American Horror Story teams with Universal's Halloween Horror Nights

As reported over at Blastr.com, Universal theme parks are getting a double dose of horror this autumn as FX’s anthology series American Horror Story teams up with Halloween Horror Nights in both Orlando and Hollywood.

Announced in a press release yesterday, the annual event at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood will include a maze featuring chapters from the “Murder House,” “Freak Show,” and “Hotel” seasons of creator Ryan Murphy’s show.

According to the release, the temporary attraction, opening Sept. 16, will expose guests to “twisted scenes from Murder House” where “evil spirits that possess the Harmon estate” and “decades of the tortured dead who previously resided there” will be unleashed.

The release continues:

“In Freak Show, guests will join a troupe of biological misfits in a sinister sideshow where they’ll be stalked by the murderous and deformed Twisty the Clown. Finally, guests will succumb to the warped desires of The Countess after checking in to the haunted Hotel Cortez, conceived from the beginning as a torture chamber for its customers.”

John Murdy, Creative Director at Universal Studios Hollywood and Executive Producer of Halloween Horror Nights, said AHS has been the “number one requested maze” from our guests.  Michael Aiello, Director of Entertainment Creative Development for Universal Orlando Resort, commented, “It's that constant evolution that makes this popular series a perfect fit for Halloween Horror Nights – and we can’t wait for our guests to experience some of the horror they’ve seen on the show."

The opening of the attraction also coincides with Season 6 of American Horror Story, which kicks off Sept. 14. Meanwhile, AHS joins Halloween Horror Nights mazes based on other successful horror properties The Walking Dead, The Exorcist, Krampus, Halloween II, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as well as Freddy vs. Jason in Hollywood. Entering its 26^th year, Orlando’s HHN event will also include The Repository, an “immersive paranormal virtual reality experience.”

Check out the trailer for the attraction below, and let us know if you will be headed to Orlando or Halloween for HHN. 

-Aaron Sagers

Michael Myers Comes Home to Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights

Michael Myers is paying a visit to Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights starting September 19. Their newest attraction is, of course, based on John Carpenter's 1978 slasher film, "Halloween" and "follows the story of Michael Myers, a deranged boy from Haddonfield, Il." It's promised that Michael will be setting out for new blood and will stop at nothing as he stalks his victims. "Every scene tells the tale of a different kill and if you’re not careful, you could be next."

The Myers attraction rounds out this year’s lineup for Halloween Horror Nights 24. Some of the other pop culture attractions include experiences inspired by AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” Robert Rodriguez’s chilling television series “From Dusk Till Dawn,” the cult sci-fi franchise “AVP: Alien vs. Predator,” Universal Picture’s upcoming film “Dracula: Untold,” Universal Picture’s “The Purge: Anarchy,” and Syfy’s “Face Off – In the Flesh.”

Here are more details from the release. Universal's Halloween Horror Nights runs from September 19 to November 1. We're also including a complete overview of all the attractions (after the jump). Let us know if you plan on making the trip!

New 'Alien vs. Predator' Maze Coming to Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights

Have you ever wondered how you'd react if you ever came in contact with a Xenomorph or a Predator? Of course you have, and now thanks to a collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood are making this awesomeness happen.  Adding to their already epic line-up of scares, “Halloween Horror Nights" has added an "all-new, horrifying maze inspired by the cult sci-fi franchise AVP: Alien vs. Predator, beginning Friday, September 19, 2014."

Here are all the just-released details via Universal:

"AVP: Alien vs. Predator" is a sci-fi horror franchise that brings together the two iconic species spawned from two blockbuster films, Alien and Predator, to create a terrifying crossover of eponymous monsters in a raging battle against mankind struggling to survive amid the chaos that ensues from these two vengeful creatures. To mark the 35th anniversary celebration of Alien, and the 10th anniversary of AVP: Alien vs. Predator, “Halloween Horror Nights” guests and fans of these celebrated films will have a chance to live the horror of these diabolical beasts as they come face to face with the terror of Aliens and Predators.

New 'From Dusk Till Dawn' Maze Coming to Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights

Halloween Horror Nights just got even more bite! Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort has teamed up with Robert Rodriguez to bring a "From Dusk Till Dawn" maze to their annual event. The supernatural series airs on the El Rey network, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET. Do you think you're a match for the Culebras and Santanico Pandemonium? Check out the complete details from the press release and then the video announcement. If you plan on going, make room in your suitcase for us!

Release:
From cult horror film to breakthrough television series on El Rey Network, “From Dusk Till Dawn” will add terrifying maze to its credits when filmmaker Robert Rodriguez’s acclaimed supernatural show debuts as a menacing new “Halloween Horror Nights” experience at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, beginning Friday, September 19.

'The Walking Dead' Returns to Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood's 'Halloween Horror Nights'

Is it fall yet? We're starting to get in that autumn mood and thinking about Halloween certainly helps. To help us out, the good folks at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood will be bringing back "The Walking Dead" to their Halloween Horror Nights events. Fans will get to experience all new, terrifying mazes inspired by the fourth season.

Here are the complete details from the release. Let us know if you plan on attending!

After rave reviews from fans on both coasts, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood are bringing back AMC’s “The Walking Dead” to Halloween Horror Nights for an unprecedented third consecutive year. Horror-hungry fans will experience all-new terrifying mazes inspired by Season 4 of the critically-acclaimed, Emmy Award®-winning television series.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley Opens at Universal Orlando

The lucky first guests were welcomed this morning at the Universal Orlando Resort's newest and highly anticipated attraction, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley. It was not a sedate welcome either, guests were greeted with fireworks, confetti and cheers on the red carpet as they entered the expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure.

Here's a refresher of what you can expect on your adventure:

You arrive aboard the Hogwarts Express, which takes guests on a journey between the two lands of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and are transported into a spectacularly themed environment. The new area includes incredible shops with windows full of magical surprises, authentic food and beverages, a towering dragon that breathes fire and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a new attraction unlike any other that takes you on a mind-blowing ride through the Gringotts vaults – pulling you into an incredible adventure.

Let us know if you're planning a future trip to Diagon Alley! But first, here are some pics from the grand opening (after the jump)...

New Details Revealed About Harry Potter Diagon Alley, Gringotts Ride

For Muggles, a trip to the bank involves long lines, tellers and pens attached to metal chains. But for wizards, or visitors to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the trip includes dragons, goblins, a Death Eater and a lot of adventure. At least, that's what Universal Orlando Resort is promising with its Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts attraction, which opens in the theme park's new Diagon Alley area this summer.

Universal Orlando revealed today more details about the attraction based on the scene in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2." In the film, Harry, Ron and Hermione break into the famed goblin bank to steal a Horcrux in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault. After entering the Main Hall, where visitors will see goblin bankers at work, visitors to the attraction will race through the labyrinth of underground vaults, face off against Voldemort lackey Lestrange and encounter a 60-foot, fire-breathing Ukranian Ironbelly dragon.

Take a peek behind the curtain on the magical world, and Universal also shared that it had been working closely with Harry Potter film production designer Stuart Craig to, according to a press release, "immerse guests in this pivotal scene from the final Harry Potter book and film."

The resort also promises that the attraction will revolutionize theme park entertainment by seamlessly integrating a "compilation of the most innovative technology ever created, 360-degree themed sets, 4K digital high-definition animation, state-of-the-art 3-D Infitec projection systems and live special effects."

In everyday terms, Universal makes it sound like theme park goers will live the movie with lots of neato, whiz-bang magic that will likely include cameos by familiar characters from the franchise based on J.K. Rowling's books. The 2010 attraction Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey won "best new ride" from Theme Park Insider, and it is a safe bet Universal Orlando is trying to outdo itself for the Wizarding World/ Diagon Alley expansion.

Check out the video above for more details about Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

-Aaron Sagers

Universal Orlando Announces Dates for "Halloween Horror Nights 24"

Returning for its twenty-fourth year of terrifying the public, Universal Orlando has just announced the official dates for "Halloween Horror Nights 24."

This year they are promising the more nights than ever before, as well as horrifying experiences based off of some of the biggest names in pop culture and horror. On 28 selected evenings, September 19 through November 1, guests will be able to explore 8 terrifying haunted houses, wend their way through bone-rattling street experiences that feature "scareactors," as well as enjoy 2 live shows and have some heart-racing fun of a different variety on the parks rides and attractions.

Event nights are as follows:
September 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 and 28
October 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 and 31
November 1

Along with more information, ticket packages will be going on sale soon. Keep checking back here for all of the latest info and prepare to get your scare on this fall in Orlando!

-Nowal Massari

Webcast Reveals Details About Universal's 'The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley'

Concept art courtesy Universal

Opening this summer at Universal Orlando is something truly magical. A new experience, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley, is being added and the Hogwarts Express will take you on the journey!

A recent press release revealed that patrons of the park will get to board the Hogwarts Express in Hogmeade. It will take you on the "incredible" journey and arrive at King's Cross Station and you'll enjoy the wonders of Diagon Alley and London. Guests with a park to park ticket will be able to travel between the two lands in a “seamless adventure.”A half-hour webcast that aired today revealed the key highlights of the new attraction and you can check that out after the jump.

Here are some tidbits from the Hypable.com and the press release: