Awesome! I'm going tomorrow. I want to go through one of the new houses first. Which one should I go through first? Suggestions?
Halloween Haunt 2016
- Thread starter mtorange
- Start date
Trick or Treat, definitely. It was really, really well done.
Trick-or-treat was amazing! Kings Dominion still doesn't know very much about theatrics ( lighting tricks, moving scenery), but the set look like it was on par with some of Knott's best houses. There were a lot of misdirection scares, which were fun, but might get bad if they are still used on more crowded days. The last room had people wandering backwards, because the exit was only marked by a lit exit sign.
All in all, it is every bit as detailed as the man in the video says it is. It truly is a "next generation" for Kings Dominion. I think they were trying to capitalize off of the success of no vacancy. Even the first room tries to compete with it by using a grand staircase. Granted, Knotts uses a similar set in that room, except their's has theatrical lighting with jack-o'-lanterns.
All in all, it is every bit as detailed as the man in the video says it is. It truly is a "next generation" for Kings Dominion. I think they were trying to capitalize off of the success of no vacancy. Even the first room tries to compete with it by using a grand staircase. Granted, Knotts uses a similar set in that room, except their's has theatrical lighting with jack-o'-lanterns.
Can confirm actors on Tollway Terror. Not many, but they're there.
phurst said:
When I rode through I counted 5 actors (not that many but definitely more than last year), 2 of which had the fake chainsaws. They also had a lot more props than last year so it was definitely an improvement over last year.
It rained steady for the 2 hours or so before opening which kept away some, and opening night Friday is normally light in attendance anyway (which is why I go). The rain stopped just before opening and there was only a couple brief showers later during the night, so the weather turned out pretty well and as noted in an earlier post the place was basically empty. This was great as we made it through almost every maze and scare zone in 3 hours -- Zombie High appeared closed when we went over to Blackout around 7:30 or so, probably temporarily for whatever reason.
- Trick or Treat was very good
- Blackout was "different" - need a couple more trips on that one
- I think Lockdown was improved from last year
- Cornstalkers was same as last year, I've always liked it
- Doll Factory also appeared to be the same as last year, which I have also always liked
- Tollway Terror is definitely improved over last year, as noted above
- No Vacancy was same as last year, maybe had a few less actors but still staffed well
- Urgent Scare was so-so, I've never thought much of that one, and we noticed that the guy in the electric chair out front was either removed or still covered, so while the "Madness" part may have been toned down there were still a couple crazed patient actors running around inside
- Did not go through Zombie High, but noticed that the yellow school bus was still parked out in the parking lot where it's been all summer
I have to agree with everyone on trick or treat, truly an amazing maze. There was just so much detail, a step above no vacancy I think. There wasn't a room without an actor.
All the talent were giving 110% effort. As for blackout, it was a pretty cool concept that I think was executed well. Took awhile sometimes to figure out where to go (can't imagine the line on a busy Saturday) some of the actors had little dot light on their heads and there were lighted arrows to mark where to go in some places. One of the actors had to break character to guide my group where to go. So this maze should be visited first (when there's barely a line) to get the most out of it. Everything else was pretty much the same as last year, but Still very solid. Especially the talent, everyone of the actors looked like they were having fun and actually trying for everyone which is nice. Also the resurrection was pretty much the same except the voice changed a bit, an improvement from last years horrible overlord voice. Overall a very solid opening night. Definitely much better than last year.
All the talent were giving 110% effort. As for blackout, it was a pretty cool concept that I think was executed well. Took awhile sometimes to figure out where to go (can't imagine the line on a busy Saturday) some of the actors had little dot light on their heads and there were lighted arrows to mark where to go in some places. One of the actors had to break character to guide my group where to go. So this maze should be visited first (when there's barely a line) to get the most out of it. Everything else was pretty much the same as last year, but Still very solid. Especially the talent, everyone of the actors looked like they were having fun and actually trying for everyone which is nice. Also the resurrection was pretty much the same except the voice changed a bit, an improvement from last years horrible overlord voice. Overall a very solid opening night. Definitely much better than last year.
Some were cool and some were meh. I wouldn't pay just for the rooms based on last year.
Did the mob perform and what song if they did? I was a few minutes late getting last night and missed the opening.
Joe said:
It would be cool if they could incorporate the actual carousel into their routine at some point during the night when they are out during a performance.
I wonder if they brightened up Blackout to make it easier to navigate for a larger Saturday crowd in order to keep things moving. I haven't been to Haunt yet so I can't say how bright it is, but hopefully they're just going though some trial and error before getting it right. Kind of expected with a unique maze like that.
I was at Dorney Park last weekend and did their mazes. Blackout lived up to the name there and was truly black. Blackout at KD was more lit than DP. Actually, I was very impressed with DP's mazes and skeleton key rooms.
A few things of note.
Last night I tried to dialate my pupils to see better in Blackout, which proved pointless since they added lights. However, today we went into Blackout while it was still light outside. This counteracted the new lights well since my eyes were still used to the daylight. They also started using these in the maze, which proved quite effective.
We also saw mother with an infant in a harness walk out or Blackout, so there was that.
One other story was when we were walking through The Lair, there was one of those "I'm too cool to be scared so I'm going to be an ass to the actors" people. One of the actors called her out by yelling "Oh a belligerent guest, how original.". Everyone around started laughing and said guest got pissed and stomped off. If you see this, random vampire, you are a true hero.
Last night I tried to dialate my pupils to see better in Blackout, which proved pointless since they added lights. However, today we went into Blackout while it was still light outside. This counteracted the new lights well since my eyes were still used to the daylight. They also started using these in the maze, which proved quite effective.
We also saw mother with an infant in a harness walk out or Blackout, so there was that.
One other story was when we were walking through The Lair, there was one of those "I'm too cool to be scared so I'm going to be an ass to the actors" people. One of the actors called her out by yelling "Oh a belligerent guest, how original.". Everyone around started laughing and said guest got pissed and stomped off. If you see this, random vampire, you are a true hero.
So I did Haunt last night, it was fun. Short lines were abundant with the longest wait being at The Country Kitchen. I found this interesting but, I assume parents think it's okay to bring screaming crying children into the houses. Last night, my gosh, there was so many strollers and it honestly kind of toned down the scares as the actors usually won't target groups if there's a child in the vacinity. Other than that, fun times. Had some quick thoughts on the event.
No Vacancy was well, No Vacancy although I found the first half of the maze containing most of the actors and the second half kind of lacking. 7/10
Zombie High was filled to the brim with scare actors. This house just had this energy that was felt throughout from the announcements to the strange movements of the students. 8/10
Trick or Treat had some phenomenal sets.y While I still didn't feel this was the perfect house. Several of the actors were low energy and just standing around. I found the ending strange how it ends with a attic suddenly. It reminded of Deadline in how the house itself is beautiful but, the actors are just kind of there. 6/10
Maze of err, Urgent Scare was very plain and reminded me of my own Haunt I do. Hallways upon hallways of blank walls without scare actors. The maze was very disorienting this year and the actors were making my group go in circles. 5/10
Doll Factory I was stacked for majority of the house but, the atmosphere and scares still made up for it. 8/10
Lockdown was interesting. I never went through last year but, I thought it was an improvement over Outbreak. I felt the house was slightly repetitive (Soundtrack, Scenes, Costumes) other than that it was still a solid house. 7/10
I haven't visited BGW but, I would still recommend both events. I could compare and contrast all day here there's just so many differences between the event. All in all Haunt is a pretty solid event and I would highly recommend checking it out.
No Vacancy was well, No Vacancy although I found the first half of the maze containing most of the actors and the second half kind of lacking. 7/10
Zombie High was filled to the brim with scare actors. This house just had this energy that was felt throughout from the announcements to the strange movements of the students. 8/10
Trick or Treat had some phenomenal sets.y While I still didn't feel this was the perfect house. Several of the actors were low energy and just standing around. I found the ending strange how it ends with a attic suddenly. It reminded of Deadline in how the house itself is beautiful but, the actors are just kind of there. 6/10
Maze of err, Urgent Scare was very plain and reminded me of my own Haunt I do. Hallways upon hallways of blank walls without scare actors. The maze was very disorienting this year and the actors were making my group go in circles. 5/10
Doll Factory I was stacked for majority of the house but, the atmosphere and scares still made up for it. 8/10
Lockdown was interesting. I never went through last year but, I thought it was an improvement over Outbreak. I felt the house was slightly repetitive (Soundtrack, Scenes, Costumes) other than that it was still a solid house. 7/10
I haven't visited BGW but, I would still recommend both events. I could compare and contrast all day here there's just so many differences between the event. All in all Haunt is a pretty solid event and I would highly recommend checking it out.