Halloween Horror Nights 29 General Discussion

[MartyMcFly]

Icons and overarching themes are nice on anniversary years , but the enjoyment and hype would definitely be diluted.

Halloween Horror Nights is a theme in itself now.

Edit:
Also on Jack coming back for 30, I’m all for it. My first HHN was 2007 Carnival of Carnage, and my first back was 25. So I am so pumped if he is indeed coming back!

 

[Legacy]

I just saw HDD2U, that was NOT a horror movie. I would be shocked if it comes.

Neither was the movie Doomsday or the show Fear Factor.

 

[kingmantis]

Whenever that’s time of year where people ask about theme and icons, I feel like what they really want is the old style of website to come back. Like getting to dig into the backstories of each house, behind-the-scenes stuff, etc. I mean, look at how many people last year kept asking when the VHS tapes would be updated on the splash page even though it had like no impact on anything?

Even if marketing/A&D had a change of heart and had an icon and strong theme for the year, the way we use the Internet has changed to the point we’d never get the old type of site again. I guess that’s why not having an icon never bothered me, I’ve kinda already made peace with the fact we’ll never get the part I actually would want back.

 

[Darko]

Whenever that’s time of year where people ask about theme and icons, I feel like what they really want is the old style of website to come back. Like getting to dig into the backstories of each house, behind-the-scenes stuff, etc. I mean, look at how many people last year kept asking when the VHS tapes would be updated on the splash page even though it had like no impact on anything?

Even if marketing/A&D had a change of heart and had an icon and strong theme for the year, the way we use the Internet has changed to the point we’d never get the old type of site again. I guess that’s why having an icon never bothered me, I’ve kinda already made peace with the fact we’ll never get the part I actually would want back.

I used the wayback machine to visit those old websites a couple times. Brings back memories when websites were an experience themselves.

 

[Tobias]

Whenever that’s time of year where people ask about theme and icons, I feel like what they really want is the old style of website to come back. Like getting to dig into the backstories of each house, behind-the-scenes stuff, etc. I mean, look at how many people last year kept asking when the VHS tapes would be updated on the splash page even though it had like no impact on anything?

Even if marketing/A&D had a change of heart and had an icon and strong theme for the year, the way we use the Internet has changed to the point we’d never get the old type of site again. I guess that’s why having an icon never bothered me, I’ve kinda already made peace with the fact we’ll never get the part I actually would want back.

Honestly, I agree.
With Icons, it's a interesting bag. For the most part, Icons are the face for merch and ads. You might see one in a house or scare zone now and then...but that's about it. For something that people feel is the face of the event, they really don't have much of a presence throughout it. For me, the only Icon which had a honest-to-God presence throughout the event was Bloody Mary. (Along with the ads/merch, she was commanding that arch screen, her voice haunting the Skoolhouse and appearing throughout the other houses in reflections.)

A good close second is Jack, since they've gotten some wonderful mileage out of the stage shows with him. An honestly with any possible future icons, that's what I wanna' see more of. Shows where they can really show themselves off instead of being a quick scare in a house.

As for the websites, they've made some wonderful ones in the past. But those are merely nice additions which serve nothing but to hype the event up. They have 0 impact on the quality of what you experience in the park itself. Case in point, 2008 had one of the best websites of all time...yet it doesn't change the fact that Bloody Mary's own house was one of the -worst- of all time.

Yes, I would love to see another elaborate website one day, but ultimately that's not as important as the actual event itself.

 

[JawsVictim]

I disagree. Universal’s marketing hasn’t adapted to the new way we use the Internet. There’s still an opportunity for interactivity and back story using smart phones. It’s just cheaper for Universal to update a basic website and post some stuff on social media then really go for something elaborate.

 

[Legacy]

Honestly, I agree.
With Icons, it's a interesting bag. For the most part, Icons are the face for merch and ads. You might see one in a house or scare zone now and then...but that's about it. For something that people feel is the face of the event, they really don't have much of a presence throughout it. For me, the only Icon which had a honest-to-God presence throughout the event was Bloody Mary. (Along with the ads/merch, she was commanding that arch screen, her voice haunting the Skoolhouse and appearing throughout the other houses in reflections.)

A good close second is Jack, since they've gotten some wonderful mileage out of the stage shows with him. An honestly with any possible future icons, that's what I wanna' see more of. Shows where they can really show themselves off instead of being a quick scare in a house.

As for the websites, they've made some wonderful ones in the past. But those are merely nice additions which serve nothing but to hype the event up. They have 0 impact on the quality of what you experience in the park itself. Case in point, 2008 had one of the best websites of all time...yet it doesn't change the fact that Bloody Mary's own house was one of the -worst- of all time.

Yes, I would love to see another elaborate website one day, but ultimately that's not as important as the actual event itself.

It's a design thing, though. When A&D creates the icon (in the aughts), the event started with the character. In 2002, the Caretaker was projected at the front of the park, and had a zone/show hybrid in Port of Evil. The overall integration was a bit lost when it shifted from Cindy, but Albert omnipresent. The Director was actually evident everywhere. Every zone started with a "director's chair" and the sets had a "movie shoot" feel with lights on exposed rigging. Then you have Terra Cruentes which was that idea to a greater scale.

It's weird though. Media and marketing is far more engaged than it use to be, so any icon Universal develops *should* fit that sort of Instagram-able vibe. Jack and Chance fit that mold extremely well. None of the other old icons really do. Social media/selfies would serve as annoyances to them. They worked best in passive, "if you dare" sort of world.

I think that's why NOT having an icon is for the best. It needs to fit the current zeitgeist, and that is HARD to develop now.

 

[Kichkinet85]

@Legacy I think I found the source of confusion regarding Creative vs. A&D.:grin:

 

[AlexanderMBush]

I was never associating that tweet to what I said. I was merely referring to the post above (although, I should've clarified a bit further and I understand that being..a mistake).

 

[Legacy]

View attachment 9057
@Legacy I think I found the source of confusion regarding Creative vs. A&D.:grin:

“A&D” is a subsection of Entertainment. It also includes Costuming, Tech, Rigging, Performers, etc. Mike is the Creative Director for Entertainment. He oversees all the sections in the Entertainment department.

“Art and Design,” as a subsection in the Entertainment department, comes up with all of the conceptual components of HHN.

Creative is a separate department. That department ALSO has a Design section, along with Engineering, Art, etc.

Mike knows his job. Don’t mistake the fans’ lack of knowledge for him causing confusion.

 

[johnathanm]

Mike knows his job. Don’t mistake the fans’ lack of knowledge for him causing confusion.

I don’t think @Kinchkinet85 was insinuating that Mike was causing the confusion, just that it’s understandable how fans might mistake Creative as the department responsible for HHN considering that Aiello is discussing HHN in his tweet and also mentions his involvement with Creative.

 

[Kichkinet85]

I don’t think @Kinchkinet85 was insinuating that Mike was causing the confusion, just that it’s understandable how fans might mistake Creative as the department responsible for HHN considering that Aiello is discussing HHN in his tweet and also mentions his involvement with Creative.

Exactly what I meant.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

Whenever that’s time of year where people ask about theme and icons, I feel like what they really want is the old style of website to come back. Like getting to dig into the backstories of each house, behind-the-scenes stuff, etc. I mean, look at how many people last year kept asking when the VHS tapes would be updated on the splash page even though it had like no impact on anything?

Even if marketing/A&D had a change of heart and had an icon and strong theme for the year, the way we use the Internet has changed to the point we’d never get the old type of site again. I guess that’s why not having an icon never bothered me, I’ve kinda already made peace with the fact we’ll never get the part I actually would want back.

Scarecrow and DE2 had backstories. The individual announcements last year were a step in the right direction, I suppose.

Oh and thinking about how only Jack and Chance fit selfie culture makes me truly hate selfie culture. Sorry I really just can't stand (a) Chance LOL.

 

[Legacy]

I don’t think @Kinchkinet85 was insinuating that Mike was causing the confusion, just that it’s understandable how fans might mistake Creative as the department responsible for HHN considering that Aiello is discussing HHN in his tweet and also mentions his involvement with Creative.

Exactly what I meant.

Gotcha. Sorry for my tone on that.

My point still stands though. There’s a lot of confusion (for some reason) that HHN is an Entertainment offering (like Mardi Gras).

Do people think Creative designs the parades?

 

[kingmantis]

Scarecrow and DE2 had backstories. The individual announcements last year were a step in the right direction, I suppose.

Oh and thinking about how only Jack and Chance fit selfie culture makes me truly hate selfie culture. Sorry I really just can't stand (a) Chance LOL.

Carnival Graveyard apparently has a backstory for every single character as well, but without a website, we’ll never hear what they are (exceptions being one-offs like the DE2 postcards, whatever comes out of the behind-the-scenes tour). There’s no doubt A&D is still putting tons of effort and detail into every house, we just lost the best showcase we traditionally had for it.

Also side note: if you know, what was the backstory for Scarecrows? I never heard and would love to know, it was my favorite house that year.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

Carnival Graveyard apparently has a backstory for every single character as well, but without a website, we’ll never hear what they are (exceptions being one-offs like the DE2 postcards, whatever comes out of the behind-the-scenes tour). There’s no doubt A&D is still putting tons of effort and detail into every house, we just lost the best showcase we traditionally had for it.

Also side note: if you know, what was the backstory for Scarecrows? I never heard and would love to know, it was my favorite house that year.

"At a long-abandoned Depression-era farm, vengeance takes root. The Land mourned as its bountiful grasslands were laid waste by farmers' plows. Now sorrow has turned to anger and Land and Wind have united to seek revenge. A malevolent dust cloud descends, as vindictive scarecrow guardians rise up from the crust of the earth. The only harvest that will be reaped is you."

Pretty simple, but I do feel that counts as a backstory. There was a specific reason why the scarecrows were doing what they were doing--much more substantive than say, Tomb of the Ancients. IDK, I just remember feeling giddy when I read that description when it was announced--it felt like they had a speck of "old" HHN storytelling back in them. (Reminded me of Living With the Land, my favorite ride at Epcot.)

As for the CGY character descriptions, I guess it was between those and the DE2 postcards.

 

[horrornights789]

@HHNManics brought up a good speculative point in the Hollywood thread about how Silence of the Lambs could be a potential property.

Additionally Suspiria is being speculated for HW but not sure about Orlando

 

[HHNManics]

@HHNManics brought up a good speculative point in the Hollywood thread about how Silence of the Lambs could be a potential property.

Additionally Suspiria is being speculated for HW but not sure about Orlando

I just brought it up as a Possibility. I'm very mixed on what's happening and what isn't. A lot of Murdy's tweets are very open to interpretation.

Just brought it up as a possibility. Not even really sure if I really believe it would come.

 

[horrornights789]

I just brought it up as a Possibility. I'm very mixed on what's happening and what isn't. A lot of Murdy's tweets are very open to interpretation.

Just brought it up as a possibility. Not even really sure if I really believe it would come.

It goes along with Legacy’s hint about a TV show property that has a corresponding movie and a property that hasn’t been speculated in years.

 

[Legacy]

It goes along with Legacy’s hint about a TV show property that has a corresponding movie and a property that hasn’t been speculated in years.

TV show?