Yesterday's announcement of Fortnitemares caused quite a stir and plenty of discourse on HHN softening as an event, turning into "Universal's Not So Scary," and dragging the event as a whole. My question, though, is why can the event not have both? What's so wrong about having a big tent approach to the event and its offerings? After all, it's not like Fortnitemares is the first time an IP based on a property aimed at children and/or families has been at the event, and it's far from the first time an IP has leaned more in the "Halloween" direction than the "Horror" direction.

I loved last year's event, and I don't think I'm alone in that. I've seen plenty of people say it was the best year in recent memory, and I think part of that was the big tent approach. Five Nights at Freddy's was there as a house, a property that has a massive fanbase of children. WWE was there, and though there are some horror elements, I hesitate to say any of that kitsch is actually scary. However, alongside FNAF and the Wyatt Sicks, you had Terrifier, an unrated gorefest of a franchise, and the return of Jason Voorhees. This year, with people complaining about Fortnite kiddying up the event, we have houses based on Hellraiser and Evil Dead Burn, both gnarly films from gnarly series. I don't understand why we have to act like the entire event is Fortnite or that it's been thrown to the kiddies for good.

Last year wasn't even the first year. Back in 2019, we had Ghostbusters and House of 1000 Corpses. In 2009, Cirque du Freak, a PG-13 movie based on children's books, got a zone the same year there was a Saw house. Penn & Teller, not exactly icons of horror, got a house the same year we had Silent Hill and The Walking Dead. Plus, there's been plenty of horror-adjacent properties that lean more in other directions, such as comedy or action, in the past as well (This is the End, The Weeknd, Fear Factor, Face Off, Zombieland, etc.), and this is just another property that is more in line with Halloween than horror.

I'm just curious, for all the people who accused the event of softening up, have you been doing this since Cirque du Freak, Ghostbusters, This is the End, Fear Factor, Stranger Things, Penn & Teller, Zombieland, The Weeknd, Beetlejuice? Does everything need to be on the same wavelength? What's wrong with the event broadening its reach while not softening the other elements, like a Hellraiser or Evil Dead house?

Hear me out: if HHN can have Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice and Fortnite, it’s time for a goosebumps and Scooby-Doo haunted house. Universal has already started using the SD IP more. The “night of the living dummy” episodes of Goosebumps were lowkey scarier than any Chucky movie. I feel like both of these properties can bring a good mixture of scares and the fun house of the year.

I’m still waiting for the day Universal can get the license for IT or Welcome to Derry…but I’ll save that for another day.

It’s my first hhn ever this year, travelling from the uk, we’ve only got one night there, any tips to help maximise our experience (also not buying express pass)

Cybergoria’s lore seems to be deeper and darker than we thought….

(I found this picture on ITTN.ie instagram pag)

Let's all just gather here and share a moment of silence for how sad it is for those of us who couldn't get it together for the ultimate dark carnival 😔

Sorry tried to google couldn’t find the answer. Thank you.

First year going and seeing how much I can get done if I buy express but don’t get a day ticket for the park.

I know some rides are open, are they usually the same every year?

Are all the restaurants open or do they have specific ones for horror nights.

Hello all, not the point of this post, but ive been let down by the announcements of HHN. I usually go to Orlando HHN but intrigued by hollywood that ive never been to.

Apart from the 8 houses Hollywood has vs the 10 houses orlando has. As well as the houses being different and terror tram. Any big differences between the two events i should know about?

Hi friends.

In HHN years past, ADA guest accommodations provided slips whereby you’d get return times for haunted houses based on the wait time in the queue for those unable to stand in a conventional line.

Universal recently switched to an electronic system similar to Disney’s DAS, allowing you to secure return times on the app, still based on standard wait times.

I’ve been told by guest services that no accommodations will be offered for the houses this year since the switch to the electronic system and I’m lightweight freaking out as this significantly changes my ability to participate in the event.

Has anyone here heard anything different? I did email guest services in the hopes that maybe the team member I spoke to was misinformed due to the details of HHN not being completely hashed out…

image 1: H.R BloodenGutz, a Halloween Fright-tacular

image 2: Stranger Things 5

image 3: Sinners

image 4: Hellraiser

(P.S most of this is for Orlando)

Sounds like APS will be able to enter at 2pm per usual. No news on which houses will be open at 2pm. I presume whatever houses on the 3 house tour.

I’m planning to purchase Frequent Fear Plus for myself and my partner this year. I had set aside money for them, but some unexpected expenses came up, so I’ll likely need to wait about a month before purchasing.

I’m not worried about opening weekend specifically, and I’m hoping to buy before the season starts — I’m just curious about how quickly Frequent Fear options have sold out in previous years.

For those who have purchased in past HHN seasons: have Frequent Fear/Frequent Fear Plus passes ever become unavailable before the season started, or have they generally been available closer to opening night?

Just trying to plan my budget/timing - thanks!

After seeing people’s (surprisingly positive) response to Club Horror coming back this year, I was wondering if anyone misses San Francisco when it was a scarezone instead a “street experience.”

Halloween Horror Nights has lost its touch.
Although I enjoy them, the originals now feel like elongated slaughter cinema scenes in a bad way.
IPS are interesting getting interesting. And the marketing as well as just overall feel of the event is lacking, especially during what is supposed to be an anniversary year? I am excited and of course universal is getting paychecks worth of money from me, but it feels weird.

How do we feel about this being an anniversary year?

Club horror is soft leaked on their official page, as street experience as it was not officially announced with other things like coconut club returning, and mel zombies

With the announcement of evil dead burn for hhn 35, I have added the evil dead franchise to the watchlist. Only part knitted is Ash vs Evil Dead since TV shows are not on Letterboxd.

Looking forward to this one! Just watched the first movie for the first time last week and really enjoyed it

https://boxd.it/UAo9S