HHN 2005
I finally went to Halloween Horror Nights, almost didn't make it. I was supposed to go closer to the opening but then I had to go to New York. Last week was supposed to go with a couple of friends from out of town but the possibility of a hurricane scared them off. I really hate going to these events by myself, not because of the scare factor but just really because I know I would have more fun going with other people. Amusement parks in general I feel are always more fun in large groups. But the possibility of missing this event completely was a gloomy thought so I decided to go
Anyone who knows me, knows that one of the things I look forward to ever year is going to Halloween Horror Nights. I have been a fan of the event since I went to my first one years ago. If the universal parks have one thing over Disney (umm besides more sophisticated rides like Spider-man and MIB) it's HHN.
So here's my little review of this years Halloween Horror Nights
(some spoilers but in a few days it won't matter because it will be over)
First off let me say that the scarezones were great this year. Maybe the best scarezones in a long time, well at least the last two years I think the scarezones were kind of lacking, but this year it seems like they went all out. It also seemed like there were more of them this year then in previous ones, which is always great.
The Terra themed scarezones I think were particularly good. It's great how everything "collected" at them wound up in the Body Collectors. I have no idea why they didn't make the Terra Queen the icon of this years event, I mean she's way scarier looking then the Storyteller and most of the houses or scarezones were tied into her. Don't get me wrong the ads with the Storyteller are great but personally I think that it would have been better if they had it all centralize around the Terra Queen
The houses this year were also really strong compared to the previous year. I think the most memorial houses had to "the skool" and "demon cantina" just great themes. I think overall the two most fun houses to go through. Although the "Body Collectors" house was in my opinion probably the scariest of all the houses.
The Bill and Ted show this year was great. I almost look forward to seeing the Bill and Ted show as much as HHN itself. Again I have to say that this years was better compared to the years past.
Actually I should just admit it last years HHN was not that exciting to me. They advertised it as "twice the fear" it seemed to be only half as scary as the previous years. Their really was no central theme or icon to pull the whole thing together. Don't get me wrong their were a lot of things I liked at last years event the HHN icon house and I did like the fact that they brought, or at least partially brought, it back to the Studios.
In some way I really think the event should return to the Studios. I just think that the studios at night is a scarier atmosphere then the one in IOA. Considering that their is a lot more empty space at the studios now with Nickelodeon studios closing and a couple other attractions closing. I'm not one of those purist that believes that the only place to hold HHN is the studios I rather enjoyed the Islands of Fear theme in 2002, and thought it was great how every island got it's own theme, even though I know that Seuss and Spielberg people didn't really like it. But even if they just rotated it and held it in the Studios one year and IOA the next I think would be interesting.
Anyway back to Bill and Ted. This year show was good. It seemed a more back to basic one and they primarily went back to parodying the major pop culture icons of the previous year as opposed to bringing back characters like Dr. Evil and the Smallville Clark Kent. Some of the ones used in this year show. Desperate Housewives, Mr. and Mrs, Smith, Napoleon Dynamite, Family Guy, Star Wars Episode 3, Charlie and Chocolate Factory, the Fantastic Four, Batman Begins, Dukes of Hazard, the Burger King, and I'm sure a lot more that I am forgetting. But it was funny this year and even though I'll admit it not as good as the previous years when they held it in the Wild West stage it still is a decent show.
So all and all have to say that this year HHN was awesome. The only thing I regret is that I didn't get to go see the Storyteller event at the Hard Rock. I was panning to go but got their late and when I did the show was full. It was another great year at HHN and I already can't wait for next years.
Anyone who knows me, knows that one of the things I look forward to ever year is going to Halloween Horror Nights. I have been a fan of the event since I went to my first one years ago. If the universal parks have one thing over Disney (umm besides more sophisticated rides like Spider-man and MIB) it's HHN.
So here's my little review of this years Halloween Horror Nights
(some spoilers but in a few days it won't matter because it will be over)
First off let me say that the scarezones were great this year. Maybe the best scarezones in a long time, well at least the last two years I think the scarezones were kind of lacking, but this year it seems like they went all out. It also seemed like there were more of them this year then in previous ones, which is always great.
The Terra themed scarezones I think were particularly good. It's great how everything "collected" at them wound up in the Body Collectors. I have no idea why they didn't make the Terra Queen the icon of this years event, I mean she's way scarier looking then the Storyteller and most of the houses or scarezones were tied into her. Don't get me wrong the ads with the Storyteller are great but personally I think that it would have been better if they had it all centralize around the Terra Queen
The houses this year were also really strong compared to the previous year. I think the most memorial houses had to "the skool" and "demon cantina" just great themes. I think overall the two most fun houses to go through. Although the "Body Collectors" house was in my opinion probably the scariest of all the houses.
The Bill and Ted show this year was great. I almost look forward to seeing the Bill and Ted show as much as HHN itself. Again I have to say that this years was better compared to the years past.
Actually I should just admit it last years HHN was not that exciting to me. They advertised it as "twice the fear" it seemed to be only half as scary as the previous years. Their really was no central theme or icon to pull the whole thing together. Don't get me wrong their were a lot of things I liked at last years event the HHN icon house and I did like the fact that they brought, or at least partially brought, it back to the Studios.
In some way I really think the event should return to the Studios. I just think that the studios at night is a scarier atmosphere then the one in IOA. Considering that their is a lot more empty space at the studios now with Nickelodeon studios closing and a couple other attractions closing. I'm not one of those purist that believes that the only place to hold HHN is the studios I rather enjoyed the Islands of Fear theme in 2002, and thought it was great how every island got it's own theme, even though I know that Seuss and Spielberg people didn't really like it. But even if they just rotated it and held it in the Studios one year and IOA the next I think would be interesting.
Anyway back to Bill and Ted. This year show was good. It seemed a more back to basic one and they primarily went back to parodying the major pop culture icons of the previous year as opposed to bringing back characters like Dr. Evil and the Smallville Clark Kent. Some of the ones used in this year show. Desperate Housewives, Mr. and Mrs, Smith, Napoleon Dynamite, Family Guy, Star Wars Episode 3, Charlie and Chocolate Factory, the Fantastic Four, Batman Begins, Dukes of Hazard, the Burger King, and I'm sure a lot more that I am forgetting. But it was funny this year and even though I'll admit it not as good as the previous years when they held it in the Wild West stage it still is a decent show.
So all and all have to say that this year HHN was awesome. The only thing I regret is that I didn't get to go see the Storyteller event at the Hard Rock. I was panning to go but got their late and when I did the show was full. It was another great year at HHN and I already can't wait for next years.