Pumpkin

This is just a thought, but what if the literary quotes are broader hints regarding one centralized concept, instead of many centralized hints (literature) regarding one broader concept (the event theme or event icon)? For example: Maybe they all are related to just one, singular house or one house/scare zone combo. I'm not sure how a lot of the work or credit is divided up within A&D, but what if Emeric is hinting at something that he had sole or direct creative license over? Are there any classic or influential literary works celebrating an anniversary this year that do NOT belong to the horror genre? For me, it would be more of a challenge to take something well know and turn it into a dark or gory, comprehensive variation than it would be to take something bizarre and macabre and simply depict it just as that, bizarre and macabre. Poe and King are fun, but they're almost too easy. Maybe they are embracing the mashup trend, but trying to create their own hybrid instead of just creating an attraction based on preexisting source material; like, instead of having a Pride and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies scare zone or an Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter house, they've created their own seemingly random coupling. For instance, The Great Gatsby meets an alien invasion, like War of the Worlds, or if you want to go dark humor Mars Attacks. I'm NOT saying that that specific idea is what Universal is going to do this year, so no one misunderstand me, please. It's just an example. Separately, has there even been a main attraction house in recent years (late 90s to now) that wasn't directly related to the event theme or icon (once that era began)?

We don't have much of anything to speculate on right now, so please forgive me. These are anticipated dates based on the pattern of the past two years, so please understand that what I'm about to say isn't concrete. If you've been a scare-actor before, then expect to receive an email announcing the reunion audition sometime between Thursday, June 16th and Friday, June 17th. Expect the audition to be at 6PM on Tuesday, July 5th or possibly Tuesday, July 12th due to the closeness of the 4th of July holiday. Get there early, like add an additional hour on to whatever time you're plan on arriving. If you currently work somewhere else in the parks, then make sure that you have your temporary transfer papers signed by your direct supervisor or the head supervisor/manager of your home department. Last year, after immediately being seen by the judges we were told that transfers weren't being accepted at that time. I think that may have just been due to the 20th Anniversary and the fact that seasonal entertainment employees were coming out of the wood work to be a part of it. Typically, transfers are welcomed without issue, provided that the person has used the appropriate chain of command to get permission. But, just in case, anticipate that you may be asked to return that Saturday for the internal makeup audition or the following Tuesday for the first opened casting call. If you're new, then come to that first casting call I just mentioned and, again, get there early. The sooner you audition, the greater your chances are of getting chosen. Back on track. I don't think Universal has specified enough for us to know if the old shows have been scrapped. Like, Bill and Ted will probably be back in full force because that show's construction is constantly evolving with the times and not HHN, but I'd guess that the rest are up for revamp, replacement, or re-imagining. I don't think they will re-imagine or even slightly revamp Beetlejuice or Rocky Horror, even though I personally think that both are deserving of it, and Bill and Ted will probably get some kind of new technical attention. I could really see Universal turning it into a permanent 3-D show, as was rumored last year, at least that's a believable venture to me. I honestly wouldn't mind a Shock Treatment/Rocky Horror mashup, but I'm in the minority. ... Now, that's a brilliant idea. Back off track. lol

Dr. Jimmy is correct; I'm Nicole, AKA Pumpkin 2.0, apparently. People's hopes keep getting falsely raised when they see the handle, which I promise wasn't my intention when I picked that name. : \ I joined the Vault less than a month before it went down, so I didn't really create my presence -if it can even be called that- in the community until I came here. That was the special event I mentioned before. We didn't really use the tape as dancers, but I believe it was laid down for the choreographers and coordinators to see from above on the stairs. It was supposed to mimic the diamond pattern that's on the ground in front of the park entrance and the globe, so we were told at least.

It's been more than a few months since I've posted, so firstly, "Hello, again, everyone!" It's been fun catching up on the speculations so far. And secondly, this isn't so much speculation as it is a general -and probably obvious- question, but are the sprung tents typically the first to receive real construction attention every year? I've been doing a special event this week with Entertainment, and we used an empty SS22 for rehearsals. Also, I recently worked an Events detail for Grad Bash, and I noticed some of the pole bases for the Esqueleto Muerte scare zone were outside in that area. Was just wondering if the tents were used for storage, and if the sound stage houses were built piece by piece every year within their rightful spaces. Someone had once mentioned to me that the materials were stored yearly for cost efficient recycling, but to what extent the houses were disassembled wasn't mentioned.

I went as a guest on Saturday, October 9th. The HHN 20 Years of Fear scarezone with Pumpkinhead Jordan and Ashley the cheerleader (not sure which cast you guys are in) was absolutely great, everyone out there was simply wonderful. Mary Shaw on wheelies came up behind me and hissed, to which your Alice said, "Looks like you made a special friend!" Priceless. And so was the old school Looney Tunes tiptoe chase that your Pumpkinhead did behind me for about 2/3rds of the zone. You really had my boyfriend laughing and feeling more at ease about coming (he's not a horror person by any stretch of the imagination). Thanks to the Gentleman Body Collector for posing with me for a pic. Hats off to your entire cast, seriously! Zombiegras, the trombone player with glasses and the clarinetist, you two were just so unique and fun. I was a music major, so you made the band nerd in me very happy. I loved interacting with you guys! At 11:30PM in Psychoscareapy, one of the scare-actors in the strobe room towards the end recognized my Horror Night Nightmares shirt and said, "I'll give you nightmares!" You made my night. You were the only person who verbally acknowledged my shirt, let alone tried to acknowledged it at all -as far as I know-. Bless your heart for even being able to see in that room at all. hah Thanks for the shout out! Hallow'd Past, Cast B. I love you. hah Thanks everyone for putting up with my waving and cheering and special thanks to Bobby and Shoe for grabbing my attention. ; ) And, of course, props to my Collectors. You two rocked it even without yours truly. As if there was a doubt. : P

I had something similar happen when I was in Dead Exposure in 2008; feeling something hit your mask that you didn't see coming is such a crappy feeling. Last year in Dracula I had a girl intentionally blindside me with one. I was the bride on the ground in the library room, and when I pounced (I had to scare straight ahead of me to keep the line moving forward) she was immediately to my left and thought it'd be fun to delay reaction a saber lunge into my ribs. I wish they'd rethink selling some of this stuff. While the chances of use getting seriously hurt is low/circumstantial, that's what it will probably take for them to even consider the dangers.

The Fear pins are only being sold at the Universal Store at the front of the park, so I was told by the cashier that helped me at least. Also, when I stopped in last weekend, they were not out on display, I actually had to go up the the main register, tell them I was looking the guest artist pin of Fear, and then they reached in box that was behind and below the lip of the counter and handed me one. Not sure why it seemed so secretive, but it definitely felt like they were keeping it hushed.

I've done the same in the past. I won't even try to scare/preform if it's too bright or if their blinking makes me feel like I'm going to have an epileptic seizure -not that I know what that actually feels like, but it can still be stressful-. The merchandise I dislike the most is the glowing lightsabers... Seriously, completely straight faced, who thought that selling those was a GOOD idea? Whoever made that decision needs to share the same pleasurable experience as some of us scare-actors have had: being poked backward through a boo hole, in full costume, by a drunk with one of those things who just won't letup. Needless to say, it's not fun.

Completely agree.

Zombieman, thanks so much for taking the time to share this info. It's felt impossible sometimes to get real answers regarding HHN merchandise. I'm just a scare-actor; I don't work in any other part of the park or do any other event with them. Most of the time, when I ask higher ups or go inquiry at the Universal Store I get a "deer in the headlights" stare from whomever I'm asking. I'll definitely consider having a hoodie shipped here to FL, even if it is minimalistic.

I'm Girl #02, Scene 7 for Hallow'd Past.

Props for the guys, but no love for Spine Girl. : P

Just some thoughts on the site reveal, the conference call, and the discussion here. I think it’s interesting that hallowed is spelled hallow’d in the name Horror Nights: The Hallow’d Past. I tried to research a possible reason/significance for using that distinction, but came up empty handed. It might just be spelled in that Old English style as a throwback to the archival theme for the house. I took a course in college that focused on Stanly Kubrick’s use and interpretation of source material. Eventually, we analyzed The Shinning and got into the nitty-gritty concepts of the Overlook Hotel (Is it more than a building? Is it actually an entity? Are the impressions of its past fabrications or real? Is the presented story even the first known encounter or is it nightmare/reality within a nightmare/reality). I think that is where Universal is trying to take PsychoScareapy: Echoes of Shadybrook. I don’t think it’s going to be straight up ghosts; I think it’s going to be a mix of different psychological elements that will give you subtle feelings of déjà vu while you walk through new, but related concepts in the house. Mike said we’d be pleasantly surprised with where Zombiegeddon goes. For the moment, that’s good enough for me. Regarding Cindy, a good point was brought up in that conference call: we would never have had a Caretaker if it weren’t for her. In a way, Albert Cain carried on Cindy’s existence and the fans carried her untold legacy until Universal was ready to appropriately showcase her. She’s not the event icon, but she’s represented this year in “full glory.” Because she was bounced from her original chronological order, I’m really interested to see if the intensity of her house makes the Scream houses look like prequels in comparison. I’m curious if she’ll be portrayed as a spin off or the primary idea. Lastly, I’m happy that the updates will continue for the next few weeks and through multiple outlets (the official site, LT, LT on FB). For me, it really helps keep my excitement going. In past years, I’ve gotten pumped when the site fully reveals and it makes me thrilled to start scaring again, but then I start to lose morale because there’s 4-6 weeks of barely any new activity. And even if the main site doesn’t update too much more, at least they have given the fans a lot to be content, dare I say, even happy with. Sometimes, an enthusiastic and happy fan that draws others into the hype is worth a lot more than an elaborate website.

Exactly what I was going to post.

I missed a call on Thursday evening for partially the same reason. My office is 2 stories under ground level. : ( Reception is the pits. My guard was also totally down though. I never expected to hear back so fast.

Someone mentioned that there are no metal detectors at HoS and little security precautions. Out of curiosity, does Busch Gardens serve alcohol at the event? It's not a direct correlation (if people intend to hurt others, sobriety's got nothing to do with it), but I'd feel even more vulnerable and paranoid trying to haunt there than I sometimes do at Universal Orlando.

Yes, some people are. I always take at least one day off to attend the event as a guest and, lo'n'behold, last year I forgot to take my little spitfire mace key chain out of my purse before we left the car. Long story short, I did the "drop off the item with Guest Services/front gate security and you'll get it back at the end of the night" and guess what the guy behind me was registering? A concealed pistol. It actually shook me to the core a little; that was right around the time when the razor and hook rumors started.

As a guest participant, I enjoy the experience of "houses based on movies" a lot more than "movie themed houses." It's a subtle difference, but it's a crucial one none the less. It's a matter of perspective and execution, as always.

Someone else remembers 13 Ghosts! Awesome. lol

Not all of these are solely film related, but they’re ideas I’d like to see entertained regardless. I agree: The Hills Have Eyes would make a really fun scare zone, and I’d love if they could figure out how to make the terrain more immersive, not particularly the sky but definitely the ground. It would be impossible to use real sand and pebbles because of the high traffic and because of normal park operation necessities, but the concept of a desert-canyon-esk scare zone is really chilling to me if the ambiance is right. And it’d be fun to hear “California Dreaming” piping through the street speakers. Another agree: Silent Hill would make a phenomenal house, especially if they used the environment/set progression from the film’s story ark as a basic rubric for the various rooms. It’s clean, the harder work is already done for them, and there are a lot of effortless possibilities to work with. I think it could translate with much more dimension than some of the other popular game to cinema franchisees. Not to mention, who wouldn’t be afraid of a real life, studio quality props and prosthetics Pyramid Head. O_o As for stories evolving through art and media idioms, I know most people’s primary candidate is Stephen King. To me, he’s a hard person to judge – Q: would he personally go for a full blown homage or house, A: who knows-. I’m not sure how the licensing of some of his characters has been dealt with in the past for HHN, but when it comes to film he’s had his few select beefs with the interpretation of his content and characters. Truly, I’d like to see his son, Joe Hill, get involved with HHN in some way shape or form. If anyone is into comics and has checked out Locke and Key, you can at least understand that this guy has imagination. Does not have the caliber of recognition that his father does, but I’d really enjoy seeing him utilized in a guest or honorary position for the future.