HHN 2014 reviews and trip reports

[heidijanesmith]

Thursday would normally be considered a slower day, but the event is still in its opening week, so it seemed busy even last night.

I don't remember our second time going being as crowded as opening night the last few years, but this is the first time we've gone twice within a week of opening.

Finally got to do AvP last night after using Stay n Scream, and it's definitely the showstopper of the year in my book. The sets are gorgeous, the puppets are incredible, and the house is just down right eerie. I think one of my favorite houses of the last three years.

Bill & Ted is pretty much the same as always...I know some were saying it was so much better than previous years, but I didn't notice

We also did the RECON compound mission last night, and won! The "field agents" are super friendly, and we got a pretty sweet prize bag! The clues weren't impossible, but they're apparently going to get harder throughout the season. That's fine by me. It was fun. If I only had one night to do everything, I'd probably skip it. If you have multiple nights, go for it! Our squad will definitely be playing again!

I am super excited to try the RECON mission this next trip, it looks like fun! I see the "field agents" are only out for a couple of hours, what do they do?

 

[schumigirl]

Busy night last night but weather was great.

My favorite scare zone is still Face off in the flesh.......fantastic creatures and great interaction.

Purge and Maskerade are ok.

Houses were better last night, well the ones we thought were poor were better......good houses were still good.

Roanoke was good.......wouldn't queue for it but the regular queue was only 15 minutes....we walked straight on.

Dollhouse was better than before and the smells were more prevalent than before.......a very good house which had some cool surprises and very weird.

Halloween was stellar!!! Definetely my favorite house ever........had lots of moments with Michael........my family are loving it we got on in about 5-10minutes and the regular queue was 90 minutes. They said they were putting through 80% Express to 20% regular......so it was quick......amazing house.

Walking Dead was a walk on despite regular queue being 75 minutes......I liked this house last night.......had a real jerk in front of me though that may have colored my opinion.......won't do this one again tonight.

Dracula was a huge improvement on last week.........it seemed longer and definetely more scares than before.....would do this one again tonight.

Giggles and Gore I also thought was weak last night........

Bill and Ted was dire. Whoever said they improved this I can't agree with them........we were among a whole section of people who left......it just wasn't funny.......they are trying too hard. I wish they would get the writers back from 2007........that was a funny show.

All in all a really good night.......we left at around 11.30 absolutely shattered......hoping the rain goes off for tonight that has just started now.

 

[philliplc]

Agree Dollhouse was pleasant surprise exceeding expectations for me last night. But then again I am more entertained by quirky mazes with abstract stuff than traditional.

Next night for me is Sunday. Today (Friday) mid-afternoon it's currently pouring, so could be a damp night.

 

[Lizboo]

...what is the smell in dollhouse??

and what are the triggers in giggles and gore?

Can't wait!!

 

[jlay68]

Can't describe the exact smell...just foul!

 

[schumigirl]

...what is the smell in dollhouse??

and what are the triggers in giggles and gore?

Can't wait!!

Outside Dollhouse at first we thought it was someone's fake cigarette.....but it got stronger as we got closer and it was kinda like a lime smell.....but not fresh lime.......and inside there is a room that smells like diapers.....used diapers

 

[Lizboo]

Outside Dollhouse at first we thought it was someone's fake cigarette.....but it got stronger as we got closer and it was kinda like a lime smell.....but not fresh lime.......and inside there is a room that smells like diapers.....used diapers

oh yuckk

 

[Cais]

Face off is the worst scare zone I've ever seen. It's just awful.

I did almost all the houses again on Thursday. It's definitely feeling a lot busier this year than in years past. The only house that's truly weak has to be Dracula. Otherwise, I'm still digging avp, walking dead, and giggles and gore. Roanoake has really grown on me too. We did halloween twice and I really love that house.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[patrickpiteo]

Face off is the worst scare zone I've ever seen. It's just awful. I did almost all the houses again on Thursday. It's definitely feeling a lot busier this year than in years past. The only house that's truly weak has to be Dracula. Otherwise, I'm still digging avp, walking dead, and giggles and gore. Roanoake has really grown on me too. We did halloween twice and I really love that house. Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Yup drac was a waste

 

[Lizboo]

What are the guest triggers inside Gore and Giggles?

 

[hazelsmrf]

I figured this would be the place to ask... I'm debating HHN for Oct 31st. My husband is a huge horror fanatic so of course it's a MUST do for him, and he'd really rather not go alone. The problem is that I'm a huge wimp. Would love to do Rocky Horror, and I can deal with the out in the open scare zones, but the haunted houses intimidate me, I'm claustrophobic and jump scares get me every.single.time. Movie wise I can do Halloween and suspense/slasher movies, I do not handle Hellraiser or more gory/torturey ones well. So. Is it true that the actors can't touch you? I won't have anything grabbing me in the dark? Do I *have* to go crawling into tunnels, I'm claustrophobic? Maybe I just need to drink a few shots before going in?

 

[patrickpiteo]

I figured this would be the place to ask... I'm debating HHN for Oct 31st. My husband is a huge horror fanatic so of course it's a MUST do for him, and he'd really rather not go alone. The problem is that I'm a huge wimp. Would love to do Rocky Horror, and I can deal with the out in the open scare zones, but the haunted houses intimidate me, I'm claustrophobic and jump scares get me every.single.time. Movie wise I can do Halloween and suspense/slasher movies, I do not handle Hellraiser or more gory/torturey ones well. So. Is it true that the actors can't touch you? I won't have anything grabbing me in the dark? Do I *have* to go crawling into tunnels, I'm claustrophobic? Maybe I just need to drink a few shots before going in?

It's great fun they won't touch you. They use hiding and jump at you with sound effects. But you can avoid them throughout the houses.. Go you'll both have a blast been to 7 we try to go every year..

 

[DanniDeer]

I am super excited to try the RECON mission this next trip, it looks like fun! I see the "field agents" are only out for a couple of hours, what do they do?

They're not really "out" so much as the contest is out for two hours starting at sundown. Ours for Thursday was 7:18-9:18.

You're gonna need a public instagram or Twitter account and a squad name! We may or may not have gotten to the park a little bit early for stay n scream to scope out clues...the map will be released around 11:30 that morning! :]

 

[plutotek]

...I wasn't greatly impressed. We were there Thurs, 9/25, didn't do the EP, but made it through TWD, Halloween, Dollhouse & Dusk til Dawn. Although each house had a single aspect that was effective, overall they weren't any better than a haunt that you might find at a high school. Yes, the forest scene was good in TWD, and the marionette was a twist, and the last Michael did get me, but overall they were a yawn. The biggest surprise I got going through each house was I didn't really get any surprises. I did enjoy getting a closer look at the make-ups in Face Off, but the rest of the street scenes were ho-hum.

It also didn't help that the wait-times kept coming up as not posted. Don't advertise it if it's not going to be there.

I did find it amusing that it seemed as if the park was more crowded during HHN than during the day. So much for the slow season.

 

[Senator Tressel]

What are the guest triggers inside Gore and Giggles?

There is one where there's a red button and it says not to push it. I pushed it and got wet. Then the next time through, I had my friend push it. I still got wet.

 

[DanniDeer]

There is one where there's a red button and it says not to push it. I pushed it and got wet. Then the next time through, I had my friend push it. I still got wet.

There are a ton of buttons and switches throughout the house! There are some bigger ones that have bigger payoffs but still some smaller ones that switch light colors or a burst of air. So much fun.

 

[Marquibiri]

There are a ton of buttons and switches throughout the house! There are some bigger ones that have bigger payoffs but still some smaller ones that switch light colors or a burst of air. So much fun.

Awesome!
This is reminding me of the Penn and Teller House... that one had lots of GATs!

Cheers!

Marquibiri

 

[DanniDeer]

Awesome! This is reminding me of the Penn and Teller House... that one had lots of GATs! Cheers! Marquibiri

That's what I kept saying! I loved that they secretly told you the order to press the colors in P&T!

 

[TheGoodes73]

I figured this would be the place to ask... I'm debating HHN for Oct 31st. My husband is a huge horror fanatic so of course it's a MUST do for him, and he'd really rather not go alone. The problem is that I'm a huge wimp. Would love to do Rocky Horror, and I can deal with the out in the open scare zones, but the haunted houses intimidate me, I'm claustrophobic and jump scares get me every.single.time. Movie wise I can do Halloween and suspense/slasher movies, I do not handle Hellraiser or more gory/torturey ones well. So. Is it true that the actors can't touch you? I won't have anything grabbing me in the dark? Do I *have* to go crawling into tunnels, I'm claustrophobic? Maybe I just need to drink a few shots before going in?

I used to be the same way. They can't and won't touch you. If I have a couple of drinks, it takes the edge off. You can always just keep your eyes on your feet, and hold onto your husbands hand or shoulders. If you look down, they still try to scare you....but it works for me. Give it a try....we really love it. The more you drink, the less scared you will be. I'm not saying get wasted...but just enough to take the edge off, and then keep a light buzz. You will have a blast!

 

[muenginerd]

I figured this would be the place to ask... I'm debating HHN for Oct 31st. My husband is a huge horror fanatic so of course it's a MUST do for him, and he'd really rather not go alone. The problem is that I'm a huge wimp. Would love to do Rocky Horror, and I can deal with the out in the open scare zones, but the haunted houses intimidate me, I'm claustrophobic and jump scares get me every.single.time. Movie wise I can do Halloween and suspense/slasher movies, I do not handle Hellraiser or more gory/torturey ones well. So. Is it true that the actors can't touch you? I won't have anything grabbing me in the dark? Do I *have* to go crawling into tunnels, I'm claustrophobic? Maybe I just need to drink a few shots before going in?

AVP has one area that is a short ceiling you have to bend down for. Maybe 10ft long? They will not touch you. Not only is it a hazard but is dangerous to performers too. There are jump scares but there are also continous lines of people moving. So you can see most the jumps ahead of you. Generally rule of thumb is to look around corners and that's where people are hiding. If you make eye contact or see them they generally wont scare. It loses the effect.

I didn't think these houses were any worse than most. There's nothing bad I can remember that would really hurt you. Most the stuff that caught me was out in the open. Giggles and Gore may have been the goriest but it's in a carnival theme so it was hard to be disgusting.....