I HAVE ARRIVED!
And for my first post, here's my full speculation:
[Full disclaimer, I don't have much to say that hasn't been already said lol]
- All IP mazes. After management saw the event sell out almost every night, they're going to want another heavy hitting lineup. An original maze will have to be heavily influenced by something ingrained in pop culture.
- Terror Tram will get the same treatment as it did this year, lots of theme and scenes and set pieces. I think this time they'll work on getting a better flow of people though with two separate trails. This could also be really cool for repeat visits.
- Return of the scarezone gauntlet. It was always fairly empty, but the idea could be improved upon and tweaked to get a good flow of people somehow. Or maybe even moved.
- Harry Potter will be open. Final night saw a good flow of people in that area and that was a low attendance night. It spread the crowds a bit more, with the ride never getting higher than an hour wait time. And most mazes got to 90 minutes at the most, instead of doubling to insane 3 hour waits. Hippogriff might be another story, as the line was always super short, however it wasn't advertised. I'd love to see it stay open though.
- Same amount of mazes. Same exact spots, with the exception of maybe the 747 area.
- The Walking Dead probably won't get any cool additions just yet. The line for it was still pretty high at most times of the night. Maybe next year when they see it get more House of Horrors-like wait times.
- The maze short list: American Horror Story (Asylum & Roanoke), Saw: Legacy, Conjuring/Annabelle, Resident Evil (games), It (remake), Scream (films or TV series), The Exorcist (returning or based on the show), Carpenter's The Thing, Trick 'r Treat, Insidious, Rings.
- As for AHS, I think they'll do two seasons this time instead of 3. This way, they won't run out of seasons so fast or accidentally end up feeling like they have to do a full maze on a season that wouldn't work - imagine being stuck with that mega-maze of a space and only having Coven to work with.