Yes, the regular Unlimited Express Pass included with the Deluxe stay will work in the Studios park until 5pm and not later than that.
Scream Early vs regular day admission does not matter for this.
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Thanks! I’m an HHN newbie, but based on what I’ve been reading in some of the threads here, it sounds like we’ll need to go into the stay and scream area around 4:00, so that only gives us an hour to do rides before the event. Having the express pass will definitely help to ensure we can at least get on one or two rides before HHN.
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I’m a HNN fan and go as often as I can.
There will be a herd of people waiting for Scream Early before 3pm. If you get yhere at 3:15pm it is all gone and you can stroll in.
HOWEVER, starting at 4pm getting into Universal parks becomes increasingly difficult. They close the gates at 5pm for everyone including Annual Passholders.
The security really “intensifies” after 4pm because there is a FLOOD of Passholders and others that are eligible to be inside the park racing to get inside by 5pm.
From 5pm until 7pm you are herded into your choice of one of three holding areas. (NY, Springfield or Front Gate)
All you can do from 5 pm- 7pm is eat and drink. However, the houses often open a little bit early before 7pm. You’ll be allowed to get a head start on the crowds outside the park.
My best advice is to watch a lot of YT and ask questions! My favorite Universal vlogger for this type of “intro” information is VincentVision
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Thanks! If we get there before 3pm, do you think it’s realistic to be able to do a few rides before 5:00? We haven’t been to US in 3 or 4 years and not sure when we will get back there for a visit, so we’re trying to take advantage of both the HHN stuff and the regular stuff (we don’t need to do everything, just aiming for highlights). What time would we need to head to the holding areas?
I am a first timer, but everything I have read in Reddit is that select houses for each holding area open around 5:30 for people with early access? And that the overall event starts at 6:30. At leat for 2024. I know there are no 2025 details yet.
That’s pretty accurate
Typically, one house in the holding areas will open at least 30 minutes before the official opening time. I have gotten into extremely popular houses almost an hour early when they had to meet demand
This was true for Halloween and Last of Us the years I went to those HHNs
Yes! Especially if you have Express Passes. You’ll get 2 - 3 rides, maybe more, depending on how far apart they are.
You won’t get a choice 
At some point security will force you to either go to go the holding area or leave the park. The only reason to go early is if you want to sit down and eat at a TS place like Finnegan’s, Minions Cafe or something to ensure a table.
I like to start in Springfield. You get one house done in the middle of the park. Then I go directly to the back, near MIB. There’s at least 3 - 4 houses back there.
You’ll arrive before most people even get through the main gates! I have often done 3 - 4 houses by the time the park has been open for only an hour!
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FYI, word on the streets is Stay & Scream operations is changing this year to a more Disney After Hours event model of wrist bands. So I’d wait and see what the first weekend brings before making plans.
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That is a much better system. I’ve loathed the holding areas. Thanks for letting us know!!
Looking like we’ll get multi night passes on Thursday. Still unclear if Express options will be available.
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If they do that it will be interesting to see what time people start getting in the queues for the houses.
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The creepypasta version of the Wendigo
@josephmatt what does that look like for those of us who haven’t done the Disney event?
the rumor is they’d distribute wrist bands and then look for them at attraction queues and at road blocks around the park. the idea is to push the straggling day guests out without needing to do a full park sweep and hold S&S in holding pens.
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Thanks!
I’m attending one of the early events (9/7), so there won’t be much time to get feedback. I’ve done MNSSHP and some of the After Hours events, so if it works like that, I’m definitely familiar with that process and that does seem way easier than herding into a holding area to wait around and be released. I just need to figure out where to go first and when to get there!
I think the big question will be whether the House queues just become the new holding areas, and at what time?
Kind of like the MNSSHP character meet lines (except not everyone is interested in those).