Official HHN XX Reviews [MINOR SPOILERS]

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

My opinion is simple...IOA is better suited for HHN than the Studios. I've been going to HHN since 2004 and the best year by far was 2005. IOA has much more themeing and can be really creepy at night especially in Jurassic Park with the foggers and misters. I hope someday HHN will return to IOA but for now I'll just enjoy what I can.

Agreed. I went in 2003 which I think was the first year they had it in IOA if I remember correctly, and it was much better, except for the fact that every single line for the houses was over 2 hours long. I don't remember if they had EP for that year yet. Then I went in 2004 and that year they had both sides open, which was great. The scarezones were great, the houses were great, it was just an overall great year for HHN. And it was SCARY. They need to go back to IOA because now it seems that every year it's the same thing over and over again. And you know, I would've thought that they would've come up with a better theme this year with it being their 20th year; that's kind of a landmark. Seems to me like they couldn't come up with a better theme so they had to reuse old ones. :/

 

[inkkognito]

I like the houses with old school scares this year: Catacombs, Hades and Havoc. Not fancy, no elaborate effects or theming, but the scareactors are downright vicious in all three and that's just the way I prefer it. I'm exhausted coming out of those three from screaming and jumping, yet ready to go again.

LT is cool for the first couple times but gets more mundane once you've seen all the effects. I was really looking forward to the fire effect in Orfanage, so that is my biggest disappointment this year. Not really the fire, but just the whole house. Seems throw together. I expected much more now that Cindy has come into her own.

I neither love nor hate Psychoscareapy. The red button is an interesting idea, but I prefer the past humorous takes on the theme. Zombiegeddon is "meh" for me although I love the scarezone. Hallow'd Past is quickly becoming a disappointment because it seems half-deserted most of the time. The memorabilia is cool, but that doesn't hold me for repeat visits.

 

[JessicaR]

From all the pros please! We will be there next week and it looks like going to HHN two nights. My question is this - One night we will be doing RIP tour the other night just regular entrance. Which way would you do it? why?

Thank You! Getting Soooooo excited but really this scares the crud outta me.

 

[Metro West]

From all the pros please! We will be there next week and it looks like going to HHN two nights. My question is this - One night we will be doing RIP tour the other night just regular entrance. Which way would you do it? why?

Thank You! Getting Soooooo excited but really this scares the crud outta me.

I think I would do the RIP Tour first and then regular entrance. The RIP Tour will give you VIP treatment and you'll get everything done the first night. Then go back and do the ones you really liked again.

 

[inkkognito]

What Metro said. Get the lay of the land with the tour. You'll experience everything and can decide what you want to focus on the next day.

 

[JessicaR]

Thanks both of you! Thats the way my husband wanted to do it too. I just thought doing the tour our last night there may have been a way to go out with a bang. Booking it all tomorrow - cant believe all 0n-site hotels are s/o glad I grabbed that when I did.

 

[sportzboy698]

If any of you might remember, when it was held at IOA, what rides were open during the event?

 

[Metro West]

If any of you might remember, when it was held at IOA, what rides were open during the event?

Just about everything.

 

[inkkognito]

Click here for my latest review (from last night). My top three houses are still holding steady, although some others are dropping/rising.

It was wicked crowded last night. Finnegan's was at capacity by park closing time. Also, they were pulsing the lines (small groups), which still puts you in a conga line, albeit a smaller one. It only benefits the people in front and was making the lines wicked long. Still a great time though. Had some epic scares.

 

[Lou Holtz]

It only benefits the people in front and was making the lines wicked long. Still a great time though. Had some epic scares.

I hate that. Just let it be a conga line and quit stopping it constantly. Most of the time, you catch up to the group in front of you anyway.


On another note, I was so pissed that they let the front gate in at 5:50 on Sunday the same time as the Stay and Scream, completely killing my plan and making the lines ridiculously long the entire time. I was so annoyed that I didn't go back yesterday because I was sick of dealing with Universal's overall crowd control stupidity.

 

[JessicaR]

Click here for my latest review (from last night). My top three houses are still holding steady, although some others are dropping/rising.

It was wicked crowded last night. Finnegan's was at capacity by park closing time. Also, they were pulsing the lines (small groups), which still puts you in a conga line, albeit a smaller one. It only benefits the people in front and was making the lines wicked long. Still a great time though. Had some epic scares.

Good info - thank you!

 

[Metro West]

On another note, I was so pissed that they let the front gate in at 5:50 on Sunday the same time as the Stay and Scream, completely killing my plan and making the lines ridiculously long the entire time. I was so annoyed that I didn't go back yesterday because I was sick of dealing with Universal's overall crowd control stupidity.

If you think that's bad...try going to a Mardi Gras concert sometime. That's the main reason I don't go as often...no crowd control. I'm just glad there hasn't been an emergency over there.

 

[BigTiggerGuy]

OK, I went this past Thursday and Friday(October 7th and 8th) and just wanted to share my opinions:

Overall, I thought it was a good year....I always enjoy myself. But I still think it could have been even better for the 20th Anniversary. We went Thursday and Friday purchasing Stay and Scream and Express Passes for both nights. Now this is my fifth year so we have it down to a science but Thursday really threw me for a loop. The crowds were insane! We only got through four houses without using our Express Pass. At one point, we went back to do The Orfanage and was told the Express wait was 40 minutes! The regular line was only listed at 75! Friday, believe it or not, was completely different. We did all 8 houses before using our Express for the second round. The longest wait with Express was about 10 minutes. Very strange. We did an Unmasking the Horror Tour on Friday and I asked out tour guide about the crowds from Thursday(he was there as well) and he said the Frequent Fear Pass with Express really knocked things out of whack this year. They sold way more than they anticipated. Anyway.....on with the rankings from favorite to least favorite(I can't say there were any I didn't like at all):

#1 Hades- Every time the scares just kept coming and coming from all angles
#2 Legendary Truth- Loved the special effects(under the floor and behind the wall) and just the overall theming of the house
#3 Psychoscareapy- Especially after the tour. Don't want to give too much away but as you go through the house hit every light switch and button you see(especially a big red button as you round a corner) The design team is testing something this year and touching all the buttons and switches is a good thing!
#4 The Hallowed Past- Not a lot of scares but still cool to see some of the past scenes recreated
#5 Catacombs- I liked it but the rest of my group thought it was okay. I knew some of the history behind it and thought the costumes were cool. Everyone else thought they were being attacked by Spy vs. Spy
#6 Havoc- Pretty similar to past houses but a couple of good scares
#7 Zombiegeddon- Funny concept with a couple of good scares...especially at the end
#8 The Orfanage- Went through 3 times and it seemed like there were hardly any scareactors in the house. Cool theming and some creepy "kids" but pretty disappointing

Scarezones:
For me, the only ones worth mentioning are Fear Revealed and HHN-20 Years of Fear. Great photo ops in both(I got pictures with every icon!). The other ones were really pretty weak.

Bill and Ted:
Heard horrible things about this year's show so I went in with very low expectations. Had a couple of good laughs and did not feel it was time wasted.

Well, that's just my two cents. Feel free to disagree. I just became a Florida resident so next year I will be purchasing a Frequent Fear! Can't wait!

Halloween Horror Nights is like pizza......even when it's pretty bad it's still pretty good

 

[4greatboys]

Anybody else get the survey from Universal asking about this years event? It was kind of long but I loved it because it asked about each house individually.

 

[Metro West]

I went to HHN again last evening and met up with Macraven and Bubba's Mom (and husband). Weather wise it was more humid than it had been but still not too bad. It was a lot busier than in past weeks. We used Express on four of the houses due to wait times of at least 45 minutes. We did all the house by 9pm using Express and stand by. Favorites are:

1.) PsychoScareapy
2.) The Hallow'd Past
3.) Catacombs
4.) Hades
5.) Havoc
6.) The Orfanage
7.) The Legendary Truth
8.) ZombieGeddon

I might skip next Sunday (10/17) due to UCF night...too many college kids!

 

[Jason71]

Also, they were pulsing the lines (small groups), which still puts you in a conga line, albeit a smaller one. It only benefits the people in front and was making the lines wicked long. Still a great time though. Had some epic scares.

It's strange. Last night they did this at some houses--definitely Zombigeddon, for one. Then, at Catacombs, one of the line attendants encouraged us to rush thru the house, so it would keep the line down. The black shirts inside were actively encouraging people to move quickly, as well.

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

I might skip next Sunday (10/17) due to UCF night...too many college kids!

Hehehe, I go to UCF and almost bought tickets for that. Unfortunately DF is going out of town for that weekend, so no UCF HHN night.

 

[Berlioz70]

Click here for my latest review (from last night). My top three houses are still holding steady, although some others are dropping/rising.

Hooray for the Catacombs love!!!

I may or may not be a scareactor in this house and I may or may not have shared your article with other scareactors in this house!

*COUGH COUGH*

 

[inkkognito]

I may or may not still have the same opinion after this weekend and may or may not be planning yet another article this week that could possibly contain some more Catacombs praise. Usually my top house shifts around but this season Catacombs pwns HHN (well, Hades and Havoc are great too but they just can't quite catch up).

 

[JessicaR]

I went to HHN again last evening and met up with Macraven and Bubba's Mom (and husband). Weather wise it was more humid than it had been but still not too bad. It was a lot busier than in past weeks. We used Express on four of the houses due to wait times of at least 45 minutes. We did all the house by 9pm using Express and stand by. Favorites are:

1.) PsychoScareapy
2.) The Hallow'd Past
3.) Catacombs
4.) Hades
5.) Havoc
6.) The Orfanage
7.) The Legendary Truth
8.) ZombieGeddon

I might skip next Sunday (10/17) due to UCF night...too many college kids!

UCF night - sounds bad - lol is it just that one night? We;'re gonna be there thursday thru monday and had planned on one of the days being sunday should we go saturday instead? Already doing the VIP Thursday. Thanks!