By TJ Mannarino. Posted September 18, 2015 at 08:56AM on “UO Close Up,” the official Universal Orlando blog:
Not many people can say that they use phrases like “chainsaw attack” and “blood-thirsty fiends” on a regular basis. For me, it’s just another day at the office.
For more than a year, our team has been racking our brains to find the most vicious and unexpected ways to scare the living daylights out of you at Halloween Horror Nights 25. This event is in our blood, and it’s become part of Universal Orlando’s heritage after a rich 25-year history.
It’s hard to believe that this started in 1991 as a three-night event with only one haunted house. The event grew year after year, evolving into the award-winning event you visit today. In fact, I’m excited to report that we’ve just been named the “Nation’s Best Halloween Event” by Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards for the eighth consecutive year – quite the prestigious accolade!
This year, our team has given it all we’ve got to provide the best Halloween Horror Nights experience ever. We’ve created more haunted houses than ever in history – increasing the house lineup to nine. They’re based on everything from classic horror films to hit TV shows to disturbing stories that our team has dreamed up.
Since it’s our 25th year of Halloween Horror Nights, we’ve brought back some of your favorite original characters and storylines in brand-new ways. For example, guests have seen a few different incarnations of The Body Collectors and the patients at Shadybrook Asylum, but this year, these two epic HHN forces unite to create utter horror for guests entering Body Collectors: Recollections.
The street experience follows suit, and we’ve got record-breaking numbers of scareactors lurking in the shadows. We’ve got five elaborately-themed scare zones celebrating Horror Nights history – from past event icons to the twisted characters in Scary Tales to the most memorable, movie inspired monsters. And did I mention the phrase, “chainsaw attack,” earlier? Yeah…watch out for that…!
Of course, I wouldn’t be doing justice to the event if I didn’t talk about Jack. Our first-ever original icon is returning to celebrate in a deadly way. He first appeared in the year 2000 and has made numerous returns to the event. Originally, he was meant to just be part of the marketing materials, but during the first weekend of HHN X, guests were asking where Jack was. We knew that we had to bring him to life—and an icon was born.
Ever since his last appearance at Horror Nights in 2010, fans have been demanding his return – and return he has. You’ll see things you never have before from Jack – if you live to tell the tale!
This year is particularly special to our team. It feels amazing to look back and honor the scares and smiles we’ve delivered to guests through the years. I hope you enjoy the mayhem!
The post Give Us Your Screams – Halloween Horror Nights 25 Begins Tonight appeared first on Close Up.