As a "hardcore" Halloween Horror Nights fan who regularly contributes to HHN-specific sites... I feel a need to chime in again.
I NEVER felt like Lady Luck's or Fear's story added to the over all event. The last time I truly felt that I was no longer entering USF but entering another realm was 2008, during Reflections of Fear. Every piece seemed to matter there, and despite the economy being wrecked at the time people still turned out and the event pulled insanely high GSAT's. 2009 was a step away from 2008, but none-the-less it still had more of an over all correlation between everything. 2010 and 2011 had none of that. Lady Luck was CLEARLY added on as a marketing decision and the way they shoe horned her into house story lines was evident. I would have never known without being on the media tour that she and choice some how tied into every house at the event, and that is quite frankly because they didn't up until marketing said "We need this, make it work."
I think it's quite apparent why we have 7 houses this year, if you want to look past the signs of why we took the hit than feel free to. There was however 8 planned, and guest will notice and lucky for the cynic in you that will be noted heavily on GSAT's.
I agree with most of what you're saying for the first paragraph - 2009 was a step down from 2008 but still remained an excellent event and (IMO) had some level of "world" building. Its issues were of course centered on the marketing vs. creative issue yet again, with marketing wanting to push Wolfman/Chucky/SAW instead of the "true" icon, The Usher. 2010 completely lacked any overarching world. 2011 was closer, but failed to bring everything truly together due to the lack of creative inspiration for Lady Luck... like you said, it does feel like they inserted her
after the attraction list was finalized. Thy reason I hold Lady Luck to a higher regard than I did FEAR was because there was
some effort to integrate her, despite the lateness and remoteness of her involvement. A backstory was built for the character, the website hyped her up, she was blasted all over the advertisements, merchandise, etc. - her execution in the park was weak, but the character was at least used and acknowledged far more than the vague FEAR blunder.
Again - there could've been eight houses if they really wanted to. There were allegedly 8 houses planned when the event was to involve both parks... but there were only 7 planned pre-SS44 demolition. I certainly hope the GSAT's will force them to reintroduce 8 houses... that'd be ideal. But keep in mind the average joe visits maybe three or four houses the night they go... those types of people won't notice or care, which I'm guessing Comcast is banking on. It's up to the fans to bitch and moan, it's why we do what we do.
It's AWFUL. This is the first year I've wandered over to sites detailing HHN, and they are the absolute WORST theme park fans. They don't know what they want, they flip flop every 5 seconds, and then end up being head over heels for the vent.
I'm a bad theme park fan for demanding excellence? I know exactly what I want - a strong icon/overarching theme & atmosphere, a strong set of haunted houses and zones, a quality set of shows, and the bits and pieces (elaborate website, quality advertising & merchandise) to tie everything together. I prefer originality to IP houses, even if an IP is a property I really dig. I don't mind an IP or two a year. Just because a few fans constantly flip flop (which I agree is annoying) does not mean the entirety of the HHN fan base does, though often the condescenders will spin that to mean that we're all stupid and don't know what we want. Some people get jealous of the flavor of the moment (i.e. whatever Hollywood just announced) and claim they want it, but will in reality be far happier with the original house we eventually get (Victorian Mansion + Gargoyles, please!) Basically all I'm saying is don't stereotype the many for the words of a few.
But those sites DO have great sources.
And one just posted this
hint. Try and figure it out.
Though said sources have been fairly accurate this year, they've been
very wrong before. Don't take
everything they say as gospel. It's a bit sad that they have to be the ones to provide the real clues, and not Universal themselves, no?
Most of the complaining is because this event feels very 'sell-outish' to some of the hardcore fans...also the similarities between Hollywood and Orlando has a lot of people on edge seeing as how Hollywood and Orlando are on two different levels...I for one do not share these thoughts, I truly feel this year is going to have a nostalgic feel to it (which is never really a bad thing)...someone mentioned devolving, that is not necessarily true..imagine the 90's HHNs with the technology and budget of today..how terrifying..personally I don't feel like an icon is what makes the event good, yes it does add to the event but it is nothing more than something to splash onto a billboard and appease the fans..they are trying something new this year, it is risky and I like it..I am however somewhat dissapointed on a personal level with the website..I always liked the build-up..but Universal is doing the smart thing and using Facebook and Twitter heavily to tease us.
As far as the devolution goes... what exactly is the "90's"? Streets without sets, events without overarching themes/icons? The freedom/crazy elements (i.e. ball pits) that the actors/designers were afforded in those years isn't coming back... so what exactly are we returning to? I'm just playing devil's advocate with this, I didn't attend those years and am curious to what's being referred to.
Facebook & Twitter were used to great effect last year
in conjunction with the elaborate website last year - which was great. However, it's all we get this year - that's a cut.
That's what makes it even worse to try and read. Most not all but most of them have been going for no more than 4-5 years and have never been to the Hollywood event. I wonder what these "hardcore fans" would of thought about HHN the event 10 years ago? Most have no idea what level the event was on 10 years ago and all the ups and downs that have come with it. I consider myself a "loyal" fan and have faith Universal will once again nail it.
Alright, well, I feel like I'm being targeted here - I've been attending since 2008, this'll be my 5th year. The reason I was so drawn to HHN in the first place and compelled to try it (when before I routinely hated haunted attractions) was because of the incredibly engrossing Dr. Mary Agana journal. That sort of storytelling and character development, and the ensuing "Mary's World," is what (to me) puts HHN above and beyond other haunt events. What would I have thought about the event 10 years ago? Honestly, it'd probably be a fun Halloween event for the locals. Back then there were a handful of haunted houses (many of which were retreads), quite a few shows, and a couple of streets. I wouldn't be making thousand dollar pilgrimages just to go to HHN. The event has evolved since then I really don't think it's a fair comparison.
I've never attended Hollywood's event, regrettably - but to me they're different beasts. Hollywood is a dry event that seems far more willing (or able) to experiment with physical/grittier elements, such as puppetry, blatant sexual innuendo & content, incredible amounts of gore, with a greater reliance on "show scene" elements (which has declined since Roddy's departure, especially in 2010). Frankly, it seemed to me that Hollywood got the better SAW maze and debatably a better THING maze. The way they approach mazes are very differently than how we approach houses. My fear is we'll get all of the limitations of Hollywood (a constant, annual reliance on IPs, perhaps even repeat houses & a reduced budget) without all the benefits that come with it (frankly more intense elements in every sense of the word). Hollywood isn't a bad event by any means - it's great on its own terms. I'd love to fly out there and try it sometime soon.
To suggest I'm not a "loyal" fan because I'm critical of the cuts that are already apparent this year, as well as being skeptical of the rumored/announced elements, is preposterous. A&D are a
very talented bunch of designers, but they aren't gods - they're humans, they make mistakes. Besides, with many of these criticisms I'm not even really blaming them - I'm blaming the marketing folks/decision makers who tighten their reigns and tell them what they're working with.
Many people at this point recognize that HHNXX was not a very good year at all. HHN21 had an amazing set of houses (my favorite set so far), but decidedly middling scare zones and icon/theme.
Well after their last Haunted House... I just hope they learned something from that.
Concept is sound and interesting and we will know shortly if it works or not.
Exactly. They aren't perfect - there were plenty of elements in that house that worked, and plenty that didn't.
I had to laugh at Jaws not being there having any affect on capacity. Many times during HHN Jaws was a walk-on...no wait whatsoever with no line. So it not being there really won't change anything big picture.
And people have some faith, Universal has been racking up Ws for the past 2 years, I don't think this will be different.
The loss of JAWS will have some effect on capacity - just because it sometimes was a walk-on didn't mean it was helping. As I mentioned earlier it's a relatively high capacity attraction (especially when compared to DM), and I often saw it at an at least 15 minute posted wait. The real issue will develop from the lack of the JAWS queue house, though. That space corralled a huge amount of people and I'm very curious to see how the crowds flow this year with its absence. Again - HHNXX wasn't that great. HHN is not infallible.