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Yeah back in the old days when the motorcycles actually ran people over. And if you were still twitchin' they backed up! And they used LIVE ROUNDS in their guns! I was shot dead four times in '03! And them costumes, back then they didn't give no shits what the movie's costumes looked like, they made dem scuuuury as hell!

How about we combine all the recent trends designed to increase revenue and attendance? So 1st recognizable IP + 2nd Hispanic interest + Zombies + The Most Recognizable HHN Icon Ever = Jack who was destroyed at the end of HHN XX reincarnates into the body of one Juan Sanchez and becomes "Juaqui the Clown" (pronounced like Whacky) who then takes his Carnival de Los Muertos on tour in Georgia during a certain highly rated Zombie Apocalypse. Juaqui and all his circus freaks get bitten and become a ZOMBIE EVIL CLOWN AND EVIL CARNIVAL OF ZOMBIE CIRCUS FREAKS!!! And it all is called... THE JUAQUING DEAD!!!!!! (probably shoulda saved that one for April 1st, oh well)

The Purge was one of the most well received zones I've ever seen. I've never any casual guests really give a shit about the scarezones before The Purge. TONS of people got scares and I saw way more scares there than in any zone this year. The auction and abductions were great additions to immerse guests into The Purge and they worked well. You may not have liked it, which is perfectly fine. But from an overall perspective, it's as clear a choice as Halloween was.

When the other scarezones consist of one that had it's main attracting element cut, one that's a very small street with minimal props, and a photo op, yeah it sort of was obvious. Bayou might of had a chance if it's sacrifice wasn't cut, as well as the Purge having a major size advantage.

For the millionth time, it probably is nostalgia. Some like the event, some don't. Your perspective is not fact, even though you seem to assume it is.

I'm sorry, I didn't know you could tell me my own opinions. Speak for yourself and not others.

I've been going since 2000 and thought this year was one of the best years I've been to. And 17 begs to differ about IPs not fitting into a cohesive theme/fitting in with an icon.

Bayou would have won if the sacrifice had not been cut. There was a huge difference in energy between opening and closing weekend.

I'm not sure I can wholly agree with this sentiment. There are something's (Jack's return) that must have already been approved. While Marketing/Social Media have had some faux pas recently (I'm being kind), hinting at the return of the "most beloved" of the icons to fans and the general public would be a huge error if his return was not set in stone. I feel there is a basic "road map" already in play, and the route just needs to be firmed up and fleshed out. A&D know where they want to go, but are not entirely sure of all the rest stops needed to get there. (I have no idea why I'm using a driving analogy.) As for the return, I'm ambivalent. I was far more excited by the return heralding a possibility of backstory, and the most thrilling part of the "clue" (does it really count as a hint or clue when they smack you in the face with it?) was the use of "Pop Goes the Weasel". I love children's songs when they are used in fantastically creepy ways. It's the same reason I love calliope music. It can be used with great effect to induce fear. But I digress. As for thoughts about HHN25, this first "announcement" leaves plenty of time for future announcements. Media/Marketing as set the stage for more updates through out the year. One can hope this may be a return of more interactive marketing/websites.

I've been going since the early 90's, doesen't mean i have to be all nostalgic. Yes it's just that, nostalgia wether u like it or not.

Frightanic falls in my favorites list. It was my first HHN house. Dead Exposure is still the most terrifying house I've ever been in. I loved the camp of Bloodengutz and Psycoscarepy:Home for the Holidays. 06 PUTS has fond memories for me. Strange I know, but a particular scare I received in that house will always be memorable and one of my favorites. NOES is another one that stands out. That mirror maze at the end. *shivers* I'm currently undecided as to what I truly want to see next year. I know I'd like to revisit the past, but I don't want the past to interfere with potential new originals. I'm not fond of IPs as much, but then I think of the great things that have been done with past IPs. I want icon/icons. Even my leading "wishful thoughts" are conflicted. When Cassilda began giving hints this past year and included the Dust Witch persona, I became excited for a potential return of Dr. Oddfellow paying homage to Mr. Dark. The only probably with that though, it would be a carnival theme again.

I honestly cannot tell if this is a troll or not... AVP didn't translate well? lets just for a moment ignore that they did Their Own story for the house and didn't recreate scenes from the movie... but the fact that they were able to make the puppets and the predator suits look so amazing meant nothing to you? because it certainly meant a lot to all the people that loved the house (and avp was one of the most loved by a lot of people) you didn't explain why the idea of a mega house based on avp was a bad idea,(I undrestand it is unrealistic) but you just explained why you hate ips, and i get that, but if you do hate them so much, i suggest accepting the reality of the situation, IP houses will not go anywhere, IPs are here to stay either accept the fact that IPs will be used and hope they pick better movies to do houses (instead of stuff like dracula) or just not go

Yet you keep buying tickets and expecting things to change? Prove corporate wrong, stop going. Start a boycott. Tell me how it goes. IP's aren't going anywhere so get used to it or go somewhere else. Go to Howl O Scream if it bothers you this much.

Preach it girl! Lol Its basically the nostalgia factor comes into play with older years. I agree with you in saying that the quality hasn't gone down, we just get used to what we see and tend to expect more. I remember my first year going and I was looking down at the floor in my first house. It was Nevermore. I was legitimately scared but now I am staring actors in the face when they pop out and sometimes catching the scareactors off guard.

Things change, but people change too. I bet if I put you in a time machine and sent you back to your favorite year, you'd see a whole bunch of faults you overlooked or don't remember from back then because now you're looking at it with different eyes. I used to be terrified of every house. I had to be dragged to the event. Now nothing there scares me. I don't blame the event and say the houses are less scary, I know it's because I'm more relaxed and used to it.

I received a survey link in my email this morning. Can you guess what was included? That's right, The Juaquing Dead! If I had to guess, management will give creative 40-50% of control over content for 25 Everything else will be soulless...in a capitalistic sense, not spooky.

I also thought this was an average year, but I don't mean that as a slight. Let's face it, I've continued to buy tickets after below-average years. Other than Halloween, nothing making my top 25 houses, but nothing in my bottom 10, either. Enjoyed the SZs--Purge more than the others--but don't think I'll remember them in 5 years. Got some laughs from B&T, but seen the show both better and worse. That's average. Still glad I went to the event.

I agree with nearly everything he says... I just stopped attending already.

Pretty average? Sounds more like it was a terrible year to you besides Halloween and Dollhouse to an extent. And sorry if it seems like I'm attacking you because you have a negative opinion towards the event, I just get bothered seeing so much negativity on a fan site that generally has more discussion on aspects of the event people loved. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's noticed your overall disdain towards HHN these last few months, that's all. I'm done going back and forth, don't want you to think I just want to argue for the sake of arguing.

None of the costumes in any scarezone this year were scary...

Four things have been built since 2004 (when they did two parks) that prevent it from happening again: The bus stop behind Cat in the Hat. It's probably the easiest to work around, but you still have to worry about dozens of containers being stored nearby (and would have to move). Blue Man Group doesn't impact the original crossover under the breezeway, but it doesn't eliminate the only viable, alternate front route between it and Hard Rock. Allowing crowds to go in front of it blocks off their box office, and also has guests actually outside of the park momentarily Rip Ride Rocket is the biggest offender, since its tower sits right at the breezeway that allows movement between the parks. That combined with The Hollywood Bowl has effectively blocked off the entirety of that front route. While it's possible for individuals to move through there easily, moving crowds through such a narrow space can't be done. Granted, they could turn the crossover to go through the breezeway to the mass house exit, but then you have to worry about finangling the queue lines in such a way you can still fit them while taking away from their space. And then where do the casts four those four/five houses break? The only crossover that technically remains is the back Sinbad/New York one, which was the one you didn't want use more than once a night. It was long, with nowhere to sit and nowhere to pee. And even with that, I'm not sure how open that route is now that Potter is butt-up against it. Now, it could still be done, but the logistics of it are staggeringly difficult to when they did it before. To the point of not really being worth it. That's also ignoring the fact that "two parks" was always really "two half parks." The hike backstage is no joke, a true two park event (Jurassic Park to MIB) is legitimately too damn big since it takes over half an hour to straight line walk it. Nearly an hour with stuffing your way. Have fun with that. That's why Hogswart Express isn't a "premium third" option. It's actually the only effective way to move between the parks. We may see a return to Islands in 2016 once Skull Island opens, but even that is doubtful.

I don't see them repeating anything that's not TWD. it's DEFINITELY not A&D's style and I don't think Marketing or Management would see a draw in bringing it back. I've been thinking for a while now that after AvP's and Halloween's successes, the only way to go is Freddy vs Jason. People have been BEGGING for both to come back, and Halloween proved slasher houses can still be scary, so that would made the most sense and would be a HUGE draw. Only problem is the rights. I have no knowledge on that but I know in 07 NLC wouldn't let them do a FvJ scarezone or have freddy make a cameo in F13 and vise versa so maybe they can't. 2 parks and 9 houses seem pretty much a given at this point. Real spec should be maybe 10 houses? How many zones? A third show maybe? Will WWoHP be open (please!!!) If it was a 10 house lineup, I'm guessing: SSs- TWD 4.0, FvJ, AHS, Insidious. 2 in each park. IoA has the options of Poseidon, JP Discovery Center, Carnage Warehouse, Popeye extended. USF, if they start construction on KidZone within the next year, only has Disaster and the 2 tents in addition to the soundstages. My wishful thinking is the 4 major IPs are in the SSs, and the other 6 houses are sequels and originals. Nightingales, Icon house, possibly one more repeat, and 3 originals. Shows could happen in FFL, Toon Amphitheater, Animal Actors, Beetlejuice, and Sinbad. Then have all the major rides open and that's PLENTY to keep the crowds spread out.

Insidious was never on the table from my understanding, it would be too much like Dead End. As much I want to see something new with the icons, I have a strange feeling they will do the same thing with them like they did in 2006 and 2010 (Only thing different was FEAR was the main icon). I might note FOX has had a lot of say when it comes to AHS, UO (And I think Hollywood) tried a few times but they cant come to terms with FOX. I know AHS was on the table VERY early this yr but it got dropped early as well. Lastly right now is just brainstorming phase of HHN 25, there not talking to IPs yet nor they know what all they want to do with the event.

I really feel like Psychoscarepy's storyline was wrapped up neatly in 2010. 2003: We are introduced to Shadybrook and its inmates. 2006: We return to Shadybrook and find its newest inmate, Jack, has had a bad influence on the impressionable patients there 2007: We visit the unfortunate suburban neighborhood where Jack and a bus load of the other inmates have escaped and had a lovely Christmas. 2010: We revisit the remains of the long abandoned Shadybrook and the ghosts of the inmates left behind. I'm not sure how the story could be continued in a way that doesn't seem forced like a bad movie sequel.

I wonder if Universal will regret not adding to the FFP, so much money they could have made that night