too raw for them, and they need time to regain a more rational thought process. But I did want to respond to somethings....


I have worked for Disney, Universal, Hershey, and Busch Entertainment (when they owned SW/BG), including in corporate positions. Seasonal and Annual passes have ALWAYS been about increasing attendance during slow/shoulder seasons. Disney really no longer has slower/shoulder seasons, which is why they (unsuccessfully) tried to get rid of AP's during the pandemic. UOR is starting to have the same strength of attendance but is not quite there yet. Sea World will most likely never get to that point. SW has the "fun card, pay a day get the year" pass because if you have a park that is open 365, it is better to have a person who paid $0 gate admission buying food than no one. That is true to a point where those $0 guests start affecting staffing levels. That said, it is always better to have a full paying guest than a pass member. The spend per trip/person is significantly much higher. When you enter a Disney park with an AP, Disney actually writes off on their taxes that entry as a loss of revenue.


And for those of us that remember those years, it was miserable. There was a LOT of over service, and there were rowdy drunks EVERYWHERE. The event was more about the alcohol than the scares. If I remember correctly there were three separate beer carts in the queue of Castle Vampyr alone...

Hopefully someone who will be more respectful to others.

Just because you disagree with someone, that does not make their position irrational or asserted without a clear mind. Me, I'll likely have the same opinion on this matter ten, twenty years from now. I'd say trying to invalidate opposing opinions in such a manner is pretty disrespectful myself, but maybe that's just me.

Spending per person and per visit are two very different things. When you have someone visiting the park 10x or more than another guest, their lower per trip spending is liable to add up. In my experience, the common stereotype that passholders just show up, go on some attractions and go home without making any purchases doesn't hold up to scrutiny at all.

My quoted statement about HHN's alcohol sales of yesteryear was not made out of nostalgia. I was making a point about food & beverage sales not being insignificant.

 

[Legacy]

But again, the biggest issue here was the lack of communication for me. I also think longer term, a “pick your number of days of express” pass is probably in order for out/of-towners staying a while.

This is what I’m curious about. This feels like the best solution, as it allows Universal to better anticipate Express usage by day. Basically buy an Express pack (Battle pass?) for X days beginning on Y day of your choice addresses almost every problem. It might not solve them, but does address them.

And implementing it actually requires eliminating the multi-night pass with Express option.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

This is what I’m curious about. This feels like the best solution, as it allows Universal to better anticipate Express usage by day. Basically buy an Express pack (Battle pass?) for X days beginning on Y day of your choice addresses almost every problem. It might not solve them, but does address them.

And implementing it actually requires eliminating the multi-night pass with Express option.

Like I mentioned in my last post, giving each multi-night ticket a set amount of express nights to schedule ahead of time could be a very nice change.

 

[SeanPhilly]

This is what I’m curious about. This feels like the best solution, as it allows Universal to better anticipate Express usage by day. Basically buy an Express pack (Battle pass?) for X days beginning on Y day of your choice addresses almost every problem. It might not solve them, but does address them.

And implementing it actually requires eliminating the multi-night pass with Express option.

Agree with this 100%. I’m one of the “out of towners” who comes for 10 days (5 for HHN) and used FFP+Express. As I’ve said before, I obviously know what days I’m coming and, therefore, using express. And, from a customer service perspective, me paying $1100 for 5 nights with express still makes me very much feel I’m getting a great deal. Heck, even a higher price would.

Each member of my group spends an average of $8k on our visit every year (for 15 years now). Depending on what the packages end up being, this may be greatly reduced if we change up our plans for this year.

 

[Touchdown]

Hello everyone! Long time lurker (and I do mean long, years) but I felt the need to finally take the plunge over the FFP issue.

I’m not a local (live in Wisconsin) but a huge theme park and HHN fan. On the theme park front, I’ve generally bought a Universal Orlando, WDW or Disneyland AP every year for over 10 years. That pass would be purchased in late October so as to get 2 Halloween seasons off one pass (and get 2 Halloween trips a year.) On the HHN front, my first year was 25 and (due to 2020 not counting) I haven’t missed a year since. For those 10 years, with the exception of 2019 (only did one night RIP that year) and 2024 (sold out before I purchased) I’ve had an FFP with express.

***The next session is describing why I use it, if that doesn’t interest you skip until the next ***

Why do I need express? Well no one “needs” express but I feel it essential because I’m only here for about a week, and my HHN trips are still Universal trips. I stay onsite (at an Express hotel) and I rope drop early entry at IOA or Volcano Bay every day. I will go back early afternoon, shower and put on my black shirt and head to the studios for stay and scream. I will then try to do my favorite mazes while the lines are short (generally 2 soundstages, and 2-3 tents if able) in that stay and scream/first hour window. After that I generally break from houses to eat and hit Gringots and Transformers this brings us to around 9:00, and this is when, starting in the back I will do my express run through all the houses, and do MIB and the Mummy. If I do the show it will be this time as well. Usually the goal is to be done at midnight, in reality is usually 12:30ish. I can’t physically close HHN and open early entry, and I don’t want to miss multiple runs in houses or early entry. As I’m there for just a week I only get 5 nights for the year, gotta make the most of it.

That said last year was a special case, I was in town for a week and a half because I hit Sea World/Discovery Cove/Aquatica. Because I had FFP I was able to attend 3 additional nights where I didn’t necessarily hit stay and scream but got full runs. While that wasn’t the case this year, I’m sad that will never be possible again. The price was also getting really close to break even on 5 nights, and while I would still get it for a while for convenience (one card) and flexibility (last minute change due to hurricane) at some point I would stop getting it.

How does that affect me this year? Well I will be at Hard Rock Tuesday-Mon in early October for my final Universal trip on my current AP. I also have a free night in Orlando two weeks later when I arrive driving down from Virginia before I start my first trip on my WDW AP. The plan originally was to get an UFF+E and do 4 full nights (Wed-Fri, Sun) with Saturday me doing Epic open-close and then going to HHN and using my express for 1 run through the houses and then on arrival that Sunday two weeks later do something similar. Not doing that now, if I’m paying full price I’m going to fully commit to the event. Will drop the Epic day, and just buy 5 nights of Express and 4 nights of tickets (plus use my free AP night.) That free Sunday I might consider doing HOS at Sea World, or do the smart thing and after driving for 3 straight days to do the Blue Ridge Parkway followed by a weekend of HOS at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and then another full day of driving and rest up before getting Disneyed for a week. It’s probably a wash for me and Universal financially.

***End of long description about my personal circumstances***

I really hope they debut a multi night pass with express for hotel guests who come down for multiple nights. Heck make it only available to resort guests and increase your occupancy. If they do that I might go back to my plan of going to Epic for a night and skipping stay and scream and then coming back for an additional Sunday when I’m back in town, if not I’ll just buy 5 nights of express and 4 nights of single tickets (and use my free night with my AP.).

FFP+E were ridiculously discounted for you locals, I’m not surprised given the event popularity they are gone now, however, I don’t expect them to affect express lines, because they were already limited last year and the lines were still long. I think this is a pure business decision and is born out of the fact that the people who missed out of FFP last year probably spent more on single night express tickets, so the people cheering this decision are probably wrong as well; I suspect you’re cheering on a corporate cash grab.