Universal Halloween Horror Nights, Florida Keys & a reluctant theme parker!

ffotogirl

Hi everyone!

I’ve posted this in the dedicated Orlando thread but wanted to post in the main forum too as I have a couple of different questions that people who don’t frequent the Orlando thread might be able to help with. Hope that’s ok.

So, my boyfriend and I are thinking about going to Florida this September/October. Well, I say we’re both thinking about it… he’s not quite so keen as me as he doesn’t really like rides. I took him to Disneyland Paris last July for the first time ever in his life – he’s 30 – thinking he would love it and he screamed and swore all the way round Thunder Mountain (there were two little boys riding in the car behind us who were laughing at him!), almost had a panic attack in the queue for Indiana Jones and I’m not sure how I got him on Space Mountain but let’s just say when he eventually stopped swearing he refused point blank to go on any of the other rides with me which I was pretty disappointed with

I last went to Orlando 12 years ago when I was 14 and ever since the Harry Potter park was announced I’ve been eager to visit again. After our Paris fiasco I thought all hope was lost but then a couple of months ago I found out about the Halloween Horror Nights at Universal and despite my boyfriend’s lack of adventurous spirit he is quite keen to go. I also think that if I could just get him there he would enjoy some of the older film themed rides at Universal, Epcot and some of the family rides at Disney. It's probably out of our price range but I think he'd also love to spend a couple of days at the Hard Rock Hotel.

So… first question: Has anyone been to Halloween Horror Nights? Would you recommend it?

Second question: Has anyone been to the Orlando parks with someone who hates rides?! Did you manage to get them to loosen up and enjoy themselves or did you ride alone?

If I could go with friends I would as I do worry that we’ll go, he will hate everything and I’ll be super frustrated! But none of my friends or family can afford to go or are interested and besides, I think he’s being silly! I used to be terrified of big rides and would never go on any of them. I’ve always hated to think I was missing out on things but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Then one day in Disneyland Paris when there was absolutely no-one queuing for Indiana Jones (one of the rides I’d been most scared of for years!) I made an impulsive decision and ran on, knowing that I’d have no time to change my mind standing around in line. And I loved it! It wasn’t even half as scary as I expected and I spent the rest of the day on a mad adrenalin trip racing around between all the rides I’d previously thought I couldn’t do. If he would just give himself the same chance I reckon he’d have such an amazing time. I wouldn't be bothered if he didn't want to go on rides like the Hulk or the Rip Rocket thingamy... but I don't want him working himself up over family rides like Thunder Mountain, Jurassic Park etc.

Thirdly, and this is probably where the money saving bit comes it, because we’re thinking about going all this way to do something he’s not 100% thrilled about he thinks that spending a fortnight at theme parks in Orlando is going to be a waste of time (!) and wants to combine it with a road trip to Key West at the bottom of the Florida Keys. We love road tripping in America and are happy to drive and camp but I think it’ll be too expensive and we wont have enough time to do both in a fortnight. I reckon that even as adults you need at least 10 days in Orlando to do the Disney Parks, Universal and we’d probably want to drive out to the Kennedy Space Centre too. What do you think? It seems like two different holidays to me.

Sorry so long but any help greatly appreciated. Thank you!

balletshoes

I can't help with the logistics of your trip because its been over 15 years since I was at WDW Florida. However, I really wouldn't put pressure on your bf to go on adrenalin rides if he's not keen, and I also wouldn't go to Florida with the anticipation that he'll go on those rides with you. He's tried it at DLP, he doesn't like them.

FWIW, I'd love to go to WDW one day again, but I wouldn't be going on any of the big rides (I remember thinking I was going to die on Splash Mountain :eek:) - BTM and POTC is about my limit at DLP. Wouldn't go near Space Mountain or Indie if you paid me.

ffotogirl

Oh no, of course I wouldn't... I've already accepted that I'll have to be a solo rider on most of the bigger rides! But I do think he'll have more choice there with the tamer, family rides and especially the ones I remember from Universal based around the older films. Just looking at a way to make an Orlando trip work for us

badskindollheart

Halloween Horror Nights is fantastic!! The make up and sets are Hollywood movie standard. The park is quite dimly lit, and the rides are in the dark and there is rock music playing which all really adds to the atmosphere. There are lots of cast members hiding behind things and they jump out at you (that sounds quite crap but its terrifying when you're in the park!)

You should avoid Friday/Sat nights as these get very busy and you can be waiting 1 to 2hrs to get into the houses.

There's also a parade, when we went it was pirate/ghostship themed.

Me & my sister-in-law spent the whole night clinging to my brothers arm - it was great!!!

If you're an adult going to Orlando in October, you just shouldn't miss it but it's not for the faint hearted!

lucylucky

Key West is brilliant. The drive there is lovely to, but it does take a while to get there from Orlando, I wouldn't consider it unless you had more time tbh.

KarenG

Relationships are all about compromise. Why not just pick a few theme parks, do them really well, then go off to South Florida?

I'm not a great ride lover, but I do really enjoy things like Big Thunder, and we go to Orlando most years and there is a lot to do that isn't on the rides, but..... If you are going to want to be off queuing or riding the big ones for a lot of the time, I'd be pretty cheesed off to be the one waiting outside the ride, figuratively.

If you did say, Seaworld and Universal Orlando for the first 4/5 days, then head south, you could do a week in the Keys and then finish coming home via the Tampa region to sneak in Busch Gardens. You'll have picked up most of the thrill rides with those parks anyway.

ffotogirl

I'm totally willing to compromise of course I want to do the less scary fun rides and visit the Keys too! Just not sure if it's possible to do everything in a fortnight as it's quite a long drive down to the coast and I'm sure we'd want to stop and see things along the way. The only parks I'd like to do are the Disney & Universal parks (Busch Gardens didn't seem to have anything my other half would enjoy and Seaworld has never appealed to me) but that still totals 7 parks which is over a week's worth of visiting! Plus Kennedy Space Center. Eeek... so much to do!

Thanks for the tip about not visiting on Fridays & Saturdays badskindollheart. I didn't even anticipate queues. Will keep that in mind if we make it there. Did you manage to see all the Halloween things in one evening?

KarenG

I totally agree you can't do all the theme parks and Key West in a fortnight.

This is why, personally, I think you need to accept you can't do all the parks and keep your partner happy. The parks will be there another year, and if he enjoys the taste, maybe you can persuade him to return and try some more another year?

cabbage

Hi

I went to Universal and WDW last year and I am not normally a theme park person. In fact, I couldn't think of anything worse than spending a day at Alton Towers when all I do is hold the coats and stuff of my family. Having said that I LOVED Disney and Universal. At no time was I pressurised to go on the rides but I wanted to try the Harry Potter ride at Universal and I went on quite a few in Disney. In both places there are rides for the terrified and plenty to do while you are waiting. When I say rides for the terrified, I don't mean kiddy rides lol!

Head on over to https://www.thedibb.co.uk where you find lots of threads on this topic.

Looking back, I can't believe that I did the rides!

jordylass

I was in Orlando over HHN one year an had annual pass so I went, it was OK, glad I did it but I wouldn't pay for it as an extra. I do love Universal tho, and Busch Gardens is one of my favourite places to visit, it has great thrill rides, but also just a lovely park for a day out, and a great one for a non thrill seeker.
We did a 3 day dolphin swim down on the keys one year, that was an amazing experience, so can definitely be done as part of your holiday.

Traincrashing

I think you should go anyway I went to Disneyland Paris with my boyfriend last year who's also absolutely terrified of all the big rides, and anything that has to go round in a circle (I had to do a lot of convincing just to get him on the teacups). We still had a really great time going on all the other rides, and are thinking about going to the one in California in November, and also Universal. Even if you just go on some of the bigger rides by yourself if he refuses, he could even go on the smaller ones and yous would still have a great time Tell him you'll do something he wants for a whole day if he does the theme park with you.