Nicole said:
Exactly!
It's common business sense to have long term investment in an attaction/coaster rather than a seasonal event that lasts a few weeks.
Howl-O-Scream 2017
- Thread starter wombat96
- Start date
Exactly!
It's common business sense to have long term investment in an attaction/coaster rather than a seasonal event that lasts a few weeks.
basseyfish said:
ummm...
well, I for one disagree. seriously, I have been sitting on this plane for 2 hours now, and I have been thinking on this, I can not for the life of me come up with any math, where investing the kind of money that goes into a capital investment like a coaster (and then picking up its lease) if invested in a one year's event shows the return that the single, successful capital investment returns. Forget the multi-year potential return on a ride vs. the single year return on an event, what is the risk/ reward.
BLUF
I'm sure there is some way to drop a whole buck of bread on an event and make it make money, else why bother, but that's not the question here. The question is it better to x money on Invadr or a 2017 HoS event.
Long version.
A scare event runs for a couple of months at best. So lets say the lump sum investment we have to work with is 15m. (number pulled out of the air). If that 15m buys you an Invadr class coaster great, you get a significant bump in attendance for most of the season, and if you are lucky some bleed over to next season. If marketed properly this can be a good year. We know from past results, that this was the case.
Now lets suppose we invest that 15m in HoS. So we get a couple amaze-balls shows that close in 2 months. Can't really re-cycle them, because we expect new shows each year. So maybe not great there. So, maybe a whole host of new houses, well that's good! We need new houses! All new houses then! Perfect new houses, new props, magnifico! Those will work next year too, everyone will be thrilled banner crowds for years.
Maybe not. One thing we have learned year after year, you can have the best looking house in the world, (I'm looking at you Deadline) but if your staff sucks or is non-existant all the gold plated, first class, props in the world are just going to make you look like Versailles not scary.
further it just takes a cold snap or a late hurricane and your season is shot.
Yea I guess what I said was dumb lol. But why are their houses understaffed? Do not enough people try out for HOS or is it they don,t want a lot because it's a "family" ish event so they don't want it to be to scary?
Probably because people know the park is open on Thursdays this year and till midnight some nights and people don't want to commit to that schedule.
my understanding is that many of the scare actors are largely, high school students, some local college students, a few part time local adults, and a fair number of current BGW/ WC USA employees (please someone who has better knowledge fill in the gaps here). The problem is these folks are not necessarily professional or seasoned actors. Unless I miss my guess these are considered entry level positions (largely) and so you often end up with entry level folks. Sometimes this is great. You can get really eager energetic self starters or sometimes you can get kids who have no idea what to do or how to do it. Largely the later becomes a real problem when the leadership and training is lacking.
From where I sit, with the limited resources, and I speak of people not dollars BGW has, I would personally rather the park focus on few attractions and staff them very well with good talent instead of spreading thin weak talent out across the park.
From where I sit, with the limited resources, and I speak of people not dollars BGW has, I would personally rather the park focus on few attractions and staff them very well with good talent instead of spreading thin weak talent out across the park.
I think KD's event is weaker and understaffed this year also. From the outside, it looks like they need to increase pay at least a dollar, or do a better job of selling the job. From what I know from a friend working KD, you get extras hours and perks, not just the time of the event itself. An amazing thing I noticed when I looked at working at KD's a few years ago is that actors are expected to do the standard Cedar Fair job application including dress code for hair and tattoos etc. That's among the stupidest things I've ever heard of.
kenmasters675 said:
Scranton PA is a bit of hard sell to us in Virginia, thanks. I have heard of some good ones in MD such as Markoff's but I'm coming up with an over 2 hour trip even to that. I did some of the local haunts in the KD region and at the time I wasn't that impressed. With the staffing issues at the theme parks, perhaps it's time to check them out again.
The ones I did were:
Creepy Hollow -- generic
Haunted hill -- well done, but short and remote
Wicked Woods -- good props otherwise awful (no longer exists, wish that had happened before I went)
Ashland Berry Farm -- crude, but Booger Woods is extremely long and remote, you're cut off from civilization, it's super dark and the sky is huge, and you're crawling through some thing. Don't think I'd do it again but it IS different.
Zachary said:
I miss going down the foggy dark paths to be surprised by werewolves and bushmen.
Doesn't the park read these forums? This thread, in particular, should be taken very seriously. I know we're Busch Gardens enthusiasts by definition but this seems to be a universal opinion of the 2017 event. And if *we're* saying this - Busch's biggest cheerleaders - then what on earth must Joe Everyman be thinking?
Step it up, Busch. You're better than this.
Step it up, Busch. You're better than this.
Merboy said:
This is an interesting question because in my experience people on this forum (and haunt/theme park super-fans in general) are much, much more critical of the event than anyone I've ever attended the event with in real life. Which is not to say that the park shouldn't keep its most dedicated fans in mind when planning and executing certain elements of the event, but I think it's also useful for us to try to tap into the perspective of the more casual park-goer.
One thing I think everyone- super-fans and casual park-goers- can probably agree on is the need for more decorations throughout the park. I'm really disappointed with the direction the park has been going in in that regard. Good decorations are such a safe bet in my mind- path scares can be so hit-and-miss for each individual guest even when staffing is not as big an issue as it is right now, but every single person who comes through the park would enjoy better themed and decorated paths and hamlets (including families who just come for the day and don't stay for the event itself!). They don't even have to be high-quality decorations by and large; I know a lot of people on here were critical of the cheap looking flags (I believe they were described as "Hot Wheels flags," haha) and the like in France, but every single person I've ever been at the park with has loved that area just because it's such a spectacle. I know quantity over quality is usually not desirable... but at this point I really think the park is so lacking in quantity that that approach is warranted.
Anyway, that's the one thing I would most like to the park address going forward. This is the World's Most Beautiful Theme Park; its physical appearance should be just as much of a "wow" factor during Howl-o-Scream as it is every other time of the year.
The massive crowds, unfortunately, say that Joe Everyman is still willing to pay.
TheMostHappy hit the nail on the head in my opinion.
I honestly don't go to BGW to be terrified. I don't think the park is capable of it anymore and I don't judge houses based on the hope or assumption that they will somehow suddenly manage to be scary again.
That said, I do expect to be entertained. I expect to walk around Busch Gardens covered in spooky lighting and music. I expect there to be cheesy cobwebs all over things. I expect paths to be lined with pumpkins and scarecrows—bales of hay and stalks of corn. I expect creepy things to be hanging in the trees. I expect there to be some props out on paths. This is what I get from Six Flags America—it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect the same from BGW.
Long ago I surrendered the fight to be scared on paths at BGW. The last couple seasons have shown me that we hit the HOS show apex in 2012. Over the last few years I've given up my hopes that BGW's houses would be really scary.
After all of that, the event was still at least entertaining. People popped out from behind corners and everyone had a good laugh. The park still had something resembling a spooky Halloween atmosphere. This year, the event just feels hallow and lifeless—and not in a good way.
I honestly don't go to BGW to be terrified. I don't think the park is capable of it anymore and I don't judge houses based on the hope or assumption that they will somehow suddenly manage to be scary again.
That said, I do expect to be entertained. I expect to walk around Busch Gardens covered in spooky lighting and music. I expect there to be cheesy cobwebs all over things. I expect paths to be lined with pumpkins and scarecrows—bales of hay and stalks of corn. I expect creepy things to be hanging in the trees. I expect there to be some props out on paths. This is what I get from Six Flags America—it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect the same from BGW.
Long ago I surrendered the fight to be scared on paths at BGW. The last couple seasons have shown me that we hit the HOS show apex in 2012. Over the last few years I've given up my hopes that BGW's houses would be really scary.
After all of that, the event was still at least entertaining. People popped out from behind corners and everyone had a good laugh. The park still had something resembling a spooky Halloween atmosphere. This year, the event just feels hallow and lifeless—and not in a good way.
Perhaps I spoke too soon. I haven't been to the park yet (going next weekend!) and haven't experienced this year's disappointment (hoping it won't be all that bad though). But relying on my past experiences of previous years and the reports so far from other members I do have to say I know exactly what you all are talking about. And I just wanted to clarify that I wasn't suggesting the park cater to its most loyal fan base, only that John and Jane Q. Public might be less forgiving than those of us who know the park can do better. Case in point.
I never thought I would find myself saying this, but maybe BGW needs to embrace the Mickey's Not So Scary model and leave the Halloween Horror Nights market to KD?
I remember a time when people in Northern Virginia believed that the drive to Williamsburg was worth the effort, because KD's haunt simply wasn't as good as HOS. Clearly, that is no longer the case. In fact, I found many of the houses at SFA's Fright Fest to be scarier than HOS mazes this year (and last, actually).
We have been saying this for a while now: BGW is watering down their event by trying to be all things to all people. Maybe with their demographics it makes more sense to have an entirely family friendly event? Maybe they need to beef up and expand their children's event. They already seem to have the party elements fully operational.
I can't believe I actually just proposed that...
I remember a time when people in Northern Virginia believed that the drive to Williamsburg was worth the effort, because KD's haunt simply wasn't as good as HOS. Clearly, that is no longer the case. In fact, I found many of the houses at SFA's Fright Fest to be scarier than HOS mazes this year (and last, actually).
We have been saying this for a while now: BGW is watering down their event by trying to be all things to all people. Maybe with their demographics it makes more sense to have an entirely family friendly event? Maybe they need to beef up and expand their children's event. They already seem to have the party elements fully operational.
I can't believe I actually just proposed that...
[img=400x225]https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qRGuf81DAXg/hq720.jpg[/img]
On one hand, it would suck if BGW does it that way, but I wouldn't put it past them in the future.
Though I think the most important thing is that the park seems pretty comfortable with the level they have the park right now. It still gets busy and dumb teens will pretend that Demon Street is the most terrifying thing ever and the park will still sell a shit load of booze. Those of us who are willing to travel hundreds of miles will be unimpressed, but with the park making money on a mediocre event, they have no need to change.
Though I think the most important thing is that the park seems pretty comfortable with the level they have the park right now. It still gets busy and dumb teens will pretend that Demon Street is the most terrifying thing ever and the park will still sell a shit load of booze. Those of us who are willing to travel hundreds of miles will be unimpressed, but with the park making money on a mediocre event, they have no need to change.
basseyfish said:
It's no where near that black-and-white.
In past years, there has been some good and some bad in every year, but something always felt worthwhile. For example, in 2012, the houses were all somewhere between fairly good and horrible (about 50/50 split), the path scares were wildly inconsistent, but the shows were to die for. 2015 brought a really disappointing collection of shows, poor path-scares, but an increased focus on atmospherics, and at least two great, new, innovative houses.
My point is that most years have been at least really good at something. I've yet to find a true strength in this year's event. (As well as Monster Stomp on Ripper Row is performing, I can't justify the event with it.)
Merboy, this event is very bad. Funny people look at my review but i think Zack and themosthappy reviews are way more damaging because to say SIX FLAGS is better? That's really bad. Remember i drove 6 hours for this event lol. There is no decor. The worst part is walking through this tunnel and only decor was TO ADVERTISE A DAMN FREAKING ESCAPE ROOM. People were literally pissed. I was like...ok the escape room isn't even free!..and the only damn decor in tunnel is to SELL us something after i feel so ripped off paying 90 bucks for a event that isn't even halloween decorated maybe except 15% of the park?
I could literally walk for 10 minutes and not find a single halloween decor, i mean it's just BAD. Thanks everyone that agree how terrible the DECOR of this event was.
COME ON BUSCH..PUT UP SOME MORE PUMPKINS...i would be happy with like 50,000 more pumpkins at this point. I knew it was going to be bad when nicole said to go to KD but my hotel near busch will not give me refunds.
I get so depressed thinking about this. I should of saved my money and went to christmastown which i always know is super amazing. At least there are...christmas lights during christmas time!!
Oh well!! Busch you lost a halloween customer lol.
I could literally walk for 10 minutes and not find a single halloween decor, i mean it's just BAD. Thanks everyone that agree how terrible the DECOR of this event was.
COME ON BUSCH..PUT UP SOME MORE PUMPKINS...i would be happy with like 50,000 more pumpkins at this point. I knew it was going to be bad when nicole said to go to KD but my hotel near busch will not give me refunds.
I get so depressed thinking about this. I should of saved my money and went to christmastown which i always know is super amazing. At least there are...christmas lights during christmas time!!
Oh well!! Busch you lost a halloween customer lol.