Final Edit: Flickr photo stream added. Sorry they aren't very good, was using my iPhone 4 and was in full tourist mode so I kind of rushed some of them.
Did a quick edit since the original post was written at 1AM, right after I left the park.
We got to the park at 5PM and rode a few rides before HOS started at 7:30. Originally, we weren't planning on going into The Basement since we did it two years ago but we were right there when it opened and there was no line so we figured, "why not". I'm glad we did because the scare actors were on point and the house seemed really well staffed. The house is kind of a 'gross' house which I'm not a fan of but the theming was actually really well done and they had lots of little 'scenes' which were cute (probably not the right word considering the house but, whatever). Final scare of the house was absolutely fantastic and made both my boyfriend and I scream (which is hard to do since we tend to not be very jumpy).
Next, we went to Unearthed which was interesting to see since we did the Williamsburg one last Sunday. The entrance to the house was pretty cool and actually looked like you were entering into an archaeological site (which Williamsburg did not have). Overall, most of the rooms were kind of the same as Williamsburg and the story still didn't seem to make a lot of sense (well to be fair, my attention was distracted during this house because I spent the whole time wanting to murder the man behind me who was loudly screaming for the entire house in an attempt to annoy his family). The card/Scarlet scene was fairly cool and they also did a better job with the three "fan favorites" at the end. Still kind of stupid BUT better than Williamsburg.
Death Containment Unit 15 was a complete waste of time. Line was absurdly long and the house was stupid. Yes, the concept is cool with the ability to shoot zombies, but that is all there is to it. No real scares, just zombies behind cages. Also, so many people are going through it at once, it just feels like a zombie conveyer belt.
Next was Fiends. Nicole would absolutely HAAAAAAAATE it.
Reason 1: It is a theme park show
Reason 2: The show is centered around sexual and pop cultural references ( Bill Cosby, Donald Trump's Hair, Kim Davis)
Reason 3: Plot is stupid
Reason 4: Crowd participation
Reason 5: They aren't even singing, just lip synching to songs from the Top 100 list
Reason 6: The sexy nurses danced to "Sweet Cherry Pie"
Deadfall- At this point I am getting really annoyed with the massive amount of teenagers at the park (seriously, how do these teenagers have the money to afford HOS tickets. Parents, stop buying your children tickets) and entered the house annoyed after an event that involved us trying to get drunk teenagers kicked out of the park. But anyway....house had a plant/nursery/Little Shop of Horror theme to it. I guess because I was annoyed, most of the house went by in a blur but I did really enjoy a room themed to a playground.
Last house we went to was Death Water Bayou which was one of our favorites in 2013. Somehow we were able to walk right in (especially shocking after 30 min. waits at almost every other house) and I have no idea why there was no line because it was absolutely fantastic. Themeing is spectacular, just absolutely stunning. Maybe it was because it was empty but it felt like we were being scared every 5 secs. and I was actually jittery leaving the place. Personal favorite was a room with a forest theme that had two guys jumping out on bungees (which I have experienced before in houses but the placement was fantastic).
On scare zones- I'm used to Williamsburg where there are actual designated locations so it felt weird that Tampa didn't have them but instead there seemed to be more scare actors scattered throughout the park which was good. Overall, thought they were all really good and they had unique things like guys on stilts and guys on roller blades (who would skid into the crowd).
Theming throughout the park sucked, but I imagine that is because they have to be open throughout the week.
'Club' areas were just sad. Just 2-3 teenagers dancing and trying to look cool while a DJ played music while probably hating his life.
And the end of the day, was overall a fun experience. Very different from HOS Williamsburg but definitely enjoyable.
[flickrset=72157659217649478]
