freestylenut

R U getting the Frequest Fear Pass? If I lived in Orlando, it would be a DEFINITE buy for me.

Well said. You know what? I told my wife that if I could make the money I currently make (in I.T.) and be a scare actor year round, I'd do it in a heartbeat. She thought it was one of the stupidest things I've ever said. Scaring is just TOO much fun and can turn into an addiction. You think I'm kidding? Wait til you do a full shift.

I was considering doing that AP party at one point. But since I'm working at HOS and most of the group I plan to go with couldn't make it, the date was dropped. U think its worth the extra dollars? What is it, 2 drinks and slightly earlier access? It sounded somewhat enticing (especially since it was FREE for platinum members).

Ha, that's a funny one! Try working at one of the popcorn stands at BGA and having ALL of them SIMULTANEOUSLY want you to serve them. "One at a time please!" fell on deaf ears. They even through dollar bills at me like I was a stripper..not even wanting their change. Everytime I saw one of those green or yellow flags I'd PRAY they wouldn't come to my cart.

I'm 99% certain I will be heading up Sunday October 7th with 5 other family members and friends (including the wifey). Hit me up if your going. Be more than happy to meet a fellow TPR member ( I haven't met ANY of you). It'd have to be close to the end of the night because I am a STICKLER for sticking to a strict schedule of doing EVERYTHING at HHN (especially when the park closes at midnight).

The CG "no rides" Mon-Thurs is indeed a TERRIBLE idea. Its on THOSE days I try to take my days off and head to the parks. But if (and its a HUGE "if") it works for them, more power to CG. As I might've said a few pages back, I can't see what CG could possibly add that would make them competitive with Disney, Universal, SeaWorld & BGA. They have shows (they pale in comparison to the big boys), they have rides (again, pales in comparison to the big boys), they have GREAT concerts (comparable to the big boys, but apparently not enough to bring in the attendance). Let's see as time goes on. All I know is, I got motion sickness last time I went to CG. Haven't had motion sickness in YEARS. Must be all the carnival style rides.

Ha Ha, funny point U make. HHN is the "it" thing. Not sure number-wise who really is "king" of the Florida haunts (my guess is HHN), but the guy in charge of HOS can't stop mentioning how HOS outranked HHN in some "haunted attraction" magazine for the #2 spot.

This is the part of the story that has the "WTF???" factor. I smell a rat!...someone is pointing there finger on the wrong people.

I think it appeals more to guys who have little ones...such as MYSELF! I already know my kids are gonna LOVE this new area. I see Land Of the Dragon's days numbered as well. This area seems too much like LOTD to keep THAT area open as well.

Best: No one memory in particular, but anytime I go to a theme park and have NO waits all around the park. Worst: Almost getting into 2 ugly fights at BGA. One over $10 I found on the floor...ugh! I wouldn't mind forgetting THAT incident.

I visited CG late last year...I do feel bad for the park. I appreciate what the new owners are trying to do, but the park really does pale in comparison to its bigger brothers in Orlando and Tampa. The worst part is how OUT OF THE WAY the dang park is, I swear, when we went in December last year, it took me longer to get there, then it does for me to drive to Universal from Tampa. I can't name highways, but I recall a TOLL road. It really is a shame, but I don't give it that many more years.

Great pics...its been well over 5 years since I visited any Disney park...it feels like 20 years...so much has changed at Epcot. I NEED to go there. Just wish there was some way to get deeply discounted tiks!

The "poop" should be together. we have a total of 3 rehearsals (WAY too many IMO since the turnover rate is worse than a telemarketing call-center's) and the first night, scaer actors are usually feeling like they can take on the world...ready to scare 100%...the novelty wears thin & SOME (enphasis on SOME) scare actors can get a bit worn down as the season goes on. Lord willing I'll be at 3D that Friday, so I'll reserve a SPECIAL scare for you!

The chick in pic #4 is HOT! http://www.laweekly.com/index.php?option=com_slideshow&type=1&gallery=726&limit=1&Itemid=565&offset=4 As for goths...no problems here either. I DID see some really MESSY goths at Busch Gardens Afrika a couple of weeks back. Nothing like seeing their mascara run after a ride on the Congo River Rapids I tell ya.

Went to my orientation yesterday...here's the skinny on the details... Houses (some back from last year with changes): After Hours - Club Muze - Crazed dance club theme (no changes mentioned) Hunted - Serial Killer stalking house in a forest/cabin environment (no changes). Trapped In The Walls - House with several murder scenes where YOU walk in on the scene of the crime...within the walls. The flow has been reversed. For those who went last year...the EXIT is now the ENTRANCE to help with the line que which apprently was a problem last year (they intersected). 3D Radiation Alert - Now actually has a STORY, Radiation leak causing MUTATIONS..thus you need goggles (paper 3D glasses lol) to enter the house. This is the one I'M working at and I'm anxious to see the face lift. Supposedly some of us get to wear MASKS of melting people this time...kinda hoping I'm one of them. Taste Of Blood (new) - New Vamp house and is in the Bumper cars building. Theme is vamps hiding out in underground "nest"...you walk in & all heck breaks loose. Catch Your Breath (new) - The more interesting of the "new" houses this year. Theme is an abandoned gas station/middle of nowhere (similar to TCM I guess). Diabolic Biker gang kills 13 vicitims a year...12 bodies throughout the house...YOU are #13. The guy scouldn't stop bragging about the "throne room" you'll eventually reach. I won't spoil it anymore than that. This one will be in Gwazi Park in a tent. Scare Zones: Wicked Woods - In the path leading to land of the dragons. A long scare zone with various monsters & creatures. the best one last year. Pharaoh's Revenge - Egyptian themed (no changes, same spot). Zombie Junction - Zombie's walking about (also no changes, same spot). Eternal Midnight (new) - scare zone with chiming clock tower..that eternally rings MIDNIGHT! Masters & Monsters (new) - Island of Dr. Monreau meets Mad Max was the description given. Shows: Fiends - Back again, same as always...according to BG, people can't get enough of those NURSES. Sweet Dreams (new) - 2 Ghouls who influence nightmares battle for sole control of someone's nightmare. Lots o music, etc. Freakshow (new) - The "hip" show near the front of the park. Breakdancers and contemporary music flow like fine wine. Sounds like it'll be fun, its about half & half on new & old stuff. According to the rep, the official press release on HOS won't be released til 8/30-8/31...so keep posted on the Howl-O-Sceram site.

Sounds interesting. Sounds like BGE does the same thing Lowry Park Zoo does here in Tampa with the 1-6 Pumpkin scale and more "family friendly" areas and an area where kids should "enter at their own risk". Of course, I man up my son any chance I get, so I always do the 6 pumpkin stuff with him anyway! He's itching to go to HHN with me every year, I figure this'll be a good practice slate for him.

What is that Costume store pic U posted? Is that on Universal property or a standalone Halloween store like Spirit?

Recently renewed Preferred Annual Passholder here! (yay! ) I was just at both Universal & IOA Tuesday 8/14 & Wed 8/15...for the middle of the week, Universal was unexpectedly crowded IMO (I guess the summer crowds are still here cause school was starting the week after in FL). IOA was pretty crowded too, but being a AP, we got there in the late evening and most of the crowds have left. So there was virtually no wait for rides that usually have long waits (Jurassic Park River Adv, Flying Unicorn, Dueling Dragons, Cat In The Hat just to name a few). October during the DAY?...you should have NO problems with crowds whatsoever...particularly if its a weekday. The place should be a ghost town. I sometimes take random days off of work & hit IOA & Universal (even MORESO during the fall) and usually the rides are just walk-on. Spider-man & Hulk almost ALWAYS have a longer than usual wait no matter WHAT day you go, so if U can hit those & get them outta the way early (preferably when the park 1st opens), everything else should be cake. HHN is a different story...particularly on a peak night, but again, daytime visits should be fine. Hope this helps.

Sorry, but I DON'T believe it! 8 hours is BEYOND human comprehension. That is a WHOLE work day! Did U have lunch during your wait in line? Holy crap! My longest pales in comparison to most of you it seems, but it was about 2 hours at the last haunted house of the night at HHN 10 or 11...effectively making me miss the last Bill & Ted show. It was the LAST time I ever went to HHN on a peak night.

I didn't even KNOW Skull Kingdom was "knocked down" til only last week. We happened to be driving by and I told my son to look over the side, he'll see a hautned house...but lo & behold it never materialized! Weird when U expect something to be there & don't see it.

If its been posted before, please forgive, but I just wanted to share since I laughed my tush off!: - Part I - Part II The funny part is Universal actually SPONSORED this thing (despite it ragging on the studios). Lots of famous cameos to boot! enjoy!

This news is one of the reasons I haven't gone to Disney in well over 4 years (and I live in friggin' TAMPA). With the exception of taking a tmie share tour, there really isn't a way to get decent priced tickets to Disney...PERIOD! My job offers discount tickets for NON-PEAK...$22 for 1-day tickets to Busch Gardens, Sea World, Universal and Islands Of Adventure...$61 for any Disney park!!! Big difference don't ya think? I sound like I'm b*tchin', but its really frustrating when U can't take your kids to Disney cause they've priced us right out of our budget! I've invested in Universal passes...but that's 2-years for $190!!! $95 a year....anytime I wanna go WITH free parking..definitely worth the $$$. My kids love Universal & IOA...too bad they don't know they're cross town rivals quite as well. But like the thread starter said, they could charge $100 for a 1-day tic and still be #1 in attendance.

I think you're thinking of Universal Studios. THEY had the Hithcock 3D attraction...and yes, I too miss it. Shrek 4D is OK, but the Hitchcock attraction was A-OK! Disney Hollywood Studios sounds weird now, but in about 5 years we'll ALL know it and constantly refer to it as such. Its not a bad name at all. Disney needed to remove MGM from the name...they're Sony now after all and haven't had much decent memorable movies as of late.

I just bought my 2-year annual pass this morning...woo hoo!!! Can U say "AP HHN discounts"? Gonna be visiting maybe Monday or Tuesday of this week with camera in hand...will take pics of any HHN related "changes" to the park...though it might be a crack early! Oh excitement.

For the last 5 or so years, its been ALMOST impossible for anyone I know to go on a peak night like Friday or Saturday WITHOUT an express pass and SEE everything (houses & shows). I'd STRONGLY recommend an express pass. For that Friday it'll sell out quick so U better get a move on.