Halloween Horror Nights 22 Discussion

[Vyrus]

Too soon?

Anyone know of any rumors, tips, clues, or ideas on what the 2012 event could entail?

Are we going back to IOA or maybe 2 parks? Personally with the way attendence was this year I think they have to stick with USF on this one, and I wouldn't be surprised to be a price DECREASE for next years ticket. The higher ticket cost definitely affected the crowds in a negative fashion and I wouldn't be surprised if they somehow try to lower the price next year.

 

[JungleSkip]

With the construction I'm pretty sure will be happening at USF, I think we'll see 2 parks used. I don't think we'll ever see a complete return to IoA-only due to the probable dead-zones of WWoHP and Seuss. But I'm dying to see a "Battle of Hogwarts" scarezone using the projections from Acid Assault.

Also, I'll go on a limb and predict a theme. I think we'll see an overall theme of Armageddon/apocalypse(2012). I think we'll see houses based on apocalypse theories of past, present, and maybe future (zombies, a return of the black death, natural disasters, war, alien invasion).

 

[Vyrus]

I dunno, lately they've been going less gore and more psychological. The only real gore house we had this year was SnS and Thing to an extent. Otherwise everything else is more is trying to get inside their head.

Personally I would love to see the return of the OLD style of icon events, with a main icon and an icon house, and have the icon be something simple made scary. Whether a school and a Principal, Janitor, or Librarian is the icon.

 

[JungleSkip]

I dunno, lately they've been going less gore and more psychological. The only real gore house we had this year was SnS and Thing to an extent. Otherwise everything else is more is trying to get inside their head.

All those can be done without tons of gore like this year, save for maybe some in a zombie house. And even then, I'd say there was a decent amount of gore in Bloodngutz and Nightengales.

Personally I would love to see the return of the OLD style of icon events, with a main icon and an icon house, and have the icon be something simple made scary. Whether a school and a Principal, Janitor, or Librarian is the icon.

Either way is fine with me. But I don't think the overall icon is really all that necessary, especially after seeing this year. Before I went I was disappointed that there wasn't a real icon for my first year, but after going, I barely noticed.

I'd rather have a weak icon and them put all their creative juices into the house like they did this year than have a strong icon with less great houses.

 

[Matpez]

I wouldn't be surprised to be a price DECREASE for next years ticket. The higher ticket cost definitely affected the crowds in a negative fashion and I wouldn't be surprised if they somehow try to lower the price next year.

Negative to whom? Less overall people mean shorter wait times which translates into more happy guests. Sounds like a win/win.

 

[JungleSkip]

Negative to whom? Less overall people mean shorter wait times which translates into more happy guests. Sounds like a win/win.

Honestly, I'd hate to see what you people consider crowded. I stood in the pouring rain for 6 hours one night, and each house had a 45+ minute wait.

 

[Tbad556]

Some very minor detail in regards to next year via the Tweet Up:

"One thing worth nothing; when asked about the event coming back to both parks, or Islands of Adventure, they responded coyly, but saying it will happen eventually. As for next year’s location, their response was “We don’t know where the event will be…”"

IIRC, someone from A&D also stated that HHN 22 was there favorite year so far.

 

[JungleSkip]

Some very minor detail in regards to next year via the Tweet Up:

"One thing worth nothing; when asked about the event coming back to both parks, or Islands of Adventure, they responded coyly, but saying it will happen eventually. As for next year’s location, their response was “We don’t know where the event will be…”"

IIRC, someone from A&D also stated that HHN 22 was there favorite year so far.

Yup. I think the "we don't know" has to do with the logistics of the new ride being built back by the old Hard Rock and how it may affect them.

 

[Scarletwebslingr]

I have a feeling soon they will utilize Dogs of War more. Perhaps their demented general-figure as an icon even. I would love having a deranged and maniacal military leader in charge with Dog soldiers patrolling all throughout the park.

 

[Octobers Fade]

The past two years the icons have been so weak that is really doesn't matter. When they (very, very) loosely try to tie the icon to the event who really cares anymore, it's just a marketing tool to sell the event to the masses.

 

[Scarletwebslingr]

The past two years the icons have been so weak that is really doesn't matter. When they (very, very) loosely try to tie the icon to the event who really cares anymore, it's just a marketing tool to sell the event to the masses.

I didn't think the Usher or Mary were weak as Icons and both were relatively recent. While Mary's house itself stunk, she cameoed all over the park and had one of the most legitimatly creepy commercials I've seen from HHN in a while. Not to mention her website set an all new standard. Julian, while arguably over-shadowed by the presence of Chucky, Wolfman, and Jigsaw, gave the entire event a common thread to run along and it worked. I loved him as an Icon.

 

[Vyrus]

Honestly, I'd hate to see what you people consider crowded. I stood in the pouring rain for 6 hours one night, and each house had a 45+ minute wait.

Close to 2 hour waits..one time at HHN 13 at IOA I waited in line 3 hours for the original Psychoscareapy. I'll take a 45 min line ANY night.

 

[pat_naughty05]

I didn't think the Usher or Mary were weak as Icons and both were relatively recent. While Mary's house itself stunk, she cameoed all over the park and had one of the most legitimatly creepy commercials I've seen from HHN in a while. Not to mention her website set an all new standard. Julian, while arguably over-shadowed by the presence of Chucky, Wolfman, and Jigsaw, gave the entire event a common thread to run along and it worked. I loved him as an Icon.

I strongly believe that Bloody Mary was the best icon so far in terms of marketability AND use at the event itself. The commercials and website were awesome, and while most people hated the house, I really enjoyed it, especially being able to see the story arc from the website come full circle. Regardless of how people felt about the house, her presence throughout the event was palpable. I'll never forget walking through the hanging pumpkins and hearing her name whispered three times, followed by all of the pumpkins going dark.

If Universal wants to continue using icons, I think that they really need to follow this framework. Pick an icon who will have a strong central story for the fans, but also make sense for the masses that don't spend hours on the website. Also, having an icon that was tied to a casino theme with no casino house was a strange choice. Same with Fear from last year. If you're going to spend that much time, effort, and money creating an icon, then give it a dedicated house, or at least have it appear in the other houses to tie things together!


EDIT: By the way, I would love to see UO take a few notes from the new kids on the block when it comes to HHN. From the pictures that I saw, HHN at Universal Studios Singapore looked AWESOME!! If you haven't already seen some pictures, then go check them out. The detail in the apocalypse-themed scarezone was incredible!! Now I know that the event was done on a much smaller scale over there than it is here, but I have felt like our scarezones have been dropping in quality recently. It always feels like there are one, maybe two, great zones, with the rest being way under-par for what this event has become. My $0.02.

 

[JungleSkip]

Close to 2 hour waits..one time at HHN 13 at IOA I waited in line 3 hours for the original Psychoscareapy. I'll take a 45 min line ANY night.

If that's the case, I'll keep the prices they were this year, please.

--- Update ---

EDIT: By the way, I would love to see UO take a few notes from the new kids on the block when it comes to HHN. From the pictures that I saw, HHN at Universal Studios Singapore looked AWESOME!! If you haven't already seen some pictures, then go check them out. The detail in the apocalypse-themed scarezone was incredible!! Now I know that the event was done on a much smaller scale over there than it is here, but I have felt like our scarezones have been dropping in quality recently. It always feels like there are one, maybe two, great zones, with the rest being way under-par for what this event has become. My $0.02.

Personally I'd rather see them keep doing great houses than worry about Scarezones. Scarezones just aren't scary. Never have been to me. They're there for atmosphere for me.

 

[YETI PINTRADER]

I really want to see a return to an icon house. The casino theme was all over the advertisements and the projections showed the 21 logo, but the lack of a house was a real downer. I also want Universal to go back to the hectic houses of Catacombs, Havoc and The Hallow. For some reason this year's houses seemed really conserved. Don't get me wrong, the scares were there, the houses just didn't have that in your face on edge feel to them in my opinion. I would take a weak house to have some really strong houses like the ones I listed. I can't see the event going two parks in terms of houses because from what I've heard, IOA does not have the best house locations. It may be in Universal's best interest however to open Superhero Island and WWoHP just to help spread the crowds and put roaming actors in IOA.

 

[Hatetofly]

Close to 2 hour waits..one time at HHN 13 at IOA I waited in line 3 hours for the original Psychoscareapy. I'll take a 45 min line ANY night.

3 Hours was worth it for the original too! The longest I have ever waited was roughly two hours for Castle Vampyr. As for HHN XXII due to "possible" construction closures and timelines I feel as if HHN will have a duel park role next year. I also feel as if the event will continue to try and grow into a true multi night event for the average guest. Not saying it will be next year but its just a matter of time before HHN encompasses both parks permanently IMO. Another thing I think we will see next year is an upcharge haunt. BGT is killing it with Alone and considering the two are not that far apart Universal has to know there banking on it.

My predictions for XXII
-9 Houses, 8 normal + 1 upcharge
-7 Scarezones
-2 Shows

Possible house locations
3 Sound Stage Haunts
1 in Disaster Queue
2 in Tents, possibly relocated
1 in Marvel Storage Building, upcharge house
1 in Popeye and Bluto Queue
1 in JPDC

Wow I really am ahead of myself here

 

[JungleSkip]

3 Hours was worth it for the original too! The longest I have ever waited was roughly two hours for Castle Vampyr. As for HHN XXII due to "possible" construction closures and timelines I feel as if HHN will have a duel park role next year. I also feel as if the event will continue to try and grow into a true multi night event for the average guest. Not saying it will be next year but its just a matter of time before HHN encompasses both parks permanently IMO. Another thing I think we will see next year is an upcharge haunt. BGT is killing it with Alone and considering the two are not that far apart Universal has to know there banking on it.

My predictions for XXII
-9 Houses, 8 normal + 1 upcharge
-7 Scarezones
-2 Shows

Possible house locations
3 Sound Stage Haunts
1 in Disaster Queue
2 in Tents, possibly relocated
1 in Marvel Storage Building, upcharge house
1 in Popeye and Bluto Queue
1 in JPDC

Wow I really am ahead of myself here

This is basically how I feel.

 

[meki1219]

i would love 2 see hhn at usf and ioa

 

[Octobers Fade]

Not a fan of HHN ever returning to IOA. I just IOA is too far away and the walk to the studios sucked!
Also the lake made it so you had to follow it around, at least at US you have place to cut across.

Also if they want to make it a two night event they can count me out, they said they already consider it a two night event on the tour I took at the QnA.
I already go there for two nights so I can see the houses multiple times no way I am making it four nights. I think there are already enough houses that are being done, eight houses per year is plenty. Over three years that is 24 concepts... kinda hard to keep things interesting when you keep adding numbers.

 

[dmkrc5]

With the construction I'm pretty sure will be happening at USF, I think we'll see 2 parks used. I don't think we'll ever see a complete return to IoA-only due to the probable dead-zones of WWoHP and Seuss. But I'm dying to see a "Battle of Hogwarts" scarezone using the projections from Acid Assault.

Also, I'll go on a limb and predict a theme. I think we'll see an overall theme of Armageddon/apocalypse(2012). I think we'll see houses based on apocalypse theories of past, present, and maybe future (zombies, a return of the black death, natural disasters, war, alien invasion).

I would be so disappointed if that was the theme- way too predictale. I absolutley can't stand it when they theme the event according event year or annual year it just seems so uncreative to me. 20 was 20 years of fear, 21 was Gambling/ risks, etc they should have stopped doing that after Sweet 16. I just wish they would stop the whole year number thing already.