Haunted Houses, Scare Zones, a Candy Factory, Monsters, Goblins, Candy Apples and more. Is there a Quiet Place? My HHN 33 trip.

[Robo56]

Wow I'm obsessed with the look of those Wilting Rose desserts!

Fantastic review as always, I'm following along eagerly

Thank you nouvellefleur. I’am so glad you are enjoying the report.

All the desserts looked amazing for sure. The attention to detail is beautiful. I noticed that on the Wilting Rose dessert they even added the dew drops of water on it.

that was a stunning figurine

Your right Mac it was very tempting. Would have been a nice addition to my Halloween Decorations.

 

[Robo56]

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH CONTINUED

After we were done walking through Amorette’s is was time to head to the parking garage. We were parked in the Lime parking garage. I like it better then the Orange garage. Thankfully when we arrived earlier in the day it was open. In the past if you came earlier in the morning you are directed to the Orange parking garage which is a farther walk from what I call the front of Disney Springs by the World of Disney.

After loading our few bags in the SUV we were on our way. As soon as we pulled out of the parking garage it started raining lightly. It was about 7 pm.

The drive back to Portofino was not to bad.

We had put some miles on our feet today and I was ready to rest.

I took a long hot shower and got into my pajamas. We had snacks and drinks in the room. I called my hubby to tell him of our days events.

The rain was coming down in pretty hard now.

We watched a little TV and before long it was 10:30 pm. I wanted to be rested up for the Unmasking the Horror Tour I had in the morning so I nodded off to sleep pretty quick.


WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH

I got up early and was dressed and ready to head out. I think it was about 7:15 when I went into the Club Lounge. It was fairly quiet this morning.

Portofino does present their food offerings very nicely.

This morning eggs and potatoes were on hot bar.

 

[Robo56]

There is plenty to choose from to have a nice breakfast. The other nice option is the ability to pick up a drink or drinks on your way out to the park or to take back to your room.

Another nice thing about Portofino Club Lounge is there are restrooms to use in the Lounge on your way out if you choose. I really like the decorations in the Club Lounge. It is open and airy and you never feel as though you are being rushed or to packed in with other people.

Of course one of the best things about the Lounge is the wonderful Staff. They really go out of their way to make you feel welcome.

 

[Robo56]

After a light breakfast I needed to make haste and head over to Water Taxi. I had booked the 6 House Unmasking the Horror Tour for this morning.

Last year for the first time the Tours were selling out. This year the tours appeared to still be popular, but I was able to get a day and time that worked for me.

I have been doing the Unmasking the Horror Tour for a number of years now. Mac had told me about the Tours a few years ago and we had gone on a few of them together and I was sold.

IF you are interested in the art and design of the houses and you really want to appreciate the back story on the houses the Unmasking the Horror Tour is the way to go.

There is a 6 house tour and a 3 house tour. The 3 house tour consists of different houses then the 6 house tour.

The tours start at what was once the old Blue Man Group Theatre which is located in between HardRock and RRR rollercoaster in the front. There is a sidewalk that leads back to it.

The 6 house tour is set up so that you do 3 houses typically the ones that are the farthest away in what I call the back of the park first. Then you head back to the Theatre and break for lunch and then do the 3 houses at the close of park.

The tours do involve a lot of walking and standing in the houses as your guide gives you the back story on the houses and points out interesting details.

You are allowed to take photos in the houses in designated areas that the guide will tell you about.

Something new that was started last year and is a wonderful addition is the use of hearing device that is basically earphones that are plugged into a small back box that you can clip on your shirt or pocket that allows you to hear the guide clearly during the tour.

I made it to the theatre with 6 minutes to spare and people were still waiting to get in. The doors had not opened yet.

After about 15 minutes the door opened we were welcomed in and everyone stopped at the podium and checked in and you were assigned to table.

 

[disneyseniors]

Robo: I am interested how the 6 house tour went ? I have the 3 hour tour booked and wonder if I will be able to stand and walk that much. Any infor you give me will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Robo56]

At each seat at the table was a headset and a UMH lanyard and pin.


After our table filled out I gave everyone some Halloween bracelets I had made to share. I also gave one to our guide and I still had some left over and gave them to some of the other guides.

Our guide was the wonderful Jack. He was such good guide. He was very informed about all the houses and pointed out all the interesting details.


It was’n long before we were on our way. It was a little over cast and that made it fairly comfortable walking.



We headed for the first 3 houses that were located the farthest away in back of the park.

We past Museum: Deadly Exhibit on our way.






Our first house was going to be Universal Monsters Eternal Bloodlines.

This house and Goblins Feast were the furthest houses in in back of the back lot.


I really like the Universal Monsters and I was looking forward to this house.

Not only was this house only about the Female Monsters. It was created, designed by all women. So this was an all female concept with a female cast.

Almost forgot the music was scored by a female also.

The cast of characters Saskia Van Helsing. The Monster’s in this house are Marya Dracula’s daughter. The She-wolf. Bride of Frankenstein and Anck-su-namun the female mummy.

A little back story on this house.

Abraham Van Helsing the famous Vampire Hunter had made an oath to rid the world of Vampires. He died from his wounds after finally killing Count Dracula.

His son Hans had took up the mantel of the family in hunting the Vampires also.

Like in the previous Monsters house from 3 years ago the Monsters are trying to get their hands on the amulet Amon-ra which would give the Monsters incredible powers. The amulet would give Marya the ability to walk during the day.

The Amulet was in the possession of Anck-su-namun and Saskia wanted to get it in her hands it before Marya and the She-wolf could get it.

At the beginning of the house Saskia Van Helsing is kneeling at the grave of Hans her brother who was killed by Draculas daughter Countess Marya who was seeking revenge for the death of her father Dracula. Hans was in search of the amulet of Amon-ra.

Saskia found her brother and buried him and vowed to take up the mantel of the Van Helsing Family by destroying Marya who killed her brother.

She knew she needed to get to Egypt and get to the tomb of Anck-su-namun and get the Amulet before Marya can get her hands on it. Marya had special Vampire powers and could lure those she desired to control easily. So the female mummy Anck-su-namun was an easy target.

You see the Van Helsing Crpyt.

 

[Robo56]

While grieving at her father’s tomb Saskia leans up against the wall of the Crypt and the wall opens to reveal the weapons room the Van Helsing have used over the years to rid the world of Vampires.

Saskia studied the various weapons and then chose the crossbow as she had remembered her father teaching her and Hans how to use it as children.

To be continued

 

[Robo56]

Robo: I am interested how the 6 house tour went ? I have the 3 hour tour booked and wonder if I will be able to stand and walk that much. Any infor you give me will be greatly appreciated.

Ruth the problem with the 6 house Tour is there is the extra walking and standing in the houses while the guide shares the information on the houses and it can be a little hard on the back and feet. That being said they do have wheel chairs inside the door at the Blue Man Theatre where the tours start. If you really want to do the 6 house and your son can push you in the chair go for it.

If you are walking I would do the 3 house tour and see how you tolerate that one and move up to 6 house tour next year.

The standing in one place for a while is what gets me.

 

[Robo56]

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH CONTINUED

It is interesting how the design staff used the change to Egyptian scenery to depict Saskia’s trip to Egypt to the tomb of Anck-su-namum to find the Amulet.


The picture mosaics depicted the transition to different story lines of the house.

 

[Robo56]

Anck-su-Namum was not there and Saskia to returned to Europe.

 

[Robo56]

This mosaic of Saskia coming upon a caravan on her way to Draculas Castle.











As Saskia walks closer to the caravan she finds the dead Frankenstein Monster who has been killed by the She-wolf. She can hear the cry’s of the Bride of Frankenstein in the woods as she has already found her mate dead.






I saw this monkey up in the tree.

 

[Robo56]

This next mosaic depicts Saskia arriving at the Castle.




Saskia battles in the Castle with Marya, Saskia kills some of the Vampires minions.

 

[Robo56]

 

[Robo56]

This mosaic transitions you into the room of the house where the battle has now moved if I remember correctly into the remnants of an old church.

 

[Robo56]

Battle ensues again at the church and Saskia is beheaded by Marya.










The next mosaic depicts the next transition to the room where The bride of Frankenstein has taken Saskia back to the Van Helsing Crpyt.

A little interesting side information that Jack shared is that the Bride of Frankenstein hair is actually red with white lightening bolts not black. Because of the black and white movies many years ago people just assumed her hair was black and white.

 

[Robo56]

The last mosaic scenes you see as you are going to exit the house is the battle over the tomb of Abraham Van Helsing of Van Helsing killing Count Dracula.






The body of Saskia Van Helsing returned to her family Crpyt.




Having the backstory on the houses really helps you appreciate them more completely.

Eternal Bloodlines story was really good. The set design was fantastic and I appreciated the artistic details for sure.

Sadly what appeared to be the heroine Saskia did meet her demise.

I know a lot of folks go into the haunted houses with no backstory and still enjoy the houses. The houses are full of incredible Scare Actors and some scenery that can be appreciated in the dark.

Seeing the houses in daylight just brings the houses to the next level.

I’am partial to the Universal Monsters. I really enjoyed the house last year, but this was a great house.

Hats off to the incredible ladies whose talents brought this house to life. I’am going to be waiting for your next house.



To be continued

Next up Goblin’s Feast

 

[Robo56]

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH CONTINUED

The next house we visited was Goblins Feast. It is right next door to Eternal Bloodlines.

A little backstory is that this is a pub that is set up to lure people in and it is actually pub for Goblins, Hobgoblins, Orcs, Trolls and giants to feast on humans.

Goblins Feast is also a festival held once a year for the above monsters to celebrate the day they defeated Elves and Humans.




You get a view of the kitchen of the Pub which is run by the Witch Basilwretch.






You can see who is on the menu.






According to the story Orcs and Goblins are buried in the trees.


Sometimes the families of the deceases will come and have picnic by the tree of their dearly departed.

 

[Robo56]

There was this huge hand that is supposed to come out at times as you walk through the house. It is actually a prop from the old Kong ride. I never saw it move the number of times I went through the house.



As you walk forward from the trees you are actually walking under the Troll bridge. This is not easily understood walking through the house at night.



You come upon a Goblin Village. I’am guessing the same person that designed The Haunting of Hill House, Blood Moon and Deadman’s Wharf: Winters Wake had a hand in the design scene of the little village as it was pretty detailed.

 

[Robo56]

There is a scene of a family of Goblins celebrating their meal during the feast where their little Goblin daughter has come age and is now able to bash the head of her human dinner. That was pretty detailed, but not a photo that was allowed.











This massive Goblin statue with lantern guards the entrance of the Castle of King Pusnubber. Notice you enter the Castle under the bridge.

 

[Robo56]

Not sure who comes up with the names of these characters, but they have a great imagination. King Pusnubber is a interesting name for a Goblin King.

Guess this would be a food chamber holding cell.






The attention to detail is never ending.

Of course you cannot have a Castle without the King’s portrait’s.

This is King Pusnubber’s Father King Rashwaddle the IV