Halloween Horror Nights 34 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors

[RedRightDan]

I am fully preparing for the possibility of a very small Tribute Store this year

It really is starting to seem that way. I hate to say it…but I kind of get it.

The store doesn’t really have anything different than you can get at dozens of other merch locations inside and outside the park. They may be looking at the budget and staffing, and asking if they’re seeing a return on the investment.

They can still offer the more limited items (snacks, comics, coins) in the smaller footprint…maybe only open during the event. The Mouse already has set precedent with event exclusive merch.

To the other point, are we sure that the arcade doesn’t have any back room connections that they can use? I thought all those buildings were connected through hallways. It’s possible that they have more footage to use than we think.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Apologies if I missed something, but why would the “normal” Tribute Store location not be available? If it’s because of coaster demolition work, wouldn’t that also have massive impact on house entrances in that area? The normal Tribute Store location seems like it should be far enough away to not be affected by that demo / construction work.

Maybe the Mummy ops team doesn't want to give up their queue again?

 

[SeanPhilly]

Maybe the Mummy ops team doesn't want to give up their queue again?

I don’t think I realized they ever did! Lol.

 

[Kichkinet85]

TBH it is strange to make the tribute store smaller this year. After talking it up at Spooky. With how much they put in to it. Strange to now take a few steps back.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I don’t think I realized they ever did! Lol.

Yeah it's queue area, which is why when HHN comes around and the tribute store is there they have the outdoor queue area.

 

[SeanPhilly]

Yeah it's queue area, which is why when HHN comes around and the tribute store is there they have the outdoor queue area.

Ahhh. I only ever go to Universal during HHN, so have never seen the non-HHN queue.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Ahhh. I only ever go to Universal during HHN, so have never seen the non-HHN queue.

It's glorious to see a nice clean courtyard, ngl.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I am fully preparing for the possibility of a very small Tribute Store this year

A tiny tribute store would go a long way to dampen my enthusiasm. One wonders why they wouldn’t use the Hollywood location.

 

[Staggz]

I'm 50/50 on a smaller tribute store, depending on how the rest of the park looks.

With the pretty sparse and not super great scarezones over the past 2 years, I think a smaller tribute store would've been a bust. That being said, if the zones are as immersive as they are claiming and the overall vibe of the park is much more themed, I'd be totally cool with that tradeoff.

What I do hope is that the merchandise has some conservatory themed and original house themed pieces. The scarezone beer can shaped glass with Oddfellow on it and the "pick your poison" glass from 31 are still two of my favorite merch pieces offered from the event.

 

[krazyhorrorkid]

Speaking of the tribute store, I know everyone is debating on where it will be located but is there something stopping it from going in the location in Avenue of the stars?

Maybe the arcade is just something extra…

 

[Kichkinet85]

Speaking of the tribute store, I know everyone is debating on where it will be located but is there something stopping it from going in the location in Avenue of the stars?

Maybe the arcade is just something extra…

The ongoing rumor is it’s bc of RRR demolishing and the work walls there.

 

[Bort]

No insider information here, just pure speculation:

HRRR construction is a real thing that will impact queues and such, but I just don’t see how that entire area is going to be closed so much that it causes the Tribute Store to move. There’s two house entrances right there as well, yet nobody is talking about those getting relocated.

While I’m sure the Mummy team may like their queue space, who’s going to get the final say when only one of the options turns that square footage into profit?

My prediction is that the Tribute Store remains in its main spot. The arcade will either be a secondary retail location, or tied into a FNAF “experience”.

 

[Chumpieboy]

To the other point, are we sure that the arcade doesn’t have any back room connections that they can use? I thought all those buildings were connected through hallways. It’s possible that they have more footage to use than we think.

There’s kinda a whole ride in between the two stores. Can’t see how that would work.

 

[Kichkinet85]

No insider information here, just pure speculation:

HRRR construction is a real thing that will impact queues and such, but I just don’t see how that entire area is going to be closed so much that it causes the Tribute Store to move. There’s two house entrances right there as well, yet nobody is talking about those getting relocated.

While I’m sure the Mummy team may like their queue space, who’s going to get the final say when only one of the options turns that square footage into profit?

My prediction is that the Tribute Store remains in its main spot. The arcade will either be a secondary retail location, or tied into a FNAF “experience”.

I agree. Yes, RRR is being demolished but I can't see how it really will affect the tribute store. Maybe the facade? Besides the first week or so there is barley any line at all for it. The walls did go up there but to my knowledge there next to the store. I can see this affecting houses/queues but not the tribute store.

I haven't been back by the NY library since the walls went up, so not sure if they block the exit and if this will be a problem. Maybe the exit is the issue. If this is the case, I would think they would move it to the Hollywood location, but as the discount store is there, they probably want to keep that there longer.

 

[RedRightDan]

There’s kinda a whole ride in between the two stores. Can’t see how that would work.

Oh, I didn’t mean the whole old location. Just that there may be some square footage that they can repurpose in addition to the arcade portion

 

[GA-MBIT]

This isn't a dig at anyone in particular. Times have changed and everyone has the right to be excited and/or anxious about anything HHN-related.

But, I really miss when 90% of the discussions within speculation threads across the many fan sites were focused on the uncertainty of what would be announced, rather than when the announcements might occur.

This post is ancient by this threads' standards, but it touches on something I've felt about the HHN spec scene for a bit, and why I've felt so burned out and uninterested in it as of the last few years.

Frankly, the insiders are just too good. Internet clout has led to everyone wanting to be the first to crack information to the GP, faster and earlier every year. We always know what houses are going to be at the event with about an 85% accuracy as early as Valentines Day. Zones are usually nailed down maybe a month or two later. I'm local and don't use express, so ticket speculation doesn't really do it for me. In the end, there isn't much to actually speculate about besides, to quote another fandom's meme, "Deltarune tomorrow?". That gets really boring after awhile.

I also just find it really dull to be constantly in "Halloween mode" all year round. I get taking a week or so after the event to shake out the last bit of seasonal spirit and anticipate the next year's event, but after mid-November, I just don't get it anymore. It lessens my enjoyment of not just the spooky season, but all the others too!

Living in Florida really disconnects you from the idea of seasons and seasonal weather. I can totally understand why someone dealing with harsh heat or an excess of pollen in Summer or Spring would be looking forward to a nice chill Autumn air or a snowy winter. But every season here blends together into a warm, humid mush, so I have to be really disciplined in my seasonal activities or else my perception of the year itself passing will grow incredibly mushy too.

At this point, I kinda wish I could just not hear about anything HHN until mid-August, but that's just not really possible for myself. I am surrounded by it thru IRL friends who work the event or audition for it, this forum and it's constant obsession, social media and the 7 months of announcements and previews for it, and the parks themselves feeding into it all. Despite the groaning from HHN thread regulars, I honestly enjoyed that Epic pushed back the marketing for HHN this year. We already know everything that will be there anyways; why do we need an announcement in April?

Everything about the event has become such a monoculture surrounding me, and it's all grown deeply stale. I'm excited for the event, as I always will be. FNaF, Friday, Fallout; these are all really exciting! The lineup sounds like one of the best in recent memory. But I've known about said lineup for most of the year now. Given the page count of this forum thread already; What else is there to actually discuss? Let alone speculate?

I really enjoyed the Terrifier discussion from a few pages back. That felt really interesting and constructive from a lot of different members.

 

[Brian G.]

This post is ancient by this threads' standards, but it touches on something I've felt about the HHN spec scene for a bit, and why I've felt so burned out and uninterested in it as of the last few years.

Frankly, the insiders are just too good. Internet clout has led to everyone wanting to be the first to crack information to the GP, faster and earlier every year. We always know what houses are going to be at the event with about an 85% accuracy as early as Valentines Day. Zones are usually nailed down maybe a month or two later. I'm local and don't use express, so ticket speculation doesn't really do it for me. In the end, there isn't much to actually speculate about besides, to quote another fandom's meme, "Deltarune tomorrow?". That gets really boring after awhile.

I also just find it really dull to be constantly in "Halloween mode" all year round. I get taking a week or so after the event to shake out the last bit of seasonal spirit and anticipate the next year's event, but after mid-November, I just don't get it anymore. It lessens my enjoyment of not just the spooky season, but all the others too!

Living in Florida really disconnects you from the idea of seasons and seasonal weather. I can totally understand why someone dealing with harsh heat or an excess of pollen in Summer or Spring would be looking forward to a nice chill Autumn air or a snowy winter. But every season here blends together into a warm, humid mush, so I have to be really disciplined in my seasonal activities or else my perception of the year itself passing will grow incredibly mushy too.

At this point, I kinda wish I could just not hear about anything HHN until mid-August, but that's just not really possible for myself. I am surrounded by it thru IRL friends who work the event or audition for it, this forum and it's constant obsession, social media and the 7 months of announcements and previews for it, and the parks themselves feeding into it all. Despite the groaning from HHN thread regulars, I honestly enjoyed that Epic pushed back the marketing for HHN this year. We already know everything that will be there anyways; why do we need an announcement in April?

Everything about the event has become such a monoculture surrounding me, and it's all grown deeply stale. I'm excited for the event, as I always will be. FNaF, Friday, Fallout; these are all really exciting! The lineup sounds like one of the best in recent memory. But I've known about said lineup for most of the year now. Given the page count of this forum thread already; What else is there to actually discuss? Let alone speculate?

I really enjoyed the Terrifier discussion from a few pages back. That felt really interesting and constructive from a lot of different members.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and I encourage others to share their POVs, too!

 

[Tobias]

No insider information here, just pure speculation:

HRRR construction is a real thing that will impact queues and such, but I just don’t see how that entire area is going to be closed so much that it causes the Tribute Store to move. There’s two house entrances right there as well, yet nobody is talking about those getting relocated.

While I’m sure the Mummy team may like their queue space, who’s going to get the final say when only one of the options turns that square footage into profit?

My prediction is that the Tribute Store remains in its main spot. The arcade will either be a secondary retail location, or tied into a FNAF “experience”.

FWIW, I do recall seeing discussion of all the soundstages (except El Artista as that queue is unaffected) would be entering backstage by Minion Mayhem and splitting off like a mini hub.

As for the Mummy queue being used for the tribute store, I think it's safe to say if ops didn't have a say on where the store goes...they'd still be having the spring/summer tribute stores in the Mummy queue to this day. But since those stores have been moved to Hollywood, I do feel ops had a say on that, especially for seasons that can be generally busy during the day.

That said, the HHN tribute store has remained in the Mummy queue, so I feel if it did get moved it would be due to some sort of construction obstruction like what is going on right now. Either way, it's a wait and see.