Halloween Horror Nights 2025 (USH) - Speculation & Rumors

[Brian G.]

The "every even year is a banger" theory held VERY strong until 2020.

Did it?

 

[chris.g]

Woof, man.

In jest of course.

The entire basis of a good and bad year is subjective! I don’t blame the pessimists, but I think there’s an issue of toxic positivity too.

 

[foodstampsFTW]

I mean 2024 was the worst year for the event since 2017 so it’s fine to be a little more pessimistic

 

[saint.piss]

I mean 2024 was the worst year for the event since 2017 so it’s fine to be a little more pessimistic

Bruh... how can you say this when 2021 exists? 2024 was not THAT bad. Jesus... I hate pessimistic people man. I get having different/not so positive opinions that's all fine and dandy but dang. Not all of us feel the same and you guys are just being debbie downers in this spec thread right now. A lot of you veterans just need to accept current HHN is a lot different than what it use to be for your favorite years (late 2000s-2016) and it's just going to keep being different. Either accept the change or move on. It's not hard. If you want those classic HHN scarier vibes go to Scary Farm.

 

[Wesker69]

If you want those classic HHN scarier vibes go to Scary Farm.

Don't you wish that evil on people.. lol

Last year wasn't great, but it wasnt terrible either. Honestly, the event has not been the same post-2020. Even 2019 wasn't that great, it was just busy enough to get me to dip out early every night.

This year I'll audition (body depending, I'm old & broken), still go via the FFP even if it's kinda "meh" because it's a better ticket deal.

 

[foodstampsFTW]

Bruh... how can you say this when 2021 exists? 2024 was not THAT bad. Jesus... I hate pessimistic people man. I get having different/not so positive opinions that's all fine and dandy but dang. Not all of us feel the same and you guys are just being debbie downers in this spec thread right now. A lot of you veterans just need to accept current HHN is a lot different than what it use to be for your favorite years (late 2000s-2016) and it's just going to keep being different. Either accept the change or move on. It's not hard. If you want those classic HHN scarier vibes go to Scary Farm.

2021 doesn’t count as a real year come on, they deserve a pass from seeing how to come back from covid. I didn’t even dislike 2024, it’s just definitely a step down from previous years quality.

 

[DehSpaghettiBoi]

Man what's up with all the negativity here rn. Jesus. I swear this happens every year with you people lmao. We don't even know anything about the event this year and yall being so negative like chill

It gets really annoying and pathetic, that’s why I don’t associate with other hhn fans and even influencers

 

[Wishmaster]

This falls under the category of looking for patterns when none exist. Short of a significant anniversary, nothing about the year or its proximity to the end of a decade really affects how the event is conceptualized or executed.

I made the post to present an optimistic POV for the upcoming years within this decade.

I mean 2024 was the worst year for the event since 2017 so it’s fine to be a little more pessimistic

I disagree on this one. I think 2024 is underrated and finishing all houses before 11:30 pm was amazing. I think 2022 was annoying/underwhelming.

Btw, I have Knott’s as the 2024 Haunt Champions. Knott’s has been good for a while now.

I’m still nearly 100% confident everything I mentioned a few pages ago is coming. My main fear right now is just that they’ll waste the potential of all those IPs. This could be the best year in a while, but if they don’t use the IP to its fullest potential what’s the point?

If confirmed, I think Universal will do their best job to make the IP houses great. They will deliver unlike Six Flags.

 

[Wesker69]

I've said it before & I'll say it again. Until Knott's builds all new houses from the ground up every year, it should never be labeled as "better". Especially with its inconsistent staffing.

Let's not pretend every IP at HHN is a perfect house. They can & have missed the mark.

Six Flags can deliver, they were just a victim of corporate interference (hopefully that'll be less of an issue this year).

Staffing wise though, all haunts suffered last year (even HHN). I'll be curious to see what happens for 2025. At least we've got 3 tents up now!

 

[Viator]

2021 was a mulligan year that had its issues but it wasn’t like there wasn’t a reason why why things happened the way they did.

2022 had La Llorona, Scarecrow and After Hours. I love that year; but I think the rest of the lineup outside of that felt lackluster and more of a shell of what was present.

2023 was the year I couldn’t see it because you know. Moving. But it seemed the most…safe, as a good word. You had technological feats with Chucky, and it seemed to be the first year where SS15 looked like a soundstage house; but it looked the most to me that the event was going through the paces.

I genuinely think 2024 not having FNAF makes the event in comparison a difference. Even with Texas and Weeknd being all timer houses for me; the biggest problem with 2024 was that it felt the most “hand holding” with house tactics (both in layout and in bad TM ops). It felt the most consistent of the years since 2019, but it felt like it missed one special touch.

Personally speaking from rumors I see and gather; I think the 3-Set has the potential to be the strongest in event history. The rest don’t matter in considering the three IPs I’ll stick to believing on.

 

[Jake S]

Staffing wise though, all haunts suffered last year (even HHN). I'll be curious to see what happens for 2025. At least we've got 3 tents up now!

Yeah, I can't think of a "major" haunt last year that did not suffer from staffing issues. And if I'm not thinking of one, I'd love to hear about it!

 

[Clive]

Yeah, I can't think of a "major" haunt last year that did not suffer from staffing issues. And if I'm not thinking of one, I'd love to hear about it!

They finally hit the point where no one is paying enough for what these events demand - a whole lot of your time and strain on your bodies. Wages gotta go up, or the holes will continue.

 

[Wesker69]

They finally hit the point where no one is paying enough for what these events demand - a whole lot of your time and strain on your bodies. Wages gotta go up, or the holes will continue.

It's true. While we scare because we care, it is also a job. HHN & LA Haunted Hayride paid $18-19 last year, which was fine (should be more).

The strain on your body is definitely a thing. And the guests. So scareactors drop after the 1st or 2nd weekend. Unfortunately, they rarely bring in more to fill the vacant void.

also Knott's still only pays $16.

 

[Jake S]

The strain on your body is definitely a thing. And the guests. So scareactors drop after the 1st or 2nd weekend. Unfortunately, they rarely bring in more to fill the vacant void.

There are also more scareactor jobs available than there were 10 years ago. In theory, that’s great! More jobs means more opportunity! What I think it has actually meant is the most hardcore performers are spread out amongst the events (or work multiple jobs!) and the newbies don’t love the work enough to put up with the poor pay.

I think there’s a much bigger story to tell about the scare actor culture of places like Horror Nights and Knott’s and whether or not these places have taken their most valuable asset for granted and are starting to pay the price for it. I have my theories!

 

[Rideguy70]

I've said it before & I'll say it again. Until Knott's builds all new houses from the ground up every year, it should never be labeled as "better". Especially with its inconsistent staffing.

Meh, I don't think having all new mazes every year necessarily makes an event "better".

I'd argue the rank and file guest doesn't get to every event every year. For one, I appreciate Knott's for having repeats, as I don't make it down to that event every year. Plus, it allows me to relive my favorite ones, as well as having a greater selection of mazes, and something to spread out the lines more... a big problem that HHN suffers from.

That said, they certainly do seem to be the worst in terms of staffing mazes adequately. And it's not a new phenomenon over there either... I've felt that way about it since the late 90s

 

[Clive]

I'm personally fine with Poltergeist coming back if they make improvements / include the cut scenes / no black walls. Its last appearance was almost a decade ago.

 

[Freak]

We are currently at the top for the speculation timeline.

I'm personally fine with Poltergeist coming back if they make improvements / include the cut scenes / no black walls. Its last appearance was almost a decade ago.

Don’t yank my chain. Poltergeist wasn’t that long ago! It was only seven years a…..oh.

 

[saint.piss]

We are currently at the top for the speculation timeline.

View attachment 25934


Don’t yank my chain. Poltergeist wasn’t that long ago! It was only seven years a…..oh.

Happens every year. LMAO.

 

[Viator]

 

[HydraGen2299]

They must’ve gotten Hollywood and Las Vegas confused. What a weird typo to make