Halloween Horror Nights 22 Discussion

[Jakemeister]

I have only heard good things about the Comcast changes. What are they rumored to have changed regarding HHNs? Or was that merely meant as a general statement with all of the construction?

There's a lot of uncertainty. Universal didn't hire the web designer that they used from 2006-2011, and while he was a great website designer and could weave awesome site story arcs he's not exactly vital to the event. Then they're all complaining about the IP's but I think it's pretty wise that Comcast wants the IP's to be linked and used on both coast but with different executions. Then the Penn and Teller complaints, and people think the budget might be a bit smaller too, and how there might only be one scarezone, and how we might have less houses, etc, etc. It's all just turning into one big negativity fest. I likened it to people watching a trailer for a movie they're uncertain about and claiming from solely watching the trailer it deserves a Razzie.

As I said on Nightmares, I love Halloween Horror Nights, I love it a lot but I like Universal Studios significantly more considering, it's kinda sorta vital to us even having a Halloween event.

Some of them are really good friends and some of them aren't but I've never seen such collective complaints from that community. I blame Baby Duck Syndrome.

 

[Teebin]

^ I guess a few failed to read my post about Universal having a bit too much money and not enough capital spending. I doubt HHN is being short-changed seeing where the company is spending millions on a dime immediately. I haven't heard any complaints of cutbacks from inside UE. Au contraire...

 

[Jymmymack]

Speaking of conga lines... that's the one nice thing about HHN Hollywood. I did 4 houses with just the two people I was with in my "group" as we walked through. Got some great experiences out of that. We were literally the first people in Hostel and I got a gun in my face and a nice long interaction with one of the torturers (it went a little something like him pointing the gun in my face and screaming "You ready to go?" Me: "F*&$ yeah, let's do this!!" Him: "Alright baby, I knew you'd be ready! It's time! Let's F$&* sh&% up!" And so on as he walked me to the next room). Also got to take a private tour of La Llarona with the man himself John Murdy.

HHN Hollywood may not have as big a budget as Orlando (probably not even half the budget), but it makes up with heart, no booze, and no conga lines for the first 3 hours or so.

 

[Tbad556]

I haven't stopped over at Nightmares in a while to see these complaints, but they definitely sound ridiculous. Some of the complaints are a little more understandable such as having less houses and scarezones, but stuff like being angry over Penn & Teller working with Universal makes no sense to me. Did I miss where it said that Penn & Teller were completely replacing the creative team for the event because from what I understand, they'd simply be working together with them. In that case, how is having two additional brilliant creative minds a negative thing? From my perspective, I can't see any negatives to this. It seems like they'd be able to help Universal incorporate some new, unique effects/illusions for the house.

As for the budget argument, I'd be curious to know what makes them think Comcast isn't interested in spending money for the event. From the interest they've shown in the park itself, it seems they are definitely interested in giving out the proper budgets to insure things are successful.

 

[Hatetofly]

Speaking of conga lines... that's the one nice thing about HHN Hollywood. I did 4 houses with just the two people I was with in my "group" as we walked through. Got some great experiences out of that. We were literally the first people in Hostel and I got a gun in my face and a nice long interaction with one of the torturers (it went a little something like him pointing the gun in my face and screaming "You ready to go?" Me: "F*&$ yeah, let's do this!!" Him: "Alright baby, I knew you'd be ready! It's time! Let's F$&* sh&% up!" And so on as he walked me to the next room). Also got to take a private tour of La Llarona with the man himself John Murdy.

HHN Hollywood may not have as big a budget as Orlando (probably not even half the budget), but it makes up with heart, no booze, and no conga lines for the first 3 hours or so.

I really enjoyed the Hollywood event last year and can't wait to do it again this year. I think you nailed it in this post.

 

[Jakemeister]

Legacy on Nightmares said one of the best things.

P&T was at the original Fright Nights at USH in 1987, they're probably the most original thing that's been at Horror Nights in years.

 

[JungleSkip]

^ I guess a few failed to read my post about Universal having a bit too much money and not enough capital spending. I doubt HHN is being short-changed seeing where the company is spending millions on a dime immediately. I haven't heard any complaints of cutbacks from inside UE. Au contraire...

Yup. Things are changing, and they're thinking the sky is falling. I get being apprehensive, but they've jumped off the deep end.

I haven't stopped over at Nightmares in a while to see these complaints, but they definitely sound ridiculous. Some of the complaints are a little more understandable such as having less houses and scarezones, but stuff like being angry over Penn & Teller working with Universal makes no sense to me. Did I miss where it said that Penn & Teller were completely replacing the creative team for the event because from what I understand, they'd simply be working together with them. In that case, how is having two additional brilliant creative minds a negative thing? From my perspective, I can't see any negatives to this. It seems like they'd be able to help Universal incorporate some new, unique effects/illusions for the house.

As for the budget argument, I'd be curious to know what makes them think Comcast isn't interested in spending money for the event. From the interest they've shown in the park itself, it seems they are definitely interested in giving out the proper budgets to insure things are successful.

Great post.:thumbs:

 

[jtsalien]

Sorry I haven't been paying a lot of attention to this thread lately, but has there been any sort of confirmation on Penn and Teller?

 

[JungleSkip]

Sorry I haven't been paying a lot of attention to this thread lately, but has there been any sort of confirmation on Penn and Teller?

Not from Uni, but like WWoHP 2.0 taking over Jaws, it's all but announced.

 

[The_Bled]

I Spoke with someone at the A&D department and I have a confirmation for Disaster being a Walking Dead house. Also, there were plans for SS 44 to be used as a haunted house. They were blindsided by the demolition, and what he said that in store was also really cool.

 

[Brian G.]

I Spoke with someone at the A&D department and I have a confirmation for Disaster being a Walking Dead house. Also, there were plans for SS 44 to be used as a haunted house. They were blindsided by the demolition, and what he said that in store was also really cool.

Yup.

:hat:

 

[Octobers Fade]

There's a lot of uncertainty. Universal didn't hire the web designer that they used from 2006-2011, and while he was a great website designer and could weave awesome site story arcs he's not exactly vital to the event. Then they're all complaining about the IP's but I think it's pretty wise that Comcast wants the IP's to be linked and used on both coast but with different executions. Then the Penn and Teller complaints, and people think the budget might be a bit smaller too, and how there might only be one scarezone, and how we might have less houses, etc, etc. It's all just turning into one big negativity fest. I likened it to people watching a trailer for a movie they're uncertain about and claiming from solely watching the trailer it deserves a Razzie.

As I said on Nightmares, I love Halloween Horror Nights, I love it a lot but I like Universal Studios significantly more considering, it's kinda sorta vital to us even having a Halloween event.Some of them are really good friends and some of them aren't but I've never seen such collective complaints from that community. I blame Baby Duck Syndrome.

It's honestly the only reason I have set foot on Universal property since 09.
I will wait and see, but I can honestly say that some of the thing I have heard/read are not engouraging and I am not really a fan of houses that are tied to movies.
Like I said before the only difference this year will be wether I go one night or two.

 

[The_Bled]

Yup.

:hat:

I'm really starting to wonder why no one informs the A&D department, let alone the employees when they're taking things out. The guy that did the Donkey meet and greet didn't know he was out of a job until the day they started taking the SS out.

 

[Teebin]

The guy that did the Donkey meet and greet didn't know he was out of a job until the day they started taking the SS out.

Right as demo began, he wasn't out of a job. The whole thing was being moved to a new location. Word was that one of the VP's loved the meet and greet. Perhaps he is just on temp leave... it is true that no one knew anything at all.

 

[tiredoldspook]

HHN is all about the fans and that they get the best experience at a haunt event..Universal is not about profit it is about taking care of the people who buy FFP's and the fan boys...In order to make up for the shortfall in houses and scare zones Beer will be 2 dollars a cup and mixed drinks 3 dollars. There will be free pretzels and popcorn..What you don't believe me?

 

[Octobers Fade]

HHN is all about the fans and that they get the best experience at a haunt event..Universal is not about profit it is about taking care of the people who buy FFP's and the fan boys...In order to make up for the shortfall in houses and scare zones Beer will be 2 dollars a cup and mixed drinks 3 dollars. There will be free pretzels and popcorn..What you don't believe me?

That does, or used to, happen at the pass holder events. Well they didnt give you free food but it was discounted.

 

[Hatetofly]

Right as demo began, he wasn't out of a job. The whole thing was being moved to a new location. Word was that one of the VP's loved the meet and greet. Perhaps he is just on temp leave... it is true that no one knew anything at all.

I would imagine the staff that was at the Meet and Greet has just been relocated until a new one is built. Anytime Universal does something like this the crews are just temporarily relocated.

 

[Teebin]

The guy that did the Donkey meet and greet didn't know he was out of a job until the day they started taking the SS out.

I just checked this out. Your statement is completely untrue. Don't do that. Most everyone is cross trained, especially entertainment. The Shrek M&G folks have been temporarily reassigned to other parts of the park. Which parts some of them were assigned to make my eyes go: :look:

That said, they ain't cleaning windshields on W. Colonial Dr.

 

[Jakemeister]

I just checked this out. Your statement is completely untrue. Don't do that. Most everyone is cross trained, especially entertainment. The Shrek M&G folks have been temporarily reassigned to other parts of the park. Which parts some of them were assigned to make my eyes go: :look:

That said, they ain't cleaning windshields on W. Colonial Dr.

Universal is extremely good about moving employees once they have jobs. A friends dad was over at Fear Factor as one of the casting directors and when it went seasonal a couple years ago he got moved to character attendant at Marvel and kept his same pay rate.

 

[ReelJustice]

I just checked this out. Your statement is completely untrue. Don't do that. Most everyone is cross trained, especially entertainment. The Shrek M&G folks have been temporarily reassigned to other parts of the park. Which parts some of them were assigned to make my eyes go: :look:

That said, they ain't cleaning windshields on W. Colonial Dr.

Are we getting more annoying tourists circulating the walls of SS44 ala Amity?