As crews continue setting up for Halloween Horror Nights 33 at Universal Studios Florida, we noticed an unexpected symbol on a set piece.
Torture Faire Scare Zone
We spotted the symbol of Terra Cruentus on one of these themed barricades next to the stage in the Torture Faire scare zone. The symbol is red, painted against a purple background on a medieval-style wooden shield.
Terra Cruentus is the land ruled by the Terra Queen, one of the icons of Halloween Horror Nights: Tales of Terror in 2005. The Terra Queen returned for Halloween Horror Nights 30 in the Gorewood Forest scare zone.
The other other shields on the barricades are not familiar symbols. They look more like generic medieval/renaissance emblems.
There are six barricades total in the area.
The appearance of the Terra Cruentus symbol led us to wonder if she is the figure depicted on the banner on the Torture Faire stage. The same or similar figure is shown doubled. We did wonder if this pair is supposed to be SINIST3R and/or SURR3AL, this year’s Icons, who will be featured in the Duality of Fear scare zone.
Also new to the scare zone is a pair of wooden thrones, sitting in front of the banner. There are gray steps to either side, leading behind the banner.
Unfortunately, there are no special symbols for us to interpret on the chairs.
Torture Faire was the first scare zone Universal announced this year. It’s located in the New York area of Universal Studios Florida. The description of the zone reads:
Come one, come all, to the renaissance faire with the devious theme of medieval torture. Brave the gloriously gory homemade torture devices ‘til you’re put out of your misery.
Swamp of the Undead Scare Zone
Another new prop has arrived in the Swamp of the Undead scare zone. Set in “backwaters Louisiana,” this scare zone is located in the Central Park area of Universal Studios Florida, where guests will “unwittingly wander onto private property, where you’re swamped by zombies borne from the bodies of other trespassers who were killed and dumped in a nearby bog.”
A camouflage tarp covers some props in an upturned boat. Visible at the bottom of the tarp is a small crate and fishing net.
Just barely visible under the tarp is a body.
Though difficult to spot in photos, you can just barely see the edge of a leg and boot in this gap between the tarp and boat. The body is presumably one of the zombies’ victims.
The scare zone also features alligators and an airboat.
Food Booths
Some of the themed food booths throughout Universal Studios Florida have gained cash wraps. These are located next to the booths. This castle-like booth has a cash wrap decorated with a panel of fake wood.
On the cash wrap and the booth are wooden frames for menus, but none have been installed yet.
Nearby, at the end of the bridge near The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, is a white tent. Ferns in pots are blocking the sides.
Another, similar tent is near the Fear Factor stage, where “Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus” will be performed.
Another white tent is up in Sting Alley, part of the streets of New York.
The tent is situated in a corner right next to some stairs. There’s a large crate nearby.
The two “Ghostbusters”-themed booths have new cash wraps. One booth is Ivan’s, named after Ivan Reitman, the late director of the first two “Ghostbusters” films. The second looks like an ice-covered New York building from “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.”
The Ivan’s cash wrap features a sign for the booth reading “Ivan’s NYC Deli & Grocery around the corner.” An arrow points towards the booth.
The sign also features ads for Ray’s Occult Books, Ray Stantz’s bookstore, and Melody Diner, which appears in “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.”
The other cash wrap is simpler. It looks like it is made of stone, with icy details around the edges.
The Twisted Tater food booth has a matching cash wrap, too.
It features a mishmash of colors on fake wood planks. The empty menu sign has a green frame.
The Twilight Tavern’s cash wrap is covered in faux brick paneling.
It has green edges, matching the fake brick and green-paneled booth.
Lastly, the “Insidious” food booth has gained a cash wrap.
Like the booth, the cash wrap features the “Insidious” wordmark with “SI” highlighted in red.
Theming has also gone up for the food booth outside Animal Actors on Location! This venue is covered with colorful shades.
Under the shades is the Carey Drive-In Snack Bar. Carey, Ohio is a recurring location at Halloween Horror Nights.
The snack bar’s theming incorporates red, yellow, blue, and white. There are mid-century-style four-pointed stars.
Different elements look like cement bricks or tiles.
An empty menu board is under a “Now Showing” sign.
Halloween Horror Nights begins on August 30 and runs on select nights through November 3, 2024.
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