Special Experience at HHN (TR)

[JT3000]

So, like the big HHN fan that I am, I ventured to Universal on Halloween night to bid farewell to this year's installment. But it wasn't just any ordinary night at HHN. Universal did something special for us crazed fans that I won't soon forget. You see, if you go to the HHN website and click on the book, and then click on the Terra Throne icon, you'll notice the logo with numbers on it. These numbers were special dates where guests had to figure out puzzles on the site and then go to the event to reap their reward by finding the "Dark Master", a mysterious cloaked figure hidden somewhere in the park (the location changed every night). At first, he simply gave out beads. But on 3 specific dates towards the end of the event, they gave out three cryptic clues that would later lead a select few to a special prize on the final night of the event.

 

Last night, I found out what that prize was. As the end of HHN 15 neared, a small group of people started to form outside of Confiscos near the front of the park. These were the select few that had won the Dark Master's game. One by one, these people were asked to give a password. Upon giving a valid password, they were then allowed to pass through a gate located at the back of the restaurant. This gate leads to a special, secret area above known as the Navigators Club. Waiting for us were none other than members of Universal Creative, the people responsible for creating all the horrorific imagery you see at the park every October.

 

During this private party of sorts, were were treated to drinks and treats while we picked the brains of these masters of the macabre, giving us an insider's look at the creative process of the event. Layed out on tables throughout the room were various concept booklets, which were made up of detailed sketches, drawings and layouts of various houses, scarezones and even the Bill & Ted set. In one corner of the room was a real life model of the bookcase seen on the website, filled with prop books and the various artifacts of the different realms, exactly as it exists on the site. It made for an interesting photo opportunity, to say the least. The Navigators Club features an outside balcony where we were able to watch that night's costume contest from above, which was fun.

 

But that's not all!

 

My jaw almost hit the floor as we were each handed hooded black robes and told to put them on. It looked like a mini Star Wars convention for a second there. We soon found out that we would be a part of the event's Closing Ceremony. We left the Navigators Club in single file, hoods over our faces, and creeped our way to the ominous Terra Throne, the crowd parting for us as we passed. Once inside the gate, the one that separates the guests from the scareactors, we spread to the sides and awaited the arrival of our Queen. She calmly trotted to her fiery throne on foot instead of her usual bike entrance. She said her final goodbyes to the dark temptresses (some tongue action was involved) and her loyal servant Eelmouth, and was then ceremoniously lowered into the dark depths of her throne like all the sacrifices before her. The last season of the queen had come to an end.

 

And it kicked ass. A big shout out to Universal for being so grateful of their fans and putting together something so special and interactive for us.

[Mr.Six]

Wow! That sounds sweet.

Knotts really should take note on these things; but won't!

_six

[robbalvey]

^ I was JUST about to post something like that!

 

--Robb "HHN really is a class act!" Alvey

[pvcoasterguy]

Wow... that's one of the coolest things that a theme park has ever done! Obviously Universal knows that it has loyal fans and that they should do some awesome (and cool) things for those willing to visit multiple times.

 

This is even above Disney quality... kudos Universal!

[SharkTums]

That's so cool that they do something for the diehards like that! I'm really impressed!

 

I got the notice about the costume contest, did you see any of that? I'm curious what sort of costumes won as there was a pretty large prize involved!

[saturday97]

That is first class fan appreciation! What a fantastic idea!

 

Wish they'd bring back the Universal Hollywood Haunt!

[Wes]

Awesome stuff. It's stuff like this that seperates Universal from the rest of the pack.

[Corkscrewed]

So THAT'S what everything was about!

 

I saw this posted on HHN and wondered how exactly all these clues went. Definitely awesome of Universal to go to such great lengths! Very, VERY cool!

[Erik Johnson]

Hey thanks for posting this wonderful experience. That was a very neat thing for Universal/IOA to do. Also didn't they actually allow costumes for the first time this year on the last day of the event?

[JT3000]

That's so cool that they do something for the diehards like that! I'm really impressed!

 

I got the notice about the costume contest, did you see any of that? I'm curious what sort of costumes won as there was a pretty large prize involved!

 

Yeah, the contest started at about 11:15. It was hosted by Beetlejuice. The final three contestants were a female pirate, a demon woman and a group of guys that danced around. The guys got the biggest applause, but the pirate won. None of their costumes were all that original. I'm shocked that the devil woman even qualified, as her costume seriously broke one of the rules. I'm not sure why she spent 90% of her time on stage bending over, since you could already see half her ass when she was simply standing up. :?

 

Photos of the contest can be seen here:

 

http://ioacentral.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8179&whichpage=3