Greetings internet dwellers!

Well, no need to explain what is up. We all know what is up. While I haven't put up a blog since March, I have continued doing the Topher's Log series on my Youtube channel. It's obviously been quiet, with the pandemic still going on. Last week was a step forward, but there is still a lot of uncertainty in the air. 

A bit of movement of course, with the BOGO sale extended until July, and Universal trying to reopen on June 5th. Still, who knows exactly what the next few months will bring. So, just checking in, making sure that all is well. I'm still here, waiting like the rest of you. 

Continue to stay safe, and healthy. And as usual, you can follow me on Twitter @HHNLegacy, Facebook.com/HHNLegacy, or take a gander at my Youtube channel, if you haven't already. 

Hasta La Bye-bye for now.

Greetings internet dwellers!

I say it every year. I don't play the permit game. The permits aren't something I get excited about. They just reinforce what we already know about where, the locations will be. While they do offer information about the where, things generally don't change from year-to-year. The only time they really do change, is if there is a major shift inside the park. 

This year though, we have a change that is interesting. Soundstage 22 looks like won't be used this year. For some reference, Soundstage 22 held Ghostbusters last year. So the line that is in front of the Rockit stage, for further reference. 

Instead, it appears that Soundstage 23 will be used. This, as you would expect, has sent off wild speculation. The biggest chatter being, perhaps they will use the Rockit stage for a show, perhaps Academy of Villains. While I never count anything else out entirely, it's more likely that Soundstage 22 is just being used for filming in the fall. And even with Soundstage 23 being used instead, they can still use the Plaza as a line for Soundstage 23, as it's the stage right next door. 

That being said, we also haven't received a permit for Soundstage 22. While I think that Stage 22 won't be used (*wink, wink), it's still a possibility that it will, and the permit just hasn't shown up yet. It should also be noted, that Soundstage 23 was last used in 2011. It housed The Thing and Nightingales: Blood Prey.  

Anyway, so the permit game begins. You can follow other folk who look for these things closely. I probably won't pay too much more attention, unless something drastic happens. 

Hasta La Bye-bye for now. 

Greetings internet dwellers!

While the BOGO deal has been on sale for our international friends for a while, everyone can now purchase them on the website as of today. The deal this year runs $84.99, and it ends June 3rd. Today also saw word that says the event this year, will feature 10 houses and 5 scare zones. We know this can change, as it has in the past. It's still early. However, it's reasonable to assume that it will be same as it has been, for the last few years. That being said, the systematic reveal boxes have returned from last year.

Greetings internet dwellers!

Well, it's about that time. There has been some debate over the last few years, about the MIB tent. People are always confused when the tent shows up. Most think that the tent is kept up all year. That is not the case. The MIB tent, is not like the Sprung Tents. It is not a permanent structure and needs to come down, and put back up for use. For HHN 29, it was taken down in late December. 

Last year, the tent was put back up the first week of February. Bottom line is, the tent has been taken down and put back up, since its inception in 2016. Being as the tent is a "temporary" structure when Universal files with the city every year, they have to take it down. At least, that is part of my understanding. I've stated previously, that the first two years the tent was used, I was told that it was a rental and that is also why it was taken down. However, I don't believe that is the case anymore. 

It is the first week of February and wouldn't you know it, the tent has started to re-emerge once again. It began to go back up on Sunday, and it is once again visible from the MIB queue. 

And so it is. It is very early, but like last year, we have the first signs of this year's event. The first house announcement last year, was in March. Perhaps we can see something a bit earlier this year? Only time will tell. 

​Hasta La Bye-bye for now. 

Greetings internet dwellers!

Christmas is in a mere hours from now. However, that hasn't stopped HHN. The HHN Orlando Twitter feed, has been fairly active this off-season. More so than usual. This morning, they put out another tease video for next year's event. At the end, the dates for HHN 30, reveals that they have added Sunday, November 1st. Previously, the event would have ended on Halloween, the day before.

The website, has also updated the dates calendar accordingly. So if you like attending the last night, make your plans now. 

Greetings internet dwellers!

Take a break? Nah. Last week, we had the dates leak early. Someone, as tends to happen in that office, hit the button a tad bit early. We now have confirmation that HHN 30, will run from September 10th to October 31st 2020. 

Everyone freaked out last week because of the event was starting a week later on a Thursday, and ending 2 days early. Relax. Now that the calendar has been revealed, you can see that Wednesdays will start after opening weekend. And there are days to spare to make up the 2 days it needs to match HHN 29. Again, relax. 

A few reasons why they probably started on the 10th. One is the Labor Day holiday, and the other is to not physically start the event on September 11th. Because of that, we get a Thursday start. 

Anyway, we have dates. Begin planning. Do what needs to be done. 

Hasta La Bye-bye for now. 

Greetings internet dwellers!

Well, it's that time. With Halloween Horror Nights 29 swiftly coming to a close, it is time I put a lid on my final thoughts for the event. While in year's past I've mostly done it blog form, this year, I put together a Topher's Log detailing my feelings. 

I do want to say a few things on here first. A special thanks to all the people I met this year while walking the event. It really means a lot to me. I push on with HHN Legacy every year because of all the encouragement and support, I continue to get every year. Sometimes, there are days, where the stress and headaches that come with this, make me want to hang up the hat. And then there are years like this, where I come in contact with a handful of wonderful people, who give me the motivation to keep going. For that, I am eternally grateful. 

While there are still some days left for HHN 29, I'm comfortable enough to give my final thoughts. This year has been incredibly long. I attended the event more times this year, than I ever have in the past. Almost a whole month's worth. In fact, it may end up being a whole month, by the time we end this coming Saturday. I had a great time this year. I quite enjoyed the year overall. 

While the wheels are turning for HHN 30, it's that sad time where HHN 29, must come to an end. Let's just enjoy these final days. It is Halloween after all, tomorrow.

So enjoy the Topher's Log. 

​Hasta La Bye-bye for now. 

Greetings internet dwellers!

Just wanted to pop in really quickly, and give an update on my rankings. My mind isn't all on HHN this week. Had some family issues over the weekend. It's been taking up a lot of my mental, and physical space. So, I will be doing this as brief as possible. 

I wanted to say something quick about the mobile app game stuff. This thing, while good intentions it may have had, is just so bad. I still try and play the trivia portion every week. Still nothing. While some of the QCR scanners have been placed in better lit areas, I noticed that some of them are moved a lot. And one or two of them, don't scan properly. I'm still trying to scan the houses every time. Sometimes it records, sometimes it doesn't. 

Anyway, as far as houses go, things are still pretty steady. The most notable improvement, is Nightingales: Blood Pit. It has moved up in the rankings the past two weeks. The intensity in there has been ramped up, and the scareactors, are finding a groove. While it has moved up just a tick, it may continue to movie up next week. However, I'm holding off to see if the consistency is there. If the house is as good next week, it may continue to climb. 

In the opposite direction, Ghostbusters has fallen a bit backwards for me. I'm keeping it in its current position for now, but it could very well fall next week. Winston, has returned in the house, which is good. However, things were a little wonky this weekend. We'll see how it goes next weekend. 

So without further delay, here are the current house rankings:

1. Universal Monsters
2. House of 1000 Corpses
3. Graveyard Games
4. Ghostbusters
5. Killer Klowns From Outer Space
6. Us
7. Nightingales: Blood Pit
8. Yeti: Terror of the Yukon
9. Stranger Things
10. Depths of Fear

I also wanted to update the scare zones. I haven't done that in a while. Nothing major has changed. I still think the scare zones, are all pretty good this year. 

1. Rob Zombie: Hellbilly Deluxe
2. Anarch-Cade
3. Vikings: Undead
4. Vanity Ball
​5. Zombieland: Double Tap

So, that's it for me this week. I return to the event Thursday. Hard to believe we are getting closer to the end. It's been a really fun year this year. I said it early on, but I really, really, like this year. A lot. 

Hasta La Bye-bye for now. 

Greetings internet dwellers!

We've reached week 5. It's simply crazy, to think that we are this deep into the event. There is still a lot more HHN to go, but sadly, I can begin to see the end. The dawn, is ever so slowly rising in the darkness. Slowly, but it's happening. 

I'll keep this brief. A few points of note about the updated house rankings. First, Nightingales: Blood Pit, had a bit a of a resurrection last week. The biggest problem for the house, at least for me, was always a timing and energy issue. It seems they tried to rectify that situation, and whatever they are doing, the need to keep it up.

Depths of Fear, is still a fun house in my opinion. However, it's run into a bit of weirdness. I think they are still trying to figure it all out. They are still tweaking things, which is both good and weird. The solid runs I had the week before, became very inconsistent this past week. We'll see what happens next week.

I like the Stranger Things house. Just because I have ranked it last, does not mean I don't like it. In fact, it has been hovering around eight and nine, since the beginning. The main reason why it's now ten this week, is because I simply didn't do it as much as the others. The one run I had, was decent, but during a cast change, so I'm not doing to fault it in the long run for that. I'm not going to join the sheep, and hate on it just for the sake that it's Stranger Things. It's a solid house. 

So, without further delay, this weeks house rankings:

1. Universal Monsters
2. House of 1000 Corpses
3. Graveyard Games
4. Ghostbusters
5. Killer Klowns From Outer Space
6. Us
7. Yeti: Terror of the Yukon
8. Nightingales: Blood Pit
9. Depths of Fear
10. Stranger Things

So that's it for now. I return to the event, possibly this Wednesday late. Thursday at the latest We'll see how it goes.

​Hasta La Bye-bye for now. 

Greetings internet dwellers!

I will seriously keep this brief this week. This bug that I caught, just won't go away. It's less severe than it was this past week, but I still need some rest, and relaxation. It's hard to believe we are four weeks, into HHN 29. Where does the time go?

I've said pretty much the same thing the past few weeks. I really am digging this year. While this past week, I noticed some little things that changed some of the rankings, for the most part, HHN 29 is still really strong. I also noticed an uptick in the streets, which is a good thing.

1. UNIVERSAL MONSTERS
2. HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES
3. GRAVEYARD GAMES
4. GHOSTBUSTERS
5. KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE
6. US
7. YETI: TERROR OF THE YUKON
8. DEPTHS OF FEAR
9. STRANGER THINGS
10. NIGHTINGALES: BLOOD PIT

As the weeks progress, there are things that have noticeably changed. Which is why I like to keep a running commentary, and not review things until the end. Ghostbusters for example, has lost a Scareactor or two. While I've had some issues with the house over the course of the event, it seems like they are trying to up the intensity a bit. I have noticed some to the puppetry is a bit off. Such as the screaming white ghost, being on its stick backwards, and missing its screaming queue quite a bit.

In fact, timing, seems to a big issue when it comes to the scares this year. A lot of the houses seem a bit off on their timing still. Depths of Fear, seemed to me, to be a house that really tried to work on that. While the shrimp-people costumes still don't do it for me, they are trying to up the intensity in there. And it has moved up a bit in my rankings. Even Nightingales, has made some improvements. 

I would be amiss if I didn't quickly mention the mobile game. This thing, is such a disaster it hurts. The Terror Trivia never works for me. The scanners are either too poorly lit to scan, or in hard to get to places to scan. Sometimes, points aren't awarded when you do scan. Sometimes points aren't awarded when you play the Terror Trivia. As a person who likes to partake in the games, it's frustrating. Last year's mobile game had issues, but nothing compared to this year. 

Anyway, that's it for this update. I will return to the event this Thursday. 

Hasta La Bye-bye for now.