Vampyr

I have to agree on most, if not all, of the points that were mentioned by criticalanalysis. Most of the people "disagreeing" with his points and saying "WOW you're basing the event off of silly things" were not around to see the event at its prime. They've only been around for the "IP-era" of the event. (Watching videos on YouTube doesn't count.) It's just extremely disappointing seeing how great the event WAS and comparing it to what it has become today, a money-making machine rather than an event that you could TELL was put together by extremely IMAGINATIVE and creative people. Imaginative is being able to create 8 amazing ORIGINAL haunted houses, scarezones and even a live show whose story lines all coincide with each other (HHN 15). Watching a movie or TV show and turning it into a haunted house does of course require creativity, but imagination, not very much. All the while prices are skyrocketing, which yes, is normal for any event, but instead of getting more, we're getting the SAME, if not less. So if you're going to turn a blind eye to the "accessories" of the event (website, advertising, quality of printed material, etc) and just base the event off of the haunted houses, sure, the event is a blast. Universal is the best in the business in that department. Will I be there on opening night? Hell yes. Have I paid over $300 for a Frequent Fear Pass? Absolutely. But there's nothing wrong with comparing an event that has been apart of your life since pretty much childhood and being saddened by it's current state. This is a forum, which, correct me if I'm wrong, is a place where people are open to "whine, cry and complain", so please stop the whining, crying and complaining of the people whining, crying and complaining.

As an HHN frequent visitor/Frequent Fear Passholder for the last 14 years, all I really want are the feelings and emotions I got when I walked through the smoke screen of the Caretaker at the Port of Evil, or while watching the elaborate and well-themed Terra Queen’s ritual or the goose bumps of walking up to the BEATIFULLY decorated front entrance of The Carnival of Carnage. I want the “retro HHN” back, instead of this conglomerate-ran sell-out of an event it has become. Bring back elaborate scarezones like Fright Yard and Field of Screams. Bring back the well-made queue videos reminiscent of the original Body Collectors or Hellgate Prison. Bring back the thrilling and INTERACTIVE houses like Terror Mines. And PLEASE get rid of the terrible dubstep garbage music that was pumped through the park this year and bring back some Midnight Syndicate. And don’t even get me STARTED on the websites and back stories. How in the world do you go from creating websites like you did for Ripped From The Silver Screen and The Carnival of Carnage, to just filling your site with copy+paste images and text with embedded YouTube videos?! I don’t think I’m asking for much, especially when the prices of these Frequent Fear Passes go up every year. As far as HHN 26, I’m more excited to see how they’re going to execute the event with all this limited space and with The Walking Dead “supposedly” being gone, than the actual event content itself. Is this the year we’ll get the “mega-HHN” people love to rumor about with both parks being completely open? As far as an Icon goes, I don’t really care what or who it is, as long as we have a “face” for HHN. I’m tired of IP logos being the “Icon” of HHN for the past couple of years. It’s so sad to see where the event has come. Maybe I wouldn’t be nagging if they were making-up for all their aforementioned “mistakes” if they were pumping out some quality houses and scarezones. Mind you, Universal’s houses are the best in the business when it comes to design and theme. But we’re not getting BETTER haunted houses. We’re getting the same houses we’ve been getting the past few years, if not worse. Removing effects from houses just because a microscopic percentage of your guests complain or get “hurt” is not a valid reason in my books. But hey, at the end of the day, yes I will be there on opening night with my Frequent Fear Pass (with Express) in tote and I will enjoy myself as much as my nostalgia will let me.

Sooooo, is the other one supposed to be Eddie?

Poor Jason and Freddy. When I went through this scarezone this past Thursday night, they both had a mob around them, wanting to take selfies and pictures. Like, they couldn't even walk. Fresh meat in a pack of lions. I wouldn't be surprised if they were removed from this scarezone for that reason. It was a little ridiculous.

So one of the biggest worries was the show changing after opening weekend. I'll be watching it for the first time tomorrow night, so I'm wanting to know if it has changed at all?

Weakest Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure in the last thirteen years. Terrible! If you only get to go to HHN once this year, definitely pass on this.

I watched The Caretaker's kill while on my way out the park around midnight.

For those who went to the Team Member preview, was the Man Who Can't Breathe wearing his mask? For opening night I didn't see a single mask. If it wasn't for my friend who pointed it out to me that that was him, I would have just continued assuming he was just a random demon. He's not really scary without the mask. (He looks like Zordon when he's dying from the Power Rangers Movie. Lol)

Welp. Guess it's time for me to file bankruptcy.

Does anybody have more details about the merchandise event on Wednesday? Will the store be open during regular park hours, a specific time frame or after park hours?

Frequent Fear Passholder w/ Express here. As much as this sounds sad, depressing and a little embarrassing, but I'll be attending MOST nights alone. So if any one here is in the same boat as I am, hit me up! I'd love some company from fellow HHN nerds.

I'm just going to conclude that my card doesn't work anymore. It hasn't worked ONCE since I've had it, not even last night when TJ scanned it at Finnegan's. Is it possible that my card got demagnetized by my cell phone? They both have been in the same pocket a few times. =\

All I can think of is that it's a metaphor to symbolize the bright lights of Vegas.

Seeing as how there's only about 2,000 people playing and 3,000 cards in production (right?), there should be plenty for everyone who's actually interested or cares enough. I'm also interested though if there are specific hours that the cards are available to pick-up and if they'll be available to pick-up any day throughout the entire event.

Sadly (and depressingly) none of my close friends are big enough fans of HHN to get a Frequent Fear Pass with me, so I'm always open to meet-up with any new people to go through a few houses together, since I'm usually there alone. Just send me a message and we'll set something up. I'll be there most (if not all) the FFP nights.

I know THIS year's Alice Cooper houses are different, but, someone correct me if I'm wrong, isn't the one we have this year, Welcome to my Nightmare, an exact copy of the one they had last year (or the year before)? The one they have now is more of like a "sequel" to the one we have this year.

Haus of Gaga. Each scene dedicated to each of her videos. The Born This Way scene would be the creepiest. I can already see it. *sighhh* But ANYWAY, I have to go ahead and agree with many of the other reviews I read. This house just doesn't make any sense, and I'm a sucker for a solid storyline. And seeing as how HHN mainly attracts the younger crowd, this house isn't going to relate to many. And knowing it's a copy of the same house from Hollywood, I feel it's here more for marketing purposes. Oh well! =/

Universal are parking Nazi's. I feel they care more about those $15 than Guest Service. It's all about money, and unlike most of the other parks in Orlando, there isn't anywhere nearby to park. You can park outside the property but it would be quite a hike to the parks. They also have a promo for FL residents where parking is free after 6:00pm, but I'm not sure if that's vaild during HHN, and knowing Universal, probably not. You can also park somewhere along Kirkman Road and take the Lynx! I believe it's bus #37. =)