Disturbing HHN advertisements

[DisneyPam]

Universal's Halloween Horror Nights try to push the envelope but IMO, their commercials this year go beyond disturbing and can only be considered disgusting. It is basically like watching a 30-second snuff film. There was a good article about them in Saturday's Orlando Sentinel. I hadn't watched the commercials previously - just tuned them out when they came on - but I did watch to see if they were making too much of it and sadly, they weren't. It was just horrible and really really stepped over the limits of good taste. I can understand pushing the envelope but this just goes way too far. :(

[WillCAD]

That's a shame. I've been to HHN twice (never been to MNSSHP), and thought they were well done, adult-oriented fun, without going overboard. But if thier commercials are turning into crap, I can only imagine what HHN itself is like these days.

[Kylara]

Pam, I agree and it is not just the TV ones. I hate the ad on the radio with the guillotine and the screams. I have found the ones on TV to be bad but not as bad as that one.

[MargaretJ]

Haven't seen too many of the Ads but after watching the show on the Travel Channel I know this is not for me. I don't like people jumping out at me or chasing me with a chain saw. I know it is all in good fun but I am more the MNSSHP type I guess. Now my teen on the other hand would love to go to the Universal party.

[Moley]

Pammy,

I was surprised at the level of real horror and grotesquerie in the Travel Channel special. It seems to be going for the shock/slasher fans and leaving out just about everyone else. I've not seen the commercials you mention, but if they reflect the content I saw from that show, it is not an event I would recommend to very many people. And I agree, that kind of commercial is not for a generalized TV audience.

[ddoll]

I've never been to Florida at Halloween, so needless to say, I've never been to HHN. I watched the Travel Channel special and came away with one overwhelming impression:

HHN is aimed at Teens!

Almost all of the guests shown at the park appeared to be teens, as are the majority of the guests at the haunted-type attractions in this area of the country. I know for a fact that my 17y/o DS and his friends would be THRILLED to attend such an event. But then they're big fans of "slasher" films, too!

While this would explain the style of marketing they're doing, it does NOT sound like a good type of commercial to show on TV where it can be seen by widespread audiences. Certainly the gory ads you've been describing wouldn't entice a wider audience to attend. I wonder what the strategy is?

[Rosebud]

I do love visiting Halloween Haunted Places. Haven't seen the commercials, but will agree there is a line they shouldn't cross. They should be pushing the fun, not the disgusting - and from what I really saw their "disgusting" was very lame...see the rest of my post.

As far as HHN...I went once and I got my money back. I was so disappointed I thought a place like Universal would have really good haunted houses. They were awful and boring!!!!! One was just a big maze in one of the soundstages with I think one rather lame permanent scene and I think 2 people that jumped out at you as you were rounding a corner. With tons of people going through, that jumping out thing was quite expected and stupid. Our local Jaycees do a MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better job at haunted houses.

Another haunted house we didn't even go in because while waiting in line on a path of rocks, the stupid rowdy drunk people thought throwing the rocks would be fun - we quickly left the area.

We really expected the whole park to be involved in the fun, but other than when you first came in and they had the characters there, all the people doing the "scaring" were on that back street (can't remember the names but where the games are near Jaws). It was bright and the people were just mingling in with the crowd trying to surprise you - it was pretty lame.

Then in the other parts of the park where it was darker and quieter you have the people either having sex while waiting in line or puking their guts out.

In all fairness when we went to get our money back we met some people that had gone other times and loved it, but said it was really bad that year - they were getting their money back too.

I'm not into scary movies, but I love going to local haunted "places" - most of which are scarier/better props/more fun than there. Some time in the future, if I happen to be there for Halloween I just might give it another try.