One night at HHN, some offbeat observations

Spent last night from 2PM to 2AM, my previous time was an RIP Tour in 2022. This time I stacked Early Entry and an Express Pass since I was going with my dad and he didn't want to bite on Express, and he hasn't actually been to Universal since Jaws was around, but also he planned on not sticking it out all night. (I mean, fair! I've got approximately 30 years less years' strain on my knees.)

I just have some general offbeat observations:

* I really like the queue ticket system. It's not perfect, but in reality all security contains some part theater, and people generally respected the queue I think because of it. I also ended up jumping out to pee once while waiting for an hour for Sinners to open and felt comfortable coming back in to meet my father, not that the line had moved or anything.

* Same deal with them having the surveillance camera viewer there at the start of every house. People seemed more well-behaved than most other Halloween events. Didn't stop one guy from touching every other damned prop in Madlands (especially the big ""animal"" setpiece... why, bro).

* Scream Early was fantastic in theory and for getting houses done, we managed 7 before my dad split at 10PM and I just rushed to finish up and re-do a ton with Express. HOWEVER, after two houses, I realized I spent 2/3 of the houses lost and missing details because my eyes couldn't adapt to the darkness quick enough. I put sunglasses on by the third one and would squint and cover my eyes before entering after a few of them, but even then it was still a mild struggle. If I didn't have Express for re-dos I'd be more emotionally sore.

* There's so much kandi culture now?? I don't mean to be shocked in a bad way, but I flew in from NYC, usually generally just casually have them on my bag, and didn't expect so many of y'all (including staff!) to have up to literal fucking jumbo carabiner clips of the stuff. I would have made some if I'd known! (Thanks to the one girl who I told that I ran out of trades and handed me a cool skull one anyway.)

* The Fortnite costumes were better than the rest of the area and that was really only the "skin" ones that were up on platforms. I'm not shocked, I probably have an essay under my belt about that. I did hear the obligatory "FORTNIIIIITE!!!" child screech. Ow.

* They were really pushing that 11PM Express Pass everywhere, huh?

* I want to say the Disney YouTube essayists are right and the theme park booze is getting out of hand, but it's an adult-oriented event and I can't blame anyone in these times.

* $12-18 for savory """snacks"""???? Fucking damn. At least give me chips or a congratulatory sticker.

Anyway, best maze had to be Hellraiser, personal favorite was Dr Bloodengutz, loved the concept of Cybergoria but hated the execution, vice versa for Bloodengutz (literally cheered for the returning Icon within). Father now understands the appeal of the RIP Tour and is considering it, especially after the first Blood Noir show filled and the second was cancelled.

Kudos to the team, hopefully I'll be back in a year or two.