HHN 2024: News & Info

[Sydney]

Yea. Again. Hi.. worked as USH staff. Fully aware of how it's done, but again.. if you have good communication with the ops staff there is no issue.

A good ops person will hold guests in place to allow a scareactor to pass rather than "keep moving".

My point in sharing that info is that it was rarely ever that way in the years I worked it, which were fairly recent. Not sure how things were pre-pandemic, but I’m providing a more updated perspective from a scareactor POV. I don’t blame anyone either since there was no attempt at communication from either side as far as I could tell.

 

[Spookies n' Stuff]

My point in sharing that info is that it was rarely ever that way in the years I worked it, which were fairly recent. Not sure how things were pre-pandemic, but I’m providing a more updated perspective from a scareactor POV. I don’t blame anyone either since there was no attempt at communication from either side as far as I could tell.

I can't speak for HHN, but Knotts functions pretty much the same way as you described previously, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's kinda been this way industry-wide for a pretty long time now.
Really seems like it's left up to the supervisors to figure out how to best corral everyone in and out when they need to be, which feels like a big oversight since its unreasonable to expect them to not already be occupied every 30 minutes to an hour when every supervisor I've ever had has been scrambling place to place 24/7. I imagine there probably is a reason why it is the way it is and has never been addressed, but from my limited perspective it seems odd.

 

[DTH]

The Chucky TV show getting canceled kinda makes me question a few aspects of it being at HHN. Obviously we're in the middle of a season with Late Nite w/Chucky, but makes me wonder if we'll get some good jokes regarding that (highly unlikely, but one could hope). Next, doesn't look like a direct sequel to Ultimate Kill Count will happen. While Chucky will always be apart of HHN and may even have mazes, Terror Tram, I can't recall HHN using a canceled property so I'm not sure we'll see TV show stuff in the future.

 

[Michael S]

I can't recall HHN using a canceled property so I'm not sure we'll see TV show stuff in the future.

To be fair (I know it technically wasn’t canceled) but Chucky was around the event from 2008-2010, in a big—albeit different—way each year. That was 4 years after Seed of Chucky, when they started to consider him a staple.

 

[Jerroddragon]

The Chucky TV show getting canceled kinda makes me question a few aspects of it being at HHN. Obviously we're in the middle of a season with Late Nite w/Chucky, but makes me wonder if we'll get some good jokes regarding that (highly unlikely, but one could hope). Next, doesn't look like a direct sequel to Ultimate Kill Count will happen. While Chucky will always be apart of HHN and may even have mazes, Terror Tram, I can't recall HHN using a canceled property so I'm not sure we'll see TV show stuff in the future.

It’s kinda insane to bring the man kid from the TV shoe opening night and talk about his plot not being finished just to cancel it a few weeks later

I’m going to see it this weekend and see if Chucky will address it

 

[Wesker69]

In regards to Chucky... Don Mancini, the creator, already said "Chucky will be back" & it's been known for a while they planned on doing another movie or two, even IF the series was canceled.

We haven't seen the last of the killer doll on screen or HHN..

 

[KlownzNskullZ]

It's a double-edged sword. Use IPs to bring people in. But if IPs run out, how do you get people back? Guess they should've spent that time innovating with their originals instead of revisiting the same (albeit, highly effective) well.

This is an incredible take.


and talking about the conga line, I think it’s also the guests fault…. Idk if I’m the problem but I always slow down and separate from people. I feel like people rush forward and end up conga lining.

Also everyone who complains about operations, unfortunately if they haven’t gotten it down by now looks like we will keep having problems lol.

 

[Wesker69]

Idk if I’m the problem but I always slow down and separate from people.

If I know it's a guest's first time at the event/that house, I'll purposely pause for a second resulting in them getting the scare when possible.

"Omg. That was scary!" "You're welcome"

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Abel and his posse were at HHN last night.

 

[themeparkhaunter]

Halloween Horror Nights Facade in Weeknd and Playboi Carti's New Timeless Music Video.


As a huge Carti fan I was so shocked to see this in the video. Shown around 2:05 and at the end of the video. Super sick to see that not only the Weeknd, but Carti also was there at the maze to shoot the music video. Presumably the rest of the video was also filmed in a Universal soundstage by the looks of it?

 

[Wesker69]

Nothing like waiting until Weeknd 4 for Universal to post an article about the SZs


Get to Know the Scare Zones at Halloween Horror Nights 2024 at Universal Studios Hollywood

 

[Jerroddragon]

Love Creature (from the Black Lagoon) finally has a character in park…kinda

 

[AlexanderMBush]

I don’t know where exactly to put this, but figured worth bringing up: Murdy has seeming acknowledged that down the road they will eventually have to hit tram again—even with keeping the TT.

 

[Wesker69]

We don't need 10 houses. 8 is more than enough & they don't even get a big enough budget to even do the 8 we currently get. Let alone a proper SZ/park decor budget.

Also this year's Tram has raised the bar with execution & flow.

 

[Jake S]

We don't need 10 houses. 8 is more than enough & they don't even get a big enough budget to even do the 8 we currently get. Let alone a proper SZ/park decor budget.

Also this year's Tram has raised the bar with execution & flow.

Agreed, I'd much rather see them improve the budget for existing houses (and casting!) rather than spread themselves even thinner. Plus, the Tram is a great people eater when, as you said, the flow is good.

 

[Clive]

My (uninformed) guess is Murdy probably agrees with this position and thinks eight + tram is more than enough... but the park probably wants to sell more tickets down the road (infinite growth!), and to do that, you have to up capacity, even if it means the quality of each individual experience takes a hit. Knott's went down this path and paid for it with a major quality dive that gave Horror Nights its chance to establish a foothold in SoCal, so I hope they tread carefully. They might need to do a repeat maze or two if they get the count that high.

 

[Wesker69]

Well if we hadn't lost TWO show venues for that fancy new coaster, that could've easily sold more tickets by adding additional shows (even though the need for a bigger budget would still be required)

I'm insulted by Chucky's current Emporium in DreamWorks

 

[KlownzNskullZ]

My (uninformed) guess is Murdy probably agrees with this position and thinks eight + tram is more than enough... but the park probably wants to sell more tickets down the road (infinite growth!), and to do that, you have to up capacity, even if it means the quality of each individual experience takes a hit. Knott's went down this path and paid for it with a major quality dive that gave Horror Nights its chance to establish a foothold in SoCal, so I hope they tread carefully. They might need to do a repeat maze or two if they get the count that high.

plus, the tram team look forward to those HHN hours! (Provides work to drivers, tour guides and the STAs)

 

[DTH]

I think the next two years they need to stabilize operations and house placements. I'm sure we won't get to keep SS12, and we may possibly lose Mummy in the near future if expansions on the lower lot continue. Simpsons going away may be another factor, but it's oddly out of the way (at least the ride is), but the town getting a makeover can hopefully be done throughout the year it happens not effect HHN too much. Terror Tram is working great as it is right now, it can stay that way for the time being.

Just in general, they need to reclaim that SoCal throne. I feel like the verdict is out everywhere I read that Knotts is the place to be again and while FF & Dark Harbor are around, quality aside, it's giving people simply more options. The excitement for HHN is over. Find their groove again, ride that wave for another 2 years, then think of expanding (Metro lot would be great). I think that's 2028 at the earliest, 2030 more realistically.

 

[Freak]

Yeah I don’t think we will have to worry about “having” to up the house count for the time being. At least I don’t see that being the case for next year. They really need to maintain the quality of the eight we have as is.

I do think the best option for future growth will be to expand to the Metro sets. Have two upstairs (Parisian and Hudson), two downstairs (Sound stages), and then two in Metro. Have a food court in metro and possibly have a small show venue.

I’ve always been a harsh critic against the Tram, but my word, they really made it work this year! I noticed the Terror Tram has consistently gotten better and I think they really nailed the flow and layout this year. Hope they keep up the same dynamic for next year.