- Mar 30, 2015
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Seventeen more days to Halloween. What does that tell you?
Halloween at Universal Orlando 2020
- Thread starter Brian G.
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- Jul 27, 2015
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I don’t know the metrics and, in this climate, any increase is a success. So, I can’t really say if Universal would or wouldn’t re-do any or everything about it. I can only speculate in the cynical way I always do when considering the business side of this stuff.
I’ll say the initial response was astronomically better than I expected. I think it was even better than what Universal expected, based on how (somewhat) unprepared the were that first weekend.
That said, as surprised as I was by the initial response, I’m equally perplexed by the rapid drop in overall interest. Last weekend, they were roughly 45 minutes all day—with COVID protocols. A holiday weekend should be similar, if not higher. But it wasn’t. Logically, the only reason for such mediocre lines on a holiday is that the majority of people don’t care the houses are there.
Short-term, it was a risk they’ll likely break even on. Would it have been more reasonable only do it on weekends? Or only in October? Maybe. Maybe not. It doesn’t matter now. Like I said, any improvement is a win right now.
Long-term, though, it’s more of a debate. I had been hearing that only Eilish was getting replaced. New (unverified) rumor says they’re replacing Bride and Tooth, too. I don’t think that’s because the fans have seen them. I think it’s because, after a run that is longer than most seasons (because of daily ops), those houses may HAVE to get replaced. (The houses get destroyed throughout their existence, often to a point of general disrepair). If that’s the case, then the investment of this year isn’t just operating costs for middling numbers, it also includes the costs for two replacement houses that maybe didn’t have to get replaced.
It’ll all depend on the person arguing.
- Feb 15, 2012
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It would suck to replace Brides.
- May 16, 2018
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...but it’d be ace if we got another Monsters house in its place.
So you’re saying - and I know y’all might be getting tired of me saying this, it’s just that I love the character - we could have a Gill-man meetable character?
- Feb 2, 2008
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And now I suddenly have to start looking for flights to come down for one day so I don’t miss out on seeing these houses forever. Thanks for the heads up because I was content with not coming down this year thinking they would be returning. Now I’ve got to scramble to see if I can make it.
Ooof, hoping that rumor is just a rumor. I thought both houses were really solid* and it would be a shame if we don't see them in full-HHN form, both have wonderful potential for that. At the same time, I can reluctantly see the reasoning due to the extra wear and tear from daily ops.
* = Even in pandemic mode, I'd rank them higher than my personally ranked lower houses from the past couple years.
- Mar 26, 2020
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I just saw a ‘rumor’ on Twitter by Park Hoppin’ that an employee told him that they are announcing two new houses this/next weekend?
- Jul 27, 2015
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Stuff can honestly go either way at this point.
- Mar 26, 2020
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- Jul 27, 2015
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Too many possible combinations to say with any certainty.
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Imagine what a gamble it is to open a new house just hoping for another attendance bump. Glad I'm not the one making this call.
I think, perhaps, opening the houses every day of October was the misstep, but I’m happy that I was able to enjoy them.
- Nov 9, 2019
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- Mar 30, 2015
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The thirst is stronger than reality
I don't think they need an attendance "bump" when they are at capacity each weekend. They need to spread the crowds out over the whole week. Now as we get closer to Halloween we may see the weekday crowds and wait times for those houses increase. People still want Halloween stuff, it's just not as much in demand when it's daylight and 90+ degrees.
- Jul 27, 2015
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You’re right, they don’t “need” the house bump when they’re hitting capacity. The issue/question is, if they don’t need the bump, do they need the houses?
And while attendance attributed to the houses should increase the closer we get to Halloween, the date is the only changing variable now. Kids are in school. People are working. People still aren’t traveling. It’s still a daytime event. And weather won’t improve that much (it is Florida, after all).
Really, the only reason the question matters is how it relates to more houses. Everything else, it doesn’t matter.
- Nov 9, 2019
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So correct me if I'm wrong, but the only reason why they would open another house would be to spread out crowds.
I'm not sure if I follow?
Ugh. That would be a bummer
- Sep 7, 2020
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It would make sense the men in black area are very congested on Saturday and Sunday when I went. And pretty sure legacy mentioned casting for a third house that is a tent
- Jul 27, 2015
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Add capacity and lure back people who already saw the houses. But yeah, that’s it.
But if people aren’t that interested in the houses, it doesn’t actually add much capacity.
