Photo TR: A Day At Wet 'N' Wild and HHN 2008.

[Erik Johnson]

I will first start of with an assortment of photographs from Orlando's waterpark, Wet 'N' Wild.  The last time I set foot in this park was the same year that Tower of Terror opened up at Disney/MGM Studios.  Needless to say they have added quite a few things since 1994.  While the park looks like an average waterpark from the outside, they really do have a lot of special one-of-a-kind attractions as well as special versions of well known attractions. For instance, The Brain Wash looks like a standard smaller version of a Tornado. But it is far from it. The entire ride is totally enclosed and it is themed with all kinds of special lights, sounds, as well as projected movies. The same goes for the Behemoth Bowl Proslide named, Disco H20. Again its totally enclosed with all kinds of special lighting/theming/sounds etc. Ok, let us go and check out the photographs.

Early Dinner Time!

I do have to say that Wet 'N' Wild is my favorite waterpark. They really do have an excellent collection of attractions.

I see you Bomb-Bay!

The free fall slides still hurt your back. It was the same experience back in 1994.

It may look like a normal Proslide Tornado, but it really takes it to the next level with all kinds of awesome theming on the ride.

Brain Wash is another unique variation of and common waterpark attraction.

This attraction is only for the kids.

Make sure you are a strong swimmer for this one.

It is a human bowl Proslide that drops you into a 6.5 foot pool. Its really fast and you sustain quite a few G's while in the bowl.

I have to admit Storm scared me at first.

Just make sure you hold on tight, those drops create a LOT of airtime.

The wait can be long, but the Bubba Tub is really worth it.

Just like New York. You can find Nathan's all over Florida.

Here are some rules.

They completely re-did it as a series of pools and slides through a themed out-of-control water plant.

Anyone remember the old Raging Rapids attraction?

Both Disco H20 and Surge share the same loading platform.

Surge is pretty much a standard family raft ride.

Inside the bowl is themed with flashing lights, music, and a disco ball.

The drop into the bowl is really steep and fast in pitch black darkness, so make sure you hang on.

We then checked out the Disco H20, which is an enclosed Behemoth Bowl Proslide.

Many years ago there used to be a slide called the Corkscrew.  The slide used to exit here.

They added a brand new light package for the loading area as well as the slide itself.  It is quite excellent.

Just think Space Mountain as a water ride with two people rafts.

Our first attraction of the day was the newly redone Black Hole.

Which one is Splish or Splash?  Well, maybe more like Splush.

Though they still have the old classic wave pool.

Here is the park map.  I can already tell they have added a lot of new things since my last visit.

More current prices.

It is great that they have an open/closed attraction list that you can see before buying your tickets.

Good to know.

The Mach 5 was closed today.  But that was ok since I have already ridden them back in the day.

There is some nice landscaping before you get into the park.

OK let us head into the park.

Across the street is one of the oldest hotels in the area.

This is why I love going to parks in the off season.

It costs $9.00 to park your car at Wet 'N' Wild.

[Erik Johnson]

Ok let us head on over to Universal for Halloween Horror Nights 2008. I will first start of by saying that I was somewhat disappointed with last year's HHN. I think they focused way too much energy and money using the New Line licences. I prefer it when they use original ideas instead of basing a bunch of mazes off well known movies. Also last year was seriously hurt by a real lack of scare zones. I think they had one last year? Anyways, I think they listened to a lot of HHN fans and decided to add a lot of scare zones back this year and only have one maze that was based off of a movie. Overall I think the event was solid this year. It certainly had a good mix of good mazes/scare zones/as well as shows. I will try to keep this update somewhat spoiler free (I won't go into mazes details much), but there might be a few pictures here and there that could be considered spoilers.

Me being a coaster geek.

The caterpillar was the most evil one of the bunch.

"Give my best regards to Elissa!"

Creepy makeup.

Looks like Eric met a new friend.

Hey there!

Let us head on over to the Asylum in Wonderland zone.

The Skoolhouse area was not open yet. We shall check it out later.

It just does not look right while it is still light outside.

While blurry, Treeman was really amazing.

Representing the North.

I see you Pumpkin Head guy.

This guy was really creepy.

Again, Scare Zones are meant to be experienced at night.

Let us head on over to the America Gothic Scare Zone.

As with any HHN event. Mixed drinks can be found on every corner.

Watch your head!

While this looks MUCH better at night. You can see the Flying Monkey Scare Actors doing their thing.

Check out the detail on his costume.

Here is the Scarecrow.

The Lion does not look too cowardly.

The Tin Man.

We figured this would be a good time to explore the scare zones, when it was still light outside. Here is the Wicked Witch in the Path of the Wicked Scare Zone.

While the event officially started at 6:30, they opened the gates 30 minutes early.

I can see mist!!

Oops, I accidently caught my foot in Mirrorman's face.

This was Andrew's very first HHN.

Also a lot of extra security.

The only time Universal uses metal dectectors is for HHN.

Remember not to say her name three times in front of a mirror.

There was a pretty cool mirror themed projecter which helped explain a little about the whole Mary/Reflections of Fear theme.

Let us head on over to the park.

There was a few scare actors walking around City Walk a full 90 minutes before the event started.

Here is what another shirt looks like.

This is what one of the shirts looks like this year.

[nursemelis374]

Great Trip Report! I must say the level of detailing at HHn continues to impress me. I am a nurse and I love the 'nurse' selling the drinks in mini-IV bags and even carting them around on a makeshift IV pole! Fabulous!

[Erik Johnson]

Ok let us head on over to some mazes.

Ewwww...Scary!

The Frog Prince.

The Big Bad Wolf.....grrrrr!

The Fractured Tales scare zone featured twisted versions of Mother Goose characters.

For me, this was my favorite house of the event this year.

While in a tent, this one really rivaled a soundstage house this year. Another great house, there were a lot of good ones overall.

Wow, it only says no Flash Photography this year.

All three of the tent/shed houses were really good this year. I think this one was the most freaky of the evening.

And as always, the usual song and dance routine at the end.

Hellboy and the Original Iron Man.

Sweeny Todd attempting to take out another person.

The Joker with Sex and the City.

Hancock.

In case if you did not see the movie. He is the villian from Hellboy II.

My camera is not the very best at taking photos during the show. But here are Bill and Ted.

This year was themed with Hellboy II.

Unlike last year, they allow non-flash photography and video this year.

We decided to see the first show of the evening, since you get preferred seating with Express Passes.

Again, there is a lot of booze for sale during HHN.

The scare zone in front blended in with the whole Body Collectors theme.

One of the more gory mazes this year. I think I liked it more than a few other people, but it certainly was on the short side.

Another solid maze.

There was a big movie screen inside that showed different movie clips.

Its fully air-conditioned as well!!!

They actually used one full soundstage to cover several large sections of different queues.

There is a lot of extra walking due to all of the Rock-It construction.

There is some sort of text message game for each house.

Our first maze, which is in a soundstage, was Creatures. We all thought it was quite good. It certainly has a few great scare moments.

[Erik Johnson]

More pictures!

Yes, HHN was good this year.

Have a good evening Mary!

Country Music on a coaster?

Nerd!

Much better at night.

Check out the detail on Treeman's costume. Can you tell it is a person?

While it was one of the weaker houses, I still enjoyed it. It also was the most popular of the evening in terms of crowds.

So is fire.

Chainsaw dudes were back.

Here is the house based off a movie. The movie was not very good. The house was okay, but it was my least favorite of the evening.

Are you sure that we are at Universal?

The cast was perfect, and yes they sing all the songs themselves.

Also I think Rocky Virgins would be lost by this version of the show. Poor Andrew.

Just a warning, this is a full audience paticipation version, so there is a lot of extra colorful commentary. You have been warned.

Dammit, Janet!

They do a pretty good job using only about 1/3 of the songs in 30 minutes.

Science Fiction, Double Feature.

If you like Rocky Horror, you MUST see this show.

Yes, the rat lady is back.

Here is the Head School Master. He is evil by the way.

There are probably over 100 hundred of them.

Each one of those orange lights is a pumpkin.

[TheRapidsNerd]

There is no part of this update I didn't like and it's easy to see why CTU loves this event. Just awesome! The detail on the costumes was awesome!

 

Crazy girl on roller blades, awesome! Wet 'n' Wild, also awesome! Carrabbas, awesome!

 

Erik, great job. I enjoyed this a bunch.

[ernierocker]

I really wish I had planned my last Orlando vacation to be in October so I could of gone to HHN. Looks like I will have to wait till 2010. (Wouldn't want to go next year and see all that awesome Harry Potter construction and not be able to go in it)

 

Really enjoyed the update, Erik!

[Homer]

Great update Erik, HHN looks very solid this year, especially compared to Howl-O-Scream this year being a little weak.

 

Although, I would like to see the big guy raft on the Midwest Trip on Bubba Tub, imagine the air.

[DerekRx]

:sigh: this is the 2nd HHN I'll miss in a row, and this one has me way more jonesing to go back than last year's reports did. Looks like I'll definitely be setting aside some vacation days and LOADS of cash to do this event next year. I still can't get over how crazy expensive the express passes are selling for, I can get a kidney for cheaper, I swear! Great report, Erik, makes me want to return to Wet N Wild too, they've rethemed a bunch of stuff since I've been there, and it was only a few years ago.

[PKI Jizzman]

I can not wait to get down to a HHN. Seeing the amount of detail and work they put into each maze, let alone actor, is just mindblowing. I'd so love to be working down there!

 

-J "Come visit the Cemetery and Tower Johny will say hello " Z

[Guy T. Koepp]

Awesome TR Erik! I can't wait to get there this month! The days will not pass quick enough!

 

Soon though! Very soon!

[kalvin]

I wanna see the live Rocky Horror Picture Show, that looks pretty good

[AlexG8462]

Awesome Photo TR! This makes me wish I was in Orlando again, and it got me pumped up for the Halloween Horror Nights here in Hollywood!

[disneygurlz2s]

The last time I went to Wet n Wild that tall slide was called "Der Stuker" or something like that. I refused to it after seeing girl after girl come up with major wedgies or worse... LOL

 

I had to laugh at the picture of the "High Q" (tall hotel). Back in 1985 (same visit as Wet n Wild) I was on a business trip to the area and our hotel was a 3 or 4 story Quality Inn (the low Q). Each night as the shuttle bus dropped off they would ask who was going to the High Q and who was going to the Low Q.

 

HHN looks very cool, even though I am not real fond of haunts....

 

Shari

[Swimace]

^Der Stuka is the name of the tall slide on the right side of the tower that is pretty standard, whereas Bombay is the slide on the left where you load into a capsule and the floor drops out from underneath you. They're the same slide with the exception of floor drop on Bombay.

 

 

Awesome TR Erik! HHN was so awesome, I definitely had a few good scares that night!

[alpengeist04]

Great TR, Erik. I'm heading to the parks tomorrow, but no HHN this time.

[Wood Dragon 1988]

HHN looks great, but none for me again this yer

At least I will be going to Kennywoods very soon, which is the best Haloween event I've been to. It should be more fun the second time!

[Sketch105]

Hey guys! That was me as the White Rabbit. I actually gave Kidtums a shout out as well. It was nice to see TPR come down. Anyone know if Rob will stop by? He looks like a carrot

[Erik Johnson]

^ I thought it was you, but it always can be difficult to tell. You certainly got me the second time when we walked through the area at night. So I guess, mission accomplished.

 

[cfc]

Thanks for the sneak peek at HHN, Erik--I really like how this year's event is shaping up. Any word on the fate of Boris Shuster, the poor PI from the Web site storyline?

[Moose]

Matt and I need need need to get down there for HHN. Maybe next year

 

Great updates.

[freestylenut]

Fantastic pics! Felt like I was right there with you. This will be the first HHN I miss in roughly 13 years (I know..heckuva streak to break). Hey, times are tough & compared to last year's house theming (Jason, Freddy, Leatherface, Mary Shaw, etc), I couldn't justify the price tag this year for old houses being brought back (Scary tales, Skoolhouse, etc). I also feel Bill & Ted has turned more "Epic Movie/Date Movie" & has lost a lot of quality over the years & RHPS I did last year 9which was great).

 

Still, kudos to that Wizard of Oz scarezone..the costumes are WICKED cool like only Universal can do it! Thanks for posting the pics.

[Brandy524]

The pictures are awesome! The sets and costumes are incredible. I am a theater geek so I really love all that stuff. I do not, however, like haunted houses, so I would never go to this. I would only want to see Rocky Horror; love it, know every word to every song.

[BeemerBoy]

I do have to say that Wet 'N' Wild is my favorite waterpark. They really do have an excellent collection of attractions.

 

Yeah, I'm always a bit torn on this one, Erik. I've always wished Wet'N'Wild could magically be combined with Typhoon Lagoon somehow. Then you'd have the perfect waterpark. Oh, and BombBay...

 

Cool report, man!