hunnylvr

Seriously, man? smdh

I'd be most annoyed to see The Walking Dead back - EVER. I think they more than paid their dues with this damn show, and now, let's move on. I'm becoming convinced that we aren't getting another single announcement until that countdown clock expires.

Not sure who you are, but I find it obnoxious and rude for you to come in with the type of comments you did. Mystique is FAR from condescending. She's actually a very kind, carefully thoughtful person who brings a lot to this forum. She's also VERY intelligent. So back off. Whoever pissed in your Cheerios doesn't post here. I have no problem with everyone giving their opinions on the spec and the event - that's what we are here for - just like MZ said. But personal attacks, unwarranted at that, are not acceptable. I've made some terrific friends here, and I can't just sit by and watch someone crap on one of them. Whatever your issue is, maybe take it off the personal attack line and we can actually discuss it.

I so agree with this. However, I think Aiello has way too much to do now to mess with the Twitter account. Sucks for us because whoever is doing it now doesn't seem to give a shit.

I'm sorry.. but this made me giggle. If Uni actually came up with this "idea" and put it out there just like you did, you'd say, "OH MY GOD! Dumbest idea ever! How the hell could they logistically even make that work!? This is going to suck!" LOL

No

While I understand your frustration (as do many here obviously), please don't think you're wasting your time or money to come to this event. Even when they piss me off, Universal still puts on my favorite event of the year, and it's still the best six weeks of my life.. every. single. year. Since you've never been, it won't matter to you if they do the Purge or Evil Dead (annoying because to us it's a repeat) - you've not seen any of it. I think we are all so frustrated and annoyed right now - and probably feeling pretty neglected, like a bunch of irate children - and it is bringing much more negativity here than is probably warranted. Don't let that deter you or get you thinking you just pissed away a lot of money for nothing. You didn't. You'll have a blast, and if you know what's good for you, you'll listen to your wife, and you will make the annual trip. I do, and I've not regretted it yet. This will be my 13th year (lucky 13!) in a row traveling for this. I will make one suggestion to you though - if you are staying for a bit, you should consider squeezing in a night at Howl O Scream in Tampa. It's only about an hour and 20 minutes drive, and it's worth it. Someone on these boards suggested that to us a few years ago, and we enjoyed it so much, it is now part of our annual tradition. Splurge for the guided VIP tour. It's 100% worth it - you get unlimited front of the line on all houses and rides as many times as you want, a personal guide for the night, dinner and show at Fright Feast (marginal food, but the show is entertaining), and free drinks and snacks all night. I've decided to send tweets to HHNOrlando every day until we get something. I was thinking if we ALL did that, maybe we can at least annoy them. That would be satisfying.

While I actually enjoyed Purge Election Year, why in the holy hell do we need another Purge anything? And why are we still waiting on any kind of announcement?? Pardon me, but what in the actual fuck?

Actually it's 1982 to 2004 according to the chart from the New York Times Thank God I am not even close to that category - I'm in the cool, yet cynical Gen X group.

Lord help me, I actually agree with that analogy - not the "it blows" part because the show itself is pretty good. However, those statements are 100% true. Now, if Aiden Sinclair were performing, that WOULD add to my reason to attend (not like I actually need any more reasons, but it's the point).

Yawn If you're referring to the marketing group only, I agree with you. NOT A&D

"harsh criticism" isn't "harsh criticism" when you resort to assuming they are "lazy". That's not criticism. That's just being a jag off

I signed up for the soul thing from my phone minutes after it was tweeted last week. I never got anything, so I wondered if it didn't work correctly from my phone. So, I did it all over again yesterday from my computer. I've not gotten any emails. As for the AOV show... it was a decent show. I MUCH prefer something like Jack's show though. I've never understood why they don't add on to the shows thing a bit more.. I guess maybe money? However, it always amazes me that we walk past a dark Animal Actors stage every year when it could easily be used for something else. We just got back from a stay at The Stanley Hotel in Colorado, and while we were there, we attended a show done by Aiden Sinclair which was a "theatrical seance". I'd never heard of him before, but I guess he was on America's Got Talent and they loved him. I can see why. I won't go into great detail right now, but I will tell you I was completely gobsmacked by a few things he did - one of them very personal to me. I have tried to think of every possible way he could've done what he did, and I've come up with nothing. The skeptic in me ran away into a little corner after seeing this guy. He would be AWESOME at HHN using the Animal Actors stage. I'm told he will be appearing on Penn & Teller's show in a few weeks. This would be the kind of show that would perfectly fit with HHN. I fully intend to tell A&D about it when I see them this Fall. I think the shows are important to help control the crowds, keep the atmosphere and give variety. And I still think a "very special Horror Makeup Show" during HHN should be a no-brainer. Last comment - I really, really hate it when people here resort to implying that anything being created for HHN is "lazy". That's not only disingenuous, but it's just bullshit. Those guys work their asses off to make this the best Halloween event anywhere. It's not their fault (and it SURE ISN'T "LAZY") that the Corporate jag-offs limit them at times. They do the best they can with what little freedom they get. I believe they are honest-to-god passionate about this and to demean them in such a way is shitty. So, knock it off. Does it suck that we are in an information wasteland? Yes, but get over it. We will get the details soon. I'm not "apprehensive" or "concerned" about spending the $$$ to travel to HHN multiple weekends because in the last 12 years I've been attending, I've never been disappointed. Why would I be disappointed now? I trust them to give me the best six weeks of the year. They always do. Have a little goddam faith.

Just one more thing on King: He is scheduled to do a limited book tour this Fall. Of course, they listed the Chicago date AFTER I had already booked my flights to Orlando for HHN, so I will miss him here. However, if anyone gets the chance to go to a book signing, ASK HIM why he won't do HHN. I did it once several years ago at an event where he took audience questions. He completely dodged the question though - saying something like "they wouldn't WANT me to be involved" or some such similar thing. He got a cheap laugh from the audience who clearly had no idea what I was talking about. However, my friends at A&D actually mentioned to me they saw the YouTube video and loved that I had the nerve to challenge him directly. I wonder if some of his other fans challenged him directly if he might start thinking about it? Or, he may give zero f***s. I don't know, but it doesn't hurt to try.

We've made our own HHN playlist that we start playing pretty consistently once summer starts (and sometimes randomly throughout the year). The one song that really, really makes me think of HHN is Room of An Angel from Silent Hill. You know, that was back in the days when we would get some really cool teaser trailer for the house announcement. I didn't LOVE Silent Hill as a house necessarily, but the music is AWESOME. It's first on the list.. followed by Alessa's Harmony (also from SH), and the God Particle from Angels and Demons. Those three give me chills.. I can literally visualize huge sections of scarezones when I listen to this.. and I see it in slow motion like a video. As for express - I wouldn't go to HHN without Express.. not even going four weekends. I'm too old for that standing in line crap. Plus, it's always fun to play the game of "should we stand in the regular line for this house and save the express for later"? To see how many times we can get thru one house. Timing is everything. My record on a busy night was going thru the original AWIL 5 times in a night. Btw, still annoyed, so tweeted this:

As for alcohol... I realize there are people who feel comforted at a "scary" event when they can have a few drinks. For some, I guess it takes the edge off. A few drinks is fine. For me, however, I am not one of those people who needs that.. I want to feel the full immersion and be fully aware of every little detail. Don't get me wrong, I like to have drinks every now and then, so I'm not some kind of Puritan. However, I will never understand people who think it's a good idea to spend that kind of money to go to an event and then pretty much not remember most of it. It's the same thing with people who pay $150 a ticket to see a concert and pass out in the first five minutes. If you want to drink THAT much, stay home and buy a keg and have your friends over. Don't come to an event and puke all over everything, harass or injure scareactors (or other patrons) and just be a general dick. I've said this over and over - if I saw someone groping or hitting any scareactor, I would lose my shit on them. Edited to say I'm with Peoria on this (of course I am) - I'll usually get one drink to get the cup. LOL One more thing - to make you all jealous. I'm leaving tomorrow to go spend several days at The Stanley Hotel. It's been on my bucket list FOREVER, and since my 50th birthday is this Sunday (I cannot believe I'm this damn old - but I'll still walk circles around you at HHN, heheheh), I decided it was time. This was before they announced The Shining. It's kismet. What a perfect year to finally do this - stay at the haunted place that inspired the whole thing - and then see it come to life all over again at HHN. Anybody want a room 217 keychain? (remember, in the book it's room 217 - not 237 like the movie).

I truly hope you're on to something here. THIS is Halloween to me! I LOVE this kind of stuff! The pumpkins, the scarecrows, and characters that are made from those things. Evil's Roots and Grown Evil were my favorite scarezones of all time. I know we've talked previously about how this event has to have many different types of things to cover the tastes of so many haunt fans. However, I truly believe that it should ALWAYS have something that screams traditional Halloween like this. It just makes my heart warm. )

I truly love them all (I know, I sound like a parent), but my personal favorite is The Asylum. We've had more screams running through our place from that room, so, of course, it holds a special place in my heart. LOL! Seriously, we were there a couple weekends ago, and a whole girls' softball team showed up to play. They crammed 13 teenage girls into that room (a number NOT recommended, but they wanted to do it), and the screams were deafening It was hilarious. Also, that room was our first to open, and we put a LOT into it - full immersion - all the way down to the smells (my idea). As a haunt fan, I'd recommend that first. Watch the videos on our website - I think you'll enjoy. www.dare2escape.com

I've been to both events - Hollywood and Orlando. I believe I've done Hollywood 3 times. I prefer Orlando by a mile. Maybe because it feels more immersive to me since I don't have to go up and down giant lit escalators to get from one section of the park to the other, and also because Orlando does original stuff. Oh, and I like the guys at Orlando A&D very much. If Hollywood was the only HHN event, I'd probably go, but not every year and certainly not multiple weekends. I am an Orlando fan til I die, I guess. Actually, I just confirmed the promo code is already on our site. Any of our forum members can enter promo code Nightmares when booking and it's $5 off any game you book. I'd love to know who plays and what you think! Thanks Mark!

Seriously? I can't even... OMG. Dude.. I just messaged my partners at D2E and told them we will put the Nightmares promo code on the site early. I know how all of you HHN fans are- book early and all that. I will let you know when the promo code is up and what it is.

We have a room called The Asylum, and we promote the fact that we can alter the "scare" level from 1-10 based on what the customer wants. We've got some good effects in that room, not to mention an extremely immersive set design (we had one of our friends from Universal A&D help us with the set, so I'm not joking or bragging). We also have one called The Ringmaster which isn't scary like the Asylum, but it's creepy. If you go to our website and watch the videos, you'll see. Haunt fans love our rooms. It would be great to have our Nightmares family come and play. We were at the same conference and same tour. It's possible we talked to each other and didn't even know it. Owner to owner - if you want to play our room when you're in town, please private message me THANK YOU Alice! You really should play The Ringmaster at least.. you could handle it.. maybe.

We travel from Chicago for multiple HHN weekends every year. We've been doing this since 2005. It is, hands down, my favorite event and my favorite time of year. We are fortunate to have a family condo in the area which allows us to do the multiple thing. FYI - for those traveling, if you ever want to do multiple weekends like that, I would highly recommend looking into renting a condo in the Kissimmee area (only 20 mins to the park). You can get them VERY cheap at that time of year. Just had to comment about Hell's Gate - it's a GREAT haunt. The guy who owns/runs it is a friend of mine, and he's one of the smartest, kindest, weirdest people I know. I just love him. We were thrilled when Hell's Gate finally opened as it has been a labor of love for him for a few years. He also runs Statesville Prison haunt which is about 10-15 mins drive from Hell's Gate. I would highly recommend both haunts. If you'd like another scary escape room when you come in for HHN, please come visit us at www.dare2escape.com I dare you to play The Asylum. We are going to be running discounts for all our Nightmares friends during HHN. This invite goes to ALL of you.

Frankly, I'm annoyed. There is no reason we haven't gotten a little something more by now. It's not funny It's not suspenseful.. it's just annoying.

Not to be daft, but what am I looking at?

Me too. I laugh when I think about reading the spec right here on Nightmares about Gothic - that it had gargoyles and that would be the focus - and I thought (never said), "how stupid". Of course, the house blew me away, and it's one of my top 5 houses in the 13 years I've been attending. You just never know. Although, Gothic was an original.. Saw is not. But I won't go into it hating