Halloween Horror Nights 35 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors

[Parkscope Joe]

Oh, man.. Ground Round. The smell of their popcorn machine is forever locked in my memories. I vaguely remember a clown who would walk around doing balloon animals.

Correct this is the same clown.

 

[Pixarfan96]

With the Jack show revealed, I'm curious if it will do Bill & Teds numbers or HNF numbers. The former was never slow, but it didn't have a line stretched back to Diagon for the next show during the current show. Will the HNF crowd continue to show up like that?

Re: NY Zone. Won't feel complete if we don't have a "Twisted Balloon" pop-up bar from Shakes the Clown.

Nor would it feel complete without the cotton candy cocoon rack and ice cream truck from the Klownz. lol

Plus, I would be SUPER stoked for a Jack the clown stage show (if those rumors are true)! I saw “carnage returns” on YouTube and it looked like such a fantastic show.

 

[Spooky_Bitz]

If the clown zone happens, i really hope Klownzilla is part of it in some capacity

 

[Pixarfan96]

If the clown zone happens, i really hope Klownzilla is part of it in some capacity

I have a weird hunch that they are reusing/ redecorating the inflatable Klownzilla puppet from the 2019 house for “Jack and Oddfellow.” Based on the permits someone leaked.

 

[daboswinney]

I used to be really big into Fortnite, and, honestly, I think a Fortnitemares scare zone could work. In 2018, they added these rock structures all over the map, and the rocks would keep zombies spawning all around you until you destroyed them. They had some good Halloween skins too, like a zombie version of the mascot of the game, a ghost cowboy, and a headless horseman looking character to name a few. I honestly think it could end up being kinda cool if they went this route ngl.

 

[HHN Maddux]

I used to be really big into Fortnite, and, honestly, I think a Fortnitemares scare zone could work. In 2018, they added these rock structures all over the map, and the rocks would keep zombies spawning all around you until you destroyed them. They had some good Halloween skins too, like a zombie version of the mascot of the game, a ghost cowboy, and a headless horseman looking character to name a few. I honestly think it could end up being kinda cool if they went this route ngl.

The idea of a Fortnitemares zone in and of itself isn't actually bad, I think many including myself just don't wanna see a huge rush of kids into the event for it!

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I don't know how it will ultimately pan out, but concepts like basing a scare zone off of a gaming franchise like Fortnite is why I want Fan Fest at UOR. Not because I want the event, but because it prevents HHN from having to host IPs that fit better into a non-horror specific event.

The concept seems to be oriented around showcasing popular skins/characters... which I'm not sure how it translates into at HHN. Seems like the different characters will likely be featured on stages to be displayed... but that sort of zone layout I'm not a fan of as it becomes more of a museum exhibit than an actual scare zone. CryptTv was not a fan favorite because of that.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

The idea of a Fortnitemares zone in and of itself isn't actually bad, I think many including myself just don't wanna see a huge rush of kids into the event for it!

An issue I could foresee is that a lot of people will just see headlines of "Fortnite Coming to Halloween Horror Nights" and not realize that the extent of Fortnite's involvement is a scare zone - likely the smallest scare zone in the park lol.

(and probably a food stand/merch)

 

[Mashmingingmasher77]

The idea of a Fortnitemares zone in and of itself isn't actually bad, I think many including myself just don't wanna see a huge rush of kids into the event for it!

I fully understand not wanting a bunch of unsupervised kids running around causing trouble. I haven’t experienced any issues personally but only go once a year. I think we will continue to see 5 nights, Fortnightmares, and maybe Scooby one day because it’s about what fills the event $$. If every house were Ozzy/Hellraiser it would be just a bunch of us old men there.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I think we will continue to see 5 nights, Fortnightmares, and maybe Scooby one day because it’s about what fills the event $$. If every house were Ozzy/Hellraiser it would be just a bunch of us old men there.

Nah, it'll remain pretty PG-13+ so I doubt Scooby Doo comes. There's always new horror IP coming out that appeals to young folks.

 

[Tbad556]

I'll truly never understand the whole "HHN is and always has been for adults!!" thing. '02 and '03 had scarezones with superheroes and the Grinch. '09 had a scarezone based on Cirque du Freak of all things, etc. Additionally, are we all pretending to not see things like young children attending the event dressed as incredibly violent horror characters such as Art the Clown?

These mentalities that "HHN should only have heavy adult rated content" and "kids don't watch violent horror" are both very silly to me. This will be my 17th year of attending (oof) and there have always been swarms of kids/teens. You're not avoiding it regardless of whether you're pushing Fortnite or Terrifier.

Signed, someone who has been watching R-rated horror movies since before the age of 10.

(This is not an attack on anyone. Just my two cents, as we have our annual discussion about this topic)

 

[tdmarshmallow]

Homey. He don't mess around, and he don't play that.

 

[Santi_Coasters]

The idea of a Fortnitemares zone in and of itself isn't actually bad, I think many including myself just don't wanna see a huge rush of kids into the event for it!

I really feel the exact opposite. I used to play Fortnite and still enjoy playing the game but just think it really doesn’t fit at the event and seems too meta-promotional in a way that would take me a little bit out of the atmosphere just because of the concept itself. Couldn’t care less about kids coming to the event, last year we had FNAF, and a general consensus was that it was one of the best years! Also, this is just a scare zone at the end of the day so I don’t think it would generally draw any new types of guests besides the occasional few. Excited to see how this idea is executed nonetheless!

 

[Brian G.]

I think it’s important to remember that not everything at the event is meant to cater to every single person. Universal is trying to appeal to a broad audience. Rumors are just rumors, so I won’t speak on what that means for this year - but if you just look at last year’s event, which offered a smorgasbord of options, I would say it was seen as an overall success.

It's something for everyone, not everything for someone.

 

[Jake S]

I just don't find something like Fortnitemares or Dead By Daylight all that appealing in a Horror Nights context. These are both properties that either heavily rely on outside IP or cliched, tropey original concepts. What does Horror Nights need the middleman for? It can already do both of these things without paying someone a licensing fee. Now... do I buy that there are people who have strong enough affinity for these two brands that they'd be happy to see them at an event they already like? Sure. But it doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Casper Gutman]

If Fortnite is confined to Central Park - well, it’s not a win, particularly after seeing how well that area was used last year, but it’s the least worst option.

As one of the legion of fans who would welcome Scooby at the event, something for everyone is good, even if sometimes part of that “everyone” is executives who want to put a popular but ill-fitting property in the promotional materials. I actually think one of the few problems with the 2025 event is that the houses (not the streets) were a bit narrow in the range of horror they presented, with a particular lack of humor. The rumored slate this year looks a lot better in that regard.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

What does Horror Nights need the middleman for?

Because they’ve done the hard work! See: Fallout with Amazon as a middleman.

 

[SeventyOne]

I just don't find something like Fortnitemares or Dead By Daylight all that appealing in a Horror Nights context. These are both properties that either heavily rely on outside IP or cliched, tropey original concepts. What does Horror Nights need the middleman for? It can already do both of these things without paying someone a licensing fee. Now... do I buy that there are people who have strong enough affinity for these two brands that they'd be happy to see them at an event they already like? Sure. But it doesn't make much sense to me.

Whether correct or not, I think the corporate mentality is that the audience for cliched, tropey original concepts plateaued in the 00s. Since then, a series of mainstream IPs -- TWD, ST, 5N@F -- have pushed crowds higher and higher. (Probably not a coincidence this era roughly coincides with Potter saving the parks, but I bet corporate took the wrong message from that.) Once you get that high, you're going to keep chasing it, even if there's a lack of perfect-fit IPs like TWD.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Whether correct or not, I think the corporate mentality is that the audience for cliched, tropey original concepts plateaued in the 00s. Since then, a series of mainstream IPs -- TWD, ST, 5N@F -- have pushed crowds higher and higher. (Probably not a coincidence this era roughly coincides with Potter saving the parks, but I bet corporate took the wrong message from that.) Once you get that high, you're going to keep chasing it, even if there's a lack of perfect-fit IPs like TWD.

Since when has corporate taken the wrong message of forcing IP synergy into the parks!?

Kidding aside, Fan Fest needs to come to the east coast. Not that it'll prevent HHN from having to shoulder IPs that loosely fit into the event, but also provides an even better option for families that wouldn't be interested in attending HHN for a singular IP.

Kids love Fortnite? Parents maybe don't feel comfortable allowing them to visit HHN... but at Fan Fest? There are IPs like Ghostbusters & Stranger Things that fit into both events (and heck they can double dip), but at the very least you get rid of the need to force it into your singular IP-driven event.

I just think it's a silly concept for HHN teams to play with IPs that better fit the Fan Fest idea.

Also, this is just a scare zone at the end of the day so I don’t think it would generally draw any new types of guests besides the occasional few.

While it'll only be a scare zone (per rumors), no doubt Universal will market it as a large part of the event... which is the general point of bringing the IP in. It'll certainly continue to draw folks in who previously weren't interested in the event.

 

[Neo]

I'm sure this was mentioned earlier, but just took a look at the Easter Hollywood Spec Map and for their generic clowns zone it has 3 trashbags...and as we know, they used a trashbag for the Terrifyer house last year. The Orlando map doesn't have them. Was that ever discussed? I'm not on any of the Discord stuff.

I had a question that not sure if any insiders know the answer to. With the park no longer offering ANY physical tickets, do we know if they're going to implement facial recognition for the express queues (like they do at Epic)? If everybody has to get their phones out 10 times a night, it's going to be a fustercluck. Also, guess Universal doesn't need to stock 35+ types of lanyards at the bigger shops if there's now no longer any reason to buy one.