Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines (HHN 2024)

[saint.piss]

 

[DTH]

It’s been mentioned in the spec thread, but I really don’t find the Slash compositions all that memorable either. I really wish they emphasized the dread some actual classic 30’s esque scores or compositions could bring to a house of this caliber.

This house should at least be interesting.

Honestly, my biggest gripe with these mazes. It was an interesting take and experiment the first 2 times, but now I'm sick of it, and I don't think it ever really conjured fear in me while going through. We need to let it go. It's one of the few things making these mazes feel too same-y. Locationally, we can't help that a lot of the gothic imagery is in crypts, tombs, dungeons, labs, etc -- but we can at least change the freakin' music.

Don't get me wrong, I think the compositions are good on their own. Love listening to them as I drive. But they're simply just not scary sounding.

 

[Lc.]

Don't get me wrong, I think the compositions are good on their own. Love listening to them as I drive. But they're simply just not scary sounding.

Yea they aint scary, they're EPIC DAWG, if we are getting another score similar to Live Again (Brides Main Theme) Count Me In!!!

 

[deadbydawn]

This is almost exactly what I was hoping for! Cannot wait!

 

[Michael S]

I know some people were wondering about queue space for this house, over in the spec thread. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of the queue is in the stage itself, to be honest. It’s a huge stage and I really doubt the house will be built from fire lane to fire lane. Similar to how the ST house had a decent bit of queue inside of the stage, I imagine there would be room for at least twice that, inside the walls.

 

[Freak]

I know some people were wondering about queue space for this house, over in the spec thread. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of the queue is in the stage itself, to be honest. It’s a huge stage and I really doubt the house will be built from fire lane to fire lane. Similar to how the ST house had a decent bit of queue inside of the stage, I imagine there would be room for at least twice that, inside the walls.

I do think the queue is going to be structured very similar to how the JP queue was back then. We'll most-likely enter at JW, the queue will take up the JW overflow (Where the houses used to be built on), go down to the stage, and that will be that. Maaaaaybe there will be some overflow in the stage.

 

[viking_wizard_eyes]

There will have to be some queue in the stage because you can't have people lined up across Kirk Douglas drive like that. I think they'll have a pulse point set up as you leave the JW area that controls the flow across the street, and then a few more switchbacks inside the stage.

 

[Michael S]

I do think the queue is going to be structured very similar to how the JP queue was back then. We'll most-likely enter at JW, the queue will take up the JW overflow (Where the houses used to be built on), go down to the stage, and that will be that. Maaaaaybe there will be some overflow in the stage.

It probably won’t be the same as it used to be since the pop up bar takes up the space where a lot of the queue used to go thru, above Jurassic Cafe.

The queue in the stage is just an educated guess, but it’s definitely a guarantee that some will be in there— the question is: how much? Cuz, look, Stage 15, for ST, had a good amount of switchbacks inside the stage walls, and that stage is around 13,500 square feet. Stage 12 is almost 30,000. It just makes sense for them to have a lot of the queue in the stage itself. Which I honestly would love if we get a good facade, some good lighting and music to soak in, while we wait in front of the facade.

 

[ghostsarejerks]

It probably won’t be the same as it used to be since the pop up bar takes up the space where a lot of the queue used to go thru, above Jurassic Cafe.

The queue in the stage is just an educated guess, but it’s definitely a guarantee that some will be in there— the question is: how much? Cuz, look, Stage 15, for ST, had a good amount of switchbacks inside the stage walls, and that stage is around 13,500 square feet. Stage 12 is almost 30,000. It just makes sense for them to have a lot of the queue in the stage itself. Which I honestly would love if we get a good facade, some good lighting and music to soak in, while we wait in front of the facade.

The Jurassic World overflow is also where the ADA transport picks up and drops off guests, they might move that but I also think the majority of the queue will be in/around the soundstage.

 

[Clive]

The Jurassic World overflow is also where the ADA transport picks up and drops off guests, they might move that but I also think the majority of the queue will be in/around the soundstage.

They also use the area for VIP tour pickups and drop-offs.

 

[saint.piss]

 

[Jerroddragon]

So are the story's the same for both coasts....because they said this is for Orlando

 

[saint.piss]

 

[DTH]

Random but why have it covered? All the other mazes are exposed to the elements

 

[Wesker69]

Random but why have it covered? All the other mazes are exposed to the elements

Jurassic overflow queue is always covered with a temporary tent due to the extreme heat. It's their makeshift solution for day-ops. Nothing to do with HHN

 

[Wesker69]

UPDATE:
Was told by a lead I went through the house with, it still isn't fully staffed. The house itself is still receiving finishing touches as of last night.

 

[Wesker69]

We were robbed of a proper house breakdown by Murdy at Midsummer Scream, (THANKS TCM), although I'd be interested in knowing what had been cut due to budget or other reasons. Universal Monsters is always taking a hit, even as far back as 2018 when this saga began.

Anyway... I was bored, so here's a breakdown of each scene... for science.. highlighting minor updates or rare/missing scares after the 4-day opening weekend. Spoiler tagged for those that haven't gone yet. Reader Beware, you're in for a...

Scene 1 - Van Helsing Mausoleum exterior
(Saskia introduction)

Black hallway of doom (with strings)

Scene 2 - Coffin Room
vampire attack scare
(Missing scare - above in the wall)

Scene 3 - Weapons room/Dracula's coffin
Bride protects Saskia
(Not always present vampire attack)

Black hallway of doom


Scene 4 - She-wolf woods/Blood moon
Saskia shoots She-wolf... (Saskia is now present) + Blood moon screen of terrible imagery

Black hallway of doom


Scene 5 - Dracula's Daughter coffin room
Dracula's daughter coffin scare + Saskia stakes vampire

Scene 6 - Corridor of Bats
Dracula's Daughter screen + scare + ceiling bats

Scene 7 - Castle Dungeon
Mummy scare + Bride burning heart + (rare She-wolf scare)

Scene 8 - Castle Interior/Throne Room
Dracula's daughter & Bride "...and Saskia"

Black hallway of doom


Scene 9 - Van Helsing Mausoleum
Bride + Dracula's Daughter attack

Scene 10 (Finale) - Mausoleum Crypt Tunnels
She-wolf, Frankenstein stilt, Mummy scare


Despite all the crap this house gets for the black walls of doom, there are actually ONLY 4 black wall hallways! Each with a "chapter" graphic to go with the audio narrative. So the hate is definitely exaggerated.

If the layout was reconfigured to adjust their length it might help though. Alternative idea: add extra graphic panels like a "graphic novel hallway" to help the story.

***Personal Thoughts/nitpicks:
- Scene 2 feels like it's missing something other than the one "above" scare
- Scene 4, while I understand that Dracula's Daughter is controlling She-wolf with the Blood moon, it's a poorly executed narrative (stupid screen)
- Scene 5, it could've used a vampire scare in the first area. Also the railing is so awkward & ruins the visual setup (yea I know, safety reasons).
- Scene 6, needs more ceiling bats
- Scene 7, the Mummy inclusion seems very random, unless she's classified as a prisoner of Dracula's Daughter. As for She-wolf, guess Saskia missed.
- Scene 8, needs more scenic especially a throne & chandelier. Bride's rescue attempt placement feels awkward & could've been an unintentional scare like her first appearance in Scene 3 if executed differently
- Scene 9, Dracula's Daughter should attack Bride on our right side so it doubles as a proper scare. Poorly executed room design.
- Scene 10, the final scares are random, especially the Mummy. Also, why no Dracula's Daughter final scare? Yay for Frankie cameo
- could've used a few male vampires for variety
(besides dead Dracula)


Okay this was longer than expected, but after analyzing the house a bit, it's not that bad. If all scareactor locations are filled, it'll improve the experience. A few minor changes would've helped.

BONUS: Abigail reference in Dracula's Daughter's coffin room

 

[DTH]

Good breakdown. Funny enough, we had reverse reactions to seeing it broken down like this — you think it’s not that bad and I think it’s worse lmao I feel like it even looks bad on the page and I feel like everything missing is also painfully obvious when you’re in certain rooms. Like missing someone shooting/shot at, the entire thing hinges on those actions for it to make sense. To be fair, same thing happened in Last of Us last year but even without those elements, that maze was still pretty solid.

 

[Wesker69]

I randomly thought about it a little more (unintentionally)

- Blood moon hanging above the facade with narration about it being important (occasional glow effect or regular full moon that turns red)

- Narration/mention of Bride leaving her Monster Mate to guard the Mausoleum (making the cameo less random)

- Needed taller sets for Dracula's Daughter's Castle (although it's probably actually Dracula's Castle)

- Mummy serves no purpose to the story, unlike "Legends Collide" where their amulet was key to the plot.

 

[Wesker69]

So I was able to hit this house during the last 5min of the event being open & WOW! Best run-through so far.

Firstly, the best part was I got to have a solo trip through with no other guests ahead or behind me. Also EVERY SCENE was staffed!!! (minus the wall scare in Scene 2). While scareactor placement is still an issue for some of these scenes, it was refreshing seeing it staffed.

Scene 1: Saskia Van Helsing
Scene 2: Bride & Vampire
Scene 3: Bride, Van Helsing, & vampire (FINALLY)
Scene 4: Van Helsing & She-wolf
Scene 5: Dracula's Daughter & Van Helsing
Scene 6: Dracula's Daughter + bats
Scene 7: Bride, She-wolf, Mummy
Scene 8: Dracula's Daughter (+ Saskia Van Helsing) (Bride didn't appear)
Scene 9: Bride & Dracula's Daughter (+ Saskia Van Helsing)
Scene 10: She-wolf, stilt-Frankie, Mummy

After a few run-throughs, this house isn't as bad as people make it out to be.

BONUS CONTENT:

The tombstone on the left of the facade is actually the "Norma Bates" tombstone from the former Special Effects show