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3. Halloween Horror Nights 25              

HHN Icons

Universal Orlando’s month-long fright fest, Halloween Horror Nights (HHN), has long dominated the Halloween season in Central Florida. The Art and Design team works hard year-round to develop an entirely new event each year. Major anniversaries, such as Sweet 16 and 20 Years of Fear, have traditionally been celebrated in a big way. As the 25th anniversary, the 2015 event is expected to outshine anything we have seen before.

Universal started promoting HHN 25 remarkably early, releasing a teaser video on the official Facebook page on Halloween 2014. The video seems to confirm the return of Jack Schmidt, one of the most beloved HHN icons of all time. Media kits containing more teasers also went out at the end of the 2014 Halloween season, but even more interesting were the surveys.

People who were signed up to receive Halloween Horror Nights surveys from Universal Orlando got a peek at the possibilities in November. It looks like the icon characters of the past are coming back, possibly in a shared house or scare zone. We might see houses based on Alfred Hitchcock or even Ghostbusters, and the Festival of the Dead parade is being considered for a return.

HHN 25 could also be the year of the extreme house. The Art and Design team has been considering the concept of a highly personalized, intensely frightening, upcharge house for a long time. In 2014, under the auspices of the Legendary Truth in-event game, they tested an impressive array of new technology. It stands to reason that some of that technology could work its way into Halloween Horror Night’s first-ever extreme house, and the 25th anniversary seems like the perfect time for its debut—a segue into a new era of horror possibilities.

4. New live shows

A persistent rumor claims that the Twister attraction will be closing sometime in 2015. Meanwhile, Fear Factor Live has rarely opened in years. While the expectation is that, because of its location, the Fear Factor Live amphitheater will be used for a Diagon Alley expansion, the new use for the Twister building is unknown. However, a recent survey from Universal Orlando sheds some light on the possibilities.

One option would be the return of Matt Hoffman’s Agro Circus. Originally housed in the Toon Lagoon Amphitheater at Islands of Adventure, this high-flying show features skateboards, bikes, and daredevil stunts.

Another floated concept is a kids’ show based on the Sprout TV network, which is owned by NBCUniversal. This actually makes some sense, as A Day in the Park With Barney is desperately due for an upgrade. More than likely, the Sprout show would move into the existing Barney theater.

Although it seems nearly unbelievable, Universal also tossed out the possibility of Sharnakdo: The Musical. Campy and over-the-top, like the movies themselves, it would be a reasonable successor to the Twister theme. Whether or not it would work would depend entirely on the cast’s ability to draw guests into the theme.

Universal is also considering an America’s Got Talent show, possibly featuring acts that have appeared on the TV series rather than pulling from the audience like Disney does for the American Idol Experience. However, another rumor suggests that a show based on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon could also be in the works for this space. 

Personally, I’m pulling for Ghostbusters: Back in Town. With a reboot film on the way, and Universal bringing back King Kong for a rumored new attraction, it would be great to see the Ghostbusters reclaim their former home in the Twister building. Updated with modern technology, the special effects possibilities are truly amazing.

It’s hard to say exactly what the future holds for Universal Orlando. Yet one thing is clear—the company has found a recipe for success, built on cutting-edge new concepts and experiences, and whatever they bring out next is almost certain to amaze and impress us.

 
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