Rumored HHN press release

[phamton]

A press release from Universal Studios (I am researching its authenticity):

FEAR HAS NO BOUNDARIES AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO:
FOR FIRST TIME EVER, FAMED HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS EVENT
TO DOMINATE TWO THEME PARKS

Twice the Size, Twice the Fear As Universal Expands Halloween to Universal Studios And Islands of Adventure

Orlando, Florida - It is the Halloween everyone has wanted and talked about: a dream - or nightmare - come true. This year, Universal Orlando takes fear to an entirely new level as it unleashes its famous “scream team” across both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, creating a Halloween Horror Nights event bigger and more intense than ever before.

Fear will be everywhere. And it will challenge guests in entirely new ways.
With two parks, a brand-new layout and all-new experiences, Universal Orlando will again change the face of Halloween terror. Halloween Horror
Nights XIV will run for 18 select nights between October 1 and October 31,
beginning at 7 p.m., on Oct. 1, 2, Oct. 8-10,
Oct 13 - 17, Oct. 21 - 24, and Oct. 28 - Oct 31.

This year’s Halloween Horror Nights event will be bigger and more immersive than ever before. It will include seven all-new haunted mazes; bigger, more intense scare zones; a Halloween parade; specially themed shows; hundreds of specially trained “scareactors” and a “haunted” cornfield now being grown on one of Universal’s back lots.

“This is 360° fear,” said Skip Sherman, Senior Vice President of Entertainment for Universal Orlando. “No one else can get inside the psyche of their guest the way Universal does during Halloween. Our guests will go home and leave their lights on - for many, many nights.”

From the moment they arrive at Halloween Horror Nights, guests will be surrounded by an experience that is bigger, more intense and different than anything Universal Orlando has done before.

Universal’s creative team is designing an event that will be about more than just what guests see. It will also be about what they feel. To do so, the team is weaving together environmental elements and specific experiences - all of which come together in powerful, new ways. Haunted mazes will be filled with Universal’s interpretation of everything from vampire experiences to encounters with the undead to visits inside prisons-gone-wrong. The streets will be filled with a brand-new Halloween parade, hundreds of “scareactors” and newly themed scare zones. The ever-popular “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure” stage show returns and there will be special screenings of the Halloween classic, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Advance tickets for Halloween Horror Nights are now available at several locations including Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure theme parks, TicketMaster, and Florida Spencer Gifts locations. Tickets are also available online at http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/ or by calling (877) 284-GORY (4679). Because of the event’s popularity, tickets for weekend nights are expected to sell out soon and should be purchased far in advance. Regular admission for all guests is $54.75.

Gory Getaway travel packages, which include hotel accommodations and admission to Halloween Horror Nights, begin at $79 per adult, per night based on double occupancy and are available through Universal Studios Vacations at http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/ www.universalorlandovacations.com or by calling (877) 284-GORY (4679).

The Universal Orlando resort destination (www.universalorlando.com) includes two dramatically distinct and adjacent theme parks, the Universal Studios movie and TV-based theme park and Islands of Adventure, Orlando’s thrill-based theme park. Universal Orlando also includes CityWalk, a 30-acre dining, shopping, club and live-entertainment venue as well as premier on-site Loews hotels and world-class film and television production facilities.

NBC Universal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates the No.1 television network, the fastest-growing Spanish-language network, a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

 

[JT3000]

Yippe

I found some of the things they mentioned a little odd though. Like info they wouldn't usually be telling us yet.

 

[phamton]

This was posted on IOACentral at: http://www.ioacentral.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4622

I think it was you that mentioned your suspicions on that thread also. I don't have any proof as it hasn't been published yet by the media. I'll change the title of the thread to rumor until it is confirmed or debunked.

I'm quite the skeptic myself on most things. In my "other" life outside the DisBoards, I debunk urban legends at snopes.com board. I've been on that board for almost 10 years. So like you, I know press releases can be faked or altered. Here is the place the press release was posted: http://www.spyderwebdesign.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=272 with this quote: "They plan for 7 houses (but hardly set in stone, the exact number was left out of their printed press release... leaving room for adjustment)"

 

[robvia]

I kinda believe the rumor. The event is so huge, no other park can compare to HHN. Others try, Howl-O-Scream is nice, but HHN is the king and this will make them stay that way. I wouldn't expect all of USF to be open, but would expect Shrek, Twister, and the Mummy to be running, with the rest of the park roped off. HHN has become a destination visit, with people flying in just to attend the event.
We're only 3 months away when you think about it, so if the marketing department was smart, they'd start advertising up north for HHN, because it takes a few months for people to plan a vacation, book air far, get time off work, ect.

I'm looking at the calendar, and itching to call the RPR and see if the entertainment rate is available for Sunday the 10th. That's the first Sunday, and would probably be the date of a Dis meet. Last year, it was on a Sunday to avoid the huge crowds. We almost need another thread picking a date for a Dis meet. Last year, we went on the 19th, which is the 3rd Sunday. I'm not waiting that long this year. We should have the Dis meet on the 10th.

 

[phamton]

I am reasonably sure that both parks will be used at least partially. I could tell you my source but then I'd have to kill you. But I will tell you that it I did not get the info from my son as he is just a lowly minion and is in the dark about the rumors just as much as the rest of us.

My source for the two-park HHN told me a couple of weeks ago and is someone that would know this stuff.

 

[chainsawwolf]

I know Brian and Cindy who run Hauntfreaks (where the press release was originally posted), and neither of them would have posted it if they even had a hint of an idea that it might be bogus.

If you check out their original posting you can see the photo sheet that came out with it. It's a little more detail than your average Hoaxter would try.

Wolf

 

[dismikki]

I wonder how this will work. I am going to a large conference that is reserving US for 10/14 from 7-midnight. There is no mention from the conference about HHN and this is an event geared toward families.
Mikki

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by dismikki
I wonder how this will work. I am going to a large conference that is reserving US for 10/14 from 7-midnight. There is no mention from the conference about HHN and this is an event geared toward families.

Three possible answers (there may be more):

(1) If the corporation is reserving the park, it would not be during HHN. HHN won't be happening that night.

(2)Another scenario that seems less probable is that HHN is held in part of the park while the corporation had the rest of the park. Although I do think that only part of both parks is being used for HHN, it would seem difficult to police two halves of the park to keep people form intermingling between the two sides.

(3) HHN wouldn't be held at Universal only at IoA.

My guess would be (1).

 

[mel&me]

Having HHN at both parks would be cool, IOA closes early on HHN. I checked on universals website and the park hours on weekends at both parks now show 5pm closing.

 

[karin037]

Universal's website now states that HHN will be held at both parks. http://www.univacations.com/halloween/index.asp?vendor=IUN&Referrer=UN4&pl=UNT

 

[phamton]

Thanks, karin. It looks like the press release is right on including the dates.

 

[sn00zn]

Maybe someday when my kids are all grown up I can go to HHN! (Actually the kids are just an excuse 'cause I'm too scared). Anyway the press release is certainly written in a true press-releasy style, rather than a "kid who wishes it were true" style!

phantom,
Who are you on the snopes boards? I've been a snopes fan for about 7 years and am on the boards (mostly a lurker, but sometime poster) as snoozn. I seem to remember a "phantom_d", but not sure if that's from snopes!

snoozn

 

[phamton]

I've been on the snopes board since he first opened it. I think I'm the only one left from the old board (pre-UBB board.) I'm B Hamilton there: http://www.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/ubb/get_profile/u/00000014.html

 

[luvpooh]

I want to buy tix for HHN on Universal's site, but it looks like the calendar is messed up by a day (it seems to be the 1st is a Saturday when it's a Friday). How do I know what is the correct day to buy the ticket for?

Also, it doesn't seem as if a stay and scream option is offered this year, any ideas on that?

 

[phamton]

I would just wait a few days for them to fix the quirks. It won't be sold out any time soon.

I expect the stay and scream offer will be available soon also.

 

[robvia]

Stay and Scream should happen in front of Deuling Dragons like it did last year. Perfect place, there is food, and the bar next door. Plus, the guards clear out that area, then check the tickets of the people who want to stay. It works out great because you get to start at the maze in burger digs buiding, then work back towards the front of the park. That jump on the crowd is so huge, it's amazing. Plus, that will lead to the Mummy with the Scareators in the queue. They already walk out and scare people, but I'm sure they'll make it better for HHN. The Mummy queue is going to be off the hook for HHN.

 

[phamton]

Oops, I was thinking of the "Frequent Fear" pass instead of the stay and scream.

And it looks like this press release is for real and should hit the newspapers this week.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by robvia
Plus, that will lead to the Mummy with the Scareators in the queue. They already walk out and scare people, but I'm sure they'll make it better for HHN. The Mummy queue is going to be off the hook for HHN.

I'm expecting there to be a plethora of scareactors in the Mummy queue. They already have one minion running around in there, plus Imhotep frequently visits the queue-usually with Anck-su-Namun-as does an Egyptian pharoah and a wrapped stiltwalker.

 

[Tenacious D Fan]

When i went to HHN10, Earthquake was really good, because you die (not literally) and go to hell where all these monsters come out and scare you and the Jaws ride was calledm Bloody Waters, because Jack(not sure if he's still around. He was the clown.) doesn't let you off the boat, and its at night, so it is scary. The reason though i thought it was a shame to get rid of King Kong ride, was because you got to walk around the bottom of it. Also, what do they do at IOA?

 

[JT3000]

Also, what do they do at IOA?

The usual, minus the parade.