Halloween Horror Nights 32 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors

[SeventyOne]

The interactive websites made up for that.

But yeah, they don't have to put much effort when they know they'll make a ton of $ no matter what.

I think there's little doubt the most admired/wished for interactive site is the one from 2005. The interactive game lasted all season long, and at the end those lucky fans who stuck with it were rewarded with some backstage passes and a chance to be a part of the final Terra Queen show!

Of course, while the game captured the attention of those 20 or so super-fans who were going to buy FFPs anyway, the same night as that finale Universal had to stage a last minute $1000 costume contest just to get enough normies through the gate to justify opening.

Some of the things Marketing threw against the wall to see if they stuck surely were fun, but that doesn't mean they justify the cost.

 

[pumpkinbot343]

Umm.. why all the hostility? Personally, I am careful about what I post because I never want to come off as a complainer. It's not in my nature. I have made a few comments about being frustrated, but I've not said anything negative about Uni overall. All I said was they changed the game for announcements. My point being, that is what is causing the frustration here. Some are more vocal than others and have some wild opinions, but, in the end, I think we ALL understand this is a business. What it comes down to is - we are here because we love the event. If people start going over the top, that's what the Mods are for. I don't think a public lambasting like this is really warranted. I guess if it makes you feel better, rock on with your bad self. The rest of us will carry on and learn the patience of a Buddhist Monk.

I’ve been following HHN speculation for a long while. I used to frequently lurk the HNN forums. Nothing I’ve seen as of recently of 2023 can match the hostility I’ve seen in the 2010s era, especially 2015-2016.

And speaking of old websites…

HHN Orlando Past Websites - Horror Night Nightmares

 

[RGMick77]

Looking back at the various speculation maps that have been put out there this year, I see a lot of stuff about Demons, The Devil, and the Occult.

I wonder if an unofficial theme this year might be the Satanic Panic.

And do we think this means the food will be hot and spicy?

 

[DannyPowers]

I wonder if an unofficial theme this year might be the Satanic Panic.

While I think that would be interesting as hell, I really doubt that a major park would touch that subject matter. Especially when the "villains" of the Satanic Panic era are some of the folks that would be paying for their kids to attend.

That era wasn't really about the actual devil(s). It was about mass hysteria.

 

[MikePat]

I wonder if an unofficial theme this year might be the Satanic Panic.

I think if anything this year could have more of an unofficial "lore/legends" theme.

 

[RGMick77]

While I think that would be interesting as hell, I really doubt that a major park would touch that subject matter. Especially when the "villains" of the Satanic Panic era are some of the folks that would be paying for their kids to attend.

That era wasn't really about the actual devil(s). It was about mass hysteria.

I get that there was an actual moral panic surrounding it, but that’s the least interesting part for me. Just look at all the art that happened in response to the panic.

There was an entire sub-genre of horror movies that happened because of it. The metal music. Video games.

Basically all the people who knew it wasn’t real just making it into some sort of rebellion to make people upset

To bring this back around to current HHN rumors and speculation: look at what happened to Eddie Munson in Stranger Things Season 4 in the context of the moral panic. And then you have the movie that really got people worried about The Devil - The Exorcist.

 

[Crypt Keeper]

I wonder if an unofficial theme this year might be the Satanic Panic.

Yeeaahh, no

I think if anything this year could have more of an unofficial "lore/legends" theme.

^This fits with the teasers and a good chunk of the rumored houses.

 

[hunnylvr]

LOL! If they did Satanic Panic - We'd have protesters and pitchforks and every incarnation of "Florida Man" you could possibly conceive. Not in this lifetime..

 

[RGMick77]

LOL! If they did Satanic Panic - We'd have protesters and pitchforks and every incarnation of "Florida Man" you could possibly conceive. Not in this lifetime..

Ha! Yeah I get it.

I fully understand why Universal Studios, a multi-billion dollar corporation wouldn’t officially embrace Satan into their hearts (even if it’s just for smiles and giggles).

Back in my youth, my aunt told me Dungeons and Dragons was satanic and wouldn’t let my cousins anywhere near it. Black Sabbath was also worrisome. It’s all overblown.

I think it’s more of a funny concept, but some people take these sorts of things way too seriously and can’t just have fun with it like a lot of horror movies do. It’s definitely not worth the protests it would generate and I totally get that part.

That’s why I said “unofficially”. Like, maybe it could be a loose theme that isn’t directly discussed. When I attempt to decipher the spec maps this year, that’s just where my mind went.

 

[Pixarfan96]

I definitely think the Chucky booth will probably be back in its entirety. Although maybe they'll change locations based on where the house is located.

If ST is coming, I can't really think of any food that would be exclusive to Season 4. More waffles it is! (please bring back the waffle ice cream pocket)

What about a “Surfer Boy Pizza” stand? That pizza truck and pizzeria was featured very prominently in Season 4 (like how “Scoops Ahoy” was in Season 3.)

 

[Grabnar]

What about a “Surfer Boy Pizza” stand? That pizza truck and pizzeria was featured very prominently in Season 4 (like how “Scoops Ahoy” was in Season 3.)

I’d even welcome a version of the Starcourt Mall. It’d be cool to see an Upside Down version of that, tbh

 

[Clive]

I do think Wicked Growth is as close to "Satanic Panic" as we'll get in modern Horror Nights.

 

[Ahmanet]

What about a “Surfer Boy Pizza” stand? That pizza truck and pizzeria was featured very prominently in Season 4 (like how “Scoops Ahoy” was in Season 3.)

Cabana Bay pizza delivery switching to Surfer Boy logo boxes would be cool (if the house happens)

 

[Kichkinet85]

I do think Wicked Growth is as close to "Satanic Panic" as we'll get in modern Horror Nights.

And it was the best house ever!

 

[Legacy]

But HHN is also now the face of a major resort with international attendance and major contracts with Warner Bros, Nintendo, etc., which I have to imagine means everything that gets published in a guest-facing setting goes through various rounds of legal approvals. One single site with a few informational pages is a lot easier to bang out and get signed off on than interactive web pages and games.

That’s just it… HHN ISN’T the “face” anymore. Back in the aughts, HHN was only time the park went into the black. HHN kept a struggling resort alive. Universal would allow ANYTHING they could try to get people in the doors, which allowed great freedom In marketing.

Then Potter happened.

Then Comcast happened too.

All of a sudden (and to your broader point), the freedom of HHN’s marketing became an unnecessary liability. They also realized that, remarkably, LESS was MORE. All the ARGs and slow builds couldn’t hold a candle to the success of a couple popular IPs.

HHN is a cherry now. It’s not a life preserver. And you don’t smother an entree with garnishes or else it becomes inedible.

I think there's little doubt the most admired/wished for interactive site is the one from 2005. The interactive game lasted all season long, and at the end those lucky fans who stuck with it were rewarded with some backstage passes and a chance to be a part of the final Terra Queen show!

Of course, while the game captured the attention of those 20 or so super-fans who were going to buy FFPs anyway, the same night as that finale Universal had to stage a last minute $1000 costume contest just to get enough normies through the gate to justify opening.

Some of the things Marketing threw against the wall to see if they stuck surely were fun, but that doesn't mean they justify the cost.

2008 site and games > 2005.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

That’s just it… HHN ISN’T the “face” anymore. Back in the aughts, HHN was only time the park went into the black. HHN kept a struggling resort alive. Universal would allow ANYTHING they could try to get people in the doors, which allowed great freedom In marketing.

Then Potter happened.

Then Comcast happened too.

All of a sudden (and to your broader point), the freedom of HHN’s marketing became an unnecessary liability. They also realized that, remarkably, LESS was MORE. All the ARGs and slow builds couldn’t hold a candle to the success of a couple popular IPs.

HHN is a cherry now. It’s not a life preserver. And you don’t smother an entree with garnishes or else it becomes inedible.

2008 site and games > 2005.

Okay…it’s A face (or “representative”) of a bigger, more successful resort. That was my point…

 

[pumpkinbot343]

2008 site and games > 2005.

both sites are fun but IDK, 2005’s storyline where these 6 realms contributed to this “Circle of Death” or “Season of the Queen” and it’s presentation where you go and explore these realms in the site was more deeper and engaging than 2008’s. The “mad doctor” story was already done effectively in 2002 (though he wasn’t a psychologist) and the twist kinda ruined 2008’s.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

Eh, as Legacy said before, it’s more the site was a fun thing creative did on the side, not a project with proper budgeting and such. Regional park vs vacation destination stuff.

And this is part of why--even if I still like the resort parks--I've developed a taste for regional parks over the last few years!

 

[RGMick77]

I wonder if Universal sees how much all of you love the old web content and that’s what all these “legends” and “lore” teasers are about.

Is it possible that, while they’re not exactly giving solvable clues, they’re at least roleplaying as YOU (those of you really interested in lore) and trying to show you what it would be like if they could do that in 2023?

 

[HHNNewbie]

Anyone think they have a clue to what are they doing for the lagoon show? I haven't had a chance to sit and watch it yet but making an effort this year to see it.