Universal tops Disney in Halloween Events

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Wow - I cut and pasted this News Story from the DIS in the Parks board hoping people would discuss the differences and why Disney is laggng behind in votes if the Halloween Party is so fabulous.

I had more than a few personal attacks and accusations for being a troll...etc.

I guess I went to the wrong place.

So let's try this again here where people may be more willing to actually discuss this News Story.....

Please remember - this is a cut and paste article from the DIS and not actually my own words here. THANKS.



Universal's Halloween Horror Nights wins awards
By Leah Zanolla
Oct 1, 2009

Universal Orlando has won two awards for its Halloween Horror Nights event. Amusement Today, an industry magazine, named them "Best Halloween Event" based on a fan vote. The fright show was the winner of this award last year also, but won by a larger margin this year. They were also named "Top Theme Park Halloween Haunted Event" by Hauntworld.com, a Halloween attraction and haunted house directory.

 

[inkkognito]

IMO you can't really compare the two. It's truly apples and oranges. Disney's event is aimed towards little kids and families, while Universal targets older teens and adults. It's not fair to put the two head to head in a competition because Universal is going to win every time. I can just imagine the horror and outrage if Disney tried to put on an event like Halloween Horror Nights!

 

[SanFranciscan]

I suspect that Universal Studios fans like Halloween more than Disney fans. I am a Disney fan who just could not handle the intensity of the Halloween Horror at Universal Studios. Not that I have actually gone because my only trip to Universal Studios was to the one in California while ET was the new attraction, but even reading articles about Halloween Horror Nights is enough to unnerve me.

I read about this year's display where the participants inflict pain on people as they move their way through it. That's awful!! That would not be my idea of fun at all. I would have to be really desperate for money to participate in such a scene as a paid actor. There is no way that I would pay to be subjected to that as a theme park guest.

The only thing negative that I have heard about Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween is that it is overpriced.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

IMO you can't really compare the two. It's truly apples and oranges. Disney's event is aimed towards little kids and families, while Universal targets older teens and adults. It's not fair to put the two head to head in a competition because Universal is going to win every time. I can just imagine the horror and outrage if Disney tried to put on an event like Halloween Horror Nights!

Agreed. I love Disney and Universal for what they each are, but there is NO WAY I am taking my kids to HHN, nor it is targeted toward them. Now my DH would rather go to HHN every night than ever go to MNSSHP . If you were to ask my preference to attend at this point, I'd have to pick Disney because my kids are young and we can go there together. If you ask me which is the better event, HHN wins by a mile - it is way better conceived. But it is an unfair comparison - they are not trying to accomplish the same things.

 

[inkkognito]

I would have to be really desperate for money to participate in such a scene as a paid actor.

Somehow I doubt the actors in the very successful Saw movies, on which this house is based and which contains the exact same scenes, would agree.

ETA...in rereading your post, I hope you don't think it's real and the actors are in actual pain?!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I guess my question is .... I understand Disney Halloween fans are VERY strong supporters. I would think they would be just as willing to complete a survery about how popular the Halloween night was.

I took a peek at Amusement Today (who ran the survey) and Disney was represented --- fireworks category. Perhaps this publication is geared more toward coasters - but thier "best of" list IS extensive - from best landscaped park to cleanest park. Best park - Cedar Point

It just seems that a Disney Halloween event is a Halloween event and there are plenty of people who hold a RABID support for Disney's halloween. Perhaps they have "tunnel park" vision and don't even KNOW about this publication or survey. For them, it's Disney or nothing and that's why they didn't vote for Disney's party.

Don't get me wrong, we enjoy our Disney vacations but it's hardly the only park we attend or vacation destination we support.

The last time we attended Disney's halloween party we were not all that impressed...The parade was great!...but that's allot of $$$ for a parade. We were just looking at other options. I'm not sure the DARK theme would be for us, however.

thanks for allowing the ramble.

 

[Purseval]

ETA...in rereading your post, I hope you don't think it's real and the actors are in actual pain?!

It sounds to me like that's exactly what she believes. She also believes they hurt the audience as you go through the line.

 

[Metro West]

I read about this year's display where the participants inflict pain on people as they move their way through it. That's awful!! That would not be my idea of fun at all. I would have to be really desperate for money to participate in such a scene as a paid actor. There is no way that I would pay to be subjected to that as a theme park guest.

I can't believe that is true. You would need to show a link to the story for me buy what you're saying.

Anyway....

I think Disney would do an excellent job of staging an adult oriented Halloween event at WDW...probably at DHS. They have the money and ability to create an event that might not be as scary as HHN but definately more adult oriented. Like HHN...they would have it after hours and it would be a hard ticket event. Plus...the kiddies wouldn't see much during the day...just like at HHN.

I guess Disney has conceded Halloween for anyone over the age of 10 to Universal.

 

[Purseval]

It just seems that a Disney Halloween event is a Halloween event and there are plenty of people who hold a RABID support for Disney's halloween. Perhaps they have "tunnel park" vision and don't even KNOW about this publication or survey. For them, it's Disney or nothing and that's why they didn't vote for Disney's party.

You have to understand that people have a lot of money invested in a WDW vacation. To them the concept that you could do as well or better for pennies on the dollar is unthinkable. They would have to accept the fact that they were duped, and it's not going to happen. On the bright side, WDW is charging them for a dream and if they are happy with it then it's worth it.

 

[inkkognito]

I can't believe that is true. You would need to show a link to the story for me buy what you're saying.

I think somebody didn't pay attention when they were teaching the difference between real and make-believe in kindergarten.

I get the Universal media releases, and one of the ways they were promoting the Saw house was by saying that the people moving through it spring the traps on the scareactors. The PP must have read that and took it literally. Can you imagine how many scareactors they would go through this season?!

 

[SanFranciscan]

I think somebody didn't pay attention when they were teaching the difference between real and make-believe in kindergarten.

I get the Universal media releases, and one of the ways they were promoting the Saw house was by saying that the people moving through it spring the traps on the scareactors. The PP must have read that and took it literally. Can you imagine how many scareactors they would go through this season?!

Where I have been getting my information is from Orlando Attractions and a little bit from You Tube thanks to links here. I have not seen the movie Saw. The commercials told me all that I needed to know. I do not like slasher films. Hearing over and over and over that these actors are not in any real danger does nothing to lessen my psychological pain. The few times that I have sat through horror films I felt that these were snuff films without an X rating. The simulated physical violence is emotional violence that leaves me feeling like I have just been assaulted.

I have not been to Halloween Horror Nights and said so. I have not been to Disney's Halloween either, not because we were avoiding it while there in October 2007 but because it just wasn't a priority. I would choose Disney Halloween if it were an either/or choice not because I have some great loyalty to Disney because they have no lifetime garnishment upon my entertainment dollars but because walking through traps that closed on "torture victims" would be upsetting to me no matter if that Universal employee was wishing the whole time that he or she could just go to lunch break instead or that shift would end so that they could go home to bed.

I do believe that Halloween is more popular among Universal Studios fans than among Disney fans. I suspect that Universal Studios will always be the big enchilada at Halloween and Disney will be over Christmas.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I suspect that Universal Studios fans like Halloween more than Disney fans. I am a Disney fan who just could not handle the intensity of the Halloween Horror at Universal Studios. Not that I have actually gone because my only trip to Universal Studios was to the one in California while ET was the new attraction, but even reading articles about Halloween Horror Nights is enough to unnerve me.

I read about this year's display where the participants inflict pain on people as they move their way through it. That's awful!! That would not be my idea of fun at all. I would have to be really desperate for money to participate in such a scene as a paid actor. There is no way that I would pay to be subjected to that as a theme park guest.

The only thing negative that I have heard about Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween is that it is overpriced.

It is against the law for any employee of a theme park to inflict pain (pain being physical) on a guest! That story you read is just not true. Universal is not going to open itself to law suits filed by guests who were "hurt" While it may scare some, that is what it is all about (like the horror films they are themed on). I am glad you read up on it and decided not to go. There is nothing worse than someone going and expecting a Mickey's Not So Scary type of event then bashing Universal for its torture.... torture that is all in fun for the "expecting" fan

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I think somebody didn't pay attention when they were teaching the difference between real and make-believe in kindergarten.

I get the Universal media releases, and one of the ways they were promoting the Saw house was by saying that the people moving through it spring the traps on the scareactors. The PP must have read that and took it literally. Can you imagine how many scareactors they would go through this season?!

Opps there goes another one

 

[A Mickeyfan]

You have to understand that people have a lot of money invested in a WDW vacation. To them the concept that you could do as well or better for pennies on the dollar is unthinkable. They would have to accept the fact that they were duped, and it's not going to happen. On the bright side, WDW is charging them for a dream and if they are happy with it then it's worth it.

you stated that very well.. and a dream is a wish your heart makes.. not your pocket book at least that is how some view it..

 

[Purseval]

Where I have been getting my information is from Orlando Attractions and a little bit from You Tube thanks to links here. I have not seen the movie Saw. The commercials told me all that I needed to know. I do not like slasher films. Hearing over and over and over that these actors are not in any real danger does nothing to lessen my psychological pain. The few times that I have sat through horror films I felt that these were snuff films without an X rating. The simulated physical violence is emotional violence that leaves me feeling like I have just been assaulted.

Well thanks for the clarification, it takes a lot of the confusion out of the original post. HHN isn't for everybody but for the people who enjoy that type of experience there is no better show anywhere in the world.

 

[SanFranciscan]

Insisting that anyone who prefers Disney to Universal Studios must be severely delusional is not going to win you any recruits. It's a no-brainer that both Disney and Universal have their marketing people in here, but for them to take cheap shots at each other makes both sides look, well, cheap. Unfortunately for Universal Studios Disney has been the proverbial 800-pound gorilla for so long that they can get away with a little more uppitiness so Universal Studios has more to lose.

Sea World and Gatorland and others don't get all huffy about Disney, but they have their following too.

 

[Planogirl]

Insisting that anyone who prefers Disney to Universal Studios must be severely delusional is not going to win you any recruits. It's a no-brainer that both Disney and Universal have their marketing people in here, but for them to take cheap shots at each other makes both sides look, well, cheap. Unfortunately for Universal Studios Disney has been the proverbial 800-pound gorilla for so long that they can get away with a little more uppitiness so Universal Studios has more to lose.

Sea World and Gatorland and others don't get all huffy about Disney, but they have their following too.

Is THIS what you're talking about? I still don't see where anyone took any cheap shots. I do see where a few giggled a bit but those people are not in marketing. Unless they're hiding something.

The scary, Saw-type stuff isn't for you. I don't really like it either but believe me, it's all fantasy. Yes, I know because of my involvement in such things. Fantasy or not I can see why some wouldn't like it of course. But no one gets hurt, it isn't allowed besides people in the haunted house industry tend to be a tight-knit bunch who care about one another and they would never purposely hurt anyone. Just my observations.

 

[Purseval]

Unfortunately for Universal Studios Disney has been the proverbial 800-pound gorilla for so long that they can get away with a little more uppitiness

Not here they can't.

 

[F-L-A]

I'll agree with anyone who says the two events can't be compared, since they're aimed at completely different demographics. However, one thing that can't be denied, is that Universal puts much more effort into their event. The content is completely new each year, while Disney just does the same freakin' thing over and over.

 

[Keeperoftheruleof9s]

Hi, I would like to reply here as a die hard Disney fan all my life. You definitely can not compare the two events; they are two seperate entities. We attended our first HHN this past Friday and I must say it was different. I had always been concerned about my youngest son and how he would handle this but he did ok. I did see several young children who did not look happy at all to be there but I digress. The theming is definitely geared for teens and adults even though I told my husband that I'm pretty sure other than the management staff present, he and I must have been the oldest people there. Did I like it better than Disney? I don't think so, there is nothing to compare it to. I can't hardly picture Dr. Frank-n-furter prancing down Main Street singing "It's really not so scary" attired in corset and garters. I thought it was ok overall. I really liked the Dracula house and the tribute to Rocky Horror and had an interesting encounter with a leg eating zombie and the Die-In. Was I scared? No. Did I find it humorous? At some points. Did I have the same feeling when I left as I did the night before leaving MNSSHP? No. Would I go back again? Eh, if they bring my hero, Freddy Krueger, back again, yes!!
So, all in all, to each his own. And if, from time to time, an Disneyholic wanders over to Universal, eh, what is it to say wheither they have converted to a "red-head"? Doesn't mean one or the other is better, just different.