Jack is Back

The Premiere Halloween Event that Just Keeps Getting Better

I’ve been coming to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando since I can remember. Having grown up in Florida since the age of 9, it’s pretty much been a tradition for me. One thing I can honestly say about the event is it gets better every single year. Last year was my first year with fast passes provided by Universal Orlando, but this year was a whole new experience. This year I was invited to the media event for a 3 night, 4 day experience with Universal Orlando Resort to include a VIP tour of both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, a press only Q&A event with special guest and a VIP tour of Halloween Horror Nights 25. You want to talk about epic…

#HHN25

The Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights 25 Media Event Q&A

This exclusive event was held inside the Horror Makeup Show (which if you’ve been to Universal Orlando, you know is a pretty small and intimate theater). Now usually Q&A panels at comic cons are huge, the lights are bright and there’s hundred even thousands of fans in the audience. Apart from this, my other interview experience lies in very small (25 or less) round tables with celebrities for film premieres. This Q&A was awesome from a media position. It was completely just like hanging out with the talent. Which, speaking of, was an awesome bonus and featured Horror film legend Director John Landis, American Werewolf in London, special effects genius and Co-Executive Producer Greg Nicotero, The Walking Dead and child star (now 16yrs old) Chandler Riggs (Carl), The Walking Dead.  

So what did Chandler Riggs say? Well, he admitted that production is totally cool and he’s even been told that by 16 he can direct his own episode!

It was also an honor to watch Jim Timan, Senior Vice President of Entertainment at Universal Orlando and Mike Aiello, Creative Director of Halloween Horror Nights. They gave us incredible insight into the work that goes into building the Halloween Horror Nights mazes. I am completely fascinated by Mike’s work and think he has one of the cooler jobs in life.

For the First Time Ever Universal Orlando Webcasted the Private Media Event! Watch it here!

The Halloween Horror Nights 25 Houses

This year, Halloween Horror Nights built 9 houses (mazes) for their 25th anniversary, more than they’ve ever done. 5 of these were based on intellectual properties (horror films we love) and 4 originals.

For the film houses, the most anticipated of course was AMC’s The Walking Dead in its 4th year with HHN. Other film-based houses included: Freddy vs Jason, Insidious, American Werewolf in London (brought back from 2013) and a second year of The Purge (which was brought from a stage performance last year to a full on house).