Busch Gardens Williamsburg Howl-O-Scream 2023

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Attraction Lineup​

Haunted Houses​

  1. Death Water Bayou: Full Moon
    • Located in Festa Field behind Roman Rapids
    • Updated version of the new-for-2022 house, Death Water Bayou
  2. KILLarney DIEner: Infested
    • Located in the Killarney simulator building
    • Updated version of the new-for-2021 house, KILLarney Diner
  3. Lost Mines: The Descent
    • Located below Escape from Pompeii
    • New house for 2023 (replacing 2022's Inferno)
  4. Nevermore: Chapter 3
    • Located in Drachen Fire's station building
    • Third iteration of the new-for-2021 house, Nevermore; replaces 2022's Nevermore: Chapter 2
  5. Witch of the Woods: Scorched
    • Located in the woods behind Festhaus Park
    • Technically the second iteration of the new-for-2021 house, Witch of the Woods though Witch of the Woods was reversed in its second season without a name change

Terror-Tories​

  1. Fest-Evil [New] (Festa Italia)
  2. Gorgon Gardens [Returning] (Da Vinci's Garden of Inventions)
  3. Meat Market [Returning] (New France)
  4. Scary Tale Road [Returning] (Rhinefield)
  5. Ripper Row [Returning] (Banbury Cross)

Other Scares​

  1. Hack Pack [Returning] (Roaming)

Shows​

  1. Jack is Back [Returning] (Killarney)
  2. Monster Stomp on Ripper Row [Returning] (Globe Theatre)
  3. Phantoms of the Festhaus [Returning] (Das Festhaus)
  4. Skeletones [Returning] (Il Teatro di San Marco)

BOOze Bars & Bites​

  1. OktoberTaps [New] (Oktoberfest)
  2. Stone-Cold Spirits [Returning] (San Marco)
  3. Pete's Provisions [Returning] (New France)
  4. Jack's Nightcap [Returning] (Killarney)
  5. Frost Bar [Returning] (Oktoberfest)
  6. BarKastle Spirits [Returning] (Oktoberfest)

Official Website​

Howl-O-Scream: Virginia Halloween Event | Busch Gardens Williamsburg

The spirit of Halloween is unleashed at Howl-O-Scream! Find haunted houses, escape rooms, scare zones, live shows & roller coasters if you dare.
buschgardens.com buschgardens.com
 
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Sigh, another year of MSoRR.

Zachary said:
I understand that new event leadership wants to put their fingerprints all over the event so I'm not too mad at all the new tags added to the houses. A little worried about any changes to Killarney Diner since it was such a high-concept house already, but I'll give it a chance. Not sure why Dead Mine Lost Mines needed "The Decent" tacked onto it though.

It will be a very intriguing year for sure. I have a lot of hope.
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I think they did that because all of the houses are two-part names, and maybe next year it's called Lost Mines: The Depths or whatever.
 
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I applaud the new leadership for tackling a single new maze instead of three. Lost Mines sounds like an interesting concept that could be very scary if it uses lighting (or lack thereof) to its advantage. My biggest concern is that the creatures, and therefore the costumes, sound a little ambitious and could very easily look silly.
 
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Feels a bit in the nose to update the theme of Witch of the Woods, a house which sits on and near the site of multiple BGW fires, to a burned forest. I want to believe that was intentional.

I also like how Nevermore: Chapter 3 is identified as the epilogue to the house in its description—very fitting for a house that wasn't supposed to survive past 2022 originally but is now back for one final, unplanned chapter. Again, probably happenstance, but I want to believe.
 
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Zachary said:
Feels a bit in the nose to update the theme of Witch of the Woods, a house which sits on and near the site of multiple BGW fires, to a burned forest. I want to believe that was intentional.

I also like how Nevermore: Chapter 3 is identified as the epilogue to the house in its description—very fitting for a house that wasn't supposed to survive past 2022 originally but is now back for one final, unplanned chapter. Again, probably happenstance, but I want to believe.
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I am hoping that if next year Nevermore does not come back we can get an Edgar Allen Poe scare zone in either France or England.
 
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Zachary said:
A little worried about any changes to Killarney Diner since it was such a high-concept house already, but I'll give it a chance.
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With the subtitle, I assume it's going to be similar to when Howl O Scream Tampa added a "Infestation" theme to their Motel Hell house a few years back.

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I went in 2021 and didn't go last year. How are the Park Ops now in terms of actually getting into the park (versus being backed up on the road for an hour) and getting food (lines in 2021 were INSANE). Thinking of going again this year but dreading the lines if they're still the same.
 
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Oysterhead00 said:
I went in 2021 and didn't go last year. How are the Park Ops now in terms of actually getting into the park (versus being backed up on the road for an hour) and getting food (lines in 2021 were INSANE). Thinking of going again this year but dreading the lines if they're still the same.
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Getting in on a busy day can still be a nightmare but in park ops have improved significantly
 
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horsesboy said:
Getting in on a busy day can still be a nightmare but in park ops have improved significantly
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Have they really? I thought 2022 Howloscream was just as bad as 2021. Also went a couple times between February and April and didn't really notice much difference. So much so that I'm skipping HOS for the first time in probably 15 years
 
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First login in maybe a few years, always a bit of a sporadic forum lurker. Sorry for not catching all the way up, but anyone have any idea why it was necessary to close verbolten for HOS prep? 1000007469.jpg
 
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The Tomato said:
First login in maybe a few years, always a bit of a sporadic forum lurker. Sorry for not catching all the way up, but anyone have any idea why it was necessary to close verbolten for HOS prep? View attachment 29624
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That is not the reason for the closer some just stuck out what ever sign was most convenient
 
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woodardhsd said:
Have they really? I thought 2022 Howloscream was just as bad as 2021. Also went a couple times between February and April and didn't really notice much difference. So much so that I'm skipping HOS for the first time in probably 15 years
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2022 was but the park has done a much better job staffing and keeping things moving in 2023 then they did in 2022 I think you will see a decent improvement.
 
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In other news, I'm sure many of you are similar to me in that you're a bit park-spoiled and waiting in line on a busy day can be a turnoff. I've collected over a dozen quick queues so far and am hoping to get at least 20. One of my favorite member perks. That scare at the beginning of the month being unable to collect more than one almost gave me a heart attack.
 
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horsesboy said:
Getting in on a busy day can still be a nightmare but in park ops have improved significantly
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A couple more questions about ride shares (Uber/Lyft). How convenient of a drop off and pick up is it for Uber? Also, as someone who lived almost their entire life in NY and who mostly vacations at themeparks in Florida where Ubers are falling from the sky, how difficult is it to get a timely Uber in the Williamsburg area? Thanks in advance for any info!
 
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