HHN 24: It's a wrap!

Where to begin?

Halloween Horror Nights (or HHN) 24 happened very fast. And I mean the set up and run of the actual event. Maybe it was because we were all still so hyped over Diagon Alley. Maybe it was because social media is so much a part of the event now, that it almost feels like you virtually attend it every night. Or maybe it was just because we're looking ahead to 25 so much already. Well, at least I was. I admit it. Even before HHN 24 opened I stated no matter what happens this year, I can't help but to think ahead to 25. It is such a milestone that they're just going to have to do something big! Bring back an icon! Possibly both parks! More houses! More scarezones!

Wait.

You see how hyped up I'm getting myself here? With this line of thinking, can you really blame me for not having the best time at HHN this year? I shared my history with HHN in a previous entry, so you know I'm a seasoned veteran. I have high (and sometimes unreasonable) expectations for every year. I always want to see something new or different. I don't really get scared anymore at the event. Sure, I'll get startled just like anybody if someone yells in my face out of nowhere. But the thought of something at the event or sight of it doesn't scare me at all. I know it's fake. Chances are I know the person who might try to scare me. And I've been going so long, I'm just trained to know where to look to not get scared. I go to watch the crowds and to admire the artistry of the whole thing. From the actor's wardrobe to the sets of the scarezones and houses, there's so much to take in and appreciate. Want to scare me? Have someone come up to me and tell me I filed my taxes incorrectly and the IRS is out to get me or that my HOA is going to fine me for my hedges being out of code. That will scare the hell out of me! Clowns, chainsaws, and creepy dolls don't. If anything, I like to get as close as I can to see the details of those things.

And this kind of brings me back to HHN 24. It is really hard for me to say anything bad about this event. But I will in a minute. And it is really hard to do! Every single thing they had to offer this year was amazing! I only missed the Alien Vs Predator haunted house and the Bayou of Blood sacrifice show (very short lived), but everything else I experienced was excellent! I can't remember the last time a Bill & Ted show was so quotable and memorable! The Purge scarezone and The Walking Dead house were both massive! The wardrobe and choreography of MASKerade was something I really enjoyed! But there was this undeniable feeling that it was coming up just a little bit short. Something was missing.

The park itself has gone through several changes over the last couple years. Some of these changes ultimately altered the face of HHN. With the addition of Springfield, the Transformers meet and greet, and now London/Diagon Alley, there's less space for HHN to operate. This resulting in less scares and just less HHN in general throughout the park. Like I was saying earlier, everything they had this year was awesome! Great details, themes, everything! Can't say a bad word about it. I just can't stop thinking about all the areas of the park where absolutely nothing is going on that's HHN related. Would having it in both parks solve this problem? Yes and no. While they can compensate more scares in more area, you'd still be walking through the previously mentioned "dead zones" in Universal Studios Florida anyway.

So is HHN as we know it dead and gone forever? I remember when just about every inch of the park was something. Scarezones. Freak shows. Something. I have high hopes for 25. Universal Orlando Resort sent out a press kit of sorts to some very lucky peeps today. It contained a USB with this video containing some teasers for next year on it. Here is Theme Park Review's video:

Obviously we're being led to believe Jack is coming back. Jack appearing in the video happens at the same time they show the Giggles & Gore house. He's an Easter egg within that house. But if his appearance in this video is in fact telling us he is coming back next year, then why tell us so soon? And before the previous year's event has ended. Weird, right? Makes me think that maybe we are going to get another video like this in a couple months featuring another icon of the past. But that would be just like HHN 20, and they wouldn't do the same thing so soon would they?

And again. Talking about 25.

HHN 24 was great. Lots of great houses. Lots of great photo opportunities. Lots of great jokes and quotes. There just wasn't enough of it for me. It was too concentrated to one side of the park. Then you had to walk through lots of nothing to get to the most popular house and Bill & Ted. Also, I hope they address the issue of the wait times for the houses. If you didn't go more than once or buy express passes, chances are you didn't see all the houses. And for the price of the ticket to simply walk through the gate, you should be able to at least see all the houses in a single visit. And that's really my only two complaints. Too much "dead zone" and too much time in the (boring) queue line.

Let the HHN 25 speculation begin! (Bringing back all original icons and Freddy, Jason, Leatherface, Chucky, and any other major intellectual properties (or IPs) that have been used for the event over the years.

Until next time, enjoy it!

Mikey