HHN Hollywood Speculation/News - 2013 | Page 27 | Inside Universal Forums
Inside Universal Forums
Inside Universal Forums
  • Home
  • Forums
    New posts Search forums Account Upgrades
  • News
    Universal Studios Hollywood Universal Orlando Universal Studios Japan Universal Studios Singapore Universal Studios Beijing
  • Merchandise
Log in Register
What's new Search

Search

By:
  • New posts
  • Search forums
  • Account Upgrades
Menu
Log in

Register

Install the app
  • Signing up for a Premium Membership is a donation to help Inside Universal maintain costs and offers an ad-free experience on the forum. Learn more about it here.
  • Forums
  • Universal Parks & Resorts
  • Universal Studios Hollywood
  • Halloween Horror Nights - Hollywood
  • Halloween Horror Nights 2015 & Earlier
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.

HHN Hollywood Speculation/News - 2013

  • Thread starter Thread starter UniversalFan
  • Start date Start date Jan 18, 2013
Prev
  • 1
  • …

    Go to page

  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • …

    Go to page

  • 34
Next
First Prev 27 of 34

Go to page

Next Last
Ryan

Ryan

Webslinger
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
4,458
Location
Las Vegas, NV
  • Sep 19, 2013
  • #521
Alrighty!

I'm going to do quick, non-spoiler reviews than a spoilery one. The only maze I didn't do was Universal Monsters Remix Resurrection... which I heard was basically the same one from last year only with different music and altered lighting. Let's go down the line...

Walking Dead (No Safe Haven): Fun, great maze, a definite improvement on the Walking Dead maze from last year.

Black Sabbath 3D: It's really hard to talk about this one without going into detail, but I'll just put it out there: overall it was a letdown. (not without some positives though) Go to the spoilers if you really want to hear why.

Backlot Experience: This includes the WD scarezone and the queues/area for the two mazes. Very cool, and it was the life of the party this evening.

Terror Tram: It's terror tram! It's pretty much just like last year's terror tram! Seriously, that's it. Same old, same old.

El Cucuy: The best maze this year (unless Remix surprises the crap out of me)... it was a walk-on so that might have made it extra creepy but the atmosphere and effects of this one was perfect. Not to be missed.

Bill & Ted: Go to the spoilers if you really want to hear the skinny on this one. Last year's will, in the end, probably be better... but that's not a surprise. That show was hard to beat.

Insidious: A huge surprise of a maze, especially that it was really long! Another one filled with fantastic effects and it was just an overall good time.

Evil Dead: An improvement over the Silent Hill maze last year, it was pretty decent. There were some annoying water effects, so be wary.

I'm not going to talk much about scarezones, because they were pretty weak just like they were at last year's preview night. They will always, always improve with time. However, I will mention the Purge one was pretty great, if only for the wickedly cool Universal Plaza tower lighting effects that came with it.

Ok, and now let's do some spoilers, which will pretty much be a longform write up of the event.

So the night started out odd. The entrance wasn't dressed up yet and overall there was a feeling of unpolished. Like, "oh crap preview night already?! Okay come on in!" We were all told to be understanding, more than usual, that this was a groundbreaking and different year for HHN and a lot of the kinks need to be fixed. 

With that in mind, I was pleasantly surprised by a lot of it. The entire presentation felt familiar, but also slightly different. Sure enough, around 7:05 the announcement for Purge was announced as the scareactors took their place... and we were OFF.

Immediately I headed down to the lower lot, and zoomed to make that sharp right at Transformers for the Backlot Express. During the busier nights this corner here will be bottleneck central: it's smack dab next to both the exits for Transformers and Evil Dead. Be warned. However, the studio tour staff they hired especially for the event have things down to a T. You'll descend downwards and walk straight down the Universal front lot, peaking into some soundstages. Climbing a staircase, you'll immediately hit the tram loading area... and things are FAST. 

The tram experience is very redundant to Terror Tram (even the tour guides repeat a lot of the same lines/jokes), and is only a few minutes in length. Sure enough, JUST like Terror Tram, you stop just in time to watch the walkers get into place. There, the backlot experience starts. Unfortunately you aren't dispatched onto New York Street, but the adjacent metro set. Most of it is set behind it, in an area full of crates, but you reach a city square and it's pretty cool/spectacular. Almost it's own maze since it's not exactly free range. After that, you reach another part of the backlot where the buildings eerily glow light in the windows... it's pretty awesome. There you can either turn left for Black Sabbath, or keep going for Walking Dead. We'll talk about the latter first.

Walking Dead: No Safe Haven is pretty identical to the one in Florida. The forced perspective of the prison and its tower are slightly ruined by the backlot sets around it, but it's no matter. You walk inside the prison and the themeing is top-notch. It certainly felt more focused than the maze from last year, that's for damn sure. Some great walker effects, but the common theme tonight is: Murdy just doesn't know how to end a maze, and it ends rather anti-climatically with a pointless outdoor scene.

Now time for Black Sabbath! I walked straight onto Walking Dead... but Black Sabbath... woof. This maze was its own worst enemy. The heavy metal band and 3D combined to hype it up immensely, and attracted the crowds. This was on everybody's minds as "must-do". Unfortunately, the 3D limits the capacity. It's very disorienting and handing out the cardboard frames delays things, so crowds were gigantic... they swelled up to 80 minutes while everything else hovered around 20. Luckily I hit it and only waited about 15 minutes. (longest wait of the night for me!) 

Naturally, it was similar to Alice Cooper Goes to Hell from last year and all the other 3D mazes from Horror Nights past. Except this one is in a soundstage! So it's going to be AWESOME! Right? Think again.

It's pretty much as if they went inside 747, and erected the usual black tent in it. The fact that it's a soundstage is barely glimpsed upon outside of well, waiting outside of it. They do some really cool 3D effects on the scareactors and there's some fantastic visuals that compliment the dizzying nature of it all. And of course, the music... but nothing truly gels. There's a theme in there somewhere... but you can't find it. That and: it's super short. It ends when you think it's just taking a break, and the ending is literally exiting the maze tent in the middle of the brightly lit soundstage and walking alongside the tent while some scareactors take advantage of the fact that you're disoriented by your 3D glasses. It was a massive embarrassing letdown, especially since Alice Cooper was my favorite from last year. Hopefully they fix the ending problems and the line length problems after the first week, because yeesh.

After Black Sabbath, there's a straight line leading to a dead end. Nearby are portable restrooms (the nice kind studios provide, not port-a-potties), and starting Friday I believe there will be a food truck just across from Walking Dead. I have no idea what they'll be selling, I guess they'll find out Friday night. On your left there's a junction point with the London facades that is the tram pick up. It quickly dispatches you right onto the lower lot.

I ran upstairs, grabbed some comp food (gotta love preview night's free food!) and dashed over to El Cucuy. The entrance is the arch next to the UP tower, and the queue is over the fountain, but it was a walk-on. And I don't mean "conga line walk on", I mean, "me and three other people" walk on. It was literally an empty maze. And that bites, because it was the best, most creative one at the event. You enter a faux theater with people literally dying in their seats... a fake, crappy film is playing and it's a shame you can't stick around. From there you "enter" the movie of sorts and live the story of the Boogeyman and follow him back to his creepy lair. Some of the effects are simply incredible, the ideas are actually pretty terrifying, the creature himself is scary as hell and still there's a great sense of humor to it all. And, on top of it all, it was a nice, long maze which is shocking considering what little area it takes up. The only negative is that the narration doesn't really sync up well, but it's a misnomer. This one is a don't miss, and I hope it grows to have an amazing following this year. 

Next was Terror Tram. Oh, Terror Tram. There's not much I can say about this one. You get out, and there's guys with chainsaws. Then a virtual repeat of the prison stuff from the No Safe Haven maze for a brief minute. Then you walk and there's some distinct references to the show... you walk up the hill and there's some fun noise scares. An opportunity for a photo op at the Psycho house off to the side... and then the War of the Worlds set walkthrough. A couple more references to Walking Dead... more chainsaws and it's over. What can you say? That's Terror Tram. The most interesting part, easily, was getting off and seeing the entire side of the Gibson gone and the interior just waiting to be demolished.

So then it was time for Bill & Ted. Already things were off to an odd start, the monitors in the queue were glowing as if a preshow was soon to take place... but nothing did. Soon we got our answer as before the performance started, the VP of entertainment greeted us and let us all know that the show just wasn't as ready as it usually is by now this year. (explaining the lack of a pre-show) Apparently the version was still very rough, and he kindly asked us to dissuade from saying anything specific on twitter/facebook/whatever. So I'll be vague: yeah, it was in semi-rough shape. But a lot of it was surprisingly very much intact. It's the usual: some jokes hit, some jokes miss. (the beginning had some spot-on, hilarious meta jokes that I really hope stay in) We were laughing and we were baffled, but it was overall a decently good time. What I do hope is that there are some plot rewrites, as that seemed to be really weak... but maybe that's just compared to last year, which was fantastic, even on preview night! And I don't think it will ever beat that one. That said, I'm going to be sure to check out the show later on this or next month to see what changes have taken place.

Rushed down to the lower lot to do the last two mazes. Insidious gets an A-plus for presentation. As soon as you reach the house, there are actors presented as paranormal investigators outside just murmuring to themselves. They don't scare, and I'm not sure if you could talk to them, but I was astounded at that awesome detail. Soon you enter inside and the attention to detail keeps on giving. You really feel like you're in this haunted, suburban home and it's just awesomely done. The effects are freaking cool, and there's some great humor to be had as well. I've never seen the movies, but this is the first Horror Nights maze which made me WANT to see the movie. Also: it's really, really long. The longest maze in the event for sure. Number two behind El Cucuy.

Evil Dead was presented well, and had the tone down. There was a supremely annoying water-based scare that annoyed me more than anything else. The scares are well positioned and it had some very cool sets. I really have not much else to say about this maze, other than again: the ending was anti-climatic yet again.
And that's it! HHN 2013 looks like it'll be a very unique event this year... I think I enjoyed 2012's event overall a little more but where there are weaknesses this year there are also massive improvements.
 
  • Like
Reactions: William, BernardMesa, BruceTheShark and 1 other person
Jon Fu

Jon Fu

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
Staff Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2010
Messages
2,840
Location
California
  • Sep 19, 2013
  • #522
Really nice review, Brover. Thanks for posting.

I'm really worried about the Lower Lot this year. Judging from preview night, it seems like everything went smoothly. I guess the real test will come this Friday. I'll have my Front of Line badge in hand, so hopefully I'll be able to jump around without too much trouble.

Also can't wait to see Bill and Ted. Always the highlight of Halloween Horror Nights for me. Too bad I already know the villain (thanks Twitter <_< ).
 
Last edited by a moderator: Sep 19, 2013
David

David

Rookie
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
85
Age
69
  • Sep 19, 2013
  • #523
Hmm interesting thoughts on Black Sabbath, ah well at least the maze I'm most excited for Insidious is getting good praise. My friend who went last night really enjoyed it :)  I look forward to going to HHN tomorrow to experience it myself.
 
Last edited by a moderator: Sep 19, 2013
BruceTheShark

BruceTheShark

Contributing Editor
Joined
Feb 12, 2013
Messages
352
Location
Los Angeles, California
  • Sep 19, 2013
  • #524
Insidious definitely has some good effects as well as scares! The Further rooms are truly creepy.
 
Bonkers

Bonkers

Shark Bait
Joined
Jul 16, 2013
Messages
316
Location
Death Star
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #525
Map

30xj32d.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator: Sep 20, 2013
  • Like
Reactions: William
William

William

Webslinger
Joined
Feb 14, 2013
Messages
3,316
Location
Huntington Beach, CA
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #526
One day left until I finally get to experience this!! I'd like to thank you all for the tips and reviews, I'd be so unprepared without them. I'll be going on the second day of the event, so hopefully I don't run into any of those "kinks" mentioned.
 
Jon Fu

Jon Fu

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
Staff Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2010
Messages
2,840
Location
California
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #527
Looks like today is the day. I'll be at the park taking photographs throughout the day.

Anyone have a game plan in store?
 
Last edited by a moderator: Sep 20, 2013
  • Like
Reactions: BruceTheShark and BernardMesa
Freak

Freak

Time Traveler
Joined
Jan 10, 2013
Messages
8,545
Location
No man's land: SoCal
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #528
Jon said:
Looks like today is the day. I'll be at the park taking photographs throughout the day.

Anyone have a game plan in store?
Click to expand...
I'm going to stick with my current game plan. My peepes who went to preview night seem to agree with mine:

-Lower lot first with Insidious, Evil Dead, then Transformers. After that, it's a trip to the backlot. That makes sense considering that the lower lot is the first thing everyone sees. If I did the backlot first, the whole area would be full and I wouldn't have as much time to enjoy Dead on Arrival.

-After I'm done with the two houses and with wondering the backlot, I'll take a spin on JP and take on the upper lot. I'll eat at CityWalk before the gates open, but I'll probably eat sometime during the event.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BernardMesa
BehindTheTheme

BehindTheTheme

Shark Bait
Joined
Feb 12, 2013
Messages
346
Age
38
Location
Hollywood
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #529
Quick note to all attending tonight. On preview night only 45 min after park opened Black Sabbath was already 50 min long and climbed to 80min(the longest line for HHN preview in the last 4 years.) line did not drop lower then 25 min.

My advice and i was able to do all 6 mazes and bill and ted in 4 hours(note this was during preview so time will be way different for you)

Hit Evil Dead and Insidious first event though u may have a lilttle bit of a longer wait at Sabbath, then WD and Sabbath followed by tram and cucuy and remixed.  I guess u can fit bill and ted in their if youd like.
 
Ryan

Ryan

Webslinger
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
4,458
Location
Las Vegas, NV
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #530
BehindTheTheme said:
Quick note to all attending tonight. On preview night only 45 min after park opened Black Sabbath was already 50 min long and climbed to 80min(the longest line for HHN preview in the last 4 years.) line did not drop lower then 25 min.
Click to expand...
Well that was due to a few extenuating circumstances... I believe the problems should have been fixed already.

But I keep repeating: screw the upper lot, screw the lower lot, do metro FIRST. 
 
BehindTheTheme

BehindTheTheme

Shark Bait
Joined
Feb 12, 2013
Messages
346
Age
38
Location
Hollywood
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #531
Brover said:
Well that was due to a few extenuating circumstances... I believe the problems should have been fixed already.
Click to expand...
The reason I hear BS was packed with a 80 min line and WD had a 20 min line most of the night was due to confusion of lines and signs and lighting in this area. Either way dont get to the BLE till dusk has passed to get the best effect of lighting and scares.
 
Last edited by a moderator: Sep 20, 2013
Jon Fu

Jon Fu

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
Staff Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2010
Messages
2,840
Location
California
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #532
BehindTheTheme said:
The reason I hear BS was packed with a 80 min line and WD had a 20 min line most of the night was due to confusion of lines and signs and lighting in this area. Either way dont get to the BLE till dusk has passed to get the best effect of lighting and scares.
Click to expand...
Not really, or else Walking Dead would have backed up as well.

Suffice to say, the longer wait time was all self-inflicted on the part of Universal.
 
BehindTheTheme

BehindTheTheme

Shark Bait
Joined
Feb 12, 2013
Messages
346
Age
38
Location
Hollywood
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #533
Jon said:
Suffice to say, the longer wait time was all self-inflicted on the part of Universal.
Click to expand...
Self-inflicted?
 
Jon Fu

Jon Fu

Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
Staff Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2010
Messages
2,840
Location
California
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #534
BehindTheTheme said:
Self-inflicted?
Click to expand...
Murdy tweeted that Black Sabbath was delayed by a month and a half, so you can bet that they were still testing things out up until the final hour.
 
David

David

Rookie
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
85
Age
69
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #535
Jon said:
Looks like today is the day. I'll be at the park taking photographs throughout the day.

Anyone have a game plan in store?
Click to expand...
We're getting there around 4:30. Then we're going straight for lower lot then return terror tram, El Cucuy and monster remix then leisurely browse the mazes again. Hope to see you there Jon :)
 
A

Alexshow.

Jurassic Ranger
Joined
Feb 2, 2013
Messages
2,336
Age
26
Location
Arizona.
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #536
only one song gets me to a halloween mood... Sadly this is techno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks0REICkszk

Best of luck everyone tonight thats going to the event! :D
 
Last edited by a moderator: Sep 20, 2013
A

Alexshow.

Jurassic Ranger
Joined
Feb 2, 2013
Messages
2,336
Age
26
Location
Arizona.
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #537
Our favorite HHN Pasttime returns! The one doll to insult all!

 
BernardMesa

BernardMesa

Shark Bait
Platinum Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2013
Messages
322
Age
30
Location
California
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #538
Alexshow - Theme Parks. said:
Our favorite HHN Pasttime returns! The one doll to insult all!

Click to expand...
Is that from this year? He is really coming back? :D
 
A

Alexshow.

Jurassic Ranger
Joined
Feb 2, 2013
Messages
2,336
Age
26
Location
Arizona.
  • Sep 20, 2013
  • #539
Bernardmesa said:
Is that from this year? He is really coming back? :D
Click to expand...
Yep. Our favorite insulting manic is back! :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: BernardMesa
Ryan

Ryan

Webslinger
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
4,458
Location
Las Vegas, NV
  • Sep 21, 2013
  • #540
Yay! He wasn't present for preview night and people were hoping they'd get the puppet in somewhere. Fantastic!
 
Prev
  • 1
  • …

    Go to page

  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • …

    Go to page

  • 34
Next
First Prev 27 of 34

Go to page

Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.
Share:
Facebook X Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Tumblr WhatsApp Email Share Link

Book with our Travel Partners

MEI Travel

Latest posts

  • Viator
    Halloween Horror Nights 2025 (USH) - Speculation & Rumors
    • Latest: Viator
    • 16 minutes ago
    Halloween Horror Nights 2025
  • Viator
    Scarecrow: Music by Slash (HHN 2025)
    • Latest: Viator
    • 56 minutes ago
    Halloween Horror Nights 2025
  • cdogsumo
    Universal Horror Unleashed - Las Vegas, NV
    • Latest: cdogsumo
    • 57 minutes ago
    Other Universal Parks & Resorts
  • Jake S
    Magic Kingdom (General Discussion)
    • Latest: Jake S
    • Today at 1:39 AM
    Magic Kingdom
  • Brian G.
    Zax Bypass Construction Photo?
    • Latest: Brian G.
    • Yesterday at 11:30 PM
    Islands of Adventure

Share this page

Facebook X Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Tumblr WhatsApp Email Share Link
  • Forums
  • Universal Parks & Resorts
  • Universal Studios Hollywood
  • Halloween Horror Nights - Hollywood
  • Halloween Horror Nights 2015 & Earlier
  • Style variation
    System Light Dark
  • Contact us
  • Terms and rules
  • Privacy policy
  • Help
  • Home
  • RSS
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2025 XenForo Ltd.
  • This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn more…
Back
Top