Halloween Horror Nights Review

[Bairstow]

On another note I will say, HHN craps all over MNSSHP. I know this because Disney won't even attempt to go up against Universal with a more thrilling or even adult oriented Halloween Event.

Given Disney's clientele and corporate image among families with young children, they wouldn't want to do a Halloween Horror Nights-style haunted attraction event even if they could.

If by "adult-oriented' you were meaning alcohol-based, I think Disney's already on the cash train all October with Food and Wine.
An additional event at night not only would be extremely taxing on their staff and security, but would probably risk cannibalizing their F&W profits.

 

[HTF]

Sorry but if you think Disney hasn't looked into a more intense halloween event your incorrect... I also mean adult oriented just as I said it adult oriented. It has nothing to do with alcohol, thats just a bonus.

 

[Tony Perkis]

As an actor you should know that they are in almost every room of every house.
And as a paying guest, you are the type of employee I am happy not giving my money too. So it all works out for the best.

A certain percentage of your admission price is going to that employee, whether you like it or not. And that employee, by not going to a guest like yourself, is enhancing the experience for those around you who are far more willing and able to get lost in the atmosphere and circumstances.

 

[71jason]

Its unfortunate but true. HHN is a victim of its own success and attracts a different crowd than MNSSHP. They are needed in the scenes due to guests getting lost, rowdy, and even violent. The one thing that everyone also has to realize is that they are there to man emergency exits and their primary job is to ensure the safe evacuation of the house, its actors, and most importantly its guests. You do have a few idiots who are constantly yelling to hurry up but for the most part guest services has responded to those complaints.

Agreed there an unfortunate necessity. Some are ideal, backed into a corner so that when I see them they startle me more than the scare-actors (Evil Dead's are quite good at this). But others seem to find it necessary to stand in the middle of a scene (last year, one guy positioned himself directly in front of the Nosferatu window every time I saw him), or waving and screaming "hurry up ... hurry up ... hurry up." I assume that's the fault of certain managers, but it's certainly a valid criticism of the event. Just because you can't help ops issues doesn't mean they're not issues.

On another note I will say, HHN craps all over MNSSHP. I know this because Disney won't even attempt to go up against Universal with a more thrilling or even adult oriented Halloween Event. Universal is the best when it comes to horror, they are pretty much the creator of things that go bump in the night. So while some may go pay 90 bucks for fireworks and candy, I'll be in line for America's top Halloween Event.

That's like saying Mummy craps all over Small World. Of course, I don't think TDO is capable of creating a more-adult Halloween event that could even hold HHN's jockstrap, but that's just hypothetical in that they've never even tried.

 

[MickeyPeace]

A certain percentage of your admission price is going to that employee, whether you like it or not. And that employee, by not going to a guest like yourself, is enhancing the experience for those around you who are far more willing and able to get lost in the atmosphere and circumstances.

I am never going back to this event so you are wrong. And also to personally attack me for expressing my opinion about my experience is juvenile. But I'm not at all surprised.

 

[Slipknot]

As an actor you should know that they are in almost every room of every house.
And as a paying guest, you are the type of employee I am happy not giving my money too. So it all works out for the best.

Yes, I do know they are almost in every room but I still don't notice them when I go through as a guest. And the money you pay for HHN and the Universal parks does not go to me or any other Team Member who works in the parks, it comes from a different branch in Hollywood, just like all the Cast Members at WDW get paid from another branch in Burbank...

And as someone said in another post, you are the type of guest I can sense isn't worth my energy trying to scare (much like a drunk college frat boy on UCF night). You call us "amateur" yet you post no basis for it besides your opinion. Your attitude while at the event was the events biggest detractor. *shrugs*

 

[MickeyPeace]

Yes, I do know they are almost in every room but I still don't notice them when I go through as a guest. And the money you pay for HHN and the Universal parks does not go to me or any other Team Member who works in the parks, it comes from a different branch in Hollywood, just like all the Cast Members at WDW get paid from another branch in Burbank...

And as someone said in another post, you are the type of guest I can sense isn't worth my energy trying to scare (much like a drunk college frat boy on UCF night). You call us "amateur" yet you post no basis for it besides your opinion. Your attitude while at the event was the events biggest detractor. *shrugs*

I'm not here to fight about my experience. It is what it is. And yes my money goes to that branch that pays your hourly wage.
And lastly I am not a "type of guest". I'm someone who explained my experience of a system that to me turned out to be fundamentally flawed. I went into it expecting to love it which is why I purchased a Frequent Fear pass with Express option. So there goes your type casting theory. Nothing more to say on this.

 

[Tony Perkis]

I am never going back to this event so you are wrong. And also to personally attack me for expressing my opinion about my experience is juvenile. But I'm not at all surprised.

There was no personal attack. Just an obvious observation.

 

[MickeyPeace]

There was no personal attack. Just an obvious observation.

Calling me a type of guest and saying that I'm looking for things is a personal attack. I was a first time guest who purchased a Frequent Fear Pass with Express because I expected to go back several times this year. I thought I would enjoy it because I love haunted houses. Clearly I went in without bias or wanting to dislike anything. The event was a huge disappointment to me and I expressed it here. And all of my criticisms are valid. If that hurts your feelings resulting in attacking me, that has nothing to do with me or my character. It has to do with yours.

None if it matters to me nor will it change my opinion of my experience with HHN23.

 

[Slipknot]

Calling me a type of guest and saying that I'm looking for things is a personal attack. I was a first time guest who purchased a Frequent Fear Pass with Express because I expected to go back several times this year. I thought I would enjoy it because I love haunted houses. Clearly I went in without bias or wanting to dislike anything. The event was a huge disappointment to me and I expressed it here. And all of my criticisms are valid. If that hurts your feelings resulting in attacking me, that has nothing to do with me or my character. It has to do with yours.

None if it matters to me nor will it change my opinion of my experience with HHN23.

I wasn't attacking you, that's how you see it. Nor was I "fighting" you about your experience. Yes, you are a type of guest: One who's expectations will never be met. You're are one of many who view the event like this, thus a type of guest. And I don't think anyone was trying to change your mind on anything, I know I wasn't. As for the haunts where you mentioned earlier, hope they keep up your standards and don't have to incur your wrath! Bye.

 

[MickeyPeace]

I wasn't attacking you, that's how you see it. Nor was I "fighting" you about your experience. Yes, you are a type of guest: One who's expectations will never be met. You're are one of many who view the event like this, thus a type of guest. And I don't think anyone was trying to change your mind on anything, I know I wasn't. As for the haunts where you mentioned earlier, hope they keep up your standards and don't have to incur your wrath! Bye.

I like that! Bye.

 

[BuddyThomas]

This was my first and last year at HHN. I bought a Frequent Fear pass and I won't go back after one time.

Mainly because - every one is herded non stop through every house.
- staff is in every room yelling no pictures move along
-cops in uniform waiting at every exit-

How can u possibly lose yourself and be scared? Somehow teenage girls do as they scream at their own shadow.

Street actors are amateur.

I could go on but why bother. The houses, why call it a maze anyway, in NY are a million times better. And cheaper.

You said it, my friend. My experience exactly.

 

[BryceM]

Just bought my HHN tickets for this Friday night. I'm expecting horrible crowds, but who cares? I'm excited!

 

[MickeyPeace]

You said it, my friend. My experience exactly.

Thanks. I knew I couldn't be the only one with these observations. I'm putting it out there so that other first timers to HHN have the info. I wish I had it beforehand.

To those who enjoy this setup HHN is for you

 

[Skip]

Thanks. I knew I couldn't be the only one with these observations. I'm putting it out there so that other first timers to HHN have the info. I wish I had it beforehand.

To those who enjoy this setup HHN is for you

Your criticisms are absolutely valid and damn near ruined much of my experience this year. Might I recommend you try Howl-O-Scream over at Busch Gardens? They have very similar production values to HHN with twice the actors and no ops in the houses - plus, they pulse the lines, no conga!

 

[Skip]

Sounds like a personal problem to me. Tell me something: do you go around looking for them because the only ones I've seen in the 8 years I've attended were in the Earthquake/Disaster queue (Havoc: Derailed this year) in daylight.

Oh, well. As a scareactor at HHN the last five years, this is the kind of guest I don't mind not coming back.

Come on now. The ops are a problem almost every year, in almost every house. In HAVOC they literally stood in the middle of scenes, and in Evil Dead and AWIL they'd leave their rooms and come yell at me to keep moving if I wasn't directly behind the person in front of me. It's ridiculous, it isn't the least bit conducive to scariness - I felt like cattle. It isn't at all fun.

I know many scare actors personally and they happen to hate ops in many circumstances. Their job is to protect the actors, yet their primary action appears to be interrupting a scene/taking you out of a moment by waving their flashlight and screaming to keep going. Yikes.

 

[MickeyPeace]

Come on now. The ops are a problem almost every year, in almost every house. In HAVOC they literally stood in the middle of scenes, and in Evil Dead and AWIL they'd leave their rooms and come yell at me to keep moving if I wasn't directly behind the person in front of me. It's ridiculous, it isn't the least bit conducive to scariness - I felt like cattle. It isn't at all fun.

I know many scare actors personally and they happen to hate ops in many circumstances. Their job is to protect the actors, yet their primary action appears to be interrupting a scene/taking you out of a moment by waving their flashlight and screaming to keep going. Yikes.

Thank you. I thought it was strange that there was anger towards me for expressing my experience. Maybe those were Universal employees who's feelings were hurt. I'm not talking badly about Universal in general just this event.

You nailed it. I felt like cattle, it wasn't conducive to scariness and wasn't at all fun. And I wanted it to be fun. I was excited to be there. Talked up this event for weeks beforehand to all of my friends. It did not meet my expectations. Not by a long shot and I was disappointed. Simple as that.

Hopefully expressing my experience will give someone else thinking of traveling to this event the knowledge of the basic setup so that they can decide if it is something they think they will like. Personally, I need to suspend disbelief and be immersed in a scene to be scared. As you stated, staff is constantly interrupting scenes and taking you out of the moment. And when they are not interrupting, they are almost always within view. To me this didnt make HHN the more adult version of a Halloween party, it made it feel less adult, like my mom was there holding my hand all the time.

I get it. It's insanely crowded. And if this is the way that Universal chooses to handle it then this event is simply not for me and I will not return. As I've stated from my first post. I do believe they have other options to make it a better experience if they so choose. However this one is easy. I'm sure they view that steady stream of cattle being horded through the mazes as a steady stream of revenue.

To anyone who loves this event, I'm not bashing you. Have a great time!

And Skip thanks for the recommendation of Howl O Scream. Maybe I'll give it a shot next year. For the time being, I'm in NYC and we have some quality, truly scary events here such as Nightmare, Blackout and Sleepy Hallow in upstate NY. As well as some other options such as Times Scare, Blood Manor and the new Jeckyll and Hyde haunted house.

Lastly, let's call these haunted HOUSES, lol. Mazes do not sound scary. Kidding, don't attack me.

 

[Jrn14]

More updated review to come later, but I went Sunday for the first time ever I had a BLAST! I loved it and I love Universal as a whole.,..

However my one HUGE complaint is what is being argued about in this thread. The non actors in there rushing me through a house that I waited an hour to walk through was beyond annoying... There were several moments that I would try to point out a detail in the house to my friend and I would be told to HURRY UP!!!! KEEP MOVING!!! It was sooooo annoying!!! I drove 15 hours to go to this event and spent a lot of money... do not yell at me for pointing out to my friend that "Look it's Meryl" in the The Walking Dead House... the guy like was upset that I pointed it out and didn't want us to look... another portion a group stopped walking for a like a half second and this woman started acting like an air traffic controller. Seriously! I know it's crowded but these people are ruining the ambiance of the house!

 

[JT3000]

Lastly, let's call these haunted HOUSES, lol. Mazes do not sound scary. Kidding, don't attack me.

We don't call them mazes. That's a west coast thing.

On an unrelated note, USH has officially cancelled their Bill & Ted show, so enjoy ours while it lasts unaltered. Universal is seemingly in a meltdown of political correctness after the accusations of homophobia in Hollywood's show.

 

[HakunaMatata89]

Streets were very uninteresting. The victim attacks were cool, as were the handful of photo ops (deer eater, barn, Michonne's pet, Bicycle Girl). Everything else was generic, repetitive, and very quickly not scary.

I don't know, anything has to be better than 2012 street. having the same theme around the park was very disapointing for me. I enjoy variety as you go around the park and the different theming they ususally do for scare zones but last years was very repetative and boring.

sounds like this year was good, i didn't get to go but i wasn't happy with 2012.