Halloween Horror Nights 25 Wishful Thinking

[JackTheREAPER]

Hey I've brought this up a whole bunch of times in earlier posts in speculation, but haven't gotten any conversation out of it. Just an interesting thought:

What if we see the "Prop Master" icon that was potentially set up to be the icon of HHN24, but was scrapped? I was really interested in him, and his whole concept. One of my ideas was that he could possibly be used in a new maze. If anything, since he's a "Prop Master", or "collector" if you will, MAYBE, we'll see him take Fear's role as the overlord. Here's my point of view if this were to happen:

Our anniversary house, or "best of" house features this Prop Master. He has collected all the props and past content from HHN's old mazes and characters. With that power, he resurrects HHN's past, including the icons, past franchise characters/themes, and rooms of all the fan favorite mazes. So basically, it's A Hallow'd Past. I mean, seriously. It would be the Prop Master's Prop Warehouse. Therefore, it would be way to similar to Hallow'd Past, so they'd have change it up more. Imagine if they redid Hallow'd Past, since they have improved so much in maze design. Anyways...

This is just a well imagined idea of mine that was just thrown onto this thread... any thoughts on the Prop Master?

Edited February 6, 2015 by JackTheREAPER

[Ecto_Freak]

I think the Prop Master was more of a fan with a lot of free time.

[PeoriaBJJ]

Hey I've brought this up a whole bunch of times in earlier posts in speculation, but haven't gotten any conversation out of it. Just an interesting thought:

What if we see the "Prop Master" icon that was potentially set up to be the icon of HHN24, but was scrapped? I was really interested in him, and his whole concept. One of my ideas was that he could possibly be used in a new maze. If anything, since he's a "Prop Master", or "collector" if you will, MAYBE, we'll see him take Fear's role as the overlord. Here's my point of view if this were to happen:

Our anniversary house, or "best of" house features this Prop Master. He has collected all the props and past content from HHN's old mazes and characters. With that power, he resurrects HHN's past, including the icons, past franchise characters/themes, and rooms of all the fan favorite mazes. So basically, it's A Hallow'd Past. I mean, seriously. It would be the Prop Master's Prop Warehouse. Therefore, it would be way to similar to Hallow'd Past, so they'd have change it up more. Imagine if they redid Hallow'd Past, since they have improved so much in maze design. Anyways...

This is just a well imagined idea of mine that was just thrown onto this thread... any thoughts on the Prop Master?

I'd dig a house like that. Thought Hollow'd Past was excellent. Very fun house.

[JDW]

What if we see the "Prop Master" icon that was potentially set up to be the icon of HHN24, but was scrapped?

I heard that rumor but never knew where it came from. The Prop Master was an old concept from... 02/03 I wanna say (all the years blend together). It was one of the years where they pitched 3-4 overall themes so could have been multiple years. Multiple themes get pitched, reused, cannibalized, retrofitted, and recycled all the time. Same goes for houses and streets. I mean Creatures! was originally supposed to be AWIL back in 2008, NLC character were pitched back in 2004, etc. So it is possible. The only way we won't end up seeing an idea is if they go ahead an fully release the unused idea (Like they did with Fate).

There are a few icon Ideas I'm really hoping for. One I would even say I'm half expecting soon. But it all depends on the direction HHN is going. Icons have been pushed aside and frankly the only reason I even think Jack was teased this year is because it is the 25th anniversary. I'm on the fence about whether the other icons will be back or if Jack will have any more presence than to sell merchandise. Just following current trends to fit.

Honestly, Jack is overused. I wouldn't mind him being involved but maybe only to be the catalyst to another, fresher icon.

Need more input on this year and I expect I'll get some more within the next month or so.

[Cooger and Dark]

Hey I've brought this up a whole bunch of times in earlier posts in speculation, but haven't gotten any conversation out of it. Just an interesting thought:

What if we see the "Prop Master" icon that was potentially set up to be the icon of HHN24, but was scrapped? I was really interested in him, and his whole concept. One of my ideas was that he could possibly be used in a new maze. If anything, since he's a "Prop Master", or "collector" if you will, MAYBE, we'll see him take Fear's role as the overlord.

I have pitched a similar idea but I would prefer Singapore's Puppet Master to be the one pulling the old icons strings (see what I did there?). I mean, if we have to share with another park, Singapore seems like the one we should be sharing with.

Edited February 6, 2015 by Cooger and Dark

[BSC]

Honestly, Jack is overused. I wouldn't mind him being involved but maybe only to be the catalyst to another, fresher icon.

My thoughts exactly. While it would be nice for a change to have an icon this year, I'd much rather have a completely new idea. Throw Jack on a few t-shirts or something if they have to, but come up with an icon that we haven't seen before.

[JackTheREAPER]

Well, if you think about it, they definitely wouldn't tease a brand new icon for the 25th anniversary like they did with Jack on that video. It would give it away. Maybe, they used Jack to show that the event will have an icon, making us think it's Jack, but really, it's a new icon that we have never seen before. Just an idea

[Legacy]

Well, if you think about it, they definitely wouldn't tease a brand new icon for the 25th anniversary like they did with Jack on that video. It would give it away. Maybe, they used Jack to show that the event will have an icon, making us think it's Jack, but really, it's a new icon that we have never seen before. Just an idea

That backfire so badly. Remember, most people don't follow the intricacies of the event. They're expecting Jack. If Jack is a red herring it will just piss people off.

[ThNdIzNiR]

For some odd reason, it seems as though clowns are being used more and more at all the haunted attractions I've attended over the past few years. More and more clown/circus themed props and masks are popping up as well. Maybe it is some sort of horror popularity cycle. That said, Jack is going to be involved at HHN 25 in some capacity... whether it is a clown/anniversary type house, a scare zone or a return of his show is the mystery for now.

[foREVer56]

My hope is that they don't just use Jack as a marketing ploy and they bring ALL the icons back as a anniversary celebration. But not wasted on a Hollow'd Past type house or FEAR Revealed type zone. I'd love for them to be used in separate houses someway. Make The Director house ANDI3, Storyteller host Scary Tales 4, Usher take us through the Universal Palace Theater, Lady Luck through a casino, etc.

[HomemadeHaunt]

My hope is that they don't just use Jack as a marketing ploy and they bring ALL the icons back as a anniversary celebration. But not wasted on a Hollow'd Past type house or FEAR Revealed type zone. I'd love for them to be used in separate houses someway. Make The Director house ANDI3, Storyteller host Scary Tales 4, Usher take us through the Universal Palace Theater, Lady Luck through a casino, etc.

A casino eh? You mean Penn and Teller 2? Edited February 9, 2015 by HomemadeHaunt

[PeoriaBJJ]

My hope is that they don't just use Jack as a marketing ploy and they bring ALL the icons back as a anniversary celebration. But not wasted on a Hollow'd Past type house or FEAR Revealed type zone. I'd love for them to be used in separate houses someway. Make The Director house ANDI3, Storyteller host Scary Tales 4, Usher take us through the Universal Palace Theater, Lady Luck through a casino, etc.

cool idea... that would make for a great event! Maybe HHN50?????

[Tich0las]

Here's an idea...

What if Universal decided to sell a Skeleton Key type of access pass? It'll give you access to an exclusive room at the beginning of the house which sets up the story. Each skeleton key room is an introduction to the house by one of the former mascots. At the end of the presentation, you are scared into the house where the line has been held to allow you to go through the maze mostly alone with the skeleton group.

[ThNdIzNiR]

I have a HHN situation over here at my place. This year we were planning on going on the second week like we usually do. We were also planning on staying an extra day so that we could go to HHN Thurs-Sun (4 nights). But now, I'm not so sure. This morning I got woken up by my wife who was quite upset. She's borderline frantic telling me that HHN starts on Friday, Sept. 25th this year (which is the weekend we have to go due to work). I didn't believe it at first. For as long as I remember, there have been 2 weekends in Sept. and I'm pretty sure on week 2 HHN is usually open on the Thurs. Below was copy and pasted directly from the HHN Orlando website. I still have hope that maybe these dates are posted more as a guideline and are not the real dates. If they are real, Universal picked a pretty ridiculous time to cut back 3-4 days of HHN operation. I mean... I thought the 25th anniversary was going to be something extra special. If this is true, they're not off to a good start from where I'm standing. This kind of reminds me of when Universal destroyed the Jaws ride the same year they had Jaws big digitally remastered blu-ray release.

THE TERROR WILL RETURN SELECT NIGHTS SEPT. 25 - OCT. 31, 2015

Edited February 9, 2015 by ThNdIzNiR

[mystiquephreeq]

I have a HHN situation over here at my place. This year we were planning on going on the second week like we usually do. We were also planning on staying an extra day so that we could go to HHN Thurs-Sun (4 nights). But now, I'm not so sure. This morning I got woken up by my wife who was quite upset. She's borderline frantic telling me that HHN starts on Friday, Sept. 25th this year (which is the weekend we have to go due to work). I didn't believe it at first. For as long as I remember, there have been 2 weekends in Sept. and I'm pretty sure on week 2 HHN is usually open on the Thurs. Below was copy and pasted directly from the HHN Orlando website. I still have hope that maybe these dates are posted more as a guideline and are not the real dates. If they are real, Universal picked a pretty ridiculous time to cut back 3-4 days of HHN operation. I mean... I thought the 25th anniversary was going to be something extra special. If this is true, they're not off to a good start from where I'm standing. This kind of reminds me of when Universal destroyed the Jaws ride the same year they had Jaws big digitally remastered blu-ray release.

THE TERROR WILL RETURN SELECT NIGHTS SEPT. 25 - OCT. 31, 2015

Two weekends in September is actually new. 2008 started on 9/26. 2009 on 9/25, 2010 on 9/24 and so on getting earlier and earlier. I remember reading that the earlier dates actually caused some issues with rehearsals and SZ set up. EP was usually a week to 10 days prior to the event start date instead of the Wednesday before. There was more time to correct issues. (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about the rehearsal times being hurt by the earlier date.)

[ThNdIzNiR]

Awww man. We started going since HHN 20. I think the 2 weeks in Sept. may have started in HHN 21. So for the past 4 years we got accustomed to the schedule I guess. But it's hard for me to really grasp why they'd shave off at the least 1 whole weekend of business. I've been to opening weekend in the 3rd week of Sept. and although it's not as busy as the middle of Oct., they have to be making money. The park has a lot more people in the evening at HHN than during the day around that time of the year from what I've seen. If they had issues with rehearsals and SZ setup, that would more than likely mean that they didn't plan properly. Maybe back in 2011 they got caught with their pants down because they didn't expect it, but now they're going on 5 years to figure this stuff out. Assuming they do switch back to the older schedule, maybe the 25th is still incorrect hopefully. I definitely wouldn't complain if the opening night was moved to the 24th (Thurs.). If they raise the cost of tickets while shaving off 3 nights that HHN will be open that would be extra special.

[Legacy]

25th is correct. And I think it has less to do with logistics then they wanted the 25th year to start on the 25th.

[IheartNARWHALS]

Here's an idea...

What if Universal decided to sell a Skeleton Key type of access pass? It'll give you access to an exclusive room at the beginning of the house which sets up the story. Each skeleton key room is an introduction to the house by one of the former mascots. At the end of the presentation, you are scared into the house where the line has been held to allow you to go through the maze mostly alone with the skeleton group.

I do like this idea, but the problem I see with this is that the lines are bad enough, now hold the house hostage to a single group would be ridiculous. I would say for this to work, it should be a room at the end of a house with a separate exit.

[ForeverEvil1]

I do like this idea, but the problem I see with this is that the lines are bad enough, now hold the house hostage to a single group would be ridiculous. I would say for this to work, it should be a room at the end of a house with a separate exit.

Agreed. I actually thought of this idea for a while now. This is probably how it would work. Right after the end, show your key or whatever, and see an alternate finale. .

Edited February 10, 2015 by ForeverEvil1

[Mrevio]

Here's an idea...

What if Universal decided to sell a Skeleton Key type of access pass? It'll give you access to an exclusive room at the beginning of the house which sets up the story. Each skeleton key room is an introduction to the house by one of the former mascots. At the end of the presentation, you are scared into the house where the line has been held to allow you to go through the maze mostly alone with the skeleton group.

This is somewhat like my suggestion, but with the LT scanner app instead.

With the bluetooth, a door can secretly be unlocked in the middle of a house. a "bonus room" that would shed light on the storyline of Legendary truth.

Edited February 10, 2015 by JDW
fixed coding issues

[Tobias]

Here's an idea...

What if Universal decided to sell a Skeleton Key type of access pass? It'll give you access to an exclusive room at the beginning of the house which sets up the story. Each skeleton key room is an introduction to the house by one of the former mascots. At the end of the presentation, you are scared into the house where the line has been held to allow you to go through the maze mostly alone with the skeleton group.

I'd be totally down for a skeleton key type of room for certain houses, it would be a fun way to tell a backstory and/or have LT involved. Now knowing how Knott's and California's Great Adventure does it, here's my .02 cents for HHN.

At Knott's a skeleton key room is a small seperate room at the beginning of a maze where a small group experiences a little mini show which usually sets up the backstory of the maze and gives a little scare before getting sent into the start of the maze. They do NOT get the whole maze to themselves, they just merge with everyone else. (Which is what HHN would have to do since holding up the entire house for one little group would go against their goal of trying to get as many people through the house asap.)

For HHN, a special room would have to be at the beginning. It's really the only place one could make a little seperate line to place people in for it. Having the room in the middle or the end of the house runs into several major problems such as...

1. When the room is closed as a show is going on, where are you going to put people showing up for it? Can't have them blocking the line. Once again, that would go against trying to get as many people through the house asap.

2. How are people going to find the room? Over at CGA last year their SK rooms were actually in the middle of the mazes and you essentially had to find them based on hints/clues given by a staff member at the entrance. Sounds neat on paper, but in practice not so much considering people were more focused on looking for the room instead of enjoying the maze. Also, there were accounts of people almost missing the room compleately if it wasn't for a staff member running after them.

3. Finally, if the special room is going to explain the backstory and such, what's the point of having that room in the middle or at the end of the house?

As special backstory/LT room would be totally doable, but it has to be at the beginning.

[zombieman]

Knotts' Skeleton Key rooms ranged from exceedingly cool to a total waste. Most ended with some cheap pop scare but nevertheless added to the story. They had a separate line for people who wanted to see the SK room. Unfortunately, because each SK room lasted upwards of several minutes and could only accommodate 10-12 people, the SK waits could be an hour themselves - sometimes exceeding the standby wait for the house.

To make matters worse, the Skeleton Key queue doubled as the "Fast Lane" queue (Knotts' version of Express). There were LOTS of Fast Lane holders in these queues who waited an hour, not understanding why the standby queue was rushing past them. It was not clearly posted that if you didn't want to do the SK room, you could cut in front of people in line who were waiting for SK room (who were subsequently pissed off at you for cutting in front of them)...

For Universal, I would assume a SK would similarly act as an uber-Express Pass. But we all know the Express line itself can be huge at HHN, so they would NEED to do a third queue for SK holders who wanted to go through the SK room. Logistically, that would not be easy for them. I could see a SK queue at HHN easily being 90 minutes and night of the event.

And while a SK concept may sound neat for HHN Orlando, they already have something that no place else anywhere has - the Unmasking the Horror tour, where you get a far more comprehensive backstory than any SK room could present. Personally, I'll take the UTH tour as opposed to an extra queue.

Edited February 10, 2015 by zombieman

[JDW]

Honestly, At this point to do anything like that requires slowing down the queue they would have to:

A.) Drop attendance (HA!)

or

B.) Add a desperately ticketed setup of houses that add on top of the already 8 houses... not that I want that. they could do it at IOA.

BUT it would reduce the onslaught of the conga line and it would free them up to do a lot more in the way of interactivity. While they are at it they could see it as adults only, give it more adult themes, not allow alcohol in the add on section, and that would reduce the morons levels even more.

[JDW]

Posts about the in-park survey have been removed, please DO NOT post or talk about anything related to this matter. Thanks!

From Universal Studios Hollywood:

"This information was disclosed to participants in a confidential consumer survey conducted by Universal Studios Hollywood theme park for internal business purposes. This information should not have been made public as was disclosed without our authorization and in violation of our rights."

Soo. Don't discuss the survey's please. It seems silly as it was already leaked... but we don't want trouble from Orlando side either. I'll be going back sometime today and removing any mention to them.

Edit: Done

[HomemadeHaunt]

Honestly, At this point to do anything like that requires slowing down the queue they would have to:A.) Drop attendance (HA!)orB.) Add a desperately ticketed setup of houses that add on top of the already 8 houses... not that I want that. they could do it at IOA.BUT it would reduce the onslaught of the conga line and it would free them up to do a lot more in the way of interactivity. While they are at it they could see it as adults only, give it more adult themes, not allow alcohol in the add on section, and that would reduce the morons levels even more.

Reduce moron levels? Ha. I like the sound of this. I would like an adult only area/house/experience. I think they could do a lot with it.