Busch Gardens Williamsburg Howl-O-Scream 2023

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

 

[Ultrasuede]

...waits for moar posts

 

[TLancaster]

Currently in line for Lost Mines and they have had to evacuate the house; there is an ambulance on site and they brought a stretcher in. Can’t tell exactly what is happening, but it seems like something is definitely going on inside because they’ve stopped the line for the last 15-20 minutes. The line music has finally just come back on so it seems like they might be getting the house back online after whatever went down.

 

[Zachary]

...waits for moar posts

After the event started we moved to individual tweet threads for each house. Check out general feed or the house threads @Nicole is making.

 

[tursiops]

After the event started we moved to individual tweet threads for each house. Check out general feed or the house threads @Nicole is making.

Great work @Zachary and @Nicole !

 

[cricket]

Just left the park. I’m amazed at how good the houses were this year. Even the houses that weren’t the best last year had quite a few upgrades. Lost Mines was my favorite, it felt nothing like inferno. It was such a good house.

 

[Zachary]

Yeah, quite happy with Lost Mines. Feeling the same about it as I did about KILLarney two years ago—it feels like a real step up from what we've come to expect from BGW's event.

Quite happy with the scenic upgrades in both Witch and Death Water too. Notable improvements to both in my opinion.

Far more indifferent to the Infested overlay on KILLarney though. The original house's story and characters were excellent and Infested really only feels like it changes those things vs actually improving on some of the house's shortcomings (namely empty hallways, poor ending, etc). I was really hoping Infested would "plus" the house, not just change a great thing for the hell of it.

As for Nevermore, I always want to like it, but it really didn't hit for me tonight. Feels very one-note in a way that I don't remember from Chapter 2. I'm ready for this house's likely death at the end of this season.

 

[Beaumont]

I checked out the new videos of Howl-O-Scream on YouTube. The new characters from Grimms' Fairy Tales in Scary Tale Road this year are the Frog Prince, Snow White and Rose Red, the Girl Without Hands, and the Robber Bridegroom.

 

[belsaas]

I saw that there is a Howl-O-Scream LoungeFly bag at HoS Tampa. Does anyone know if they have it here?!?

 

[Nicole]

There is a Loungefly in Williamsburg, yes.

As of last night, most of the merchandise was either generic Halloween themed or park-agnostic HOS stuff. The Kill Die stuff was back (thankfully) and there is the annual house shirt, but not many other BGW-specific items.

 

[Nicole]

Let me preface what I am about to say with an acknowledgment that the event always evolves throughout the season, and what we experienced last night was very likely not the final product.

First off, in my opinion the actors seemed the most prepared that I have ever experienced at the beginning of the event. They had clearly-defined characters with lines that contributed to the story telling in the houses. Almost no one screamed something nonsensical like, “get out.” Moreover, they didn’t seem to be relying primarily on startles to scare guests. I really hope this is an indication that BGW is attempting to add more sophistication to it’s haunt.

Despite that, I still want to address a serious concern I had last night.

The only parts of the event that seemed complete were the houses and maybe a few of the Terror-tories, and we know that several of the mazes were only cleared to open at the literal last minute. To qualify what I mean by complete: there were adequate sets and coherent storytelling. I would argue that everything at the event could use additional enhancements, but the five houses were performing well enough to put in front of guests. Scary Tales and Meat Market seemed about on par with last year, which one could easily argue was still below industry standard.

The rest of the scare zones and park paths, however, were barely themed and lacked anything even approaching atmospherics. There are houses in my neighborhood with more decorations than what I saw around the park last night. There were a few large, nice set pieces, but those are not enough for even a Fall Festival. Other than possibly the Wild Reserve (maybe), there was nowhere in the park that felt the least bit spooky or scary or even the tiniest bit different from the regular season.

After attending haunts at 10 different parks/farms over the past two decades, I feel that I have the experience to assess the most basic components of a successful event. BGW‘s paths should have lighting, sounds, music, effects, fog, decor, and actors that combine to create a mood and tell some kind of story. Almost none of that existed anywhere; and where you could find even small pieces, none of them combined to achieve a comprehensive effect. Last night there was simply no placemaking throughout almost all of the park. A few hay bales and some classic rock are not adequate to transport anyone to a supernatural and terror-filled universe.

Moving from what I think we should reasonably be able to expect from the park at HOS to investments that could actually elevate the event, it frustrates me that the haunt doesn’t extend atmospherically into the restaurants and shops and onto the rides. Where are the themed overlays? Where are the actors? Where are the event menus? Why do I feel as if I am exiting HOS, when I go to grab a drink?

Given the wide arrays of attractions and theming we have seen at HOS in the past, I don’t think I am asking for anything without precedent. I just want the park to feel like a haunt and not Home Depot’s seasonal section.

Having said all of that, assuming HOS wasn’t really fully done on opening night, I have to question why this seems to happen every year. If there isn’t enough time to set up the event, stop opening it so early. By now, people should have a reasonable idea of how long it will take to complete the houses, scare zones, and assorted other event attractions. There is really no excuse for BGW to open any event, especially HOS, in this condition.

 

[cricket]

After attending haunts at 10 different parks/farms over the past two decades, I feel that I have the experience to assess the most basic components of a successful event. BGW‘s paths should have lighting, sounds, music, effects, fog, decor, and actors that combine to create a mood and tell some kind of story. Almost none of that existed anywhere; and where you could find even small pieces, none of them combined to achieve a comprehensive effect. Last night there was simply no placemaking throughout almost all of the park. A few hay bales and some classic rock are not adequate to transport anyone to a supernatural and terror-filled universe.

I agree with a lot of this, however does a scare zone need to tell a story? I think stories are something a house should focus on. I can't really find a story in Gorgon Gardens other than evil snake people. Same with Fest-Evil just being an evil bayou party. Not everything needs to have a story.

 

[Zachary]

I need really good place-making and atmospherics from scarezones—two things I think BGW consistently fails at. Scary Tale was the only possible success story I saw last night as far as path scares go, but even that should feel a lot darker and creepier than it does.

 

[Nicole]

The fact that the Terri-tories no longer have a clear stories, doesn't mean they shouldn't.

I'm not saying they need linear narratives. They do, however, need (at least) to convey what is going on, and why you should feel fear. Why are there body parts hanging over your head? Why does the elephant have a top hat? Who are those people in white?

You are walking through an area where something bad or scary has happened. What is it and why should you care? The actors, sets, sounds, music, and lighting should all contribute meaning and help explain the environment.

Glaring at me threateningly is moderately intimidating, I suppose, but unless I know who that person is and why they might be able and willing to harm me, why should I care?

Moreover, Terri-tories absolutely used to have complex narratives that guests could understand. Winidigo Woods and Ripper Row are two great examples of scare zones with narrative storytelling.

If we assume that the park is unwilling or unable to create similar experiences now, it should at a minimum provide immersive places and park-wide atmosphere.

 

[Bigskinny]

Glaring at me threateningly is moderately intimidating, I suppose, but unless I know who that person is and why they might be able and willing to harm me, why should I care?

If we assume that the park is unwilling or unable to create similar experiences now, it should at a minimum provide immersive places and park-wide atmosphere.

I was just thinking on this too. Terror-tories haven’t been intimidating since maybe Wendigo Woods and then while before that. I want people to be like “Oh, we have to walk through that” and be actually apprehensive about it. I don’t think guests feel that. That’s my wish for scare zones: make sense and be intimidating.

I did see vids of Lost Mines and it does look like a pretty good house through video. I’ll put my hope in it being the first sign of a new direction.

 

[warfelg]

Question:
Do they of have they ever made the terrortories themed after the nearby house? I think that would be an easy way to convey stories even deeper.

 

[Coolguy15]

The new scare zone in festa and the house (Death Water Bayou) are both themed around the same thing.

 

[Mushroom]

Adding to that:

• Cut Throat Cove (Festa) and Ports of Skull (San Marco) were both pirate themed
• Circo Sinistro and Sideshow Square, both in Festa, were carnival themed
• Catacombs and Demon Street, both in Aquitaine, had overall different themes but both took place in Paris
• Vampire Point in Rhinefeld arguably tied in with the vampire-themed Bitten in Oktoberfest

I totally agree that having terror-tories share themes with their nearby mazes adds to the immersion.

Something I’d add: the original concept of terror-tories when they were introduced in 2013 was to create immersive, story-driven environments. Ripper Row, for example, used to have huge Scotland Yard-themed facades throughout Banbury Cross, not to mention tons of detailed period-appropriate signs and props throughout to add to the sense of place — that you were in London at a time when a mysterious killer was on the loose. Now, they slap up some bloody banners and call it a day. Wendigo Woods is another great example. It fully transformed New France into an experimental military facility where something had gone wrong — complete with a giant entry gate, helicopter lights and surround sound audio, and all the signage for the nearby shops and restaurants changed to fit the military facility theme. Even the relatively weak Vampire Point used a facade to transform the Wilkommenhaus into the imposing Vampire Point Hotel.

The whole point of terror-tories was that they were not scare zones. They were intended to be more than just paths with hiding places where people snarl and jump out at you. They were meant to be immersive experiences conveyed by their setting, acting, and integration into the hamlet.

Today’s terror-tories do not fit the park’s original definition of terror-tories at all. They lack any distinction from traditional scare zones. Calling them terror-tories in 2023 is a misnomer, and they should be renamed.

 

[warfelg]

The whole point of terror-tories was that they were not scare zones. They were intended to be more than just paths with hiding places where people snarl and jump out at you. They were meant to be immersive experiences conveyed by their setting, acting, and integration into the hamlet.

Do you feel BGW/SEAS would be better served not having scare actors in those area for a year or two in order to spend on the better place setting?

I don’t go so I don’t know how many scare actors there are but labor and makeup costs can’t be cheap. I don’t go to Haunts so I don’t know how well that would play. Maybe do a bare bones scare zone staff to build out the themes again.

Even though I don’t go, I still want a quality event for those that do go. I think it’s important for parks to be really well rounded with events like this.

Just a taste in my head of what they could do:
With the mining theme in the EfP area, they could do projection mapping on the event building, where for the most part it looks like an abandoned mining building. Then every so often things like the human like creatures crawl all over it, bugs are all over, and the building get strange glitches. Then have a walk through area by the shop with fake fronts of the abandoned towns. Put the few scare actors in the doors or up at an upper level window. Along side the path as you enter from FoF area have a warning sign for an abandoned town or a derelict town entrance sign where instead of population is says something like “souls” and goes up as people enter.

 

[Zachary]

Kings Dominion builds infinitely more immersive scarezones than Busch Gardens Williamsburg. In fact, with some better defined characters and scripting, something like Pumpkin Eater would, 100%, be a Terror-tory by the original definition—it has the large sets, high prop density, and atmospherics of an original Terror-tory. I'd argue that Site X needed more props to better sell its environment, but it actually did have a lot of the atmospheric energy and some of the characters and scripting one should expect from a Terror-tory last year as well.

In other words, Kings Dominion is already delivering nearly-original-Terror-tory-level experiences right up the road. If Kings Dominion can do it with lower prices and lower attendance while they pay all of hourly staff more and while offering more and better Halloween attractions than Busch Gardens Williamsburg, there should be no need for any trade-offs in Williamsburg.

I've long lost hope in BGW's desire to return to the grandeur or ethos of the original Terror-tories. I've pretty much dropped the usage of the term when speaking as BGWFans because, like @Mushroom, I firmly believe it's a misnomer and honestly is an insult to the original, highly-theatrical works that justified the initial name change.

At this point I've come to accept that BGW just views "Terror-tory" as nothing more than a proprietary name for a "scarezone." I don't like it, but I'm not dying on that hill. Nowadays I just demand industry-standard scarezone quality—something BGW is still falling dramatically short of.

 

[warfelg]

Kings Dominion builds infinitely more immersive scarezones than Busch Gardens Williamsburg. In fact, with some better defined characters and scripting, something like Pumpkin Eater would, 100%, be a Terror-tory by the original definition—it has the large sets, high prop density, and atmospherics of an original Terror-tory. I'd argue that Site X needed more props to better sell its environment, but it actually did have a lot of the atmospheric energy and some of the characters and scripting one should expect from a Terror-tory last year as well.

In other words, Kings Dominion is already delivering nearly-original-Terror-tory-level experiences right up the road. If Kings Dominion can do it with lower prices and lower attendance while they pay all of hourly staff more and while offering more and better Halloween attractions than Busch Gardens Williamsburg, there should be no need for any trade-offs in Williamsburg.

Mind you I ask these questions because I don’t go - but are those all new areas and things for KD? The sounds of things about KD lately is that they are doing things they haven’t done, so I think it’s easy for them to build something all new ground up that didn’t exist.

Full transparency here - as a stockholder in both SEAS and CF I’m far happier with the performance of my SEAS stock than I am CF. SEAS is in a dip, but CF is continually sliding since I purchased.