Is Halloween Horror Nights Truly the Scariest of Them All...?

[BuckeyeGuy28]

On the Travel Channel, they had tons of shows on about the scariest Halloween attractions in America, and Halloween Horror Nights was not mentioned ONCE! Not at all! Zip, zero, nada!

I thought that Halloween Horror Nights was supposed to be the mother of all things scary, the Halloween . But if Travel Channel doesn't list it in any of their shows as one of the scariest attractions, than is it? Every time I go, I get a pretty good scare out of it, and haven't come anything close to it ...and if it's not the scariest, it's got to be the most detailed and advanced, right?

Has anybody been to a Halloween attraction scarier than HHN? Or do the TV stations just not mention it? I want to know because I thought I was pretty big and bad for surviving--now I'm not so sure

 

[sknydave]

The travel channel is owned by Cox communications, who have several deals with Disney....

 

[BuckeyeGuy28]

Even in their 'Best Halloween Traditions' (nothing scary, but still fall-themed fun), they had nothing about Disney.

If there is something scarier out there, I want to try it!

 

[inkkognito]

Problem is, how do you define "scary?" To me, scary is the feeling I would get if I was riding on an airplane with a burning engine and plummetjng to the ground or if I saw a semi truck barreling towards me head-on on a single lane freeway. To me, Halloween attractions are more about being startled than scared, i.e. someone jumps out at me and surprises me. Even then it's not a total surprise because when you go to something like HHN, you know it's gonna happen.

I still love Halloween attractions, but I find "scary" to be a misnomer. HHN is definitely the most detailed Halloween event I've ever been to, with some of the most elaborate houses, but it doesn't scare me more or less than many of the ones I've been to in Chicago. As a matter of fact, Silo X (which sadly doesn't exist anymore) was maybe even a little better because at the beginning they spun each person around, shined a blinding flashlight in their eyes, and pushed them into a pitch black maze. It was soooo cool! You'd be in there with a bunch of strangers and you quickly became friends as you all hung onto each other and tried to feel your way through. Still not quite scary, but you did sometimes get the feeling that you might never make it out.

 

[v_gan]

Personally, I think the backwoods haunted attractions are the scariest. Like the ones in barns, corn mazes, and on haunted trails.

Halloween Horror Nights is definitely the most impressive and visually stunning haunted attraction I've ever been to, but I never get scared there. Maybe it's because I'm in Universal, and I know I'm safe. I don't know. I think one of the only ways I can get scared these days is if I'm not 100% sure I'm safe.

If I could give one piece of advice to those in charge of HHN, it would be to pick up some scare tactics from low-budget haunted houses. They have to work with what they've got, so they know how to give a good scare.

 

[BuckeyeGuy28]

My goodness, I only want to know if anybody's been to something 'more startling' or 'more creepy' than Halloween Horror Nights. I'm sure that if I was on an airplane with a burning engine or whatever I'd be scared too. I just want to know if there really is a Halloween attraction out there that outdoes HHN.

Thanks, v gan. Low-budget attractions deliver more frights but less enviornment. Gotcha. Now that I think about it, I once went through a mall haunted house and it was pretty creepy, but nothing fancy

 

[v_gan]

Thanks, v gan. Low-budget attractions deliver more frights but less enviornment. Gotcha. Now that I think about it, I once went through a mall haunted house and it was pretty creepy, but nothing fancy

Yeah, if the scareactors at Halloween Horror Nights would work a little harder on really scaring people than on following a script or the theme of the house, I think HHN would be a trillion times better than it is now. I love going just because I love all the scenery and all the detail and work that goes into the houses. But it would be nice to get scared a few times while I'm there

 

[Metro West]

Personally, I think the backwoods haunted attractions are the scariest. Like the ones in barns, corn mazes, and on haunted trails.

I agree...mainly because of the scenery and the sense of "remoteness". I've seen the Halloween shows on TLC and Discovery and some look really cool.

 

[DOOM1001]

I heard a couple of days ago that Haunted Attractions magazine had Halloween Horror Nights as the #1 Halloween Event out there,I think Knott's Berry (Scary) Farm was #2 followed by Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa and Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.If you've been to Horror Nights there's no way any other event compares in size and detail and the way the event is different every year.I've gone like 14 years out of the 17-18 years the event has been held.What someone else said about Travel Channel's owner having deals with Disney has to be true as maybe 5-10 years ago Travel Channel's theme and amusement park shows were all about Universal and rollercoasters,Disney wouldn't even get a mention anywhere on Travel Channel.Starting about 5 years ago it's been Disney,Disney and more Disney,Samantha Brown shows,best of Disney,Disney Imagineering etc....I remember about 6 years ago or so Travel Channel did have a full hour show about Horror Nights.I know because I have every theme park,amusement park,waterpark,Disney show taped going back 12 years or so!!!

 

[Metallicat]

IMO, the Atrox Factory in Leeds (Alabama) is way scarier than HHN's. We are going again next weekend and I'm actually dreading it. Linda Blair will be there. Bill Mosley (Otis from House of 1,000 corpses & Devils rejects) is there tonight. the house is VERY long and terrifying. things sometimes touch you in pitch black darkness too. I've been through it a few times. every year it is a little different. surprises.... can't wait for Oct. 29th at HHN's. will be my 9th year in a row attending.
http://www.atroxfactory.com/

 

[v_gan]

IMO, the Atrox Factory in Leeds (Alabama) is way scarier than HHN's. We are going again next weekend and I'm actually dreading it. Linda Blair will be there. Bill Mosley (Otis from House of 1,000 corpses & Devils rejects) is there tonight. the house is VERY long and terrifying. things sometimes touch you in pitch black darkness too. I've been through it a few times. every year it is a little different. surprises.... can't wait for Oct. 29th at HHN's. will be my 9th year in a row attending.
http://www.atroxfactory.com/

I went to Atrox on the 3rd to meet Elvira . No one would go through the house with me, though. So I'm hoping to go again sometime this coming week I haven't gone through the house in two years, so I'm excited! The first time I went through the house (in 2005), it was one of the scariest experiences I've ever had. I literally ran out at the end when a chainsaw guy slammed open a door and started chasing us. I had never been so scared in my life! It was amazing!

 

[macraven]

I heard a couple of days ago that Haunted Attractions magazine had Halloween Horror Nights as the #1 Halloween Event out there,I think Knott's Berry (Scary) Farm was #2 followed by Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa and Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.If you've been to Horror Nights there's no way any other event compares in size and detail and the way the event is different every year.I've gone like 14 years out of the 17-18 years the event has been held.What someone else said about Travel Channel's owner having deals with Disney has to be true as maybe 5-10 years ago Travel Channel's theme and amusement park shows were all about Universal and rollercoasters,Disney wouldn't even get a mention anywhere on Travel Channel.Starting about 5 years ago it's been Disney,Disney and more Disney,Samantha Brown shows,best of Disney,Disney Imagineering etc....I remember about 6 years ago or so Travel Channel did have a full hour show about Horror Nights.I know because I have every theme park,amusement park,waterpark,Disney show taped going back 12 years or so!!!

History channel has Knotts B. Farm behind the scenes viewing on the 27th and 31st this month.

in the past years, they have been doing the HHN event.

 

[Metallicat]

I went to Atrox on the 3rd to meet Elvira . No one would go through the house with me, though. So I'm hoping to go again sometime this coming week I haven't gone through the house in two years, so I'm excited! The first time I went through the house (in 2005), it was one of the scariest experiences I've ever had. I literally ran out at the end when a chainsaw guy slammed open a door and started chasing us. I had never been so scared in my life! It was amazing!

Isn't it scary?

DH was a little dissapointed to have missed Elvira, but I think he was just wanting to have his picture taken with her for his myspace page.
We are going either Fri. or Sat. night. if you are there on the night we go you could walk through with us. it will me me, DH, and our daughter (who is 26)

I hope Linda Blair is nice. I've heard she can pitch a fit if someone takes her picture without getting permission first.

We met Robert Englund (Freddy Kreuger) last year. he is very nice and the year before we met Gunner Hanson (Leatherface from the original Texas chainsaw massacre) and he we nice too.

I wish someone would tell the people at Atrox to put in some restrooms! those port a potties are awful!

 

[DeblovesPoohbear]

It's up there, I haven't been in a few years but we would like to go back
have to wait til the kiddies are older

This week, my DH and I are going to the Eastern State Penn in PA
That's was just voted the #1 haunted attraction of it's kind
It used to be a real prison and if you have ever watched the show about
it on the Travel Channel, it's supposed to be haunted
They used to torture the inmates there, they have Al Capone's cell
I can't wait

 

[DOOM1001]

It's up there, I haven't been in a few years but we would like to go back
have to wait til the kiddies are older

This week, my DH and I are going to the Eastern State Penn in PA
That's was just voted the #1 haunted attraction of it's kind
It used to be a real prison and if you have ever watched the show about
it on the Travel Channel, it's supposed to be haunted
They used to torture the inmates there, they have Al Capone's cell
I can't wait

If you watch Ghost Hunters on Sci-Fi they had a show at Eastern State prison and it was definitely "ACTIVE" as they went back again to investigate it.

 

[Metallicat]

It's up there, I haven't been in a few years but we would like to go back
have to wait til the kiddies are older

This week, my DH and I are going to the Eastern State Penn in PA
That's was just voted the #1 haunted attraction of it's kind
It used to be a real prison and if you have ever watched the show about
it on the Travel Channel, it's supposed to be haunted
They used to torture the inmates there, they have Al Capone's cell
I can't wait

I saw that on the travel channel. it looked REALLY scary.

Theres an old Steele Mill in Birmingham that is suppose to be haunted. I believe it. I felt like there were eyes watching me from up in the rafters. I wouldn't walk through it alone for a million dollars! it was featured on the Fox channels scariest places on earth.
here is a video
http://www.frightfurnace.com/Videos/detail.asp?VideoID=6

 

[DeblovesPoohbear]

If you watch Ghost Hunters on Sci-Fi they had a show at Eastern State prison and it was definitely "ACTIVE" as they went back again to investigate it.

That's why I think it will be so cool, a really hanuted attraction
They even give tours during the day and the place is still that creepy in the daylight

 

[Funky_dino]

I must admit I don't find it particuarly scary. I find myself laughing at things as i go through the houses. Maybe I am just weird hehe

 

[JLTraveling]

I think for pure scare factor, nothing beats the ones in genuinely haunted locations. I've worked in the haunted amusement industry off and on for years, so I'm nearly impossible to "scare." But I went to one near Nashville last year in a haunted prison, and my cousin and I both were nearly in tears by the end. So freaking scary! Does anybody remember Terror on Church Street, that was in downtown Orlando? That building was legitimately haunted too, and I think Terror was incredibly scary.

Still, I think for pure immersion, theme and backstory, nobody can beat HHN. It may not be psychologically terrifying to me, but the whole event is extremely well done. I love the sets, the costumes, the makeup and all the elements, even if I don't get "scared."

 

[DOOM1001]

That's well put HHN probably isn't the scariest of them all,but is by far the best done event anywhere!!