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| 10-7-03 | A Few Event Photos <--click |
| 10-1-03 | More Construction Photos <--click |
| 10-1-03 | Spoiler
Alert !! Going back to rumors several months ago about a Freddy vs. Jason house, the two were not totally scrapped but make an appearance in the “All Nite DrIvE In.” The following contains spoilers of the house that turned up on another message board… turn back now if you don’t wish to spoil the surprise… Upon entering the soundstage, you find yourself “outside” again, in a drive in theater complete with vintage cars and a playground off to one side. Guests will enter through the screen into a room with mirrors and hanging pumpkins, then move forward into Michael Meyer’s house. A throwback to the 70’s, the house is furnished in minute detail, with 70’s inspired carpet, couch, lamps, picture frames, stairs, and a kitchen nearly identical to the movie. Exiting the kitchen, you enter the patio complete with lounge furniture. Lo and behold, this house was built right next to Camp Crystal Lake (what were these happy home owners thinking?). Through the wooded area, onto the porch with kerosene heaters, coolers, lawn chairs and into a cabin containing 6 bunks, but don’t get any ideas, you know what happens to those frisky teenagers. After surviving Jason’s stomping grounds, things heat up a bit as you enter Freddy’s boiler room. Moving forward on to Leatherface’s territory…the dining room is exactly like the movie, with a table, linen cloth, glasses, and dead animals on the dinner plates leading to a maze of mattresses where you will encounter Leatherface himself. That’s all we’ve heard, but seems like that’s enough! Sounds like a great house!! |
| 9-22-03 | More Construction Photos <--click |
| 9-21-03 | HHN 13 Radio ad posted (for those of us outside FL area) |
| 9-17-03 | Spoiler
Alert !! This was found on a neighboring message board, where it didn’t reside for long, is the following bit of news about the Psycho Scareapy house…they decribe the first room to be an admissions room, with a desk and metal caging, a walk down a hallway of empty cells leads you to an operating room with a gutted patient on the table… the source advises at this point to “look for the bagel.” The house also features a rec room with TVs and props of patients holding dolls etc. Not to neglect the art of oral hygiene, there is also a dentist’s office... and another patient…. Teeth are everywhere as well as the patient’s face! In the bathroom, the stalls and toilets are adorned with a not so pleasant surprise… and an electrotherapy room that would make Jack Nicholson proud…. Dead bodies filling metal cages… and a small hallway will utilize a sparking fence… sounds pretty interesting so far… what do you think? |
| 9-16-03 | HHN 13 newspaper ads <--click |
| 9-15-03 | More Construction Photos <--click |
| 9-10-03 | HHN 13 news clip (for those of us outside FL area) |
| 9-9-03 | HHN 13 Radio ad posted (for those of us outside FL area) |
| 9-8-03 | Universal has
gone live with their website, proving some of the rumors true, some
false. The only thing that seems to be up in the air is the Extreme
House. We are hearing that the entire thing has been scrapped (despite
advertisement via the news earlier this season) but that leaves us
wondering what the “Carnage” house will be utilized for
this year. The structure was built last year to house an attraction
as well as store props for the event during the course of the year.
As of now, it sits empty. A really nice job with this year’s site, a vast improvement over past years and if the event lives up to it, it should be a great time for all. HalloweenHorrorNights.com |
| 9-6-03 | More Construction Photos <--click |
| 9-2-03 | More Construction Photos <--click |
| 9-1-03 | Ok, sorry for
the delay in posting, but been crazy in the HF camp as we set up our
new office… For those of you that need to be caught up to speed,
the frenzy for more information for this year’s Halloween Horror
Nights heightens... new sources come out of the woodwork, and the
following has come from inside sources, emails, and the Chainsaw
Wolf board...
….and Universal's Website is still not up. (We’re hearing this Wednesday) Seems that Universal
is giving the image that the confines of IOA are not enough to hold
all that they offer this year… spilling the event out on the
streets of CityWalk where actors with warnings NOT to enter will
begin…. As we've already posted, this year's icon will be "The Director." We admit it, we said they'd never do it and they did.... we haven't seen that much "nerve" from them in the last few years. There still seems to be some speculation on the Extreme House... after seeing it advertised on the news we have a hard time believing they would still scrap it at this point (would look really bad) but we are still hearing it has been. At this point, we may not know until opening day. Last year when "Cindy or Sindy" was scrapped we had heard rumors that the little girl might surface in one of the houses... seems the concept may not be dead yet... rumor has it that we may see "Mary" at the side of Albert Caine this year.... And speaking of Albert…Sounds like he has done some home renovations in Scream House. The exterior of the house has been expanded to include Albert’s yard, where his horse drawn coffin wagon is parked, and scattered bodies of HHN’s past litter the yard and a large forest area has been added allowing more room actors. Inside, the rooms remain the same, but their placement has changed. Movie Die In, the second house to take place in the soundstages and bringing you your favorite slasher films… rooms include a modern day house with couches, closets, a kitchen, stairs and real cars parked outside. Other scare zones will feature an abandoned forest and log cabin, welcoming us to Camp Crystal Lake… and may include a trip thru Leatherface’s hell with a Texas Chainsaw Massacre inspired room. Asylum is said to be taking place in the Discover Center and work has begun on the set. One worker leaving a door open allowed passerby’s to see into a room that reminded them of an old shower bank, like you'd see in a sanitarium, complete with drains on the floor. And once again, we hear that Universal is going Apes… at least in the Triceratops Encounter… chainsaw wielding apes? Sources say only the physically fit need apply…. Camp Jurrasic’s amber mines are rumored to be the queue. We’re hearing “Splats and Blots” will be roaming the streets of Toon Lagoon this year… wonder if they are related to the Tweaks and Foons. We would look for a return of the foam in this area again this year…. And Marvel is still rumored to be an aftermath of last year’s Carnage…. Carrying over the “toxic” theme with it’s inhabitants the survivors ( if one can call them that) of last years terror… (we’d heard that there may be issues with using the Marvel Characters in this context, thus the “removal” of them this year and the haunt consisting of the aftermath). Still hearing that they are upping their staffing for the event this year…that there will not be one character per room and they will be coming at victims from every angle. Perhaps that will help with the “cattle chute” method they have of ushering people thru with absolutely no breaks in the line. That’s all we have for now, but look for more as the work progresses and Universal works to get ready for this October, and more and more secrets are revealed. |
| 8-30-03 | HHN 13 promo ad video <--click (Chainsaw Wolf board) |
| 8-29-03 | Construction Photos <--click |
| 8-7-03 | "Cha-ching"
Well it seems that once again Universal feels it needs to "trim
the fat" for this year's Halloween Horror Nights, sources have
it they are cutting back on their creative staff, limiting them to
painting some white faces and dark eyes, otherwise relying on masks...
makes me wonder, just why did they need to raise prices again this
year? While this source is not disputing the return of Albert, his
presence will be felt in Screamhouse only. A resurgence of the "snuff
film / horror film director" rumor in that they have already
filmed a commercial with this icon, perhaps they are just waiting
for "results" to see if it will fly... if it doesn't, we
hear plan B is "Nightmare" from last year's Lost Continent.
If the director does make it, I'm guessing that they will lean towards
a horror film director, just can't see Universal crossing that line...
the first guess at this year's "flop" house.... despite
the apparent anticipation of HHN fans for "Ghost Ship..."
the feeling is it's a little too generic and is not going to live
up to everyone's hopes... the clown house will not bring a return
of Jack... there are no plans for any other shows to take place other
than Bill & Ted (another cost saver) and even B&T is running
behind schedule.... lets hope it's not another scrap left on the cutting
room floor.... More on the "Extreme House," CBS affiliate local 6 news in Florida announced today that HHN will have an adult only "Extreme House," elaborating that participants may be required to wear a harness (floor drops out from underneath you) and you may spend time in a coffin... should be interesting, can't wait for the reviews of this house to start rolling in... click to see video |
| 7-31-03 | Just in from
an unconfirmed source, a few new morsels for those clamoring for more
HHN news.... Albert Caine will be returning with a new sidekick... though we haven't caught a peak at him yet. Jurrasic park will be plagued with monkeys.... your guess is as good as ours on this one, even our source didn't venture to guess the reason why... and we are also hearing 3 houses in Jurrasic Park, one in Thunder Falls, one in the Discovery center, and a "Jungle of Doom," which will encompass the Triceratops Discovery Trail and Camp Jurrasic. Gone are last year's Super-Villains, supposedly Universal found themselves in a sticky situation of their use last year... apparently Marvel did not approve of their characters being used in such a setting. Sounds like they plan to maintain that "streets of chaos" feel for the island tho, but the inhabitants will be deranged citizens (sans super-powers). More talk about the Extreme House, nothing confirmed... just confirmation that it is not a rumor that is falling to the wayside...The Tweaks and Foons of last year's Toon Lagoon will be replaced with "Ink Blots," this year and more confirmation that the ghost-ship themed house will take place here. Preparing myself for the groan.... word has it one house will be <drumroll please>...... CLOWNS, and will be carnival themed... Perhaps the return of Jack? More confirmation that Screamhouse is returning... goes along with Albert's return as well.... no big changes in Lost Continent from last year, and Bill and Ted is in the works, but the script has not been completed at this time. For those who had heard about a 7th house, per this source that is unlikely, and the "Movie Maniacs" house is a rumor that they feel will not pan out as they have heard nothing of this attraction. |
| 7-28-03 | For those of
you that feel that rumors are running behind from last year, you may
be right for it seems production is running behind in relation to
last year’s event. Sources tell us they have been through the park and see nothing in the works yet for the upcoming haunt season. While we would not expect to see anything in the Bluto queue or the Triceratops Encounter (as it IS the summer season) no work has been started in the soundstages or the Carnage building. Rumor has it the Carnage building will house the “Extreme House,” and this building being left off of the house list that has surfaced seems to lend credibility to this rumor (as this building was built last year expressly for HHN). We’re still hearing that this Extreme House will be an additional charge if it takes place, that the participants will have to be over the age of 18, and that they will be led thru in groups of 8, the attraction only allowing for 500 people an hour to go thru. Perhaps Universal is learning from past years and thinking the concepts thru (remember Eddie and Cindy?). Word has it they are STRUGGLING to maintain a “PG13” rating this year, they are looking to push the event to new limits for their 13th season and that may explain the extra caution. Auditions have started and the studios are looking to DOUBLE their staff from years past, seeking out 600 employees to man the event, there are definitely 6 houses planned, and rooms will not contain the mandatory one actor per zone, but you can look for scares coming at you from all angles…. Not to leave out City Walk, there will be Rasta's, street preachers etc. warning people not to go inside. “Scare Tactics,” are the buzzwords being thrown around, “each house/area will be themed around a different Scare Tactics….” Could it be a term generically referring to a “scare plan?” Sure… but bearing in mind that Universal owns the Sci-Fi channel which now airs the show “Scare Tactics,” could add a whole new twist. |
| 7-9-03 | In the wake
of our post on 7-6-03, one of our past
sources have stepped forward with some conflicting rumors (which
seem to maintain the thread of the earlier rumors we posted this
year, including Universal's plan to not use Triceratops Encounter
this year). The source goes on to say "there will be no Freddy
vs. Jason maze, going as far as to say it was never on the table"
(such a shame, sounded cool), the "Extreme House" is up
in the air and while it has not been scrapped yet, there is some
question as to whether or not they will proceed, and so far, we
have heard this about the houses: |
| 7-6-03 | While most of us are enjoying our summer, and here in NJ it seems to have finally stopped raining for a few days, a new sourse tells us the folks at Universal have begun work on the Mazes/Houses. Props have been started, walls have been cut and painted and plans are being finalized… so we hear. Much commotion has arisen over news of the extreme house and we’ll just have to ride this one out to see if it lives up to the hype… while fans were thrilled to hear of an additional house this year whispers of additional up-charges soon turned some cheers to grumbles… maybe our latest update will lift those spirits once again… We hear that there will indeed be 6 house “structures” but 7 adventures to be experienced! Contrary to an earlier rumor that stated Triceratops Encounter would not be used again this year, word has it that it will be used to house 2 attractions, it is said that they will not only be utilizing Triceratops Encounter but the first floor Discovery Center as well. While the theme of this house is not set in stone, the idea being tossed about is a “Freddy vs. Jason” theme…. Much like Dueling Dragons where one path takes you to the Ice Dragon Adventure and one to the Fire Dragon (side note: rumor has it on peak nights there will be scharactors manning these queues to entertain the crowds), one path will take you thru Jason’s Nightmare the other thru Freddie’s, so one will have to make 2 trips thru the line to experience both. Their obvious choice is to stage the Jason, “Friday the 13th” attraction in Triceratops Encounter since it is already a forest atmosphere and then converting the Discovery Center to the hell that is Freddy’s Furnace. While these are not what could be called the classic Universal Monsters, for many of us “older fans,” these are “our” classic monsters, the ones from our youth, and it will be a lot of fun to visit with them once again…. Just remember, try to keep those lustful impulses under control while in these houses, you know what happens to those happy campers in Jason’s woods ;) |
| 6-11-03 | A little bit more info on that "extreme house," we made mention of... we hear that there is discussion of an "up-charge" for this additional thrill (so much for the excitement that we were going to be offered "more" for our dollar?) and it could require a waiver to be signed before entering. Still skeptics that this will ever see the light of day (or is that dark of night?) but we have learned to NEVER SAY NEVER... (as a few of people from last year should have learned...). |
| 6-10-03 | Updated rumors on those 6 houses for Universal. There has been talks one will be based loosely on “Ghost Ship,” to take place in the queue of Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges. The inmates will be running the Asylum in Jurassic Park who’s house currently has a working title of “Asylum.” direct and to the point, they might want to seek out something with a little more “punch,” but we’ll see. There are plans to bring back USF’s scare zone “Midway of the Bizarre,” but to take place in a house slated for Thunder Falls Terrace, the site of last year’s failed Fear Factor. There are no plans to stage another maze in the “Triceratops Encounter.” We recall feeling that this area was not sufficiently lit to display the well done sets last year and for that, lost atmosphere points. It looks like we might be seeing a return visit from Albert Caine as the caretaker, with the creative HHN staff utilizing a soundstage for another year of “Screamhouse.” Another bizarre twist to this particular rumor, and one we do not expect to see fruition, is that this will be an “extreme maze, where one would be forced to wear a hood and crawl thru cages and coffins.” With the way we have seen Universal steadily push crowds thru the houses in the past few years with little or no concern about the timing of groups, we would not expect them to take on this for that reason, as well as the obvious other liabilities that would coincide with the house. The 5th house is rumored to be based on “movie villains.” So we’re still waiting on information on that 6th house…. On the incredibly wild side, we’ve heard that another suggestion for this years icon is “A snuff film director who uses victims to star in his movies.” There are half a dozen reasons we would not expect this to come to pass, as judging by the “kinder, gentler, more politically correct” Universal we have seen over the past 2 seasons, we would be surprised to see an icon linked to the porn industry. We’re not discounting it completely, but it would certainly be a surprise. That’s the news as we know it, and as always, it’s probably going to change and as always we’ll keep you posted…. |
| 6-9-03 | Sources have it that Universal will be upping the ante this year with 6 houses instead of the 5 that has been their standard fare. Once again we are hearing that they will NOT attempt to theme the houses to each individual island as they did last year and there is serious speculation that we may be reunited with a familiar face for at least one of the houses. Still no confirmation of rumors that had circulated regarding a “processional” parade but as always, we’ll “keep digging,” and will keep you posted. |
| 5-13-03 | Well
HHN fans, you asked for it….. the first HHN rumors have just
been slipped under the HauntFreaks door…. For all of you that have been looking for your fix and have noticed that the rumor mill is getting a slow start, it’s not your imagination, from what we hear, Universal’s creative staff is a little behind schedule in comparison to years past. One can only speculate the reasons. Could it be due to staff changes? Apprehension about planning the event based on world events? Heaven knows that Universal is more concerned about being politically correct than “Reader’s Digest.” We’ve been told that the new icon could be “The Master,” a figure whose face we have yet to see. The Master’s way was paved by last year’s Albert the Caretaker…. (not sure what the story behind that is… but was part of the rumor).  Don’t count this as a done deal as it’s not even June yet, this shadowy figure could be sharing shelf pace with last year’s Cindy before we know it. As for HHN’s most popular show, Bill & Ted is rumored to be a “Reality Show Musical.” What better way to mark the decline of modern society than by mocking the very source of its ruination? With Joe Millionaire, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Mr. Personality, Meet the Folks, and reality TV gone big screen with MTV’s Real Cancun, there is more than enough fodder for the 40-minute comedy show. Sounds as though they plan to keep the event in Islands this year, but do not plan to theme the houses to the individual islands as they did last year. Universal will proceed with a more generic horror theme overall, possibly bringing back all of the old icons for a house… the ghosts of Halloween Horror Nights past? Sounds like an interesting idea… I wonder if Eddie will be invited to the ball… And just to let you know that they were listening, they are considering a small processional parade this year. Nothing has changed in the islands, the motor brigade can not make the narrow streets and winding paths but with fans bemoaning the loss of the parade as loudly as they have it seems they felt they needed to consider another option. Makes us pause and wonder if the brass at Universal have book-marked a few of those “unofficial HHN pages” that they shun any association with. |
| 4-7-03 | Insiders
tell us that the park was testing some possible “HHN”
lighting in Suess Island last week, projecting images of bats, witches
and spiders onto the building walls. ScreamScape.com |
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opinions expressed on HauntFreaks.com© are solely the opinions
of the HauntFreaks.com staff who are in no way affiliated with any of the above mentioned parks, products or events. |
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