I want a House of Horrors that dwarfs, out-scares & outclasses the Haunted Mansion

[jcruise86]

I'd repeatedly enjoy a new $300 million+ House of Horrors that tries to dramatically outdo the Haunted Mansion (my all-time favorite attraction.)

Please make it partly walk-through, partly ride-through with changing monsters, many played by live actors, and a section of the track/attraction that guests only ride through in October & late September, when (especially at night) the scares and gore are amped up. (Seriously, imagine if at Halloween, the Haunted Mansion took a different turn and went into a section inside the mansion you've never entered before, and maybe that changed a bit every year.)

We were discussing on another thread how great it is when Imagineers try to make the best ride ever. Another Micechatter thought this was attempted with (early Eisner's) Indy Jones at Disneyland. It may have also been attempted with Radiator Springs Racers, (Universal, not DCA's) Spiderman, Transformers, HP & the Forbidden Journey, and Gringott's.

If an interestingly different Houses of Horror were built in Orlando and at U. H.wood with
beautiful original music (or barring that, the best scary classical music),
amazing special effects,
that new darkest-ever black that one artist currently has the rights to,
and the ability to change some of the sets to (sigh) promote the latest horror IP,
then it would force many WDW curious, thrill-seeking guests to visit Universal.

It could be a great, worthy follow up to Potter. An attraction with the main goal of being the best attraction yet created.

Maybe even copy the Doombuggies and the concept of leaving the castle/mansion and going "outside" during the ride. Why emulate Doombuggies? It's scarier going through haunted attraction with just one friend or family member or two. To increase capacity they could have two tracks. And copy what Walt did (probably unintentionally)--put up the magnificent shell/entrance while it's being constructed, even if (like the Haunted Mansion) it doesn't open for years later. Imagine the fun of cast members denying it exists for a year then telling people it won't be an attraction and urging them not to make direct eye contact with it.

Maybe make it Count Dracula's Castle with yet another castle that outdoes Disney's castle in some ways. Dracula would be a wonderful host for this tour.

What I loved most about the House of Horrors was the professionalism of the full-time, year-round monsters who were generally better than those at the Halloween events. They knew not to try and terrify a child who was too young to be in there and to bring on the terror for the teens who came for that.

--Tom Sinsky

[jcruise86]

OK Micechatters, I posted the above post on May 4, and in 90 minutes it'll be July 4, so since none of you will join in I'll just post my own reply with more ideas:

Build this as part of a monster land with the one ride-through House of Horrors with classic Universal and other monsters, with some portrayed by live actors. Have the ride go through an extra area the only open at Halloween.

HERE'S THE NEW IDEA! ! ! Have a bar/morgue/private club (Morgue Club 1313) adjacent to this attraction. The most popular place to scatter ashes at Disneyland is in the Haunted Mansion, so in the morgue bar, there would be tiny compartments where 500 to 1,000 people with way too much money could pay way too much money to have a small amount of their ashes interred in a box with their name on it. Relatives could come in this themed morgue bar for a drink and/or dessert. Weird enough for you? There are a lot of eccentric rich people out there.

[Big D]

I like you're idea jcruise86. I'm a big horror fan. I love Knott's Scary Farm. I've never been to HHN, but I'm told that the mazes are much more detailed and realistic, but the lines are way, way longer (hence why I've never been). So I imagine with that experience Universal would be able to do it right. I've known a few of the monsters that worked at Knott's before, and they love it, but can't handle more than the one month. So they'd need to rotate the monsters in your maze at least every month to keep them energized and enthusiastic.

FYI, Universal is actually trying to create a shared universe with their classic monsters the way that Marvel does with their superheros. They already have a new Mummy movie, Invisible Man movie, and Swamp Thing movie in the works (and I know they cast Tom Cruise as one of them, maybe the invisible man?), so this could totally support those movies.

Not sure if anyone would want to scatter their ashes at Universal. People want to at Disneyland because they grew up going there and it feels like home. I don't think Universal has that same appeal for too many people. But the bar + nightclub sounds fun. I love the relaxed atmosphere of the Rusty Pelican in Newport Beach (indoor couches next to a fireplace on the 2nd floor overlooking the ocean) so if they just did that but in an old, run-down Gothic vampire theme I think it could be really cool.

[jcruise86]

I also LOVE Knott's Scary Farm, but I don't like Universal Hollywood's HHN as much. HHN just seemed more corporate to me while Scary Farm always has this Mickey Rooney / Judy Garland (if they were possessed) "Let's put on a show!" vibe--as if the cast members are there mainly to frighten guests and make them laugh. I went to HHN last year and a friend I went with observed that it was mostly just a lot of jump scares. There were some cool special effects at Universal, but I missed the Boo-fet at Knott's. Putting extra zombies in the permanent Walking Dead attraction should be cool though. And they should have fog and some roaming dementors at the Wizarding World for Halloween.

I did really like the Queen Mary's Dark Harbour. The year I went (with MIcechat!) we had front-of-the-line passes, and I would recommend them for the Dark Harbor, even more than at HHN & at Scary Farm. And while I'm in Halloween Town, I'd like Knott's to cut back on the many upcharges at Scary Farm. [UPDATE: Knott's did reduce the number of annoying upcharge options.]

[jcruise86]

The Mummy with Tom Cruise earned a really low Metacritic score, but I still think Universal should build a "best dark attraction ever made" based on their (& other?) monsters.

What else have they got in the pipeline to rival Star Wars & Harry Potter? [One answer in Dec. of 2020 is Nintendo/SuperMario.]
The House of Horrors is a great name &, again, rotating, live monsters would inspire repeat visits.

[jcruise86]

(Deleted.)

[jcruise86]

...I've known a few of the monsters that worked at Knott's before, and they love it, but can't handle more than the one month. So they'd need to rotate the monsters in your maze at least every month to keep them energized and enthusiastic...

Long ago when the House of Horrors was open, they had outstanding monsters. The year-round schedule seemed to allow for really talented, professional monsters to take their jobs seriously. When I went through with my kid (irresponsible, I know, but she loved it!) they seemed to know to back off a bit and some--like Chucky--seemed to want to make her laugh.

[jcruise86]

Maybe this will be in Epic Universe in 2024!

[jcruise86]

Maybe this will be in Epic Universe in 2024!

Universal really should bring me in to consult in exchange for park tickets.
(I wrote this post in response to learning that EPIC will include a Castle Dracula.)
--Tom Sinsky

[jcruise86]

So since there is talk on the street that Super Mario will now come to one of Universal Orlando's two already-existing theme parks instead of Epic Universe, then maybe instead change Epic Universal's to an (almost) ENTIRELY HAUNTED PARK! And make the attractions so that they can all be plussed dramatically at Halloween. Imagine if a ride you were familiar with took a turn at Halloween down another path into an area that surpassed the great ballroom in the Haunted Mansion! Look at how popular the theme park horror nights are with crowds that are almost entirely over 12 years old.

This scary theme park could of course be the Horror Nights park too.

And they could have an obnoxiously (even sarcastically) cute, unscary section pink princesses, unicorns, cotton candy, and this area could be taken over at night by monsters from scarier lands.

If they discouraged people from bringing kids under 12, that might draw in even more adults who might spend even more money. They could sell lots of Bloody Marys, Bloody Larrys, and Bloody Harrys to drink. Make beautiful, amazing places for adults to hang out in. That's part of the appeal of EPCOT's World Showcase & Tokyo Disney Sea. But this wouldn't have to be the most expensive theme park in the world. But then again, parks aimed at teens and the teen in adults don't have to be cheap & like 6 Flags.

BTW, I've written 9 out of the ten posts on this thread so far. Sigh.

[jcruise86]

And imagine if instead of Castle Dracula being in its own land, it were at the end of a main road that everyone enters the park through! The road's shops in the European village leading up to the castle would be staffed by villagers in lederhosen. Seriously, imagine entering a theme park and seeing a 190-foot Castle Dracula on a rocky hill at the end of the road instead of Cinderella's Castle. Teens would drag their families to this park! At least three haunted hotels could be both in and outside of the park, with the adjacent lands' themes also extending into the hotels.

How about a roller coaster to hell? (For those who've outgrown Mr. Toad.)

If she can take time from her recent bullying of trans people, J.K. Rowling could help create a tour of the Slytherin section of Hogwarts & Azkaban. And imagine what could come out of a lake. And this park could have amazing scary forest & jungle sections. A scary dolls ride (The Doll House) could be as interesting as Small World. An Un-Fun House. A merry-go-'round could have a variety of hideous creatures. Gary Busey could just hang out in the park and greet people, then at Halloween they could upgrade to Steve Buscemi.

Imagine how much they could charge people to be buried in an actual horrifying cemetery in the park. Clever tomb required. (Suggestion--only accept ashes that could be easily moved or returned if the park changes.)

--Tom Sinsky

[jcruise86]

Over the last 4 weeks a number of you (zero IS a number) asked me if Universal has hired me to consult on this.
Sadly, no. But thanks again, my many imaginary friends!

[jcruise86]

This new third (all Horror) Universal theme park could be open 5 days a week [except before Halloween, & during summer & Christmas & spring breaks] with a strong emphasis on this being the park for young adults. It could stay open till 1am on Friday & Saturday nights, as Disneyland used to be in the summers.

Here's a link to an old L.A Times article which mentioned that, "Disneyland and Knott’s used to operate five-day schedules during slow periods until 1985."

LINK:
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-...921-story.html

[Sukie Norman]

Over the last 4 weeks a number of you (zero IS a number) asked me if Universal has hired me to consult on this.
Sadly, no. But thanks again, my many imaginary friends!

hahaha, i am still digesting all your posts. so any update from Universal?

[jcruise86]

hahaha, i am still digesting all your posts. so any update from Universal?

THANKS, but of course I haven't heard from Universal. Life's not THAT magical.

But if anyone at Universal is reading this, here's what I'd most like you to see:
". . . imagine if instead of Castle Dracula being in its own land, it were at the end of a main road that everyone enters the park through! The road's shops in the European village leading up to the castle would be staffed by villagers in lederhosen. Seriously, imagine entering a theme park and seeing a 190-foot Castle Dracula on a rocky hill at the end of the road instead of Cinderella's Castle. Teens would drag their families to this park! At least 3 haunted hotels could be both in and outside of the park, with the adjacent lands' themes also extending into the hotels..."
--Tom Sinsky

. . . . . . .. .

[Jord]

This might be something right up your alley:

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/The_Nightmare_Experiment

[jcruise86]

This might be something right up your alley:
https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/The_Nightmare_Experiment

AWESOME! Thanks, Jord!!!

[jcruise86]

THANKS, but of course I haven't heard from Universal. Life's not THAT magical.

But if anyone at Universal is reading this, here's what I'd most like you to see:
". . . imagine if instead of Castle Dracula being in its own land, it were at the end of a main road that everyone enters the park through! The road's shops in the European village leading up to the castle would be staffed by villagers in lederhosen. Seriously, imagine entering a theme park and seeing a 190-foot Castle Dracula on a rocky hill at the end of the road instead of Cinderella's Castle. . . "
--Tom Sinsky

. . . . . . .. .

This village could be more than a Main Street-like road. It could have excellent restaurants, pubs and kiddie rides for tots who wouldn't want to venture into the scarier lands.

[jcruise86]

(Deleted. )

[jcruise86]

. . . . Have a bar/morgue/private club (Morgue Club 1313) adjacent to this attraction. The most popular place to scatter ashes at Disneyland is in the Haunted Mansion, so in the morgue bar, there would be tiny compartments where 500 to 1,000 people with way too much money could pay way too much money to have a small amount of their ashes interred in a box with their name on it. Relatives could come in this themed morgue bar for a drink and/or dessert. Weird enough for you? There are a lot of eccentric rich people out there.

It's been around 15 months since the last real post on this thread, and I because want to keep death/permanent Halloween alive & because Disney has been trying to lure rich folks with Golden Oak McMansions (not much space between most of those unnecessarily large homes), and a space hotel, I wanted to re-iterate that Universal might want to try to lure them with a morgue and a cemetery or two. See above.