Official 2022 HHN 31 - Horror is Universal

[schumigirl]

Yeah - exactly why I left the Disney side of the forums many years ago.


You can just watch "Expedition Theme park" and they have a bunch of videos on the History of HHN each covering several years - the difference is night and day.
The Rat Lady, Jack the Clown show, Bill and Ted - fire - motorcycles craziness .
The scare zone used to be actual scare zones where they scared people - not just a selfie zone.
I remember SAs trapping people in stores and they were really scared and the SAs would wait and watch for them and pounce- it was a lot of fun.

That said its still fun overall - and you always have Universal to do during the day.

This version of HHN is brining in the people so Universal is doing something right, but we will always talk about what was.

As for what I see on social media I take it with a grain of salt - the streamers really cant say a lot because they wanted to be invited to the events.
Most stuff on social media is hyped positively - it not about reality it about likes etc....

What I do listen to are the folks that have been here for years, or even a couple of years, that I know from here and what their opinion is.


One of the problems with HHN is that two people could go to HHN on the same night and do the exact same things in the exact same order by be 10 seconds apart - one has an amazing walkthrough and raves - they other misses just about everything and hates it.

I do all the houses on multiple nights and sometimes multiple times on the same night and the experience can be the luck of the draw.
Last year I did a private RIP tour and we did a walkthrough on one of the houses and it was terrible - we did it again later and it was great.

If you can afford it and have the time I highly recommend doing the behind the scenes tours during the day - I do the 6 house and 5 house every year and it adds a ton of context and really makes you appreciate the event even more.

If you can do a private RIP tour do it - it was the highlight of my many nights at HHN last year. A private RIP tour is often less than a regular RIP tour if you have an AP and the 10 people to do it.

If you can afford it get the Express Pass - sounds like this year more than ever it is needed - I don't think I could ever go without it again - but it hurts to pay for it.

I would not tell anyone not to go - especially since I have not gone this year myself - and wont be able to - although I am trying my best to even swing a weekend there.

I will say its not what it was - and we will talk about it here and its going to seam negative - but HHN is still worthwhile overall - and no matter what you are in Orlando and have lots to do and hopefully nice weather - and there is always StrongWater to visit.

Also if you can check out the Sea World event - yes its armature hour compared to HHN - but there was a time when Universal was armature hour compared to Disney and now its nipping on its heels.

You make so many good points Tony.

Yes, it seems most opinions now need to be shouted over to show how "wrong" you are, I think that`s why in the last year I have put 4 people on ignore.....never had to do that before despite being a member since 2007. I don`t miss the negativity.

But, your points are excellent. Yes, I don`t think anyone was saying not to go, I`d never tell anyone not to visit HHN. Go with lower expectations if you have gone before in the golden years, but yes, first timers and folks who haven`t seen it years ago will most certainly enjoy it.

I don`t read social media reports either, not interested, like you I go with opinions from folks I know and actually trust their opinion. That can be several folks on here or real life friends who work the event every year. There was a definite decline this year in money for the event, and it shows. Anyone can disagree of course, that`s too easy at times.

We always buy the Rush of Fear with EP.....this year the EP was not a perk in several houses over several nights. 45/50 minutes is not Express, so I couldn`t imagine not having it. I get some folks say they didn`t need it and I believe them of course, timing is everything and yes, two folks on the same night can have very different experiences.

If folks go, I do hope they love it.....there`s a lot to enjoy if you can. Fact is, they are letting too many people in most nights. When a SA tells me they can`t scare anyone because it`s too crowded, I believe them.

I also agree with Seaworld. They have a fabulous event that will grow in time, I have no doubt about it and one day I`ll be happy to say I saw it before it got too big too.

 

[shh]

Also if you can check out the Sea World event - yes its armature hour compared to HHN - but there was a time when Universal was armature hour compared to Disney and now its nipping on its heels.

haha....gotta say that the more "polished" events like these tend to get, the more watered down they become to appeal to a wider number of people. Execs start losing their nerve and pull back on the creative teams and actors. I went to HHN in the early years and remember the free-for-all attitude well - you literally didn't know what they would do next. It was like they had no boundaries. It was awesome.

Hey - does anyone have links or suggestions of where I can see TRs, pics or videos of those daytime behind the scenes tours - other than robo's review of the 6 she did? (Which I'm enjoying now.) I won't have a chance to do that tour this year and will only have 1 nite at the event, so would love to see some details from the comfort of my easy chair (and free wine refills lol)

 

[tony67]

Hey - does anyone have links or suggestions of where I can see TRs, pics or videos of those daytime behind the scenes tours - other than robo's review of the 6 she did? (Which I'm enjoying now.) I won't have a chance to do that tour this year and will only have 1 nite at the event, so would love to see some details from the comfort of my easy chair (and free wine refills lol)

You dont see much of that to be honest - maybe a google image search for photots - there are a lot of places you cant take photos so you really can't record the whole thing - would be cool if you could

 

[keishashadow]

And isn`t it wonderful we can complain without being castigated for it!!!

Absolutely! We haven’t taken to drinking the koolaid as freely on the U side of things.

tony - did u do HoS @ SW again this year? Will say, for just year two, the really ramped things up. Scarezones especially!

 

[keishashadow]

ssh Robbie’s TR are always stellar, i have some pics of this year’s tour.

for those who are still avoiding pictures (not sure how you have this late in game), might want to avoid posts #1325 to #1338

personally, i prefer to do the houses one night; then the tour. enhances the subsequent viewings as story line is explained and items of interest pointed out you’d never see ‘in the fog’

note all pics taken when permitted. So many were sneaking them when told not to, figure it’s a matter of time before enough are posted on social media that U again clamps down on picture taking inside the houses.

 

[keishashadow]

More monsters

 

[keishashadow]

Next, interesting how they worked in many props from prior year’s houses. Note next to last picture is “not” Neegans barbed wire bat .

 

[keishashadow]

Impressive subway scene. Had thot they might have used old Disaster pieces…nope, all new & a very clever usage of mirrors in upper portion to make the car look longer

 

[shh]

Will say, for just year two, the really ramped things up. Scarezones especially!

cannot wait to do this next year again...kind of kicking myself that I'm not going this year, but oh well...something to look fwd to. Did you try any of the specialty drinks at either event? If so, any good?

SW's last year had a nice kick. UO's tend to be sugar water, so avoid them.

 

[keishashadow]

creepy crawlies, such extensive detail

 

[keishashadow]

More

 

[keishashadow]

Blumhouse
freaky

 

[shh]

ssh Robbie’s TR are always stellar, i have some pics of this year’s tour.

note all pics taken when permitted. So many were sneaking them when told not to, figure it’s a matter of time before enough are posted on social media that U again clamps down on picture taking inside the houses.

thank you! This year, I'm determined to do some homework and know the non-IP backstories before going in and see daytime pics when I can...because in the past, when I go thru the houses at night, I really miss so much of the storytelling detail. I'm so focused on preparing for the jump scares lol.

Just reminiscing on recent years, I adored slaughterhouse cinema and that riverboat themed one - can't remember the name, but it was so pretty. I hear deadman's pier is like that too. Bugs looks kinda like slaughterhouse - campy kind of.

 

[keishashadow]

Blumhouse
black phone, few legit opportunities here

 

[keishashadow]

Best house aka Deadman’s pier

 

[keishashadow]

More

 

[mechteach1]

Since you are on-site and have express, I recommend (though please don’t take my word as gospel) using the hotel entrance. Get there before 5:15 and go straight into Hellblock Horror when they open the line. You won’t have to use express. Then go to Halloween and use express. Then Coven with express. By this time, the other sound stage houses will be open or about to open. Go to Dead Man’s Pier with express ( I’ll stop saying express, because you’ll use it every time now) and Chupacabra. 5 down, 5 to go. Since you’re in NY area, SF is just down the street and you could go to Blumhouse. Then make a decision on whether to watch the show or keep doing houses. Bugs would be next, then Descendants, then Weekend and Monsters. Take your time in each scare zone as you circle the park (the last two scare zones would be on your way out). Rides along the way if you wish (Diagon Alley is open until midnightish I believe). Food and drinks are plentiful along the way too. Have fun! Our family has had a great time this year.

That is an amazingly clear way of laying that out, and makes a ton of sense!! Thank you so much for taking the time to do so!

 

[keishashadow]

Hellblock, was told one of the scareactors in first scene would do CPR on the dummy lol. Interesting Viking reference in last (gory) scene.

 

[tony67]

tony - did u do HoS @ SW again this year? Will say, for just year two, the really ramped things up. Scarezones especially!

Unfortunately not - I've had to cancel this year completely at this point - hoping to get down for a weekend.


That said SeaWorld and Universal customer service were great and refunded everything.
For Universal it was a 6 house and 3 house tour as well as the Ultimate Fear + with express - so glad to get that $$$ back.
I did have to call VIP - but they took care of it all.

SeaWorld was the every night ticket and within an hour of emailing they had sent a refund.

So once again great customer service from Universal and even SeaWorld

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

@keishashadow from your pics I actually think the Bug house would be scarier if they kept the lights on...