Fortnitemares (HHN 35)

[Jerroddragon]

I'm still just disappointed with how much looks to be spent on this....I just think it should be the most amazing looking zone ever when your Universal who makes the most bank from this event plus epic who makes Billions a year from the IP....

I just think its insane to me that Stranger things and this to me feel just not much love, like it just doesn't feel like the teams making these put the same passion or creatively into these two IPS but they go nuts on Ozzy house and most other houses this year

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I'm still just disappointed with how much looks to be spent on this....I just think it should be the most amazing looking zone ever when your Universal who makes the most bank from this event plus epic who makes Billions a year from the IP....

I just think its insane to me that Stranger things and this to me feel just not much love, like it just doesn't feel like the teams making these put the same passion or creatively into these two IPS but they go nuts on Ozzy house and most other houses this year

View attachment 30776

Gotta love AI. Not a single year was less than $3 billion but somehow that's included in the projections for this year lol

Id still like to know why there's is no food or drink

Apparently Slurp Juice is coming

 

[kingcooger]

I'm still just disappointed with how much looks to be spent on this....I just think it should be the most amazing looking zone ever when your Universal who makes the most bank from this event plus epic who makes Billions a year from the IP....

I just think its insane to me that Stranger things and this to me feel just not much love, like it just doesn't feel like the teams making these put the same passion or creatively into these two IPS but they go nuts on Ozzy house and most other houses this year

View attachment 30776

I mean, it’s a zone and not a house

Zones have to deal with weather, unpredictable guest routing, and being out in the sun all day

They added fans as well as all new tree lighting, both of which they didn’t have to do and that, I assume, would have to be adjusted due to long term inclement weather

 

[Kichkinet85]

What was Universal thinking? The sets in this zone are cool but that’s it.

 

[Imperius]

What was Universal thinking? The sets in this zone are cool but that’s it.

I mean that’s said about multiple scare zones every year…

 

[Lucky Planet]

Hollywood seems to be having much more fun with their zone. a lot more dancing and running around and having fun lol
they seem to be embracing it more

 

[Razgriz13]

The Spice(pumpkin catgirl) actresses in Hollywood are absolutely killing it,
That "skin" isn't even a real character and never liked it from last Halloween but the HHN actors are making me actually like it

 

[TheCodeMan95]

So I am not a Fortnite fan at all, have never played it once.

But this zone was just a lot of fun. It looks GREAT at night, and I was surprised by how aggressive the Storm Zombies were with scaring.

 

[SeventyOne]

Now that the weather cooperated and I've seen it staffed, not a player, but still rather like this zone. The bus is highly detailed, and decked out with enough Halloween iconography to get a pass. As a photo op, it was making a ton of guests happy. The sets look exactly like the things my nephews build brought to life and serve as effective distractions. Although new to me, the characters are obviously Halloween-coded, and actually making an effort to get scares. I quite like the pumpkin-cat and the Grim Reaper dude, but they all seem to understand the assignment.

While nowhere near the level of Trick r Treat or Crooked Cat Lady, among the 20+ zones that have occupied this space, pretty easily in the top 10, making it above average.

 

[Lucky Planet]

Now that the weather cooperated and I've seen it staffed, not a player, but still rather like this zone. The bus is highly detailed, and decked out with enough Halloween iconography to get a pass. As a photo op, it was making a ton of guests happy. The sets look exactly like the things my nephews build brought to life and serve as effective distractions. Although new to me, the characters are obviously Halloween-coded, and actually making an effort to get scares. I quite like the pumpkin-cat and the Grim Reaper dude, but they all seem to understand the assignment.

While nowhere near the level of Trick r Treat or Crooked Cat Lady, among the 20+ zones that have occupied this space, pretty easily in the top 10, making it above average.

the purple zombies are super freaky at night. the actors are doing a great job. they legitimately scared me a couple times, I never get scared in zones.

 

[DOOMBOT]

I worry that the hardcore crowd won't see past their pre-established thoughts on the IP here, because I genuinely think this zone is pretty great at what it's doing.

Great mix of photo-op characters, genuine scares, fun guest-actor interactions, and a very solid build-out with a substantial and layered scope.

If you catch yourself in the zone again soon, take note of the projection mapped video content on the rear wall of the NBC Building. You'll see its' stairs and walls being constructed like Forts in the game; or characters walking through the staircase door, appearing in the projected windows in shadow taking out a few other players, and then exiting back out seamlessly. Never seen them do anything like that ever before.

I love the way it melds perfectly with Club Juke and Stranger Things next door, effortlessly representing the multimedia crossover aspect of the IP. On top of including a Purger actor as one of the skins. I honestly wish they brought in a few more Blumhouse characters like Grabber, but I can understand wanting to show off the original skins more.

I've really come to appreciate the traditional Halloween vibes and imagery that is here too! Hay bales, pumpkins and Jack-o-Lanterns, scarecrows, Witch's brooms, skeletons and zombies and cats. It is a lot more like Cat Lady than a lot of people are willing to give it credit for.

It's not the scariest, but Central Park is never the scariest. Fortnitemares is playing into the strengths and weaknesses of this venue perfectly - just like Cat Lady last year, just with a different wackier voice.

And all this, on top of also properly representing the IP and bringing in new fresher crowds to the event. Terrific ideas and execution here.

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I'm still just disappointed with how much looks to be spent on this....I just think it should be the most amazing looking zone ever when your Universal who makes the most bank from this event plus epic who makes Billions a year from the IP....

I just think its insane to me that Stranger things and this to me feel just not much love, like it just doesn't feel like the teams making these put the same passion or creatively into these two IPS but they go nuts on Ozzy house and most other houses this year

View attachment 30776

Walking through the zone, especially with a knowledge of the real-world cost of these fabricated sets, lighting elements, costume pieces, video content, and everything else, makes it clear that a lot of budget and effort did go in here.

The flat cartoony artstyle hides a lot of the complexity, but there is a whole lot going on here, especially if you take a moment to stop and look around this area. Lots and lots of smaller details and very smart design.

Are those supposed to be intense?

I'm sorry, but calling Terrifier "not intense" is just you being deliberately obtuse. That's literally the gold-standard dream IP for the "HHN has gotten soft" crowd. I'd genuinely like to hear a solid argument for why it somehow isn't that.

Terrifier also collab'd with Fortnitemares in 2025 btw.

 

[Lucky Planet]

I worry that the hardcore crowd won't see past their pre-established thoughts on the IP here, because I genuinely think this zone is pretty great at what it's doing.

Great mix of photo-op characters, genuine scares, fun guest-actor interactions, and a very solid build-out with a substantial and layered scope.

If you catch yourself in the zone again soon, take note of the projection mapped video content on the rear wall of the NBC Building. You'll see its' stairs and walls being constructed like Forts in the game; or characters walking through the staircase door, appearing in the projected windows in shadow taking out a few other players, and then exiting back out seamlessly. Never seen them do anything like that ever before.

I love the way it melds perfectly with Club Juke and Stranger Things next door, effortlessly representing the multimedia crossover aspect of the IP. On top of including a Purger actor as one of the skins. I honestly wish they brought in a few more Blumhouse characters like Grabber, but I can understand wanting to show off the original skins more.

I've really come to appreciate the traditional Halloween vibes and imagery that is here too! Hay bales, pumpkins and Jack-o-Lanterns, scarecrows, Witch's brooms, skeletons and zombies and cats. It is a lot more like Cat Lady than a lot of people are willing to give it credit for.

It's not the scariest, but Central Park is never the scariest. Fortnitemares is playing into the strengths and weaknesses of this venue perfectly - just like Cat Lady last year, just with a different wackier voice.

And all this, on top of also properly representing the IP and bringing in new fresher crowds to the event. Terrific ideas and execution here.

---

Walking through the zone, especially with a knowledge of the real-world cost of these fabricated sets, lighting elements, costume pieces, video content, and everything else, makes it clear that a lot of budget and effort did go in here.

The flat cartoony artstyle hides a lot of the complexity, but there is a whole lot going on here, especially if you take a moment to stop and look around this area. Lots and lots of smaller details and very smart design.


I'm sorry, but calling Terrifier "not intense" is just you being deliberately obtuse. That's literally the gold-standard dream IP for the "HHN has gotten soft" crowd. I'd genuinely like to hear a solid argument for why it somehow isn't that.

Terrifier also collab'd with Fortnitemares in 2025 btw.

one thing I really love about the zone is when the lighting and thunder is coming ( re-creating the map getting smaller in the game) that's a really amazing effect with just lights and sound. but looks so amazing
one of the coolest things ever done here.

also I noticed 3 of the actors chasing each other today

 

[Jordan]

I'm sorry, but calling Terrifier "not intense" is just you being deliberately obtuse. That's literally the gold-standard dream IP for the "HHN has gotten soft" crowd. I'd genuinely like to hear a solid argument for why it somehow isn't that.

You and I clearly have very different definitions of "intense." This does not make me obtuse in the slightest. Terrifier was practically a comedy house. Simply being gory doesn't make it the "gold standard" for anything.

Terrifier also collab'd with Fortnitemares in 2025 btw.

And? Is that supposed to lend legitimacy to Fortnite as a horror property?

 

[Touchdown]

exactly, Jason was intense last year, Insidious the year before, as were a lot of the monster mazes. Intense to me=very frequent, well hidden/unexpected, scares. Actors essentially popping up everywhere.

 

[Brian G.]

You and I clearly have very different definitions of "intense." This does not make me obtuse in the slightest. Terrifier was practically a comedy house. Simply being gory doesn't make it the "gold standard" for anything.

You need to clarify your definition of what "intense" is, instead of just beating around the bush and taking snarky jabs at other posters for disagreeing, especially because the origin of your argument was that the event has been "Significantly Toned Down".

 

[Jordan]

You need to clarify your definition of what "intense" is, instead of just beating around the bush and taking snarky jabs at other posters for disagreeing, especially because the origin of your argument was that the event has been "Significantly Toned Down".

So calling me "deliberately obtuse" for not finding Terrifier intense is somehow not snarky? Don't make it so obvious you're playing favorites, Brian.

I don't have a single memorable scare from Terrifier. If that isn't reason enough to not hail it as a redefining milestone in intensity, I don't know what is. If someone wants to use Terrifier's explicit shock tactics as an antithesis for Fortnite's decidedly more childish characteristics, fine, but that doesn't make either of them intense experiences. They were both more goofy than anything, just in entirely different ways.

 

[Brian G.]

So calling me "deliberately obtuse" for not finding Terrifier intense is somehow not snarky? Don't make it so obvious you're playing favorites, Brian.

I don't have a single memorable scare from Terrifier. If that isn't reason enough to not hail it as a redefining milestone in intensity, I don't know what is. If someone wants to use Terrifier's explicit shock tactics as an antithesis for Fortnite's decidedly more childish characteristics, fine, but that doesn't make either of them intense experiences. They were both more goofy than anything, just in entirely different ways.

Oh, knock it off.

And you still haven't defined what "intense" means to you.

 

[Jordan]

Oh, knock it off.

And you still haven't defined what "intense" means to you.

I mean... I just did. The barometer for any haunted house's intensity is how scary it is. Not how many gory gags it can throw in.

 

[MAC]

I mean... I just did. The barometer for any haunted house's intensity is how scary it is. Not how many gory gags it can throw in.

To each their own. One persons scary is another persons… not.

I’ve never found the event scary personally, but can judge when something is intense versus not. I think that can be looked at objectively and not how it felt to you.

 

[Brian G.]

I mean... I just did. The barometer for any haunted house's intensity is how scary it is. Not how many gory gags it can throw in.

You didn’t. You explained why Terrifier wasn’t intense to you. You still haven’t clarified what “intense” actually means in the context of the event as a whole, why you believe it isn’t intense anymore, or how it’s been “significantly toned down.”