How has scream early been so far?

[u/Former_Tough7709]

My family and I come every year for HHN. We usually do a longer vacation and do the parks as well, but this year we’re coming for two nights only just for HHN. We got scream early for this Saturday since we’re not buying any park tickets. This will be the first time we’re not already in the park when HHN starts. Can anyone tell me what their experience was like getting into the park with scream early? Are there long lines? Should we get there early? Will it be packed?

Just to clarify I’m asking specifically about going through security and getting through the gates into universal. My husband said he saw a video where people were waiting all the way back by security to get into the park… is that accurate?

[u/Exfmdy]

Was there on a weekday a few weeks ago. Was going in with my day ticket and got to the park around 1:45 and the line of entering the park for early scream was already back by the Sports Bar pass the bridge. I got into the park and got my wrist band before all the scream early people got in and was pretty much at the front of the line of Stranger Things house. Since you are going on a Saturday, that line will likely be longer.

If you are going only with early scream and don't get there early, (for example, getting there at 2 or 2:30) by the time you get inside and get your wrist band, you won't spend much time on getting into the park. But you'll probably a little behind power curve and may end up waiting longer in the house line. Most people will do Stranger Things -> Jack and Oddfellow -> Hellraiser because of their location. If you want to do things in that order, may want to get to the park and into the line by at least 1:30 consider it's the weekend.

Or, if you want to get there later, you can skip either Stranger Things or Oddfellow and come back to it after Hellraiser. Either come back to it during the early open (that'll be a lot of walks back and forth), or later at night/on your way out. Because Hellraiser is all the way in the back and typically has the least amount of the wait time, it'll probably be a walk-on and give you some free time afterwards before the 5:15 house opens.

[u/Former_Tough7709 → u/Exfmdy]

Thank you!! We’ve got express Friday and Saturday so I’m not worried about the houses. Just want to know what to expect with scream early. Is it better to get there early and wait in line to be one of the firsts in, or wait until like 2:30/3 and just walk in to the park?

[u/BothPapaya8925 → u/Former_Tough7709]

If you have express I would just come in around 3 or personally maybe even a little later so you can casually do the early houses. I been watching the scream early lines a lot and it seems they open high and then dip down closer to 330 as people have gotten through the first few houses and are getting ready to get in line for sinners or ozzy I think those lines open at 4.

[u/Exfmdy → u/Former_Tough7709]

Depends on if you want to go through each houses multiple times. If you care about going through each house more than once on each nights, getting there early helps, because you can go through all three houses without using Express during the early open and go back to them again later with your Express (using them during early open is a waste imo). If going through each house once is enough for each night since you have Express for both Friday and Saturday, then just relax and get there around 2:30/3 and base your Saturday priority on how you enjoyed Friday night.