It’s that time of year again! The spirits are materializing, the zombies are rising and the psychopaths are sharpening their knives as we rapidly approach the opening night of the Universal Orlando Resort edition of Halloween Horror Nights 24! With the return of scare zones along with some of the biggest IPs ever to descend on HHN, this year looks to be a very scary year indeed. Join us behind the screams as we uncover every gory detail.
This year’s preview took place in Soundstage 33. As the media guests walked in, the first things to draw your eye were two giant candlesticks made of melting faces on either side of the stage.
These candlesticks will light your way to Maskarade: Unstitched, a new original scare zone that will be featured this year. All around the dimly lit room were stations set up for each house and scare zone featuring costumes and concept art for every house. On one side of the room, two contestants from SyFy’s Face-Off (David “Doc” O-Connell from the current season 7 and Eric Garcia from season 3) and former HHN Orlando makeup artists demonstrated the makeup process from beginning to end.
Creative Director for HHN Orlando, Mike Aiello, introduced us to this year’s event. He first let us know that this year, there is no overarching theme. With so many opportunities for houses based upon established franchises, Universal decided to let the houses and scare zones speak for themselves this year. He then went through each house and scare zone and let us know what to expect from each one. After he completed his presentation, we were set loose to explore the stations for the houses & scare zones.
After taking photos and getting a feel for the event, I had the opportunity to interview Mike. Mike had previously tweeted that there was a house this year that had him as excited to build as he was last year with American Werewolf in London. Now that the houses had all been announced, he revealed that the house he was talking about was AVP: Alien vs. Predator. He said that when approaching this house, the first logistical problem that he faced was the size of the Alien costume. Not only would it be difficult to place them in the house, it would be difficult to get them through the narrow passageways that make up the house’s backstage area. Universal’s solution was to use puppeted animatronics, much like the werewolves in the American Werewolf house last year. Fully articulated and able to replicate all the intricate movements and mannerisms of the Xenomorph aliens from the successful franchise, these puppets should prove to be even more impressive than their predecessors.
After interviewing Mike, I got the chance to interview Lora Wallace, show director for HHN Orlando. Lora is in charge of the Rocky Horror Picture Show Tribute and all the scare zones and street experiences outside of the houses at HHN. I asked her how preparing for this year differed from last year. She explained that last year featured a park-wide takeover from the Walking Dead zombies while this year will feature individual and unique scare zone experiences. She said the best part of doing individual scare zones was the opportunity for the creative team to have their voices heard and pitch ideas that they have cultivated over many years of experience. They looked at each area of the park and decided what would be the best fit and cultivated ideas based on that information. With the Face-Off TV show being filmed in Hollywood, CA, the Hollywood area of the park was an easy fit. The Purge was a natural fit in the New York backlot as the film takes place in a city where all crime is legal for one night. She said that this year, the goal for the scare zones was to make them bigger and better than any previous year, which will prove to be true as the areas being used are very large sections of the park.
After the presentations at soundstage 33, we were bussed across the park to experience Halloween. I will not divulge any spoilers for the house as the event hasn’t begun but suffice it to say that you will not want to miss it! Let’s move on to some information about the scare zones, shows and houses for this year’s event.
Scare Zones
This year, Universal has put a hold on park-wide mobs and is again focusing their efforts on scare zones. For many, this is a welcome return as it adds variety to the street experience. Either way, Universal is not pulling punches this year and these seem to be some of the most elaborate scarezones ever put on offer in Orlando. Join us as we take a peek!
Face Off – In the Flesh
For the first time, Syfy is teaming up with Universal to bring the gruesome creatures fabricated on their hit show, “Face Off,” to life.
The Purge: Anarchy
For the next 12 hours, all crime is legal in the New York backlot area of the park. During the purge, there are no police, no emergency services and no mercy. This scare zone will put you in the middle of the hit Universal film, The Purge: Anarchy. Will you survive The Purge? This scare zone will feature motorcycles, bread trucks, and all the iconic masked characters from both of the Purge films.
Maskerade Unstitched
Beautifully macabre, the dancers in Maskarade: Unstitched may seem normal at first, but as you draw nearer, you will find some very unsettling things in this menagerie. The dancers here are very good, they’ve had a lifetime or two to prepare for your arrival. Their faces stitched back on, they dance for you in the moonlight, just be warned: Dancing that long must work up quite an appetite.
Bayou of Blood
Who do the Voodo that you do? You’ll find out in Bayou of Blood, a fresh and original scare zone full of voodoo spirits and curses aplenty. Followers of ‘Mamba’, a Voodo priestess are on the hunt for fresh blood to fulfill their sacrifice at the altar. Mike Aiello told us during the briefing that there will be one live sacrifice every hour, so be sure to stop back by!
Shows
This year sees the return of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure, a sexy slapstick show that rips on the most popular of culture. From the righteous to the most heinous, no topic is safe from Bill and Ted. Party On Dudes! Also returning to HHN 24 is the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show – A Tribute. Do the Time Warp again with a tribute to your favorite transvestite and the rest of the cast preforming live onstage in a show full of audience participation. Both of these shows are not to be missed!
Houses
This year brings some of the largest names in horror to life. From Michael Meyers to the slimy Xenomorph, Universal is really pulling out all the stops to ensure HHN 24 is one of the biggest years ever. In one case quite literally… The Walking Dead: The End of the Line is the biggest house in HHN history. The list is almost overwhelming and with huge iconic films, TV shows and terrifying original concepts, there is plenty to please even the most discerning aficionados.
The Walking Dead: The End of the Line
Walking Dead comes back for the third year in a house that brings us into the locations made iconic in season 4 of the hit AMC television show. The biggest house ever built by universal, this one almost doubles the size of any previous house that they’ve done. More scareactors, more space, more terror!
From Dusk Till Dawn
Based on the show that is based on the original film, this house brings you to “The Twister”, a bar in Mexico inhabited by some very thirsty tenants. Mike Aiello stated that this house really features the last 3 or 4 episodes of the new series. Classic horror fans will be very excited to tour iconic locations that were featured in both the show and the original film.
Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood
Universal Pictures actually moved the date of the film up a week to coincide with the house’s opening at universal Orlando. This house is a re-imagining of how Vlad Tepes becomes Dracula. This maze features elaborate castle environments and vampires of a more classic variety. “Dracula Untold offers a unique perspective on the origin of the world’s most famous vampire. Our maze will place guests within many of the pulse-pounding moments from the upcoming film, offering guests an unprecedented living preview of the horrors that await,” said Michael Aiello, Director of Entertainment – Creative Development, Universal Orlando Resort.
AVP: Alien vs. Predator
Step between two fearsome hunters and try to survive their epic battle! This house takes place in a Weyland-Yutani research facility that is studying Xenomorph technologies when communications are disrupted by another alien breed commonly known as Predators. Using similar technology as what was seen in American Werewolf next year, the Xenomorphs will be state-of-the-art puppets that you will not want to miss. Whoever wins, we lose!
Halloween
A lot of people have put their own spin on the series but as with everything, there is always an original. This year, Universal Orlando goes back to Michael Meyer’s roots with a house based on the John Carpenter classic, Halloween. Featuring the iconic house and every kill, this haunt does not give you a second to breathe. We got to tour this one during the media event and it is a classic not to be missed!
Dollhouse of the Damned
Dolls. Creepy, right? Dollhouse of the damned is an original concept which takes all those creepy porcelain dolls your mother collected and smashes them. The only problem is, they keep coming back. Twisted, cracked and broken dolls fill this haunt looking for the answer to their very simple question… Are you my mommy?
Giggles and Gore Inc.
Continuing with the original houses, next we have Giggles and Gore Inc. Evil Clowns are not born, they are made. In this twisted factory, clowns mutilate and mash up clown parts to create new, more evil clowns. They wait for you behind every turn, as they are running out of raw material and really want to make YOU a part of the show!
Roanoke: Cannibal Colony
Roanoke is based on a real American colony, one of the first to exist and the first to completely disappear from the map. Where did they go? Universal creative has answered the age old question – They ate each other! Make sure to visit, just don’t become dinner.
And that will do it for this year’s sneak peek of Halloween Horror Nights! What are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments! To get your tickets, visit Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights website. The event starts on Friday September 19th and will continue on select weeknights and weekends through November 1st.
Would you like to experience Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Night with friends? MiceChat is planning a day of wizarding fun and an evening of horror at Universal Orlando Resort on October 23rd. It’s all part of a week of jam-packed events which includes our second Walt Disney World Gumball Rally, Sip and Nibble through Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival, Halloween events, mice meets, and much, much more!
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW, READ BELOW AND SIGN UP TODAY!
October 23 – Universal Orlando Resort
This year we kick off the fun with a trip to Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure. Here we will experience daytime thrills and nighttime chills.
The day will begin with a visit to Diagon Alley inside Universal Studios Orlando and a ride on the new, state-of-the-art attraction, Escape from Gringotts. Then we will journey on the Hogwarts Express into Islands of Adventure to experience Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Along with all of the other world class attractions like The Amazing Spiderman and Men In Black, this promises to be a day you will never forget. Contact Fairy Godmother Travel for discount Universal Studios theme park admission.
Then, as the sun sets, the brave souls who remain will join us for the 24th annual Halloween Horror Nights.
This event is truly one of the very best Halloween events in the entire world. With maniacally clever haunted houses and beautifully designed movie quality sets, it truly is in a class by itself.
For those joining us for the day AND the nighttime activities, we’ll have dinner as Universal transitions from regular operation to Haunt. Be sure to contact [email protected] to reserve your spot for dinner and to find out where we will meet. If you’d like to join us for Halloween Horror Nights, you’ll need the front of line tickets (HHN Express Pass). Contact Fairy Godmother Travel for discount tickets
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