Howl-O-Scream 2012
- Thread starter Ben
- Start date
They added a few more hiding spots for the scareactors and added a metric tons worth of plants, looks like an almost brand new haunt.
Well that's good news, it was a train wreck last weekend. I'm actually excited to go back to hos now
I'll say more at a later time, but toss everything you remember about opening weekend out the window. Someone with power must have realized that they screwed up royally because it's like a completely different event. Everything, every last aspect of the event, is far superior to what it was last weekend. Don't get me wrong, they still have work to do, but the bucket of cold water they had poured on their heads after last weekend seems to have worked quite nicely.
Went opening night and tonight as well. I will echo what has been said: Howl-O-Scream was infinitely better tonight. 13 and Catacombs were definitely on their game too. 13 especially; I never really "got" 13, both last year and last Friday. But tonight was awesome. Deadline not as good because we got behind a scare-able group so we saw all the hiding spots. Bitten was off for us as well. Fear Fair was good--had more actors tonight (but that strobe tent has to leave). Did not get to ROAE; we didn't feel like waiting an hour (though I would have if I didn't have to drive home).
Shows were also good again! Fiends was better (we got asked to sit at the tables in the front, which was cool...and made the show even more shocking for the people I was with. My friend said, "I saw that it said 'Adult Content?'" My sister's response was, "Oh please, this is Busch Gardens." Her reaction was priceless. Dig It Up was mostly the same. Night Beats was also better. It clicked a bit better this time round and there were some newer, finished costumes.
Overall, very good tonight, and I look forward to seeing how they continue to tweak and add.
On a different note, I did the Verbolten tour with my friend and sister, for her birthday. I enjoyed it, and thought it was really cool, as did they. My sister knew absolutely nothing about the ride (not even that it launched; she thought it was a chain lift into the building). The look on her face when it started moving very fast, very quickly was really funny.
Shows were also good again! Fiends was better (we got asked to sit at the tables in the front, which was cool...and made the show even more shocking for the people I was with. My friend said, "I saw that it said 'Adult Content?'" My sister's response was, "Oh please, this is Busch Gardens." Her reaction was priceless. Dig It Up was mostly the same. Night Beats was also better. It clicked a bit better this time round and there were some newer, finished costumes.
Overall, very good tonight, and I look forward to seeing how they continue to tweak and add.
On a different note, I did the Verbolten tour with my friend and sister, for her birthday. I enjoyed it, and thought it was really cool, as did they. My sister knew absolutely nothing about the ride (not even that it launched; she thought it was a chain lift into the building). The look on her face when it started moving very fast, very quickly was really funny.
From what I was told, the park planned out putting up more theme for the second weekend and if you thought they put up a lot this weekend, wait until next weekend 
Soooooooo Root of all Evil...
While it was a huge improvement over last week, there are some huge issues still.
1) While they upped the details in the house, you can only really appreciate it during the day. They also added more props in general, like things hanging from the ceiling of the greenhouse. Lighting (while improved) in most of the house is still terrible preventing you from even seeing it at night. They have cool things like huge Venus Fly Traps, but you can't see them still.
2) The concept of the theme seems awesome, however execution of the theme leaves a lot to be desired. While it is kind of cool that they have real plants, by using fake plants they could have had the chance to make things look more sinister since you could paint the fake plants and have a cool black light effect like that in bolt, or blood or whatever. I can't help but think that the real plants they're using are dying in those conditions, it must be costing the park a fortune if they're replacing them all the time. Way to go green, BGW.
3) The actors at times seem very lost in what they're supposed to be doing. Most of them are surprise, but there are two or three which are "story" actors which are cool in concept, but they come off as awkward. There's also one actor in particular, I feel so sorry for him because it seems like he's just doing it for a few extra bucks, but he's fairly older, has a Santa Claus beard, and goes "ooooOOOOooooOOOoOoOO" like a character from a Nick Jr Halloween special. My plea to Busch Gardens: Move this man to Fear Fair, he can exceed there. Also, I counted two Ladies of the Gardens, I was a bit confused.
Still not a good house, especially not with the bar set last year. It's honestly quite dumbfounding how the park went from Deadline and Fear Fair to Root of all Evil....
While it was a huge improvement over last week, there are some huge issues still.
1) While they upped the details in the house, you can only really appreciate it during the day. They also added more props in general, like things hanging from the ceiling of the greenhouse. Lighting (while improved) in most of the house is still terrible preventing you from even seeing it at night. They have cool things like huge Venus Fly Traps, but you can't see them still.
2) The concept of the theme seems awesome, however execution of the theme leaves a lot to be desired. While it is kind of cool that they have real plants, by using fake plants they could have had the chance to make things look more sinister since you could paint the fake plants and have a cool black light effect like that in bolt, or blood or whatever. I can't help but think that the real plants they're using are dying in those conditions, it must be costing the park a fortune if they're replacing them all the time. Way to go green, BGW.
3) The actors at times seem very lost in what they're supposed to be doing. Most of them are surprise, but there are two or three which are "story" actors which are cool in concept, but they come off as awkward. There's also one actor in particular, I feel so sorry for him because it seems like he's just doing it for a few extra bucks, but he's fairly older, has a Santa Claus beard, and goes "ooooOOOOooooOOOoOoOO" like a character from a Nick Jr Halloween special. My plea to Busch Gardens: Move this man to Fear Fair, he can exceed there. Also, I counted two Ladies of the Gardens, I was a bit confused.
Still not a good house, especially not with the bar set last year. It's honestly quite dumbfounding how the park went from Deadline and Fear Fair to Root of all Evil....
Decided to brave the crowds Saturday...ugh.
Decor throughout the park was great. Didn't go first weekend, so really can't compare much; though I do wish they would've done -something- around Pompeii and Deadline. Found the graveyard setting between Ireland and France much more appealing than previous themes they've gone with there.
Noticed one horde the entire night, and being after ten didn't really think they would scare...but they did a great job of clearing the crowds randomly idling on the bridge between Italy and Verbolten.
Only got to one maze, 13; it was decent...different from last year. Quite a bit of empty space, though...scareactors were really on their game when I went through.
Caught a good chunk of Night Beats. Pretty good show, was entertained, made for a nice break from the crowds.
A quick observation...it's so FRUSTRATING to have to weave your way through the countless amount of children and teens texting and walking. Watched one of them almost fall down the stairs from Scotland to Germany because she wasn't paying attention, and countless others just not having the common decency to, you know, put the flippin' phone away and pay attention to where others are going.
Going back Sunday in the hopes we can tackle more HOS stuff. Thanks to the Verbolten crew for re-opening right before ten because of the weather and letting the lingering crowd get their fill when they could've easily closed.
Decor throughout the park was great. Didn't go first weekend, so really can't compare much; though I do wish they would've done -something- around Pompeii and Deadline. Found the graveyard setting between Ireland and France much more appealing than previous themes they've gone with there.
Noticed one horde the entire night, and being after ten didn't really think they would scare...but they did a great job of clearing the crowds randomly idling on the bridge between Italy and Verbolten.
Only got to one maze, 13; it was decent...different from last year. Quite a bit of empty space, though...scareactors were really on their game when I went through.
Caught a good chunk of Night Beats. Pretty good show, was entertained, made for a nice break from the crowds.
A quick observation...it's so FRUSTRATING to have to weave your way through the countless amount of children and teens texting and walking. Watched one of them almost fall down the stairs from Scotland to Germany because she wasn't paying attention, and countless others just not having the common decency to, you know, put the flippin' phone away and pay attention to where others are going.
Going back Sunday in the hopes we can tackle more HOS stuff. Thanks to the Verbolten crew for re-opening right before ten because of the weather and letting the lingering crowd get their fill when they could've easily closed.
I have been reading your site for the last two years and finally decided to join. Thank you for all the helpful tips.
I too have been wondering whether Bush Gardens didn't have enough time to prepare for Howl-O-Scream or this was all they planned due to complaining parents.
Our family went for the first time three octobers ago when it was the "Scare is Everywhere." (Howl-O-Scream that is.) There was something to see everywhere you looked. The entrance decorations had us so excited we could hardly wait to get into the park. It was fun to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. I couldn't get enough of the troll under the bridge. Loved the old horror movies! We even made the 4-[/font]hour trip (one-way) again we enjoyed it so much.
Last year we noticed a difference. Decorations at the entrance were sparse. The bridge from the parking lot was not decorated with dangling twine like the previous year. It's twine, how expensive or difficult can it be to put up? Overall the decorations felt less concentrated and lacking in the WOW factor of the previous year. We overhead other guests commenting the same. Plus it was crowded Friday night but crushing on Saturday. Long waits even with Quick Queue for rides.
Now I'm reading there are even less decorations and they didn't have the troll bridge until this past weekend. After raving about Howl-O-Scream we had planned to come for 2 days and bring our teenager's friends as a senior-year treat but sounds as if they will find it boring. Less decorations and atmosphere but same insane crowds isn't a good use of our limited budget.
I'll keep reading but for now I think we'll stay home this year which makes me sad. I've loved Bush Gardens since I was a teenager and we have season passes. Hope things improve or I may be missing Christmastown as well.
I too have been wondering whether Bush Gardens didn't have enough time to prepare for Howl-O-Scream or this was all they planned due to complaining parents.
Our family went for the first time three octobers ago when it was the "Scare is Everywhere." (Howl-O-Scream that is.) There was something to see everywhere you looked. The entrance decorations had us so excited we could hardly wait to get into the park. It was fun to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. I couldn't get enough of the troll under the bridge. Loved the old horror movies! We even made the 4-[/font]hour trip (one-way) again we enjoyed it so much.
Last year we noticed a difference. Decorations at the entrance were sparse. The bridge from the parking lot was not decorated with dangling twine like the previous year. It's twine, how expensive or difficult can it be to put up? Overall the decorations felt less concentrated and lacking in the WOW factor of the previous year. We overhead other guests commenting the same. Plus it was crowded Friday night but crushing on Saturday. Long waits even with Quick Queue for rides.
Now I'm reading there are even less decorations and they didn't have the troll bridge until this past weekend. After raving about Howl-O-Scream we had planned to come for 2 days and bring our teenager's friends as a senior-year treat but sounds as if they will find it boring. Less decorations and atmosphere but same insane crowds isn't a good use of our limited budget.
I'll keep reading but for now I think we'll stay home this year which makes me sad. I've loved Bush Gardens since I was a teenager and we have season passes. Hope things improve or I may be missing Christmastown as well.
MamaBear said:
First weekend it was VERY empty on decor. This weekend it is filled nearly to the brim if you ask me. I cannot remember the last time that I have seen so much decor along every path. The troll bridge is now up, scarezones are there, and the mazes still have some ironing out to do IMO.
I attended HOS this past Saturday (Sept 22) thinking things would improve since opening weekend, from what I've heard.
Well, I will have to say, this 14th year of HOS has to be one of the worst I've attended. To contrast, last year ranks as one of the best, in my 8 year history attending HOS @ BGW.
What made last year so great? The noticeably "scarier" theme-ing with the removal of the silly pumpkin scale. The addition of two new haunted mazes one of which (Deadline) REALLY impressed with it's staging and props. The overall "Darkside of the Gardens" theme is creppy and effective though more use of the crustily Lady of the Gardens would be nice. World class shows like MSR truly entertain and embody the spirit of halloween. Over-all Halloween park decor is always top-notch and effectively transforms BGW into a Halloween themed wonderland.
Why I think this year sucks:
Aside from being disappointed from the removal of MSR and Jack is Back, the overall HOS experience this year feels noticeably downsized in generally every aspect from scare-actors to HOS park decor to the lack of scare zones.
RoAE wasn't bad and featured an innovative path re-direct "feature" with a scare-actor directing ones path about half-way through the maze. The white port-a-pody like prop is amazingly effective and scared the piss out of a couple in front of us, causing me to laugh hysterically. The make-up though looked cheap on most actors and a dude in a wet-suit in a pond is just not scarey. Put him in a ghillie suit and now you have a "swamp thing" that could work better. I did not see any aforementioned Lady of the Garden actresses on this run. Time of day was dusk so perhaps it would've been scarier during night. Approx. wait was 45 minutes.
Skipped Bitten, No.13, & Catacombs: Will visit next weekend.
Fear Fair was OK, though felt "empty". Good props, tents were smelly and funky as usual (not sure if it's a good or bad thing, lol). Maybe if they grabbed half of the clowns from the useless roaming hoard and empolyeed them here, it'd be better. But I still think I liked the Witch themed maze from year 12 better. More creepy and the pyrotechnics from the cauldron out in the back field was awesome. Approx. wait was around 30 min.
Deadline was again, the most well themed, though it seemed contained less actors. The squirting toilet gets two thumbs up. Aside from feeling emptier than last year, the line spacing was horrible at which point I felt like I was standing in line in the maze. Perhaps it's an explanation for what felt like the shortest wait (>20 min) during peak hours. This one has so much potential but lack of actors and being rushed through detracts from the experience.
Now the lack of scare-zones. DUMB IDEA. I saw werewolves once that were running around like a pack of upright dogs. All it did was just make one want to step out of the way rather than run the other way. Saw a pack of honking clowns twice that were sort of chillin'. Only one guy near the back of the pack was really into character with a creepy high pitched laugh.
If the roaming hoards are to work, they need some serious team work. And STAY in character! Otherwise, it fails. Miserably.
Overall, it leaves each country feeling, well, un-scary and EMPTY. The general lack of decor (compared to previous years) doesn't help either. I would think by the 3rd operating weekend they would have the majority of everything decorated. Guess not.
England had noticeably less crows, the pathway leading into Italy from Pompeii was nearly undecorated, Scottland was underwhelmingly plain, and France had noticeably less rats. Ireland though had nicely lit pumpkins.
All the nice little touches are missing. Year 12 of HOS France had an actual rat "stunt" show where live rats ran across a tigh-wire in France. Although the Jack show was altogether omitted this year, even last year the stilt-walking scarecrows were gone.
The trend seems to be downward and disappointing.
BGW, what are you people DOING!?!
Well, I will have to say, this 14th year of HOS has to be one of the worst I've attended. To contrast, last year ranks as one of the best, in my 8 year history attending HOS @ BGW.
What made last year so great? The noticeably "scarier" theme-ing with the removal of the silly pumpkin scale. The addition of two new haunted mazes one of which (Deadline) REALLY impressed with it's staging and props. The overall "Darkside of the Gardens" theme is creppy and effective though more use of the crustily Lady of the Gardens would be nice. World class shows like MSR truly entertain and embody the spirit of halloween. Over-all Halloween park decor is always top-notch and effectively transforms BGW into a Halloween themed wonderland.
Why I think this year sucks:
Aside from being disappointed from the removal of MSR and Jack is Back, the overall HOS experience this year feels noticeably downsized in generally every aspect from scare-actors to HOS park decor to the lack of scare zones.
RoAE wasn't bad and featured an innovative path re-direct "feature" with a scare-actor directing ones path about half-way through the maze. The white port-a-pody like prop is amazingly effective and scared the piss out of a couple in front of us, causing me to laugh hysterically. The make-up though looked cheap on most actors and a dude in a wet-suit in a pond is just not scarey. Put him in a ghillie suit and now you have a "swamp thing" that could work better. I did not see any aforementioned Lady of the Garden actresses on this run. Time of day was dusk so perhaps it would've been scarier during night. Approx. wait was 45 minutes.
Skipped Bitten, No.13, & Catacombs: Will visit next weekend.
Fear Fair was OK, though felt "empty". Good props, tents were smelly and funky as usual (not sure if it's a good or bad thing, lol). Maybe if they grabbed half of the clowns from the useless roaming hoard and empolyeed them here, it'd be better. But I still think I liked the Witch themed maze from year 12 better. More creepy and the pyrotechnics from the cauldron out in the back field was awesome. Approx. wait was around 30 min.
Deadline was again, the most well themed, though it seemed contained less actors. The squirting toilet gets two thumbs up. Aside from feeling emptier than last year, the line spacing was horrible at which point I felt like I was standing in line in the maze. Perhaps it's an explanation for what felt like the shortest wait (>20 min) during peak hours. This one has so much potential but lack of actors and being rushed through detracts from the experience.
Now the lack of scare-zones. DUMB IDEA. I saw werewolves once that were running around like a pack of upright dogs. All it did was just make one want to step out of the way rather than run the other way. Saw a pack of honking clowns twice that were sort of chillin'. Only one guy near the back of the pack was really into character with a creepy high pitched laugh.
If the roaming hoards are to work, they need some serious team work. And STAY in character! Otherwise, it fails. Miserably.
Overall, it leaves each country feeling, well, un-scary and EMPTY. The general lack of decor (compared to previous years) doesn't help either. I would think by the 3rd operating weekend they would have the majority of everything decorated. Guess not.
England had noticeably less crows, the pathway leading into Italy from Pompeii was nearly undecorated, Scottland was underwhelmingly plain, and France had noticeably less rats. Ireland though had nicely lit pumpkins.
All the nice little touches are missing. Year 12 of HOS France had an actual rat "stunt" show where live rats ran across a tigh-wire in France. Although the Jack show was altogether omitted this year, even last year the stilt-walking scarecrows were gone.
The trend seems to be downward and disappointing.
BGW, what are you people DOING!?!
Haberdasher1973 said:koreandude said:
I really did enjoy that.
Everyone did. So they got rid of it.
BlueWasp said:
I may be going out on a limb here, but I think it's because they bulldozed the woods...
Shafor said:Everyone did. So they got rid of it.
When the rats actually went across. Which was not common.
Did I miss them? :shocked: Where & what? Are they on the map now like last year?Atlantis said:
Atlantis said:
Even when they didn't, it was fun to watch the rats in their well-themed habitat there in the middle of the path...