The negativity of Halloween Horror Nights 2024 

I for one haven’t been this excited for HHN since 2019s event. The fact they are finally focusing on originals again and not pushing IPs is a huge YES for me. Also hope it lowers out the crowds.

I’ve always said it the IPs sell the event , the originals make the event

People are always going to complain. I would like to see all the negative peoples comments try to make a house. That no 1 person would complain about something. For example when we had michael myers people complain why are there so many just poping out towards you. "Haters going to Hate."

i wish they just had better IPs and hope they focused more on actually scary houses and not comedy houses. The originals look fire this year tho.

We can probably all agree that scare zones aren’t even close to as good as they use to be. Probably the lack of actors in those areas, and maybe the more intense crowds. I never get targeted or scared anymore in scare zones like back then

it’s gonna pick up next year for sure, once they don’t have to focus so much on epic universe like they’re doing this year - the event will be back on track. i’d hate to label this year a ‘throwaway’ year due to the fact the creative team didn’t get the ips everyone initially wanted this year, but i wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the case overall (yeah, i’m gonna use the triplets of terror/the strangers comparison as an example)

We're excited for the event! The last time we attended was in 2019, so we are excited to be in the fog again! I don't understand the negativity for something that hasn't even started yet. We love the atmosphere of the event and since we come from out of state we have to take it all in within a couple of nights and savor every minute.We tend to enjoy the original houses over the IP houses but there are some that really were our all-time favorites like Poltergeist, Killer Klowns, The Shining, Trick R Treat and even Krampus. Can't wait to see this awesome event brought to life by the talents of so many artists and actors !

Every year I hear, this is the worst year. It’s all relative

I love the OG ideas! They always have the best jumpscares!

I’m going to horror night for the first time this year in Hollywood and I’m excited

It could be a shit show, I don't care. I'm going cause it's a Halloween event. One of many haunts I'll be going to this year. I love Halloween and any event that brings the scare. Thanks for the update.

Already bought my tickets!! Can’t wait!! Always have a great time. ❤❤❤

Love your content and hot takes on the event. I'm going this year, and trying not to pay too much attention to the chatter going on. I LOVE the idea of more original houses and would be content with them all being that way. I'm taking my mother-in-law this year, it will be her first time, so it will be a memorable event all around. I can't wait to see her expressions and see her experience the event for the first time.

We are actually very excited for this year! With hitters like Slaughter Sinema 2 and Sweet Revenge coming to life in a house I can’t wait to see them go full original mode. Yes the triplets of paper plate faces got me worried some…. But Goblins and Museum could be great! HHN is a vibe. An immersive experience. If they stick to those guns you can keep your flashy IPs. Like you said… Stranger Things whiffed hard last year while Darkest Deal slayed!!!

I have been going to horror nights since 07 and all i can say is i am truly grateful for this event and i look forward to it each year! RIP IS THE WAY!!!!

Great video Chris! We've been noticing the same thing out here on the west coast....😫

Not sure how good HHN will be, but it makes perfect sense why Orlando is trying to have more original houses on the east coast now. From what I've noticed over the years, they continue to compete with Cedar Fair and Knott's Scary Farm specifically in both regions.

It’s for real Fans this year still Room for four IPs I trust them to always pull Off an amazing event 🎃 😊

I haven't really been hearing any negativity apart from the typical "we aren't getting any announcements yet and the event is just around the corner". And even then I always saw that as natural curiosity about what's in store.

All I want from this event is for the creature from the black lagoon to get what he deserves and that's at least a house

Thank you!!!!! Really love this take, and appreciate you bringing it up. The negativity really does feel overwhelming. "That shouldn't take away your love for the event" Absolutely perfect summary. The early negative energy is quite frustrating.

Last year was my first year going and I loved it! I didn’t have any previous years to compare but even the scale of things was insane in comparison to any Midwest haunted attraction I’ve been to. The themed food and drinks, scare zones, and 10 houses pretty much blew me away even though I wasn’t super into all of the IP’s. Some of the originals definitely ended up being my favorites so I’m not really bothered by the lack of IP’s announced so far. I’m there for the ride and very excited to be going back this year :)

Honestly, my family has never done HHN. What I think that's happening is that Universal is looking at what Disney World is doing and copying it. For example.... There have been a bunch of perks that were free for the guests staying at a Disney hotel that have either been cut or they're now putting a price on it. Now, universal seems to be doing that to a certain degree. So, I'm not shocked.

I’m going for the first time ever in September, and I’m excited for it. I was hoping for other houses but I’m still gonna enjoy it.

I loved this take! I have been dreaming of going to HHN for 20 years as a die hard Universal fan. Im 36 and am finally getting to check off my first bucket list item. Seeing all the hate while Im pumped has been disheartening. Being my first year...I know I am super optimistic but I'm excited for everthing ive been seeing. Everyone needs to chill lol.

I’m sooooo pumped cannot wait!!!!

Finally! Someone who said it! I didn't care Dr. Oddfellow either. I thought of him as the second cousin, twice remove, of Dr. Facilier. Hell! Last year I ask him if had friends on the other side. The character actor just laugh out and turn to another guest. XD

When does multi nights tickets come out?

I'm absolutely Psyched for this year! I am loving all of the Originals!!

I believe the originals are better this year than last year. There has been stories where Universal lost the rights to IPs that are supposedly houses for this year event. Rumor was a Nightmare on Elm street was the lost one. Insidious will be replacing it. I’m not excited with ghostbusters. Hot take but universal monster is becoming The Walking Dead: Same Concept, Different Setting. It’s becoming very repetitive. And quiet place is probably unique but will see.

NGL. These new Halloween event Fraudsters have ruined the essence of what we have loved. From decor to events. I do love that it brings back Halloween but I hate how it will invite scalpers eventually. I love Universal doing their own different monsters for events but the IP’s gotta be there too.

I don’t mean to be negative. I do wish though that there was some less campy original houses this year but I’m excited

If your so worry about the IPs apply for that job and get hired by them and you yourself can come up with the best HHN year yet

I’ve been attending for a long time and I am just so thankful each and every year that us horror/spooky/Halloween fans have a place to gather and enjoy. Are there some things I don’t enjoy as much as others? Yes, but I am always classy about it and don’t go around bashing it. I try not to interact with anyone who’s being negative about it. The negativity this year about a house we have not even seen yet is 😳🤯 😢

HHN 31 was my favorite. The Weeknd, Michael Myers, The Black Phone. I had the time of my life

For me I cannot wait for this HHN I like everything they have released so far.

Strong set of originals this year !

As a tm in one of the park.. yeah it’s not looking good in the back end and it’s been coming since 2021 it’s been slowly breaking

People will stop complaining when the event starts, they just see that last year had 4 huge IPs plus an icon and this year we get 3 mid properties.

I'm hoping Universal Studios plan is to announce an Icon soon who will then promote each Original IP in little teaser videos to get the hype going. Once that's established, you go in for the kill by announcing the Established IPs. Casual fans probably wait until closer to the event to buy their tickets anyway so this would make sense.

I completely agree about 32...it was a letdown. My first year was 29 and the event hasnt come close to bringing that level of energy since due I think to a purposeful change in direction. That said, something is different this year in a good way. I think Universal has heard the valid criticisms. Im pumped about this year as IPs are usually my least favorite houses and im digging all the originals.

I had a great time last year. Every house done 10 times over ,short food waits. Went in mid semtpember. Sorry y’all had a bad expirnce but I didnet .

I really enjoyed last year.

I really enjoyed hhn 32 as well, but it was one of the lesser years for me. That's what has me worried about this year. Last year was a lesser year, and this year tjere are supposed budget cuts.

I have to agree with you about Oddfellow. Last year just didn’t feel right to me. I mean, most of the houses were awesome. But I feel like this year is gonna be definitely 1000 times better. IPs definitely do not make the event, it’s the experience of everything. I personally think that OGs are awesome because it shows the creativity and the set design and the character design is amazing.

I bought tickets and fast passes a month ago. ❤

Also I still think they should adopt the movie The Ring into a house . It’s also a dreamworks property

Okay first off I would like to say Universal is focusing on Epic Universe right now so that means hhn budget is going to be low also coming up with at lease 5 original houses each year is extremely difficult and it’s year 33 they’re probably struggling with ideas. also like people we haven’t even been through the houses we know nothing only the description of the house. Stop judging and go to the event to have fun with friends and get scared together.

I’m still going to the event in Hollywood but I have a feeling that the rumor IP are not that great and the facades are giving me so much stress because I can’t tell what movie are from and I just not that excited for event this year I hope we get a house raveal soon

Actions speak louder than words; alot of people will still go and the event will still be sold-out for a majority of nights! I can't wait to go; does anyone know if David S. Pumpkins will make an appearance again? #TeamUniversal #HHN #HHN33

Love the event but the lack of appreciation for customers with the money expected is deplorable, I would say the value is absent when you drop 325.00 on admission with a fast pass you are basically forced to buy and when you have a family if 5, the buyers remorse is real. Not a lot to love in that situation

Hhn 32 Monsters house was the shit. Blood moon, darkest dean, dualing dragons were excellent.

Oh....fascinating subject....im just hopefull im not part of that gang🥺......

Look at the fact that they are going to dip into the same show for the 4th time at the Fear Factor arena!!! It was fine the 1st time.....maybe the 2nd....which was the same as the 1st year........now going on year 4!!!!!!!!! Get something different in their! Go back to Bill and Ted....it was different EVERY YEAR because it was current event stuff, a year in review, if you will!!!!

I agree that 32 was not a great year. Last year was the first time I was able to go to HHN because I live abroad. To be honest, I felt it was a bit overrated at the time. There is a general lack of cohesion that comes from having an icon to begin with, but the Oddfellow stuff wasn't really for me, personally. Half of the event, including all of the scare zones, was tied to Oddfellow, but then half of the event has no correlation whatsoever. The Oddfellow storyline is very convoluted and most of the people I was with were not able to understand the story that Universal was trying to tell through the scare zones. The Exorcist Believer house barely had any actors when we went through. The Chucky house was so terrible. A lot of the scares become very predictable after the first few houses. However, the atmosphere of the event is hard to forget, and it's what is bringing me back again in 2024. I'm possibly looking forward more to this year than last because more originals that seemingly have nothing to do with each other means less pressure to connect everything into one muddled storyline. And in general it feels more Halloweeny to walk into haunts and scarezones that are all different and spooky in their own ways. From what I saw online I thought people were excited about this year, too. The rumored IPs seem to be the weakest links here for a lot of people, myself included. There doesn't seem to be any real heavy hitters. Ghostbusters sounds fun and all, but personally, I'd take 10 originals over a bunch of IPs that don't have any real horror icons.

I think this was intentional because they are spending $ on Epic. When they announce an IP and if I haven't seen the movie. I watch all the movies before I go because I want to relate to the houses. If I don't like them, I just skip them.and go into the ones I do enjoy..Its always a fun time

😂 "oh the silly things people will say on camera for views". Considering the fact we don't know exactly what universal has for us fully yet and the fact that it's an in between year in regards to an anniversary or milestone... sometimes we get just a base, overall solid HHN season. At least we're getting HHN at all. That's a lot of work securing intellectual property rights and honestly there's plenty of haunts out there that don't have those kind of resources that put on excellent events. IP's don't define horror nights. Let's also take into consideration that "Epic universe" is a very consuming and financially grand project and is most likely keeping the existing parks on saving mode when it comes to budgets. Universal creative works extremely hard to bring us the beloved horror nights every year, and once epic opens and the next anniversary year rolls around im sure they won't hold back on bringing us something Worthy... Until then let's stay positive and stay loyal. #WeAreHorrorNights ❤ see you in the fog 😊

You said it yourself - even if you think it might not be great - you’re still buying the tickets either way. Until people start speaking with their wallets, nothing will change. There is no reason for them to improve or invest if attendance keeps hitting record numbers each year. We’ll all keep giving them our money while complaining over repetitive Nightmare Fuel shows, crowds, lackluster Scarezones, etc. Those complaints aren’t being recognized or addressed. Why would they? Money is the only thing that moves the needle. However, If the event continues to trend in the wrong direction quality wise and ticket sales also decline, THAT is when we’ll see major changes and improvements.

It's the internet, everyone complains. I am actually happy there are more originals, I feel those are usually better houses. The IP houses serve to gather the horde of people coming for the cool trendy IP, leaving us hhn fans to deal with shorter lines

I am not hard to please. I will always find things I love about HHN. I don’t “hate” certain things at the event, I just don’t like them as much as I like other things. Regarding HHN32, I knew off the bat I preferred 31, but there were things I did enjoy at 32. I disagree w you on Oddfellow, Darkest Deal for me was house of the year, Blood Moon: banger, Exorcist: Believer was fantastic. However, the overall vibe of the event IS changing. I don’t mean that in a good or bad way. It’s just changing.

For me in contrary I liked OD FELLOW BUT IM NOT SAYING HES MY FAVORITE BUT IN MY OPINION IN STORY WISE THE WHOLE HHN lore I don’t see the director nore the usher like relevant same as last luck I don’t see the relevance to the whole lore and I frankly don’t think they are scary at all I find them boring I just feel like it depends on the person

I think as someone who has gone to the events since 2000, i feel the need to comment that they have gone downhill significantly. It’s like I’m the old man talking about the good ole days. But seriously, since CoVID, HHN has been more of a money grab than an environment where horror fans can appreciate the artistic ingenuity of the universal creators. The crowds have been horrendous, the event is oversold. Chris, I think you said it best, for those of us old enough to remember the original icons, they evoked terror. We watched the commercials on TV and let our memories run wild. However, the issue with this year is not the subject matter. The originals look pretty awesome. I believe it’s the way the HHN team is delivering the house announcements. The commercials are nowhere. The announcements on the website are vacant. There is no backstory. It just feels empty. The whole point of horror is to feel more. The feeling this year’s event provokes is a lack of emotion (from universal). Not that it is going to be bad, but it doesn’t give the same vibes as years past. Love the channel brother. I am looking forward to seeing what this year has to offer. No matter what, it could be a Barney house, I am going.

I LOVED 32, IP houses were great and original houses were even better. Nightmare fuel was our favorite and scare zones were 10/10. Who wouldn’t love vamp ’69?? I don’t understand the negative narrative at all.

Damn. Sucks to be Orlando rn. Wonder how Hollywood’s doing…

Is ok too not be excited for this years HHN, Might be because last years was just not that great. I'm actually more excited for Fall, Christmas, etc., but it doesn't mean that I wont go. HHN can have good and bad years, Universal has done good and bad or not so great things too, like rides, lands ect. But they will get some rides and events that are very good.

I'm excited for the originals, but with the rumored IPs, my friends and I are no longer planning a trip. As it is, I'm thinking I may get just rush of fear to give me some options/chance for a second trip but not the ultimate. Last year I got the ultimate then ended up being unable to go in October so that felt like such a waste. Oddfellow felt a bit half baked. The idea was fine and he was very charismatic, but he lacked a signature kill and a more cohesive theme for the event and none of the scarezones really grabbed me like I wanted. The original houses were fine to fantastic (Bloodmoon and Yeti were stand outs for me) but I never liked Darkest Deal like everyone else did and the IP's didnt work as well as I wanted. TLOU especially, Joel and Ellie never interacted with actors. At least they did that in Hollywood. And last year was my first year for Nightmare fuel and it was... also just fine. I would have liked to have had a lagoon show or something. I will admit last year I ended up doing the first night mostly alone and I just... was not having fun so that could have colored my experience of the event. Especially for the first time, I'd like to share it with people. The original this year seem like they will be fun - though I'm unsure on Goblin's Feast and I never liked Sweets as much as everyone else did. And the food is CONSTANTLY improving which definitely helps. Plus while I'm not sure I over all like the originals being done like this, they are switching it up and giving them a (brief) time to shine. I'd like to have video too, but they at least don't feel like an afterthought as in recent years. I fully think Crowds would be helped a LOT by adding in at least one more big show, along with more places to sit down and a bit better scarezones. If people just feel like they have to do houses, then it obviously makes things longer at houses. More shows (including "flash mobs" like M3GAN), better food, more places to sit, and unofficial scarezones outside of proper scarezones (be it roving mobs like the chainsaws or just thematic actors hanging out in quiet areas to drive some traffic around) would all help spread out the crowds. I have the opportunity to do Hollywood and Knott's Scary this year, which I'm looking forward too. And I try to hit up a local haunt scene if possible. Halloween is fun, Universal needs to treat it like a business and with it getting as BIG as it is, it takes up a lot of Universal's mental and physical space. How many rides or locations have been kept up or not gotten the love they need because it would cut into Horror Nights? Simpson's is a major traffic thoroughfare, a quiet place with lots of seating, a lot of food, and between a few houses. If the rumors that they are taking Simpson's down hold, it would either be down for quite some time, or it's a hasty retheme and neither rare good for Universal. Same holds for Fast and Furious. If they loose a house location, what will they do? So, now as things go along, they are reaching a tipping point. Scale back and loose money (even temporarily) so they can give things some love and avoid some burnout or keeping milking this cow even after it dries up. What will happen first?

I don't think we need a discussion about how we are communicating our feelings just because our feelings are negative. And even then, the only negativity I've encountered is from myself and my wife because we already bought 2 nights of tickets and Express Pass for this, only to have these houses be the ones revealed. These houses seem lazy and don't spark our imagination or excitement. This video kinda sounds like the typical HHN fanatic mentality, reminding us to love it at all times, even if we don't like it.

People are always complaining before it even starts

I thought last years event sucked. I think the negative vibes this year is because people are broke because of the inflation and the tickets have went up again to ridiculous amounts!

Gotta love the keyboard warriors

A lot of the negativity is probably coming from Disney shills. Hhn is great

It's sad honestly when prices were cheaper we had IPS like nightmare on elm street etc now with prices jacked up we are getting less amazing IPS? It shows universal is legit getting cheaper on how they treat the event . They don't seem to care they do the same damn dancing show every year same damn everything . The drinks are the same watered down messes . When in the past when it was cheaper we had only bartenders 😂 it's insane how cheap this event has gotten but how expensive it is

This HHN 33 looks great! A lot of people are just miserable with their life experiences currently folks get canceled today for expressing opinions, inflation sucks, job markets ain’t good and they are taking out their frustrations. Every house looks like it has great potential to me except the Triplet one. I’m having a tough ti r ranking the other 5 because each one has so much potential to me. If any of these, like the museum one, connects with Boris Shuster then I’ll really be over the top. If it ties in with the comic book and HHN Tribute Store from last year, that will be amazing. If the upcoming Universal Monster house turns out to be Victoria Frankenstein and her gal ghoul monsters tying forward with Dark Universe at Epic, it will be a genius stroke. No reason to be whining. All have more potential to me than The Darkest Deal, Wicked Growth and others which turned out great. Whiners can always choose Disney lame Halloween for a genuine big $ rip off.

I’m looking forward to the Originals this year; I really liked the ones created the past few years! Also, I feel like IPs tend to restrict what can be done in their houses🤷🏻‍♂️so maybe less IPs this year will be a good thing?

Less IP’s less crowds! True fans want original and icons… like me 😂! F the haters … wish I could make it, but maybe 35

Good! Please stay home. More room for the rest of us.

Halloween horror nights doesn't suck people be haten

To all the people whining about no IPs, I say, Knotts has had nothing BUT originals for fifty years, and predates HHN. Seems to be working for them all right. I wouldn't cry if HHN did the same, though I'm sure they won't. People just complain about change, even if it's something as small as which houses get announced first. People today just have no patience...

You can't make everyone happy, especially nowadays. I for one am very excited for this year with the OG's announced. I prefer originals and always go back to my first HHN in 2005 where I was blown away with all original houses in a world created by Universal creative, that only they can do.

We want jack back

Originals are almost always better than ips, they can literally announce nothing at all & I would still buy my ultimate because HHN has me in a chokehold, nothing will ever compare to what I feel at HHN & what it means to me

Negativity gets worse and worse because Universal is now in Disney territory where the standards are high and anything different is gonna be scrutinized when they try to get causal fans and get more money. The IP that scared me the most was The Exorcist, which was good, yet the movie sucked. If you want full originality, go to a haunted house near you or a farm like I do. Also some things gonna work and some arent. Things aint gonna be perfect every time. I loved VAMP 69 which made everybody look like a Vamp and even though teh host wasnt great it was good. This reminds me of The Marvels which bombed from premiering during the strike yet there was all this negativity before the movie came out and the trailer was good though with no promotions it bombed. The negativity was a lot from angry anti woke fans trashing the movie yet when most fans saw it on streaming, they loved it. Theirs fans who gonna trash stuff before it came out just for the sake of trolling or its not what they like so you should not like it. I was their last year and love it and RU-vidrs liek you help me know whats going on and tips not to luv everything you like or your standards, Doing the RIP tour and cant wait.

Ok this is coming from a HHN Hollywood fan. But I genuinely feel the negativity around the event this year is 2 fold . First, the purposely withholding an IP announcements as long as they have. This combined with the cryptic symbols only Spec Maps that changed dramatically in two months, led fans to believe alot of planned houses fell through and they were scrambling to replace them. This is bolstered by the fact that the only announcements so far have been Orlando originals. At least you all have that much. Imagine in Hollywood that don't have so much as dates announced yet, much less ANY houses. Second, from what I've seen, and I've been watching alot of Orlando HHN content providers, you all really feel like everyone cares more about the original houses. I just don't buy that. Maybe for people who have worked as scare actors and been attending these event for years now I'm sure you do feel this way. But that's not everyone. The general audiences WANT those great IPs because it's something special to walk through your favorite horror movies and experience it. And I do believe that Orlando doesn't take the effort and energy into makes great IP houses like Hollywood does. So, yes you all would feel the like originals are better because Orlando makes shitty IPs. But for people who attend these events casually and not religiously, originals are unknown to them. It's hard for people to get excited for The Museum or Goblin's Feast or Triplets of Terror. People want the familiar and want to get hyped for their coming to HHN. But right now we're not getting any of that. IMO, the first house announced for BOTH coasts should have been the headliner IP. This would have alleviate alot of the negativity. Also didn't help that the first merch line that came out was GAWD awful. But that's just my opinion. I'm still excited for Hollywood this year and I don't have a fucking clue what's coming yet.

In my opinion, Hollywood HHN does it so much better. Even their original houses are better. Hollywood has better scare actors & food. & Hollywood usually has an IP house that Orlando doesn’t have. If you want to have your bang for your buck go to Hollywood. Trust me. So much better.

This event does suck! the maze actors are WHACK! just triggers,lights and sounds there's no soul and no fun in there, just repeat characters doing the same crap! You just go to see the IP houses which look amazing but I don't get scared if I want quality SCARES I go to Knotts Scary Farm, sliders actors atmosphere is all there!! Don't have to worry about these nasty HHN lines, at KSF it can't get busy but you'll get through most mazes in 1 night and the actors are QUALITY! They get in your face and ears talk to you, the interactions are more personal and you feel more immersed in the scare zone/mazes

It aint even happened yet

If everyone liked the same thing all the time, the world would be a boring place. Differences of opinion make the world go around.

Your lame complaints are not gonna stop people of going to the event this year

I think this is spoiled brat syndrome. So many people have been going for so many years that they have unrealistic expectations and have become too accustomed to the event. I think these negative people need to take 2 or 3 years off and then come back. HHN 32 was my first HHN and I had an amazing time, and I can't wait to go back this year! If you are going to be negative, stay home and let the others enjoy the event with smaller crowds.

Cool not cool

ugh. your negativity is a real turn off. you also didn't say why you didn't like so many of the things.

I agree with your comments about last year's IP houses which is why I'm not excited about Ghostbusters this year because I didn't think the house they had for the original movie was anything special and I love the original movie. I think the lack of a big time IP is to try and control the crowds which is good but I'm scared about how much the rush to fear with express is going to cost me this year with how high single night express passes are. I'm excited for the event I'm intrigued by all the original houses just wish nightmare on elm street didn't get cut.