Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2008

[haiderodes]

For anyone planning to attend Universal Studio's Halloween Horror Nights, advanced ticket sales have begun. It seems that the earlier you go, the more the discount when you purchase online.

 

10/3 or 10/4

$34.99 = $20 off full price

 

10/10, 10/19, 10/26 or 10/30

$39.99 = $15 off full price

 

10/11, 10/17, 10/24 or 11/1

$44.99 = $10 off full price

 

10/18, 10/25 or 10/31

$49.99 = $5 off full price

 

They don't really have much info up about individual mazes yet, but it seems the theme is nightmares with Freddy, Jason and Leatherface coming back.

[DallasAlvey]

The icon seems to be Freddy because in a press release by universal the tagline is "nightmares come alive".

[digidude18]

^It depends on which park you go to. The theme for the Hollywood park seems to be the return of the deadly trio, but the theme for Orlando is Reflections of Fear where the main character is a doctor who specializes in "curing" phobias. It's not the best explanation but the web site has the whole back story, for Orlando at least. Hollywood never seems to get too involved with their HHN web site.

 

Edit: Sorry, didn't realize there was a whole thread that was explaining this already.

[robbalvey]

This just in from Universal Studios Hollywood -

 

MASKED KILLERS FROM THE HORROR-THRILLER HIT, “THE STRANGERS” MAKE THEIR THEME PARK DEBUT IN TERROR-FILLED MAZE AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD’S “HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS,” SOUTHERN CAL’S MOST TERRIFYING HALLOWEEN EVENT, BEGINNING FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3

 

Universal City, California— The relentless masked killers from Rogue Pictures’ horror-thriller hit, “The Strangers,” will make their theme park debut with vivid appearances in “House of Horrors: Meet the Strangers,” one of many terror-filled mazes featured in Universal Studios Hollywood’s ”Halloween Horror Nights” event, beginning on Friday, October 3.

 

“The Strangers” deadly stalkers, “Doll Face,” “Pin Up Girl” and “The Man in the Mask,” will join a “murderers’ row” of Universal notorious celluloid creature that includes The Wolf Man, The Mummy, Frankenstein’s Monster, Chucky and “Psycho’s” Mother Bates.

 

There will be no escaping “The Strangers” at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights event. The deadly masked creatures will also be found stealthily roaming the dark byways of the park in their own “scare zones.”

 

A torturous playground for horror fans, this year’s “Halloween Horror Nights” will also feature a rare and exclusive first look at Universal Pictures’ highly anticipated re-imagining of the genre classic, "The Wolfman," debuting on LED screens aboard the “Terror Tram: The Nightmare Tour.” The “Terror Tram,” unique to Universal Studios Hollywood, expands this year to double the length of previous Halloween tram experiences.

 

Issuing a dare to "Live Your Worst Nightmare," Universal Studios Hollywood has ratcheted up the intensity level to present a new "Halloween Horror Nights" for 2008. This year’s event will pair Hollywood’s top entertainment scenic and special effects artists with a cast of thousands to create terrifying new experiences including a bloodcurdling new "Nightmare on Elm Street" maze, all contributing to Southern California’s most intense Halloween experience.

 

"Halloween Horror Nights" begins on Friday, October 3 and will extend over an expanded 13-night run concluding Saturday, November 1. Tickets to "Halloween Horror Nights" are on sale now at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com.

[haiderodes]

From what I've read lately, it seems they are adding more in the way of scare zones which is a great way to build the atmosphere for the event.

 

I just hope the Terror Tram really delivers this year, last year it was kinda bleh. I was hoping to have people popping out of the bushes instead of randomly standing there shaking a can at me.

[ECZenith]

I was really dissapointed with last year's Hollywood HHN... and I'm even more dissapointed to hear that it's the same theme two years in a row. I guess Orlando spoiled me. Right now the one I really want to check out is the Saw maze they're putting up in Brea.

[trcg721]

The guy in the mask reminds me of scarecrow from Batman Begins.

[robbalvey]

I was really dissapointed with last year's Hollywood HHN

Just curious what didn't you like about it? I actually thought last year's Hollywood HHN was one of the best Halloween events ever. It blew away Orlando's version. I felt everything was spot on...the mazes, the licensed characters, the scare zones, the Bill & Ted show, overall it was a perfect package done in very high quality.

 

What dissapointed you?

 

--Robb

[Gnome]

I thought last years was a great event as well and I hope to get back this year. While they're keeping the same characters, its nice to see that they're still growing the event. A longer terror tram will definately give the attraction enough to give it another visit, and I like the idea of adding more scare zones.

 

Really, compared to the competition, HHN is just a much better event, imo. I definately prefer the 3 - 4 good mazes with a couple of quality shows (and dont forget about the atmosfear ), compared to 12 mediocre mazes and 5 mediocre shows and fog machines rolling by to designate a "scare zone"

[haiderodes]

I was really dissapointed with last year's Hollywood HHN... and I'm even more dissapointed to hear that it's the same theme two years in a row. I guess Orlando spoiled me.

 

My roommate had lived in Orlando for the past 4 years and had grown accustomed to the USF version as well. Like you, he was taken aback by the thought of two years with the same characters. BTW he was also annoyed last year when we got there and realized they dont serve liquor at the USH event like they do in Florida.

 

As for me, I think its a smart idea for them to keep the characters around for a second year. Remember USH went years without a Halloween event and these things need time to mature and grow. By building upon what worked well last year they can better refine the event. Because it seems that the Universal approach is one of an overlying theme versus a bunch of random haunts, its going to take time for them to have all the pieces in place to truly deliver as I believe they can.

 

While I would have liked to see an additional maze announced this year, I think the key to the success is going to be the updated Terror Tram. Plus the Freddy maze is going to be all new as well, so that sounds fun.

[Vbenguiat]

Hello, Im going by myself to HHN on october 9th and I want to join a group who is going... last year it was good fun by myself but i'd rather be scared to death this time with company.

So, drop me a line if I can join you, ok?

valerie_benguiat@yahoo.com.mx

[Samy]

Have fun!!!

[bargainbob]

I just went there this Thursday and was very disappointed.

There were at least 4 times the normal amount of people there for this time of year. It looked like a sea of people, similar to what you might see on T. V. of some crowded third world country.

 

The lines were so long there must have been well over 1000 people in the regular line for each haunted house at least an hour wait for each line.

 

I finally got in and all it was a bunch of people in rubber masks looming over you as you walk through all the while there was black lights and flashing lights.

 

It might be scary for a child or an idiot I guess.

I didn't even get scared once.

 

 

If you really want to go there you must and I mean must get the express pass.

 

There were two line workers in each haunted house express line trying to get the express pass holders through and the express lines were still backed up. They would let about a hundred express pass holders through then about 30 regular pass holders through then repeat the cycle.

 

I checked out to two more haunted house lines but they were just as backed up as the first one so I gave up because of the bad experience with the first crappy haunted house.

 

All I could see in the entire time I was there was one real crummy haunted house, one Infomercial magic show wanting you to buy his book and T-shirt deal at the shows end.

 

One trip on the M.I.B. ride The only bright spot of the whole time there!. And one bill & ted show which I thought started off OK with Presidential candidates parity but slowly went downhill because I didn't know all the very numerous caricatures .

 

I was so angry with the whole crappy event I left a half hour early.

 

I wish I could get our money back.

I certainly would never go there again.

[GoogleMickey]

^Shame you didn't have fun, because the event is extremely expensive. By the way, you posted this in the wrong thread. This is the Hollywood thread, not the Orlando one.

[JT3000]

Sounds like your bad time was your own fault. You should have gotten Express or had SOME sort of game plan. Either way, you can hardly critique the event after going through one haunted house. Sounds like you don't even enjoy haunted houses, so why were you there? There are plenty of us "idiots" who enjoy them just fine.