Greetings internet dwellers!
Halloween will be sticking around the Universal Orlando Resort. In a teaser video posted live on their Facebook page, Universal confirmed their "test" is no longer a test. Revenge of the Tooth Fairy and The Bride of Frankenstein Lives!, will be reopening this weekend. Starting on October 3rd, the houses will be open for daytime guests on a regular basis. The Halloween festivities will continue through November 1st. Based on the wording on the site, it appears, you may be able to enter the house queues without a Virtual Line. However, the Virtual Line will still be available for the houses. Sticking around as well, are the Scarecrow Stalk, trick 'r treating, the Skeleton Bar, and being able to wear costumes. Also included are the Tribute Store of course, the Horror Make-up Show, and Beetlejuice meet and greets. This should come as no surprise, especially given how successful this weekend was. Anyway, there you have it. You can experience the houses all season long if you wish, and get your Halloween on at Universal. Hasta La Bye-bye for now. Greetings internet dwellers! Many Halloween and HHN fans, got their wishes granted this past weekend at Universal Studios. Friday, Universal allowed Team Members and Premier Passholders, access to two HHN houses during the day. Saturday the houses were opened to regular guests, with Virtual Queue access. The resort also had a plethora of seasonal activities, and decorations around the parks. Saturday, was very busy. It was so busy in fact, that all three Universal parks closed due to their limited capacity. Many people arrived at the parks dark and early, to attempt to snatch up spots in the Virtual Queue. I personally, wasn't able to get their early and had to wait and see if the parks would reopen. They did indeed reopen, and I made my way down. Universal is calling this a "test". If the demand on Saturday is any indication, I would say the test was successful. Besides the houses, Universal also adorned parts of the park with decorations. The La Bamba Cafe, was also transformed into a walkthrough themed bar, called The Skeleton Bar. There were food trucks, with some traditional HHN fare, like Twisted Taters. Islands of Adventure allowed trick r' treating for kids, and anyone could dress up in costumes. It was nice to have all of this stuff. I don't need to stress how shitty 2020 has been. I've said it a million times. HHN, is a lifestyle for a lot of people. Myself included. To have just a small smattering of Halloween and HHN, is a nice welcome sight. However, I do have to make some personal observations. I was able to do both houses, thanks to a lovely gesture. My favorite of the two, was The Bride of Frankenstein Lives!. I am very partial to the Universal Classic Monsters. Last year's house was my favorite for the event. I love the twist on the Bride story going on. It's a bit of a pseudo sequel, or continuation of The Bride of Frankenstein movie. The scenic was really top notch, and there were quite a few effective scares. There were some really neat nods, to other Classic Monsters as well. Revenge of the Tooth Fairy, was an interesting original take. There is definitely a Scary Tales vibe, and I love the dark and twisted take that's happening. The "facade", or first thing you see, is really nifty. I went through the house during a cast change, so I missed a lot of the scares. The scenic is really great, and the house is solid. While I appreciate everything that Universal, Art & Design, and the Scareactor's did to allow us to experience all of this, the houses just don't hit like they usually do. It's understandable with the pandemic and the precautions that have to be taken. For me, seeing Scareactor's behind plexiglass, just hurts. It's a constant reminder of how fucked up everything is. That's not to say the experience, isn't great. It's a welcome breath of fresh air to be able to walk through an HHN house; hell, any haunted house. My thoughts are in a constant battle. I really love being able to do all of this. However, at the expense of the pandemic, I just can't help but feel a little sad. The state of affairs, continues to be awful. I worry about next year with all of this. The crystal ball is still murky, and it's hard to say what HHN will look like next year at this point. People are still losing their jobs. It's nice that the houses will offer at least, some financial benefit. However, I feel like this should be it. Just these two houses. Keep others in the back pocket, but cap it at these two. Yell at me all you want. I don't care. That being said, if able to do it again I probably would. I really want to do Bride again. For a brief moment this weekend, I was wrapped in a bit of joy. Even if the shadow of darkness that is the year 2020, stalked me from behind. Hasta La Bye-bye for now.
Greetings internet dwellers!
"Seasonal Experience Testing" is what they are dubbing this weekend. Universal Orlando will open two HHN houses, that were supposed to be featured at HHN 30. Both The Bride of Frankenstein Lives and Revenge of the Tooth Fairy, will be accessible to daytime park guests. Universal will also offer some other seasonal options, like trick or treating at Islands of Adventure, and being able to wear costumes at the park. TM previews for Friday, are already at capacity. I think it will be busy and very difficult, to try and access these houses. Universal will be utilizing their virtual line option, to allow guests to experience the houses. We shall see. Anyway, I will be down there this weekend to try and see if I can get in. May the odds ever be in your favor. Greetings internet dwellers!
While I am still recovering from my bout with diverticulitis, I hobbled my way down to the studios briefly today. The HHN Tribute Store, has already been a huge hit. I think most people already got the word, that there was supposed to be two more rooms in the Tribute Store. However, hope may have faded when word spread, that those rooms may be modeled after certain IP's. Obviously, with the event cancelled this year, and no announcements of houses, Universal couldn't just let the cat out of the bag so quickly. It seems the powers that be, worked hard to allow guests to feast their eyes on an entire room, dedicated to Beetlejuice. While I won't confirm, nor deny anything, it's a room dedicated to the 1988 Tim Burton film. And it's kind of glorious. That being said, there is also another room right before that, where guests can purchase some food. It has a lot of sweets, including sour gummy beating hearts. The room also has a lot of easter eggs, dedicated to HHN's past. There is also a hallway littered with past HHN posters and images, one has to traverse to get to the food room. It's nice to have this. I said it a few times this year. It's nice to just breathe, and wrap yourself in something familiar. I'm so ready for someone to finally yell, "Jumanji!" Hasta La Bye-bye for now. Greetings internet dwellers!
HHN 30, we know, is not happening this year. We know 2020 sucks balls. It will continue to suck balls. I've been dealing with my personal dish of 2020. Two back-to-back hits of health problems. Vertigo, and Diverticulitis, which put me into the emergency room. So I sit here, trying to stay positive. It's hard; not just for me, but a lot of people. The HHN Twitter feed, has suddenly reawakened. With a decree of sorts: #HHNForever. They released a graphic with a little bit of...something. In it, it reassures fans that, horror never dies, and neither does the event. What they are planning, well, we'll just have to wait and see. They mention invading our screens. Perhaps we will be getting some walkthroughs of some of the houses. A virtual visit perhaps? Maybe announce what will be awaiting us next year? Or past walkthroughs? The possibilities could be anything. Hell, it could just be a contest. We've been down that road before. Sitting in my chair this afternoon, with what I have been dealing with personally the last few weeks, and having this flash across my Twitter feed, hit me. I need, we need, something, anything. Spirits, for lack of a better term, need to be awakened. And I think a lot of us, need it now. Anyway, hasta la bye-bye for now. Greetings internet dwellers!
Well, we all know that HHN has been cancelled for the year. We must wait for HHN 30 until 2021. However, that hasn't stopped Universal from opening the HHN Tribute Store, which was gearing up for opening before cancellation. The store opened yesterday, but I was still sitting out, as I've been dealing with some bad vertigo issues. However, I got down there today. While there are actually 4 rooms in the store, only 2 are currently open. I think they have some IP erasing to do in the other 2 rooms. The current rooms, are themed towards Frankenstein's Lab, and a Carnival of Carnage take. The Carnival of Carnage room, is the more impressive so far. There are lots of pumpkins, banners, and connections to HHN past. Currently, only the available throwback merch is a for purchase. Universal says the store, will be open throughout the fall. Hasta La Bye-bye for now. Greetings internet dwellers!
We are all sad. Let's get that out of the way first. However, I don't think that anyone should be surprised that this, is the outcome. We are in the middle of a global pandemic. The numbers here in Florida, continue to not be that great. This, was inevitable. I wanted to address a few things. The HHN fandom is a toxic community a lot of the time. I've learned to live with it. I've chronicled my misgivings with the community before. However, the nasty bickering that was going on from those who wanted the event to be cancelled, and those who didn't, was just uncalled for. The last few months, really since this all began, if someone expressed concern about the event getting axed, they were vilified. And there were those who vilified others who wanted the event to continue. Folks, I said it earlier in the year, and I will say it again, this world doesn't need anymore hatred. There's too much of it already. I was vilified by someone I know, because I believed that this could, and should, be the outcome. This was months ago. "But things are already built," they said. Yeah, but, pandemic. Different times, different situation. I try to live my life in a balance. I live in the dead center of the glass. And I tend to go with the flow. I prefer this outcome. I said it earlier in the year. I don't want a watered down event. And I wouldn't be upset if the event was cancelled. This, is the right decision. I get it, we live our lives around this event. However, this isn't a time to just think about what YOU want. Health and safety, is top priority. Then there's the job loss this brings. HHN hires a lot of people, but this wasn't going to be a year, where outside forces were going to be hired in droves. At some point, we all should have asked ourselves, if it was worth it to continue. Just because you want it to continue, doesn't mean it should. In these times, we are all reaching for some sort of normalcy. HHN, is that normal for a lot of us. Hell, just going to the parks are that sense of normalcy (even if it doesn't feel normal). The natural thing, is to blindly want it to continue. However, we have to remember, it's not that simple. It's not that cut and dry. There are many factors involved. HHN, is not normal park operation. Things are different. Even with limited capacity, it's not run like normal operation. I don't think it would have been completely possible to pull off, without the event looking like a shell of itself. I personally would not want that. Just to have it continue blindly for a sense of normalcy, would have been the wrong move. Hopefully, we can put most of the fuckery that is 2020 behind us, in 2021. This has been a horrible year. A very horrible year. And it continues to be a horrible year. It's a dumpster fire. The bickering from the community didn't help things either. This should be a time where we all come together. Not pull each other apart. The future, may still be a bit uncertain. But we can help each other with that. Be compassionate. Just be a decent human being. Don't be a dick. We need each other now more than ever. And not just because HHN isn't happening. It's the right thing to do. It's the human thing to do. So now, we all look forward to 2021. Will it be a completely new dawn? Or will it be the same view that we just missed this year? It will be an interesting time. I will continue to reveal my fictional event for the remainder of the year. I told y'all that it was meant for the purpose of HHN getting cancelled. And here we are, so, that will happen. So, be excellent to each other. Things will get better. They have to get better. Please though, just be nice to people. That's all I ask. Hasta La Bye-bye for now. Greetings internet dwellers!
I made mention last week, about how the Tribute Store would be opening sooner rather than later. Today, the first glimpse at the facade this year popped up. There's a lot of interpretation for what it appears to be. Some say, it resembles the old Beetlejuice stage. I think it looks pretty gothic. Maybe Shadybrook vibes. Maybe Classic Monsters. There appears, to burn and scorch marks around it. Perhaps we will get some fire effects, or lighting to go with it. Regardless, the store is taking shape, and it should be open soon. Hasta La Bye-bye for now. Greetings internet dwellers! Well, today was an interesting day. While things are still mum about the event these days, HHN keeps dropping little nuggets for us to eat. A few weeks back, we had the hotel and ticket packages. Today, we got a glimpse of what kind of vibe the event will be going for this year. It's no secret that HHN, will be celebrating its 30th anniversary. Even if the event gets pushed to next year, or delayed, it will still be the 30th HHN. That doesn't change. We had some merch go on sale, via the Universal Orlando online store. The merch features retro designs from event's past. From Fright Nights, to HHN X; they have shirts, pins, and shot glasses for sale, among other things. However, soon after things went on sale, the online store crashed and as of last check, it is still down. We also got a glimpse on the Universal Orlando page, of Scareactor Dining returning, with a blurb about "social distant" photos allowed to happen. As of this writing, nothing was offered for sale on either the Universal Orlando site, or the official Halloween Horror Nights site. However, it, as of now, confirms that it is happening. While things are still wildly unpredictable this year, and anything can happen, the event is still crawling forward. The first sign of street construction, would be just around the corner in a normal year, so I guess we would do well to keep our eyes and ears open.
Anyway, Hasta La Bye-bye for now. Greetings internet dwellers!
Well, 2020 continues to suck. We know this. HHN 30, has been pretty much a phantom. Obviously, with the ongoing pandemic, things are still incredibly uncertain. I've been vocal about how I believe the event will eventually get cancelled. However, with things in the world ever changing, anything is possible. HHN, has never stopped planning, and continued to prepare as if the event will happen as scheduled. Actual public word on the event itself, has been pretty silent. We've had some things, like the BOGO deal, and that being extended until this month. Now, we have some ticket packages on sale. While individual tickets aside from the BOGO have yet to go on sale, some hotel and ticket packages are now available to purchase. It was confirmed recently that HHN, will not have Scareactor dining this year. The ticket packages currently on sale, indicate that both RIP and the Unmasking the Horror Tours, may actually happen. That is, if the event actually happens. That being said, if you would like to purchase some hotel and ticket packages, they are available. With the uncertainty of things, I can see many not wanting to pull the trigger on that. Anything can happen between now and September. The links to purchase below. Hasta La Bye-bye for now. https://orlando.halloweenhorrornights.com/site/hhn/products/event-packages |
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July 2023
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