HOUSE COUNT, HOUSE LOCATIONS, AND RIDES
In terms of Ops, it seems like casting issues and lack of performers makes an 11th house unlikely. We likely stay at 10 houses, with the new MinionBlast flex space being used as a "new" house location. It is rumored to be just a slight bit smaller than the Shrek plot was, and will have a different entrance and exit than the Shrek houses in that same SS did in previous years.
The Kidzone replacement throws some wrenches into the queues for the Parade Building houses, one of which (B79/Old Parade Building) already has permits listed for house construction. The Kidzone makeover doesn't threaten B79 like Nintendo did back in 2017, but it might make those already long queues an even longer walk.
No word on if the Fast and Furious house location returns, given that it was mostly used out of necessity due to 2 locations (MIB Tent and Shrek) being unusable due to construction. However, Shrek has been redone as the MinionBlast flex space which will be usable by the Summer, and the MIB Tent will be able to return this year since the Fear Factor Demolition got canned by City of Orlando. The split nature of F&F was something they had to work around for Horrors of Blumhouse 3, and it also required shutting down the ride for daytime ops for a sizable chunk of the year. While some here may find that last part preferable in the end, ops and design wise it might be wisest to avoid that location for this year if you only have the ability to run 10 houses effectively.
There are no rumors here, but there has also been speculation on other rides being added to help with increased congestion and crowds like E.T. or extra shows.
SHOWS
- Fear Factor stage is still up, close to a year after it was meant to be demo'd. Again, no rumors either way, but it's not unlikely that we see a similar show layout to the past 3 years. Minishows in zones, watershow at Central Park, and a larger stadium show at Fear Factor.
- The vacated BMG Theatre is used as Grinchmas, which is built and rehearses before/during the HHN event run, so likely no show there.
- Bourne is a possible show option, but would likely require downing the show for daytime ops which might count it out.
- Animal Actors has been used before, but is also located in a very tight bottleneck area near Central Park, the Lagoon Show entrance, 2 house entrances, and commonly many Food Carts. All of that would likely count that out.
- The Music Plaza simply isn't built for that kind of show and has been used as queue space for many years.
TRIBUTE STORE
The Mummy is reclaiming the existing space in New York that has been used for a very long while as the Tribute Store. The HHN32 Tribute Store will most likely be in Hollywood this year, replacing the current Studios AP Lounge, Dark Room, and Williams of Hollywood shops. Should still be of a similar size to the previous Tribute Stores, if just lacking a room and some hallways. That new Tribute Store location may affect the design and theming of the Hollywood scarezone.
No info at all on zones, merch, dining, simply too early for that info.