Halloween Haunt 2013

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Pretzel Kaiser said:
My apologies, I've only been to KD during the paramount days and later. If KD's shows were better quality before that then that's fine and I'll concede to the fact that paramount ruined quite a few things about KD. I do want to thank you for showing me these clips.

I can only go by what I've seen at KD and in the past few decades, it's been rather uninspired. The fact remains that BGW had quality shows (I'll admit, there were a few flops pre-Scott) for a bit longer than KD. Not to mention that as far as pop music in the park, KD has been doing it quite a bit longer than BGW, a trend which is still happening after Paramount. I'll admit that pop music actually fits like KD so it's not as bad (a bit annoying personally) as BGW though.
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Paramount did tremendous damage to live entertainment in the former Taft/KECO park chain during those years. They eliminated the Kings Production park chain entertainment division. During those years under Paramount ownership, King Dominion lost 3 show amphitheaters:

Country Crossroads - country music with live band - formerly located where the front waiting area is for the Action Theater;

Flintstone Follies/Woodlands amphitheater - children's shows / pop - contemporary music reviews with live band - formerly located between "Lucy's Crabbie Cabbies" and the path to the Grove;

Safari Amphitheater - Bird-animal show/Caribbean music/contemporary-pop music - formerly located where the seating plaza is now in front of the Stunt coaster;

We no longer have Livingston's Restaurant with its small caberet theater in the dining room where small vocal ensembles and other variety acts performed.

Lake Charles is pretty much gone; so no more water ski show. There was a small amphitheater in Old VA where the Flying Eagles ride is now. Used to do an old fashioned melodrama (Dick Dastardly character). No steam train, so no melodrama/western stunt show anymore. No air show anymore (once a day around 6-7 pm) - stunt planes, parachutists, hot air balloon. The park used to do a couple different shows on the International Bandstand stage - big band sound and a contemporary music show. Used to have a dolphin/sea lion show where the All Wheel sports show is now. Also, used to have the clown band as well.

Now, some shows/facilities came and went before Paramount; but, most of the major shows and show facilities were eliminated during those years of Paramount ownership.

In 2006, Cedar Fair took over. At the time, this park chain placed Live Entertainment a distant 2nd place to rides and attractions. That was during the Kinzel years of leadership. With Matt Ouimet now in charge, along with nearly 3 quarters of upper management, over the last 2 years, being new; things are starting to change with live entertainment. There is still a TON of improvements needed; but, Cedar Fair is slowly focusing more on live entertainment. I think they are still being a little tentative (feeling their way forward) with shows and I think they need to just "dive in the deep end" to increase the budget to have more performers; better, more finished professional looking set pieces and lighting design; improve existing show facilities and add a couple more new show places over time. But, like a big ship, you can't turn it around on a dime. I just hope for better things from them in the future.
 
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Evan said:
Did anyone know about the new Haunt dinner service? It wasn't advertised at all it seems!

https://www.kingsdominion.com/what-s-new/halloween-haunt-vip-dinner-experience

Might have to check it out one day depending on the price.
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Am I completely missing where the prices are or where I can buy tickets?
 
Zachary said:
Evan said:
Did anyone know about the new Haunt dinner service? It wasn't advertised at all it seems!

https://www.kingsdominion.com/what-s-new/halloween-haunt-vip-dinner-experience

Might have to check it out one day depending on the price.
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Am I completely missing where the prices are or where I can buy tickets?
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Yup, I've dug around and can't find anything... might have to send the park an email to find out.
 
I think that blood drums performance was one of the most impressive sounding theme park percussion ensembles I've ever heard.
 
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After a bit of digging around Kings Dominion's website, I have found a price for Fright Feast!

It's $34.99 and you can buy it online and I'm going to take a wild guess and print your ticket and just show it to the stroller rental place at 4:45 and you will be on your way.

https://www.kingsdominion.com/ticket-category/Halloween-Haunt
 
Party Rocker said:
Sounds like they are ripping of HOS's FF, but charging more for less.
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This type of sit down meal has been served in other Cedar Fair parks over the last 2-3 years. I believe this type of dinner offering happened at Cedar Point and possibly Knotts and/or Kings Island.

This is not the same type of food event served at BGW during HOS. This is a single meal; served at a particular time. There is a limit of 24 people for this sit down meal each day it is offered. I assume a chef is being brought in that designed the menu and prepared the food. Given the limited number of diners allowed and the meal is served only once per day, I can see why the price is so high.

(Though, I would love to see the Caprice room. It is located on the 2nd floor - above what is now the Starbucks location on the right side as you come in the front gate on International Street - stroller rental side. That used to be some sort of VIP room where there was a bar, lounge, and dining room. Never set foot up there; but, heard rumors back in the Taft/KECO days that was where the Big Wigs/VIP visitors went.)
 
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Here is a copy of the menu, dates offered, and the seating limitation. The web link is at the bottom.

Dates Available
October 13,19 and 20

Dinner starts at 5:00pm in the Caprice Room (Above Starbucks). Check in at Stroller Rental by 4:45pm. Meal is $34.99 including tax.

Dinner Menu
Appetizer

Smoked Pork Ribs served with "Blood Barbeque Sauce"
Black Pepper Shrimp Piled on Garlic Toast Points
Mozzarella Caprese Skewer

Salad Selection

Fresh Spinach, Lychees, Water Chestnuts and Bacon Crumbles with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Grilled Caesar

Entrée

Grilled Beef Medallions and Lobster Tail accompanied by Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Grilled Asparagus

Dessert

Bananas Flambe prepared Tableside
Pumpkin Cheesecake

Dinner includes Coca-Cola beverages, iced tea and coffee.

There are only 24 available seats for dinner each night. Hurry before they are all gone!

https://www.kingsdominion.com/what-s-new/new-in-2013-fright-feast-vip-dinner
 
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Also sounds like the park is still putting together all the details... when I first found out about FF, it didn't have a price. The next time I saw it (last night), they added a price and then a little bit later the dates. And today they added that there is only 24 people per day.
 
I was just point out they had the exact same name, and both were special extra cost dinning experiences. I am sure they are different in every other way.
 
I had the pleasure of having breakfast in the Caprice room back in June for SnoopyCon 2013. It's a decent size room but with 24 people plus staff, it'll be nice and cozy in there!
 
So, what do y'all think of the mazes and scare zones this year? As I've mentioned before, I've never been to Halloween Haunt, and I am curious if I should start trying to convince my husband to go.

I looked at the website, and I admit the sheer number of mazes and scare zones worries me. How well staffed are they? How much theming and detail should I expect? Given that I'm not interested in the shows, how does it compare to HOS?

Help, please!
 
Haven't yet been this year, but everyone is saying that it's better than last year and I thought last year was fantastic. Their houses are about as well staffed as BGW's are but I tend to notice that KD's scareactors get around much, much better than the ones at BGW. As for the house theming, it's clearly a step or two below Busch Gardens, but many of KD's houses are laid out much better than what can be found in Williamsburg. You won't gawk at the stunning attention to detail, but the actors and layouts will keep you on your toes enough to make you completely forget to inspect the walls in the first place.
 
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Woops... I guess I forgot to post my mini review! I might get around to it. If I don't, I will be posting an overall review to the blog because let's face it... no one performs their best on opening night. I have not been since then, but I plan to be there sometime in the next two weeks.

But I will say that my overall feeling for opening night was amazing... there were some areas that could have been used some improvement like with the actors in Miners Revenge. I mean are you really going to scare someone by yelling in a creepy voice "ARE YOU SCARED?!?!?" Over and over again? Hopefully he learned better and was able to act his character a little bit better later on in the night.

Scare-zones are still a bit lacking... I walked through Feary Tales without seeing a single person. The entire area looked amazing and had SOO much potential, but I had couldn't find anyone. Maybe it was just because of the DENSE fog in that section of the park. Since this scare-zone is covered with trees, it seems to hold the fog in instead of letting it escape like in the other sections of the park.

The mazes this year did have a step of quality wise. I don't have the best memory, but I could tell there was some changes in a lot of the existing mazes.

Also for anyone who goes through the Zombie High... I suggest ducking when you go through the "guys locker room."

I will have a better and more organized review later on after I get another visit or two in.

But in the end, I do suggest that you make your way out if you're willing. I also don't suggest going on a Saturday. Those nights will make you hate the entire park.
 
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