Halloween Horror Nights 31 (UOR) - News & Info

[shiekra38]

I believe this year had a lot of rain in those first few weeks, so I assume any local RoF folks may have gone on those nights when the weather looked good which would add to those nights' crowds.

You know, that's entirely possible and that week probably did affect the week we attended

I still think overall they are going to have a "Disney problem" here soon where passes need to be seriously evaluated

I got the 10 houses in over 4 visits as we do not need to make sure we get everything in in one night.

This is what we did too. Pop in for a few hours, do a couple houses, then pop out...It's honestly the best way to do it

 

[Tbad556]

I think it's interesting to see all of the talk about lines/crowds being worse this year with no discussion including the impact from TMs no longer rushing guests through the houses :look:

 

[dxwwf3]

I think it's interesting to see all of the talk about lines being worse this year with no discussion including the impact from TMs no longer rushing guests through the houses :look:

Very good point. I will gladly wait a little longer to avoid the screaming and rushing that has went on in years past.

 

[Alsands]

I think it's interesting to see all of the talk about lines/crowds being worse this year with no discussion including the impact from TMs no longer rushing guests through the houses :look:

I kept hearing this beforehand but was rushed through several houses by TM’s.

 

[Tbad556]

I kept hearing this beforehand but was rushed through several houses by TM’s.

I haven't been in a few weeks, but I know some houses have been bending the rules a little bit because of the pressure of getting higher hourly counts, so that may be why. It's definitely an explicit request that came down from Karen from what I was told.

 

[Jakemeister]

I think the HHN - WDW comparisons are far more valid than UOR - WDW comparisons. A lot of the same problems are rearing up.

There are solutions, none of them are perfect. If you add capacity, you have to add labor. If you add another park you have to add a lot of labor. If you raise prices by 50-70% you price out a large market & then you lose some goodwill amongst loyal fans.

 

[SeventyOne]

I agree to a point that some of it gets overblown.

Hyperbole is strong during opening weekend, where a lot of people get caught up with the hype and become a prisoner of the moment; but then the issues become a little bit clearer as the event goes on. Icons was a good example last year.

This year has the added hype of being the first year in three many guests feel psychologically safe. (Not debating vinyl/masks again, just stating perception is reality, and many did not perceive 2020 or 2021 as completely "safe.")

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I think it's interesting to see all of the talk about lines/crowds being worse this year with no discussion including the impact from TMs no longer rushing guests through the houses :look:

Actually, I've noticed house runs are much faster now with little to no backups in the houses themselves. In previous years conga lines would crawl, I feel like this year (even with TMs not rushing inside houses) the pace is much faster.

 

[Tbad556]

Actually, I've noticed house runs are much faster now with little to no backups in the houses themselves. In previous years conga lines would crawl, I feel like this year (even with TMs not rushing inside houses) the pace is much faster.

I'll just say that counts have not reflected that.

 

[Darko]

Last year was an anomaly and really hard to judge, specifically with the showercurtains

This year has some fun moments but nothing that stands out like Seeds or Scarecrow or other year highlights that seemed to rise far above the rest

I will say this year was better than last year though for a variety of reasons

I think the food offerings are a good metaphor for this year...They sound great, look great on the menu board, and then you get it and bite into it and it's like...oh yeah...Fruity Pebbles aren't supposed to be on a Cheeseburger with no top bun

I freaking loved that Chucky burger so hush your mouth good sir. :box:

 

[OrlandoGuy]

I think the HHN - WDW comparisons are far more valid than UOR - WDW comparisons. A lot of the same problems are rearing up.

There are solutions, none of them are perfect. If you add capacity, you have to add labor. If you add another park you have to add a lot of labor. If you raise prices by 50-70% you price out a large market & then you lose some goodwill amongst loyal fans.

1,000x this. Obviously the event has grown in popularity, while concurrently has gone from the resort’s life-blood to just another event USF and the TMs have to get through. What used to feel like a passion project now almost feels like going through the motions. Everything serves a functional purpose because the event just needs to funnel through as many people as possible and maximize revenue. The talent is still there and that’s evident in the amazing production values of everything…but the homegrown labor of love aspect is gone and I think that’s where these reactions stem from.

 

[MI1287]

Actually, I've noticed house runs are much faster now with little to no backups in the houses themselves. In previous years conga lines would crawl, I feel like this year (even with TMs not rushing inside houses) the pace is much faster.

Minus a few exceptions this was my experience as well. There were many times throughout my runs where there ended up being sizable gaps between me and the people in front of me even though we first entered the house in the typical conga line and I was moving at a normal pace. Happened in Halloween, Spirits of the Coven and Blumhouse. In all my years of attending this had never happened before.

The TM's lurking quietly and only intervening when necessary was a very welcome change and made the houses much more enjoyable.

 

[Darko]

Yeah this is partly why I really liked the houses this year so much was the lack of TMs rushing us through the houses. Made them so much more enjoyable. Sure houses from previous years May have been better, but the experience this year was a huge improvement to me.

 

[MrRoamer]

I'm kind of in the same boat. I don't know if it's because I don't have anyone to go with, being too busy with life/work, or what but I've gone twice during opening weekend had fun but can't get super pumped to go again. I keep saying I want to and then something pops up or I just don't feel like heading out that way. I haven't even done all the houses yet....

I do really like some of the houses Weeknd is stupid fun and Chupacabra being my stand outs, and the scare zones are the best they've been in a very long time. It just felt like everything was way overcrowded and/or overpriced.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

I'm kind of in the same boat. I don't know if it's because I don't have anyone to go with, being too busy with life/work, or what but I've gone twice during opening weekend had fun but can't get super pumped to go again. I keep saying I want to and then something pops up or I just don't feel like heading out that way. I haven't even done all the houses yet....

I do really like some of the houses Weeknd is stupid fun and Chupacabra being my stand outs, and the scare zones are the best they've been in a very long time. It just felt like everything was way overcrowded and/or overpriced.

Kinda in the same boat. I’ve gotten the value out of the pass and don’t really feel the need to go anymore, even with almost the whole month of October left.

I think this is the first year since 26 that hasn’t had one outstanding house. I think Bugs may be the only one I remember by next year, and while The Weeknd is an exciting proof of concept, it’s not an elite house in a vacuum. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything by sitting the next few weekends out which is a bummer.

 

[Bort]

I think a lot of the crowd problems could be solved by finding a way to disperse the crowds more evenly throughout the night.

3 main windows being:
6pm-10pm
8pm-12am
10pm-2am

S&S and Scream Early are certainly there to make more money for the park, but also are a great way to get guests their ~4 hours in the park and gone with as little overlap against the peak times as possible.

I think we can all agree that the 8pm-12am block is significantly less enjoyable as you bang shoulders with other guests every two steps.

Could we see a similar attempt to incentivize the late night window to guests? The free parking perk seemed to be that at one point, but not so much anymore. What if HHN offered a pass that only allows entry from 10pm-close? No special express add-on, just a late night pass.

 

[MrRoamer]

I think a lot of the crowd problems could be solved by finding a way to disperse the crowds more evenly throughout the night.

3 main windows being:
6pm-10pm
8pm-12am
10pm-2am

S&S and Scream Early are certainly there to make more money for the park, but also are a great way to get guests their ~4 hours in the park and gone with as little overlap against the peak times as possible.

I think we can all agree that the 8pm-12am block is significantly less enjoyable as you bang shoulders with other guests every two steps.

Could we see a similar attempt to incentivize the late night window to guests? The free parking perk seemed to be that at one point, but not so much anymore. What if HHN offered a pass that only allows entry from 10pm-close? No special express add-on, just a late night pass.

I like the idea of potential different entry points based on tickets, but how do you clean out those with an earlier ticket window.

Honestly thinking through it some more, I think Stay & Scream may be part of the big issue, and I don't think it really benefits Universal (other than the ticket for it no idea how many of those actually are sold). When you're stuck in the pens you really can't do too much, unless things have changed since the last time I did it years ago. I never saw anyone in any of the shops or buying anything, you just get your little spot and sit there to melt in the sun except back when Finn's was the place to be.

Once its time, they completely flood ops in random directions. I guess it does move people to the back of the park faster, but they could certainly find different ways to manage that by using Diagon Alley or an entrance from Suess.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Last year was an anomaly and really hard to judge, specifically with the showercurtains

This year has some fun moments but nothing that stands out like Seeds or Scarecrow or other year highlights that seemed to rise far above the rest

I will say this year was better than last year though for a variety of reasons

I think the food offerings are a good metaphor for this year...They sound great, look great on the menu board, and then you get it and bite into it and it's like...oh yeah...Fruity Pebbles aren't supposed to be on a Cheeseburger with no top bun

I think this year has quite a few interesting problems that need to be discussed, identified, and solved. But to say this year has nothing that stands out is nuts - Pier is absolutely one of the best houses the event has EVER seen and easily towers above Seeds and Scarecrow, both of which I felt were hyped quite a bit beyond their actual worth by the fan community. The scare zones were also excellent, but not to the incredible extent of Pier.

 

[Darko]

I think this year has quite a few interesting problems that need to be discussed, identified, and solved. But to say this year has nothing that stands out is nuts - Pier is absolutely one of the best houses the event has EVER seen and easily towers above Seeds and Scarecrow, both of which I felt were hyped quite a bit beyond their actual worth by the fan community. The scare zones were also excellent, but not to the incredible extent of Pier.

Oh good so I’m not the only one who thought Scarecrow was overhyped. I remember really loving the house but not enough for an all-timer to me (I go back and forth whether I consider it one or not honestly). I enjoyed Descendants more honestly and I love scarecrows as a horror motif. Just like Descendants more.

Seeds on the other hand absolutely is an all-timer for me.

 

[shiekra38]

I think this year has quite a few interesting problems that need to be discussed, identified, and solved. But to say this year has nothing that stands out is nuts - Pier is absolutely one of the best houses the event has EVER seen and easily towers above Seeds and Scarecrow, both of which I felt were hyped quite a bit beyond their actual worth by the fan community. The scare zones were also excellent, but not to the incredible extent of Pier.

Best house ever?

Dang.