Event FrightFest Extreme 2024

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It'll be interesting to see if they have more than the 2 mazes from last week open tonight. I'd think there would be at least a couple more, but who knows.

Ideally everything should have been done by now (especially since FF was supposed to start last week), but if the park can't guarantee absolutely everything being ready, I guess it's better to just come clean since people would inevitably (justifiably) be up in arms about their favorite IP's maze not being open, and in turn world rebel against the unjustified extra cost this year. Instead, start things off on the right foot and let buyers feel like they got their full value from the hard ticket purchase.
 
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Local news is reporting on the disappointment:
www.facebook.com

Great Adventure Connoisseurs | So for next weekend, do we think the third time’s the charm | Facebook

So for next weekend, do we think the third time’s the charm? Or will they not actually open until October. Must be some pretty big code violations if they can’t pass their inspections for the haunts.
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

Edit/update—
I just read a rumor, and no telling how true it is or isn’t, that at least part of the holdup is inspections from the building and fire departments.

With Great Adventure’s history, I can only imagine that there is a LOT of scrutiny on all of it. That’s why they have rarely built indoor attractions (let alone temporary haunts indoors)— so much red tape and attention after the Haunted Castle. I’d also imagine the current management has little idea of the park’s past and just said “go ahead and build haunt buildings” without thinking about sprinkler systems and things that are required because of their past.
 
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GAcoaster said:
With Great Adventure’s history, I can only imagine that there is a LOT of scrutiny on all of it. That’s why they have rarely built indoor attractions (let alone temporary haunts indoors)— so much red tape and attention after the Haunted Castle. I’d also imagine the current management has little idea of the park’s past and just said “go ahead and build haunt buildings” without thinking about sprinkler systems and things that are required because of their past.
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Several of the recently constructed indoor structures did have signs alluding to that last week. I definitely think you're onto something re: management being unfamiliar with how stingy the state inspections are.

The sign they put up in front of the Giant Wheel (which presumably hasn't had its certification revoked, since it was operating just fine before Fright Fest previews) that same day had similar phrasing - it very well could have just been used as a catch-all to save some money (it's the same as what the one used previously), but it is curious.


IMG_20240913_195242560.jpg IMG_20240705_182427846_AE.jpg
 
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Unfortunately, the park had just 2 mazes to work with again tonight (or, I guess, last night, considering the time I'm writing this). Definitely would have liked to see more from a second preview weekend.

But I will say this.

They were absolutely bringing the hammer down with the chaperone policy. Before I even made it to the security area, I witnessed 3 groups of what looked to be 14-15 year olds that were unable to gain entry. One group was told to go to the side to wait for their chaperone to arrive, another was encouraged to call whoever dropped them off and request their presence, and the third was getting an explanation of the rules by a public safety worker.

Within the park, security was EVERYWHERE. There were multiple guards present in every scare zone and still more were very visibly patrolling the areas by the shows. The park as a whole seemed very much ready to tackle any issues, and perhaps because of that, I didn't witness nor hear of any.

Between the greatly enhanced chaperone/security measures, the further haunted maze previews detailed in the Facebook link above, and the scale of effects evident from the outside of the closed off mazes today (clearly planned lighting changes within the maze buildings, discernable audio, queue setups, etc), I think Fright Fest Extreme is just about ready to roll. I hope we're at the point where that's now the case and any last bits of red tape are about to be peeled away.
 
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We are well past the point of this being even remotely reasonable. One week? Bad, but I appreciate their honesty. Two weeks? That's some horrible, unacceptable mismanagement. Three weeks?

Angry Inside Out GIF by Disney Pixar
 
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This is just brutal now. At this point, the park is losing out on a lot of potential profit and favor with the public.

As of last Monday, the state had issued operating permits for what looks to be 6 of the mazes (2 of them were listed as "Mirror Maze," so maybe it's 5 and they have a permit for the Holiday In The Park changeover lined up already). The time for previews has passed. Even if you don't have everything ready to go, open what you can.
 
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My read is this is a day by day thing, and it’s just today as a “preview” (for now), like they hope to get things finalized tomorrow (or sometime before the weekend is done). It looked like a lot was ready and operating last weekend, so I assume it’s only one or two things not given approvals yet.

I learned YEARS ago never to expect things to be ready when promised when it comes to Great Adventure. Pretty much everything they’ve ever opened has either been delayed or opened unfinished. Every year Fright Fest opens in stages since the season always seems to catch them off guard despite having posted the dates a year in advance. I’ve always just taken it in stride as a passholder and local— I’d visit several times during Fright Fest and see the improvements over time. All events, even the slickest produced like HHN make tweaks after the initial opening of an event, but this is just ridiculous. Either better prepare and get it ready as promised, or don’t advertise it as the full event until things are ready.
 
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RollyCoaster said:
@Zachary I just now you are so relieved lol
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I'm not. HALF of the new, flagship IP houses are still missing and the upcharge has been removed with zero notice. Absolutely incensed. Friends and I cancelled our Great Adventure plans for today and are driving well out of our way for Dark Nights instead.
 
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