Add Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights to the list of parks selling opt-out necklaces.
Called "No Boo" necklaces at the legacy Cedar Fair parks, a similar product will be available at Universal Studios Florida, at least initially this year. Universal has told team members that it will be selling "Deathly Afraid" necklaces in the park during Halloween Horror Nights for $20.
The necklaces are intended to signal scareactors to avoid the people wearing them as they walk through scarezones. However, actors in the 10 haunted houses at the event will not be looking for the necklaces. No one will be pulling jumpscares in the houses, whether you are wearing a necklace or not.
Universal Studios Hollywood will not be selling the necklaces this year. However at a press walkthrough yesterday, Creative Director John Murdy said that the Hollywood team would be monitoring guest reaction to the necklaces in Orlando.
Many experienced Halloween Horror Nights visitors know how to walk through a scarezone to either avoid or maximize getting targeted by scareactors. But for inexperienced guests, the necklaces provide a way to opt out of the scarezones while being able to pass through on their way to other locations in the park.
Yes, there are people for whom houses are no big deal, but scarezones are. And there are even a few fans who go to HHN primarily for the short wait times on the park's rides.
Ultimately, cash registers will determine the no-scare necklaces' fate. If they sell, expect them to continue... and to expand to Hollywood. If they don't, well, they might not last the season.
I get that these necklaces have been a bit of a controversial addition to haunts in recent years, but it makes sense. If you're going with a group of friends but hate to get scared, then get one and enjoy the low waits for rides and grab some food/drinks while everyone else is waiting in line for the houses.
I've always viewed these as easy moneymakers for parks, since these necklaces cost less than $1 when bought in bulk, but are sold at a significant markup. I'm not surprised to see Universal jump on the bandwagon to cash in on this trend. However, it does feel like the introduction of FNAF and WWE to the lineup this year may have precipitated this more so than the revenue given the audiences of those IPs that skew a bit younger and less interested in the scare and gore elements of HHN.
I do think it's interesting that Universal is being pretty clear that the necklaces only provide "immunity" in scare zones (not houses), and that it does seem that they will be seen as "targets" in houses by the actors who are given some latitude in their roles (as opposed to those that have very rigid performance queues). It makes you wonder that if this is true, if people purchase these necklaces to create an opposite effect from its intended purpose when walking through houses.
I don't necessarily have an issue with these, especially in parks where scare zones are unavoidable, but it does make you wonder why folks would buy an expensive ticket to HHN and then spend more for a "no-scare" necklace. It makes plenty of sense for parks who are always looking for more revenue and won't say no to people wanting to pay for a ticket and not really do anything, but my feeling is that for an event like HHN that has a set capacity, it's disappointing to see tickets being sold (and by selling "no scare" necklaces) to guests who aren't willing to participate. I worry that these necklaces will be used by families with smaller kids to bring them to the event and for companions that come along but have no interest in HHN. For me, HHN is as much about the people at the event as it is the event itself as I enjoy the people watching and talking to folks while waiting in line. I deliberately waited until my son was ready to fully enjoy HHN before taking him to the event (he was 12 when he first went, which is still young IMHO, but he had plenty of experience with local haunts and we watched all of the source IPs before our visit), but I have seen kids under 8 at HHN before (typically clinging to their parents), and these "no scare" necklaces may encourage more parents to feel comfortable to bring their younger kids to the event and using the "no scare" necklaces as a type of shield for their children who probably aren't ready for something like HHN, or even prepared to stay up past 10 PM.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out this year and whether the extra revenue generated from these sales is too much for Universal to resist.
What is an IP ?
Nope. Don’t go to a horror event if you don’t want to be scared. Sorry that is harsh, but just no.
I know they're not the first one to do this, but the fact that parks are now using the opportunity to not get scared as an upsell, is an absolutely hilarious reflection on modern society. Like...you want to NOT get scared? That's going to cost you.
Personally these special events are crossing the line for me now. I used to go to Horror Nights once every year and I haven't been in 7 years. The AP prices for Universal and Disney are so expensive now that I can't justify paying even more to go to the same parks. Haven't been to Horror Nights in 7 years and am not going to the Halloween Party at MK this year. Taking my family of 3 to the MK Halloween Party this year would be about $500 just for admission/parking. Everyone has their price and for me that's not worth it, TBH i'd rather go to a Six Flags park. Sure its not as good but its also not $500 for one night. When you have a toddler they just want to go trick or treating somewhere and are just as happy at a less expensive park anyway.
Mickey’s Halloween and the Universal HHNs are totally different. Disney’s is good for small kids and people that want to ride attractions with no wait. In my opinion it is extremely overpriced. HHN is something completely different with events and attractions you cannot do otherwise. I think it is underpriced for what you get and that is even with the front of the line pass. I do not necessarily think HHNs is something I would want to do every year, but it is great.
On 1 hand, its about inclusivity.
On the other hand, this is a 12 year old + Halloween event designed to scare and frighten you. I'm not sure what people are expecting....
I know the difference between Universal and Disney's Halloween events, the point I was trying to make is that they have gotten so expensive that I have personally chosen to not go and instead go to parks that have it included with their general admission/AP's.
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I confess I'm not much of a haunt guest, but am I understanding correctly that the signal for guest to communicate they do not consent is a $20 additional charge?
It's abhorrent to me to charge extra for a guest accommodations in order to communicate they do not consent to interactions when traversing between experience with a clear set of rules.
When working house management in immersive theatre productions, charging an individual extra to deny consent to certain interactions is a line I would never cross.