I think this is genuinely smart and benefits both theme park fans and the theme park. Halloween is obviously their moneymaker and I am sure they thought multiple times, "how do we make that money some other time in the year and have it make sense?" Six Flags bit the bullet and came up with Scream Break, which is a brilliant move and marketing idea, only problem is its Fright Fest level of terrible -- as I am sure if HHN did something similar, we'd be ecstatic. But how do cater to a similar size of fanbase and do something similar, in a different part of the year?
Fan Fest Nights. They even chose a name similar to Halloween Horror Nights so you know it's from the some people. Even before reading it was from the same creative team, I knew just from the branding. However, it does get my hopes a bit that we'll get walkthrough attractions. I'll be hopeful but will do my best not to be disappointed. Depending on what is included, I may not go. But if there's a Back to the Future maze? Or the ride is back up? Or there's a show? I'm there. I LOVE BTTF.
My best assumption also is walkthroughs/mazes/houses won't be scary. I still think that's a fun time as long as they offer a level of interaction, without breaking character, and without lines being clogged up of people trying to take pictures. There will definitely need to be giant areas for people to get there pictures in, because I want to hear Doc Brown be Doc, not have to stop every five seconds.
Also, this got me wondering...will there be "scarezones?" Will things be in one particular part of the park? Or will everything be jumbled up. There's so many possibilities and this is genuinely exciting. Between Vegas, this, and the usual HHN, Universal sure will have a lot of my money next year.