Official HHN XX Reviews [MINOR SPOILERS]

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

A bag of cookies with your name on it, available on 10/3 only.

Or a beer @ HHN. Your choice.

*AHEM* ... and just how can we get cookies and/or beer???

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Anyway...I had a great time but didn't meet up with anyone so maybe next time on October 3rd.

We'll see you on the 10th!!! ... hopefully

I also wanted to let the newbies know that just about every restaurant in the park which the exception of Lombard's was open last night...including...drum roll please...Universal Studios Classic Monsters Cafe!

Lee is pleased to hear this ... very pleased!!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

We added a link to HHNXX opening night photos to our blog.

DIS Unplugged- Show Director Mike Aiello: Universal Orlando's Face of Fear

 

[keishashadow]

*AHEM* ... and just how can we get cookies and/or beer???

cookies or beer for me please, thinking of the combo is rather yucky

although it's exactly what i think butterbeer will taste like (yes i know it's non-alcoholic)

 

[Jason71]

Wow, after years I finally have a sticky to my name!

Went back Friday/Saturday, seen every house at least twice (Saturday was surprisingly uncrowded). My current take, in approximate order.

Hallowed Past: Gets better every time as I spot more and more details. The tunnel, the scene choice, the actors...every thing just seems perfect.

Catacombs: Everything I said in my initial review still stands.

Zombiegeddon: I always like the "humor" houses, and this one doesn't disappoint. One of the few houses better in the daytime, so you can read all the fake posters on the wall. After dark, a lot of the jokes get lost (although you can watch the awesome introductory video).

Hades: Clever theme, well-executed. Good scares throughout.

Psychoscarapy: Another case of good scares, although maybe too obvious/trite a theme. Missed a bit of the humor from the last houses of this name.

Legendary Truth: I love the set design, clever idea, some cool technology--but just didn't gel for me. Scares somewhat lacking, too.

Orfanage: Something about the "Jaws" house, it always seems to disappoint. Still don't get the animal masks (other than they wanted to recycle costumes from The Hallowed last year).

Havoc: Not the worst house ever, but nothing particularly memorable/interesting/scary. Felt like I'd seen it before.

Found out Saturday no early entry from IoA. Was this a first weekend thing, or new policy?

 

[phamton]

Wow, after years I finally have a sticky to my name!

Found out Saturday no early entry from IoA. Was this a first weekend thing, or new policy?

No, it's permanent this year. There is no Stay and Scream area in IoA this year and no shortcuts from IoA to Universal for HHN.

 

[Melissa<3Disney]

No, it's permanent this year. There is no Stay and Scream area in IoA this year and no shortcuts from IoA to Universal for HHN.

Aww bummer.. I'm gonna have to rethink my plan then!! Thanks for the info!!

 

[oldwildernesspeacock]

Figured I'd start a new thread for this. Friends got me a ticket for the preview last night, and while delays cost us a lot of time (Bill & Ted ran like 25 minutes late), I got so see some. SLIGHT SPOILERS.

Hallowed Path: A nice "greatest hits" house. A real treat for those of us who have been going for years (Alice from Scary Tales! The Body Collectors!), but first timers might be confused by the lack of thematic consistency.

Catacombs: I liked this one a lot. Really captures the feeling of being underground, a lot of scares.

Legendary Truth: Didn't make it to this one in time (ended up with maybe 3 hours in the park), but friends who did and team members around the park all rave about it. Definitely plan to hit it Friday night.

Bill & Ted: My one disappointment so far--was really looking forward to this, but it fell completely flat. Plot is never B&T's strength, but this year seemed especially random. Nothing particularly funny, either--it's like we're supposed to laugh just because we recognize the pop culture characters. Didn't help that a lot of the bits (Tom Cruise, Lady GaGa) felt recycled from previous shows. Hoping some re-writes can salvage this.

Headed back Friday, hoping to catch the rest of the houses.

We have planned numerous trips to Universal for HHN and XX was no exception.
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure was one of the highlights. I admit I did not know who Justin Beiber and Lady Hit were, but after an explanation from younger folk and seeing the show twice this last Saturday, we were laughing non-stop.
The amount of pure physical entertainment was noted after the show during the meet and greet with Bill and Ted. Both young men played their roles as if they starred in the movies. Knowing that they still had more shows to put on, they were cordial, and polite to their fans even though they were soaking wet from the performance.
The meet and greet after the show, is a nice touch to complete the experience. This could be a reason for the delay in some of the shows.
I was told this is a new Bill. You could have fooled me. Thought both were around for years.
Thanks guys and gals for a great show.

 

[MichelleXL]

Gotta ask... any Avatar references in Bill & Ted?

I'm hoping to go out on Thursday, provided the rain stays away

 

[4greatboys]

I finally got to go on the 25th.

My top 3 were Hallowed Past, Zombiegeddon and Hades (only got to do it once and it was closed later?).

Disappointed in Psychosareapy. This is the house I had looked forward to the most. The ones in the past have always been my favorite. And yes I do wish they had a bathroom scene or atleast the smell in the house.

Orphanage--went halfway through the house before we saw any scares. I don't think it was cast change because they had been stopping the like for that. Hopefully I will see more next go round.

LT--love the theme.

Catacombs--was okay. I didn't really get any good scares. I'm hoping for more next go round.

Havoc--sorry didn't care for it. Seems like the Spawing slightly rethemed.

 

[oldwildernesspeacock]

Gotta ask... any Avatar references in Bill & Ted?

I'm hoping to go out on Thursday, provided the rain stays away

Not a one.
They are semi-PC and I was surprised that there was not a reference.
No Tiger Woods either.
Have fun.

 

[MichelleXL]

Not a one.
They are semi-PC and I was surprised that there was not a reference.
No Tiger Woods either.
Have fun.

Aww, that's a little disappointing to hear.
Bill & Ted has always been my favorite ritual at HHN
I'm really hoping it doesn't fall short this year.

 

[Jason71]

No, it's permanent this year. There is no Stay and Scream area in IoA this year and no shortcuts from IoA to Universal for HHN.

Thanks--kind of a shame, easier to get to IoA by 5:45 than US by 5.

 

[Berlioz70]

Catacombs--was okay. I didn't really get any good scares. I'm hoping for more next go round.

I can't speak to the scares, but I love the historical elements of Catacombs. I really like that the Plague Doctors are designed based on real facts.

I do not want to post any spoilers, but for those that are interested, here is a great page with more information!

Plague Doctors - History on the Net

 

[AmandaYoung]

I went on Saturday the 25th. If anyone is looking to go next year on a not-so-busy Saturday night then check out opening weekend. I thought it would be slammed, but it was totally the opposite. Beautiful weather and the longest wait was 20 minutes. Totally different compared to October 24th of last year. We did have s&s passes, and the holding area by Finnegans was pretty empty. We started over at Legendary truth and went clockwise around, which was a great plan. The waits were a little longer over at the soundstages later in the night, which is why it's good to get those out of the way, but still no waits like last year. We had all the houses finished in a little over 2 hours! I felt like it just barely got dark and we were done. Then it was off to wander around the scares zones. I didn't watch any of the shows, but definitely would have had plenty of time after doing all the houses, scarezones, and even a few rides. It was a great night!
The three soundstage houses (Legendary Truth, Psychoscareapy, and Hades) were my top ranked. The rest were pretty un-remarkable to me.

 

[inkkognito]

So is the Bill & Ted meet and greet a permanent thing this year? We saw them out after the show on opening night and got a photo, and that was the first time I ever saw them there. I was very excited about getting a pic but jealous that DH was wearing his B & T t-shirt.

 

[BuckeyeGuy28]

Here's my review based on my two trips this year so far...

1.) Legendary Truth--AWESOME house. At first I wasn't all tahr impressed but if you pay attention to the incredible details in it you become completely immerssed in the story and it gets intense. The scares cone from the amazing set design and innovative scare techniques. You should not miss this house, I've been on it more than any other one this year.

2.) Psychoscareapy--this is not only darker than the previous Psychoscareapy houses, it's one of the darkest this year. Very intense, but without the humor that only criminally insane people can bring, it's ordinary for a haunted house--still good for some nice scares and GREAT strobe lights

3.) Hades--in my opinion (and many of my friends) this is the scariest house. The scareactors in here are relentless. About halfway through I actually want to get out but I keep coming back for more anyways. A great house, but definitely intense

4.) Zombiegeddon--may be my favorite house this year. The experience really starts in the queue with some satirical and pretty funny video clips about ZAP Zombie Awareness Program. The details from propaganda-type posters to gory little effects, this house offers healthy scares along with a good dose of comedy. Don't miss this house either.

5.) The Orfanage--the only house I was not too impressed with. I only went through once, and it was light out which may have affected my experience but I couldn't follow the story or get really scared by it. If you have to miss one it's this, which is good because it'll always have the longest wait.

6.) Havoc--LOVE this house. I thought it was very well-done, but the scares are really only decent (except for a few great ones I won't give away) and the set is recycled from The Spawning but something I can't put my finger on makes me like this house.

7.) Catacombs--grossly underrated. I appreciate it's historical accuracy, it's atmosphere, and some impressive sets--oh, and it scared the crap out of me on my first time when we obviously had timed the scares right. Do this one despite the critical reviews.

8.) Horror Nights--you have to do this as it defines the event this year. Not very scary, but the setpieces are amazing. All the great scenes and props from previous Horror Nights are back and better than ever in a long, quality, satisfying 'museum'.

There are really no bad houses this year. XX is Horror Nights at it's finest

 

[inkkognito]

I totally agree with you on Catacombs. I have no idea why it's getting such hate. They run me ragged every time. That one, Havoc and Hades are full of old school scares. Those three are tops for me this year (although I do give props to Legendary Truth for the special effects).

 

[Lou Holtz]

I totally agree with you on Catacombs. I have no idea why it's getting such hate. They run me ragged every time. That one, Havoc and Hades are full of old school scares. Those three are tops for me this year (although I do give props to Legendary Truth for the special effects).

I was there on Thursday and thought I might have spotted you. If it was you, your hair was different from your picture, but it sure looked like your husband.


Anyway, Catacombs was the scariest for me. I'm terrified of birds and pretty much screamed "IT'S A BUNCH OF DAMN BIRDS" through the entire house. I finally realized near the end that this was probably making me a target for scares. Hades was the only other one that I would describe as "scary". All of the other ones are very fun with great concepts and occasionally startling. The Orfanage is by far the weakest and I don't think its close.

My only regret is that I was so tired from a day of travel that I only used my express on like three houses after doing all but two in the regular line the first 60-90 minutes. Hades was late opening so I only got to do that one once with the express. Ended up leaving around ten. Too much stimulation for one day, haha. Hopefully I'll have better luck tomorrow.

 

[donaldduck352]

How are the express lines anyway? I thought when Uni came out with the FFP's with express ticket option that the express que would be the same as the regular que..