The Old HHN 30 Speculation Thread (2020)

[Allison]

Welp.

After going full Cher Horowitz and wasting my day shopping...I’m honestly just hurting for the people that were hired that are now out of a job. As for myself, this’ll be my first year living down here without weekly HHN visits so I plan on decorating the hell out of my house, like “is this a living room or a Spirit Halloween?” levels, doing a Universal staycation anyway, and overall just trying to have a safe & great Halloween season regardless.

I hope you’ll all stick around and chat with us about everything else going on in/around the theme parks (this is a much bigger site than just HHN), if there are any happening maybe you’ll get to visit some local haunts wherever you are, but if not I hope you’ll all stay well, stay safe and have a fun Halloween season and I’ll see ya in the future!

 

[Tbad556]

Welp.

After going full Cher Horowitz and wasting my day shopping...I’m honestly just hurting for the people that were hired that are now out of a job. As for myself, this’ll be my first year living down here without weekly HHN visits so I plan on decorating the hell out of my house, like “is this a living room or a Spirit Halloween?” levels, doing a Universal staycation anyway, and overall just trying to have a safe & great Halloween season regardless.

I hope you’ll all stick around and chat with us about everything else going on in/around the theme parks (this is a much bigger site than just HHN), if there are any happening maybe you’ll get to visit some local haunts wherever you are, but if not I hope you’ll all stay well, stay safe and have a fun Halloween season and I’ll see ya in the future!

Biiiiig same on the decorating. The only upside of this year will be moving into my first house next month and being able to go all out with decorating that thing for Halloween

And couldn't agree more on the local haunts. Please please please support them if any of them find a way to operate (safely) this year, whether in Florida or anywhere else for the out-of-state folks.

 

[The Storyteller]

shameless locale promo, but the 13th floor in jacksonville is apparently still going on this year, so if you can please check them out. they’re a great haunted house establishment with some really impressive set design and scares. if you can make the drive up here and you want your hhn bug scratched, i suggest you check them out!

 

[Speed]

 

[joelbryant11]

Really sad day obviously. I’m just thankful for the creative team members who put in the time hoping they would be able to put something awesome on for us. Until next year!

 

[hhn28andbeyond]

I’ve had some time to collect my thoughts and here’s my take on this whole situation. First, I wanna say I do not believe this cancellation was inevitable. I still believe a toned down HHN 30 could he put on, but, this is definitely the safer and best call for us as fans, even though it really hurts having to wait another year. I commend Uni for making this call, but I don’t think it was solely because of the virus. Without alcohol and limited ticket sales, they would barely break even considering the cost of rights and the cost to produce the houses. It’ll be great that the 30 anniversary won’t be toned down. See you all next year in the fog, something that also would’ve been cut this year

 

[randomguesser]

OMG. I need this house next year. Hoping Billie + Hill House don’t join the Conjuring/Scream ship of almost happening but never end up being done.

Honestly, things happen for a reason and I’m really excited to see what next year brings. Bright side is that 3/10 of the houses for next year are already done(the tents)

 

[Nick]

I legit feel bad for people who will be losing work due to the cancellation. farfanoogin this year.

I know it doesn't make it much better as some still lost jobs, but the VAST majority of those hired for the event this year were internal Universal TMs. I've only heard of one batch of non-TMs that got accepted. So at least they didn't stuff this thing with a bunch of outsiders who didn't already have a job, because that would be devastating if that were the case.

 

[Spookies n' Stuff]

I know it doesn't make it much better as some still lost jobs, but the VAST majority of those hired for the event this year were internal Universal TMs. I've only heard of one batch of non-TMs that got accepted. So at least they didn't stuff this thing with a bunch of outsiders who didn't already have a job, because that would be devastating if that were the case.

I mean actually losing jobs or not, the performers at the event undeniably form a bit of a community in working together, in fact thats the main reason most come back year after year, so it sucks that they wont be able to have that community in the same way this year.

 

[Nick]

I mean actually losing jobs or not, the performers at the event undeniably form a bit of a community in working together, in fact thats the main reason most come back year after year, so it sucks that they wont be able to have that community in the same way this year.

I mean, I know because i've lived that life for the past 4 years. It's tiring and your HHN friends sort of become your best friends and the people you see most. Lots of STP hangouts, etc.

I'll miss that and i'm disappointed in not being able to do what I enjoy, but I also had major concerns about how sanitary the break spaces could possibly be knowing how small they are which was why I was always skeptical of the event happening.

 

[johnathanm]

Couple questions that I think are appropriate:

1. In terms of the cancellation, I’m curious if anyone knows who makes that final call? I can’t imagine it’s way up in the C-suite.

2. With the talk of the tribute store opening, is it safe to say no blatant IP references were placed in the store’s decor? I suppose they could only open a portion of the store to display sections that don’t reveal the IP’s for the year.

Also wanted to give thanks to the mods, Legacy, other “insiders,” those within Universal contributing to the event, and every fan in the forum who made productive comments this year. It was a pleasure as always. Hope you all stay safe

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

OMG. I need this house next year. Hoping Billie + Hill House don’t join the Conjuring/Scream ship of almost happening but never end up being done.

Honestly, things happen for a reason and I’m really excited to see what next year brings. Bright side is that 3/10 of the houses for next year are already done(the tents)

<Disclaimer: I have no inside info, this is all just spec on my part--because it helps me cope>

I'm guessing that they'll fight tooth and nail to keep Billie--they should be able to have somewhat of a crowd next year, and I don't see her losing popularity soon, so that's going to be their ace in the hole. Sadly I think they either cut Hill House or remove any specific references to the IP and slap the LT name on it. I'm assuming that the house count gets knocked down by one or two for budget.

 

[ChaseTuff]

<Disclaimer: I have no inside info, this is all just spec on my part--because it helps me cope>

I'm guessing that they'll fight tooth and nail to keep Billie--they should be able to have somewhat of a crowd next year, and I don't see her losing popularity soon, so that's going to be their ace in the hole. Sadly I think they either cut Hill House or remove any specific references to the IP and slap the LT name on it. I'm assuming that the house count gets knocked down by one or two for budget.

I feel the potential pull-out, if it was Netflix (which is what I’m assuming, with knowledge it may never be “confirmed”), was more of a COVID-related result than a rights issue. I feel if things are hunkier-dory again come next year, it’d be easy to bring them back in the loop.

 

[Nick]

I think they’ll try to keep Billie.

@Kooks : It’ll def be “around” as in existent, but it should be under control by then (Cap fills the rest).

Idk about Billie. This seemed like her last celebratory thing to do for "When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" before finishing off this era and releasing a new album.

Notice, for instance, that on the same day HHN was cancelled, Billie announced a new album. That could be completely coincidental, but it's quite the coincidence if so.

 

[rhino4evr]

hate to say it, but I’m not overally impressed with the IPs here. Beetlejuice would have been a fun “family” house like Ghostbusters was I suppose. Hill house was a great dramatic series but not sure how well the house would work. I’m sure Texas Chainsaw has been done in the past?

anyway, it sucks, but maybe next year will be even better.

 

[graspthesun]

OMG. I need this house next year. Hoping Billie + Hill House don’t join the Conjuring/Scream ship of almost happening but never end up being done.

Honestly, things happen for a reason and I’m really excited to see what next year brings. Bright side is that 3/10 of the houses for next year are already done(the tents)

I think it kind of depends on whether the IPs are still timely. Stranger Things will hopefully resume production on season 4 soon and drop early next year, which could put it back in contention. We have a new Candyman ready to drop any day now (pending theaters reopening, not to mention the other horror movies that are sitting in limbo now - e.g. Halloween Kills). There are a lot of things that could happen that might lead to changes next year.

Just typing that out hurt my soul. I really only have two escapes in life - movies and theme parks - and both are just not happening for me this year.

 

[TheGentTrent]

I think it kind of depends on whether the IPs are still timely. Stranger Things will hopefully resume production on season 4 soon and drop early next year, which could put it back in contention. We have a new Candyman ready to drop any day now (pending theaters reopening, not to mention the other horror movies that are sitting in limbo now - e.g. Halloween Kills). There are a lot of things that could happen that might lead to changes next year.

Just typing that out hurt my soul. I really only have two escapes in life - movies and theme parks - and both are just not happening for me this year.

I would not expect the next season of Stranger Things to drop before Sept 2021.

 

[randomguesser]

I think it kind of depends on whether the IPs are still timely. Stranger Things will hopefully resume production on season 4 soon and drop early next year, which could put it back in contention. We have a new Candyman ready to drop any day now (pending theaters reopening, not to mention the other horror movies that are sitting in limbo now - e.g. Halloween Kills). There are a lot of things that could happen that might lead to changes next year.

Just typing that out hurt my soul. I really only have two escapes in life - movies and theme parks - and both are just not happening for me this year.

Such a bummer it had to happen this year, such a great lineup. Sad as it may be things happen for a reason, not sure what the reason is for now but we’ll see next year. 2021 should make up for all of 2020’s faults(at least hopefully).

See y’all next year :/

 

[Lucky Planet]

This is probably the worst outcome for HHN 2020, but there is no way this doesn't lead to an absolutely amazing HHN 2021. Getting to experience 30 the way it was designed to be experienced, without having to worry about a superbug, and with an extra year of polish? I think it's a blessing in disguise. This isn't just any year, this is the 30th anniversary. Let's make it count, right?

Whenever this topic pops back up again, just know that I'm gonna be going full Billie Stan mode on this thread. 100% my most wanted house until it's officially announced.

i think that a real worst outcome could have been that HHN did open, it went on for one or two weeks and then it got closed down because of infections or something, that would be a nightmare... that would be chaos, that was what i was afraid of, a situation like that. a catastrophe if hhn led to spikes, it would be too negative, depressing.

Sad, was very curious to see what new techniques they were going to implement to try and make the event safer. These circumstances could have led to innovations that would forever improve the event. This was the year to try new things and see what works. Understand decision, but thought this year might have changed how haunts are done in the future.

To those coming in here to only kick people when they are down, don't. Just leave and maybe ask yourself why you feel the need to run up and kick people when they are down. Be nice people.

i was curious as well, but i was thinking, the queue line app thing sounded really annoying, it sounded really hard, that was part of my relief of cancellation, and actors could not go near you, which is such a huge part of the experience, i feel like the houses would feel empty. there is only so much they could do with special effects,
hhn really truly is a giant human experience, hhn is driven by human interaction, hhn is like a giant stage play, hhn is basically an interactive theater experience, the sets and effects are there to back up the human element actually, so as curious as i am for the effects they could have used, it just isnt the same
empty houses and scarezones arent as great
maybe the effects would been super amazing, but hhn is still actor driven

If we have Christmas but not Halloween I'm sending some angry emails

probably guaranteed to happen lol.

The Christmas/Halloween War from last year's event continues

those tricky elves won!....:fist:

 

[RoseBlight]

I don't post here all too often but I always read the spec threads. This has honestly been one the few shreds of normalcy this year and I'm glad I was able to be a (very small) part of it.

As quiet as I am, I pretty much love everyone here and the conversation has definitely helped to get through this year. As much as I love going to the event itself, it's this feeling of community that keeps me coming back.