Universal Horror Unleashed - Las Vegas, NV

[hunnylvr]

I don't think the pricing on this is crazy AT ALL. Again, it's Vegas - it's a WAY different animal than Orlando. For example, I was just there a month ago, and we went into "old Vegas" and Fremont Street. My friend and I decided to do the zipline over Fremont Street (which was a total blast, btw). It was $70 EACH before taxes for an approx 3 minute zipline.

People go to Vegas knowing ahead of time that money is going to be falling out of their pockets. This is not a theme park nor a city filled with theme parks. This truly is an adult playground full of high expectations, tons of creativity, and big price tags. That being said, a lot of it is worth it. Vegas has some of the best shows, and with the Sphere, it now has the best concert venue on the planet (I cannot recommend that place enough - though it will ruin you for any other concert experience).

I am most curious to see if Unleashed will tap into that adult vibe at a much higher level than at HHN. I noticed in the most current video release that there were performers in the background doing moves that reminded me a lot of the Cirque shows. I found that interesting. I really hope this is meant to cater to that wild Vegas adult crowd. The intensity would definitely be up a notch.

Also, I think the location is perfect. This is very close to the strip and would likely only cost about $15 max in an Uber to get there from most strip hotels. I'm in Vegas a lot, and I never get a car there (you'd be an idiot to do so unless you're doing other adventures like hikes near Hoover Dam or whatever). Uber and even most taxis are just fine. Or, depending on where you stay, you may even be able to walk. We walk miles in Vegas - which you all should be used to walking HHN every year.

When I saw the video last week, I screamed over Scarecrow and almost cried when I saw Jack. Those two things alone will have me visiting - and visiting every time I'm in Vegas. I'm going to wait until after this haunt season though. I want them to be comfortable and in control with the whole thing before I go. Also, by January next year, I'll be desperate for a haunt, and weather in Vegas in January is WAY better than Chicago. So, win/win for me.

 

[BillM]

Audition Profile - Universal Horror Unleashed – Universal Destinations & Experiences – 637158 -

Search jobs at Universal Parks & Resorts, Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood, or Universal Creative. Apply today!

jobs.universalparks.com

 

[Wesker69]

Here's the audition breakdown





Just got the email 30mins ago. I'm probably going to create the audition profile to be a scareactor just to see if I get offered an audition.

The problem is being an LA local instead of a Vegas resident. I'm sure many others that live outside of Vegas are wondering the logistics of working at UHU

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Photos of the Universal Horror attraction in Las Vegas posted yesterday by Attractions 360.

The fact that there is a passenger jet parked out in front matches what user Ride Guy reported back in late December or early January after talking to some construction people on site.

 

[Rideguy70]

I did call that on my December visit! But the same guy on site also said it wouldn't open until November, so...

That said, IMO, I cannot see how this can be open to guests in 5 1/2 months. I realize the Unleashed building is a separate matter from the rest of the new area, but even that doesn't look done to me... and then include time for staff training and prep... I don't know. I realize it's not as complex as opening a new mechanical attraction (like a coaster), but even restaurants and bars still need time to train and prep.

I certainly hope I'm wrong there, but I think at best if it does open in August, it will not have everything ready yet. That's my prediction.

 

[Freak]

If it gets delayed another month or two, I plan on visiting in December so it won’t matter to me. Lol

 

[Wesker69]

Again the staffing of this entire Universal venue has me perplexed because I highly doubt it can be done by Vegas locals alone.

LA locals are possible, but the 4+ hr drive to/from would be nuts & tiresome

I'd have to wonder if Universal would provide housing/dorms of some kind for those out of town people willing/wanting to work but moving there permanently might not be feasible.

While scaring 365 days would be a dream, you're gonna need at least 4 casts for the houses 2 daytime/2 nighttime

 

[CoryLevy91]

Again the staffing of this entire Universal venue has me perplexed because I highly doubt it can be done by Vegas locals alone.

LA locals are possible, but the 4+ hr drive to/from would be nuts & tiresome

I'd have to wonder if Universal would provide housing/dorms of some kind for those out of town people willing/wanting to work but moving there permanently might not be feasible.

While scaring 365 days would be a dream, you're gonna need at least 4 casts for the houses 2 daytime/2 nighttime

Maybe they're not gonna be staffed like a normal HHN house?

 

[Wesker69]

Maybe they're not gonna be staffed like a normal HHN house?

Having 2 full casts would already be not staffing it like a normal HHN house.

Depending on hours of operation, they're going to need A LOT of scareactors (especially back-up) otherwise it'll end up a very hit/miss "empty" experience like haunt season has been for the post-covid years

 

[Lucky Planet]

Maybe they're not gonna be staffed like a normal HHN house?

this type of attraction would benefit from automated animatronics or other type of electronic effects, or mirror effects with statues or puppets or something

 

[Wesker69]

this type of attraction would benefit from automated animatronics or other type of electronic effects

Until said effects crap out resulting in lengthy downtime

 

[Legacy]

Most year-round haunts of this type feature smaller casts with way more flexibility in where/how they scare in a house. Two scareactors can cover multiple rooms. It likely won’t be the standard “stuck in one spot” that congo-line houses require.

 

[Lucky Planet]

Most year-round haunts of this type feature smaller casts with way more flexibility in where/how they scare in a house. Two scareactors can cover multiple rooms. It likely won’t be the standard “stuck in one spot” that congo-line houses require.

made me think of skull kingdom in Orlando.

 

[Rideguy70]

Most year-round haunts of this type feature smaller casts with way more flexibility in where/how they scare in a house. Two scareactors can cover multiple rooms. It likely won’t be the standard “stuck in one spot” that congo-line houses require.

Exactly. I did the year round haunt near Cedar Point (Ghostly Manor), and their relatively lengthy maze was completely done by two scareactors that would just keep moving to different places. And they were surprisingly effective!

 

[TheHaunter]

Most year-round haunts of this type feature smaller casts with way more flexibility in where/how they scare in a house. Two scareactors can cover multiple rooms. It likely won’t be the standard “stuck in one spot” that congo-line houses require.

Some mazes this could work but I don't understand how it could work in the mazes that are going to be at Horrors Unlashed TCM which has multiple family members, scarecrow having different types of scarecrows, The original Universal Monsters maze having the various different monsters, and also Exorcist Believer having different demons and also demon Angela, and Katherine. This really does seem like it could be a hassle for just two scare actors.

 

[Wesker69]

And this isn't your typical small tourist trap year-round house attraction either. Even the former TWD Attraction at USH had a decent cast (however it did suffer from staffing occasionally).

The former House of Horrors at USH could get away with being minimally short-staffed due to it being so well themed that it doubled as a museum walk-through.

Horror Unleashed has 4 houses, scarezone style midway area, + rumored stage entertainment, bar & restaurant. So again, minimal bare bones skeleton crew staffing isn't going to cut it. Especially for the ticket price.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

Monsters = Any Frankenstein/Creature is likely a prop, so they'd be cool getting One Bride of Frankenstein, One Dracula/One of his Brides, One Mummy, and/or One Wolfman.
Exorcist Beleiver = They used props for a couple of the girls in various scenes and mirror/false walls for props of the demons at times too, but still One/Two of the girls, One/Two demons.
TCM = One/Two Bubbas, Hitchhiker/Choptop/Cook/Grandpa(if not a prop).
Scarecrow = Two/Three scarecrows with lots of false ones to give fake-outs.
Midway = Jack and Chance come out every once in a while and you have the occasional Two/Three carnie roamers.

imo you can absolutely get away with <5 per section but it's also VERY dependent on how the spaces fill out and operate. Cause i think a lot of the deception lies in how bts access is going to work and allow movement and freedom for people in houses/zones.

EDIT: I'm specifically thinking what's the MINIMUM you could get away with while still making things feel intimate for guests going through houses/zones.

 

[Legacy]

I imagine these houses will have 6-8 performers a cast, which can increase to 12. That’s about half of a normal house.

Scarecrows is all scarecrows. Could be minimally staffed (let’s graciously say 6).

Monsters - Dracula’s Bride, Wolfman, Mummy, Dracula, Bride of Frankie, Frankie, and two random Villagers can cover that effectively (8).

Exorcist: Believer - Two girls, two demons, two priests (6). Next.

TCM - Three victims, two family members (which could vary by shift), two Leatherfaces (7).

With less than half a traditional cast, Unleashed can make these houses feel stacked. The reason HHN casts so many people is because the congo line and tight backstage areas prevent performers from easily moving to new wholes without causing missed scares. Unleashed, with a steady pulse, can allow one Dracula to scare across three-four scenes in his castle without breaking a sweat.

 

[chris.g]

Fair to assume at least one of these houses may have an animatronic?

 

[rageofthegods]

Fair to assume at least one of these houses may have an animatronic?

Scarecrow and Monsters, probably.