Halloween Horror Nights 34 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors

[TheCodeMan95]

Found this interesting...they currently have Citywalk listed as closing at 1am on event nights in August and September. I know in the past it has typically been 2am to align with the event closing. Super curious to see the event hours now, I'm wondering if we'll see 1am closing times the first few weeks.

We'll all exit USF into Citywalk at 2 AM and it'll be completely pitch black. Everyone break out the flashlights!

 

[GentleArt309]

Love the lean into Mel's this year!

 

[srbmarc]

Found this interesting...they currently have Citywalk listed as closing at 1am on event nights in August and September. I know in the past it has typically been 2am to align with the event closing. Super curious to see the event hours now, I'm wondering if we'll see 1am closing times the first few weeks.

At least keep Cold Stone open late! There's nothing worse than craving a post-HHN milkshake and then finding out the doors are locked.

 

[EAS]

Found this interesting...they currently have Citywalk listed as closing at 1am on event nights in August and September. I know in the past it has typically been 2am to align with the event closing. Super curious to see the event hours now, I'm wondering if we'll see 1am closing times the first few weeks.

I would be very, very surprised if they changed the times to limit the event. Even for Premium Scream Night, it was originally listed as starting at 7:30, but they moved it back to 6:30 to align with last year's schedule. Think they would get a lot of complaints if HHN ended at 1:00.

 

[SeventyOne]

Found this interesting...they currently have Citywalk listed as closing at 1am on event nights in August and September. I know in the past it has typically been 2am to align with the event closing. Super curious to see the event hours now, I'm wondering if we'll see 1am closing times the first few weeks.

Pretty sure CityWalk closed at 1 am last year (or often 11 pm), even with the 2 am HHN closes. Other than Dead Coconut, not a lot there anymore for an HHN "afterparty."

 

[SeanPhilly]

Pretty sure CityWalk closed at 1 am last year (or often 11 pm), even with the 2 am HHN closes. Other than Dead Coconut, not a lot there anymore for an HHN "afterparty."

That was my recollection (although I thought it was usually earlier). Boats are still running, etc., but restaurants and stores are closed. I think I recall hearing boats run until 3 am.

 

[HHN Maddux]

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Woooooo! Finally!

 

[ssirin88]

That's actually huge if true.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Good move in the right direction. Expect a few issues on the first day as ops gets used to this new process, but it should be a better guest experience.

Having to setup the S&Ss became impractical over the years with how massive the event is.

I do hope they have more of those mist fans utilized last year... the Fallout queue is gonna need it with that hot asphalt.

 

[Tereglith]

I wonder when they'll open the event food booths with this new setup. I always appreciated that the NY S&S zone gave a chance to try some event food without insanely long lines.

 

[ssirin88]

Good move in the right direction. Expect a few issues on the first day as ops gets used to this new process, but it should be a better guest experience.

Having to setup the S&Ss became impractical over the years with how massive the event is.

I do hope they have more of those mist fans utilized last year... the Fallout queue is gonna need it with that hot asphalt.

I like not having to be kept in a holding area while they usher out daytime guests. Even if I don’t want to wait in a house queue right away, I’d like the freedom to hang around somewhere until they start letting people into houses.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I wonder when they'll open the event food booths with this new setup. I always appreciated that the NY S&S zone gave a chance to try some event food without insanely long lines.

I actually wondered the same - I could see them opening up the booths at maybe 4PM or so.

Assuming this is all true, this is a PHENOMENAL change. Although I'm hoping the queues at the wristband locations aren't crazy.. lol

 

[srbmarc]

So do you think there will still be an "opening ceremony" if the gates don't actually close?

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I wonder when they'll open the event food booths with this new setup. I always appreciated that the NY S&S zone gave a chance to try some event food without insanely long lines.

Likely same time as before, but possibly check for an event wristband. Though, I don't think Universal cares who ends up buying stuff within the "mix" time.

I like not having to be kept in a holding area while they usher out daytime guests. Even if I don’t want to wait in a house queue right away, I’d like the freedom to hang around somewhere until they start letting people into houses.

Definitely, we've learned to just let the crowds diminish while we sit off to the side instead of waiting in the queue.

Pro-Tip: Last year for Insidious we chilled at Finnegan's/Tribute Store/Zone and let the S&S queue decrease before hopping in line half an hour later (closer to event start) and walked right in. We did this multiple times, so I'm hoping it's the case this year.

So do you think there will still be an "opening ceremony" if the gates don't actually close?

The gates will still close, the only difference is that S&S is not restricted to an area. There will still be a security sweep. If you are attending, you simply show the wristband and they let you pass by. WDW ops does a very quick and seamless job, so I'm fascinated to see how UOR does it. Their team takes roughly about 45 minutes to do it (pretty exceptional when you consider the busiest part of the park is at the very back)

 

[SeventyOne]

Nocturne Alley stay & scream has returned! I mean, sort of. Where I'd be.

Also interesting they plan on opening Fallout at 5:15. Will they allow "backstage" access to lines? I.e. can I get in line for Terrifier at 5:25 without re-entering the main area of the park?

All-in-all I think it's a win, but going to be some hiccups as it plays out. Curious to see what the long-term unintended consequences end up being.

 

[Tobias]

I asked this during the interview for SFX magazine and Lora/the Universal rep seemed to think it could be FNAF but most likely Jason Universe.

Jason Universe honestly makes a lot of sense considering multiple factors. Be it the very complicated rightsholder situation which led to it, maybe they wanna' keep the new Jason a little under wraps (akin to Exorcist: Believer a couple years ago as that was omitted from the tour as it was essentially a preview for the movie before it came out.), and who knows, perhaps things also get tricky with the different Jasons they're using...or they just don't wanna' give away which ones are showing up and perhaps an iconic kill of theirs.

And this is absolutely wonderful news, I was really hoping for this when it was first rumored! As others have mentioned, the wristband system works really well at Disney, and this is a system which not only benefits the guests, but also ops as they no longer have to build/strike and man holding pens every night.

This is the kind of change which'll encourage me to utilize Stay and Scream even more. I'll admit I've avoided doing it last year since I wasn't too fond of it, but now that I can freely roam around and take cover in the shade/AC at my leisure, I am all in on this!

 

[mccgavin]

Jason Universe honestly makes a lot of sense considering multiple factors. Be it the very complicated rightsholder situation which led to it, maybe they wanna' keep the new Jason a little under wraps (akin to Exorcist: Believer a couple years ago as that was omitted from the tour as it was essentially a preview for the movie before it came out.), and who knows, perhaps things also get tricky with the different Jasons they're using...or they just don't wanna' give away which ones are showing up and perhaps an iconic kill of theirs.

The rights issues with Jason have been largely resolved, as Jason Universe is a joint venture between Victor Miller and Sean Cunningham, who own both halves of the IP.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

That's actually huge if true.

OK, so now huge line at 2 to get a wristband, then everyone runs to a queue and lines up from 3 to 4 until they open the queue. But instead of access to food and beverage in holding area you are stuck in a queue, SOL. So are the themed food booths not open early now with short lines? Didn't say what time houses would open, big factor.
THIS SUCKS! Except for those that will roam until 5 and enter the Express line right off the bat.

 

[Clive]

OK, so now huge line at 2 to get a wristband, then everyone runs to a queue and lines up from 3 to 4 until they open the queue. But instead of access to food and beverage in holding area you are stuck in a queue, SOL. So are the themed food booths not open early now with short lines? Didn't say what time houses would open, big factor.
THIS SUCKS! Except for those that will roam until 5 and enter the Express line right off the bat.

But you still have access to food and beverage - more than ever? The early queueing was an issue before, but now you have more options of how you can spend your time before houses open.