Yeah, and that was exactly my point in citing your review. I think you represent a very common opinion of this year's event.
Howl-O-Scream 2017
- Thread starter wombat96
- Start date
I'm confused. Where is the tunnel advertising the escape rooms?
I'm withholding judgement until after I go again this weekend, but I don't think the event is as bad as it is being portrayed here. Was it as good as past years? No. Was it really that much worse? I don't actually think so. Perhaps last weekend was significantly worse than opening weekend. And maybe they will right the ship this weekend. It always varies from night to night.
To me this thread is beginning to feel a bit like people working each other up and confirming each other's worst impressions to the point that it all becomes a bit overstated. I get that people are feeling let down, but I wonder if expectations were unreasonable or if the event is being compared to a nonexistent past.
For the record, I said that SFA's Fright Fest had some scarier houses. I never said it was a better event. Honestly, they just have more enthusiastic actors.
As I said, I will judge again this weekend, but for now some of the views here feel a bit hyperbolic.
I'm withholding judgement until after I go again this weekend, but I don't think the event is as bad as it is being portrayed here. Was it as good as past years? No. Was it really that much worse? I don't actually think so. Perhaps last weekend was significantly worse than opening weekend. And maybe they will right the ship this weekend. It always varies from night to night.
To me this thread is beginning to feel a bit like people working each other up and confirming each other's worst impressions to the point that it all becomes a bit overstated. I get that people are feeling let down, but I wonder if expectations were unreasonable or if the event is being compared to a nonexistent past.
For the record, I said that SFA's Fright Fest had some scarier houses. I never said it was a better event. Honestly, they just have more enthusiastic actors.
As I said, I will judge again this weekend, but for now some of the views here feel a bit hyperbolic.
That is not actually an ad for the escape rooms. It is the theme from last year's event. My recollection is that they have reused concepts before (Jack, Root of All Evil, etc).
I guess SEAS corporate didn't create a new one this year, and neither did BGW. We can debate whether it was the best choice to reuse the creepy doll theme a second year; and we can discuss whether they effectively conveyed that theme throughout the park; but that isn't the same as inaccurately accusing the park of using the bridge to market an up-charge attraction.
Regardless, the new escape room is themed to a hotel, NOT Mr. Karver. The latter is a smaller version of one they created for last year's event.
I guess SEAS corporate didn't create a new one this year, and neither did BGW. We can debate whether it was the best choice to reuse the creepy doll theme a second year; and we can discuss whether they effectively conveyed that theme throughout the park; but that isn't the same as inaccurately accusing the park of using the bridge to market an up-charge attraction.
Regardless, the new escape room is themed to a hotel, NOT Mr. Karver. The latter is a smaller version of one they created for last year's event.
Well for them it isn't just ticket prices it would be park wide and with more fast food places around the park and more demand for higher quality attractions, it's hard to find a happy medium in a trash economy. You have to realize this is a business to please but if not that many people show up with money in hand to buy, the park doesn't have any means to please. I don't think this has been a particularly great year for attendance outside of HOS. Beer fest got some people but as a park event, it wasn't that spectacular, just an excuse to sell more booze. I think Illuminights was successful in bringing in numbers, but execution was terrible. It's the same with HOS. The higher ups always have some good ideas for product, but the execution gets tossed when the ideas take too long to put together or are back to back with other events not giving enough time in between to get the done properly or just done completely, leaving the park half ass at best and left that way with no course of finishing the job. It sucks to see especially for pass holders who enjoy coming in for every event, always being left with a feeling of wanting not necessarily more, just a complete idea. I've seen numerous faces in the faculty in and out of the park and I think that's a big problem for them, no one stays long enough to get a good groove going and finding the timing to get things finished in time to open up beautifully. I think HOS has suffered this year from the back to back events happening all over and not giving their staff enough time to recoop. It shows in areas like Axe(less lol) Alley, Side Show Square, and Vampire point. Minimal is done because there is no time to do more, and not enough staff all around. I don't want to come excited opening weekend and be disappointed and to be told oh just come in a few weeks, more will be done. It should be a finished concept and complete look Day One. Unfortunately I think BG is just desperate for revenue.
I agree with Nicole that the event isn't that bad this year. In fact, I wouldn't say it's bad (in terms of what I personally want out of an event) at all- I very much enjoyed myself the two times I've been (once opening weekend and once last weekend). I'm a bit more disappointed in the event this year than I have been in recent memory, which is because of the underwhelming decorations and overall staleness of some of the houses and shows. But overall I'm still having fun and will be back many times this season!
A few other thoughts on the event, just to round out my earlier critique and provide maybe a different perspective:
1. I think we have a pretty good crop of houses this year overall. Circo Sinistro and Lumberhack both offer creative alternatives to the park's usual "pop out and startle you" scares (the rooms with the dolls and the mannequins in CS really freak me out). I really loved Frostbite too- I love the interesting room effects (the strobe light room and what I have dubbed in my head the "Tron" room are both very disorienting to me), I love getting to see the DarKastle props/sets up close, and I've had the good fortune to be heartily scared multiple times on each walkthrough. Cornered is good too, though I miss the mirrors, which I also found very disorienting. Both Catacombs and Deadline have gotten to the point for me that it doesn't matter how perfectly executed they are, I'm just tired of them; that said, I think both are good houses if you haven't been through them a million times. Unearthed... well, I don't have much defense for Unearthed.
2. Demon Street remains my favorite Terror-Tory for exactly the reason I mentioned before: the spectacle. It's immersive, well-staffed (it's very compact, which helps on that front), and just a fun atmosphere. I'm disappointed by the removal of Wendigo Woods, which was my next favorite Terror-Tory (loved the "electric fence" effect that they had at the entrances), and not super impressed by its replacement thus far. The other Terror-Tories are pretty "meh" for me because they are either too sparsely staffed, too sparsely decorated, or both to really register as much of anything.
3. In terms of shows, it's a mixed bag. Monster Stomp is great, Night Beats is pleasant enough, and Fiends is stale and off-putting to me. I look forward to the park refreshing its show line-up, as that seems overdue.
So those are my thoughts on the event this year. In general, I enjoy walking around the park, riding rides, going through houses, catching an occasional show, eating and drinking (or drinking and more drinking)- basically a little bit of everything. I have a laid-back attitude and am very easily startled. If you are like me, you will probably find something to like about this event.
A few other thoughts on the event, just to round out my earlier critique and provide maybe a different perspective:
1. I think we have a pretty good crop of houses this year overall. Circo Sinistro and Lumberhack both offer creative alternatives to the park's usual "pop out and startle you" scares (the rooms with the dolls and the mannequins in CS really freak me out). I really loved Frostbite too- I love the interesting room effects (the strobe light room and what I have dubbed in my head the "Tron" room are both very disorienting to me), I love getting to see the DarKastle props/sets up close, and I've had the good fortune to be heartily scared multiple times on each walkthrough. Cornered is good too, though I miss the mirrors, which I also found very disorienting. Both Catacombs and Deadline have gotten to the point for me that it doesn't matter how perfectly executed they are, I'm just tired of them; that said, I think both are good houses if you haven't been through them a million times. Unearthed... well, I don't have much defense for Unearthed.
2. Demon Street remains my favorite Terror-Tory for exactly the reason I mentioned before: the spectacle. It's immersive, well-staffed (it's very compact, which helps on that front), and just a fun atmosphere. I'm disappointed by the removal of Wendigo Woods, which was my next favorite Terror-Tory (loved the "electric fence" effect that they had at the entrances), and not super impressed by its replacement thus far. The other Terror-Tories are pretty "meh" for me because they are either too sparsely staffed, too sparsely decorated, or both to really register as much of anything.
3. In terms of shows, it's a mixed bag. Monster Stomp is great, Night Beats is pleasant enough, and Fiends is stale and off-putting to me. I look forward to the park refreshing its show line-up, as that seems overdue.
So those are my thoughts on the event this year. In general, I enjoy walking around the park, riding rides, going through houses, catching an occasional show, eating and drinking (or drinking and more drinking)- basically a little bit of everything. I have a laid-back attitude and am very easily startled. If you are like me, you will probably find something to like about this event.
Fog machines every fifty feet would be WAY better than more pumpkins. They could sell every prop they have and buy nothing but fog for the entire park in my opinion. True creepiness is achieved when I can't see the person walking in front of me! I want to trip and fall over shit because I can't see it. This will never happen. I know. But you guys now know that I really like the effect that extreme fog gives the outdoors at night.
MAZ said:
One year (2013 I think) at HOS, I got separated from my group because of the thick fog. Luckily I was about to find them moments later. It was a little frustrating but at the same time, I enjoyed it lol.
Nicole said:
Who are you and where did you put my sister?? <joking>
I... agree... <wretch> A step further... and this actually makes my head hurt a little, maybe they should also turn up the tempo and down the age target on shows. Actually add more...
(Dear gods, what have I said??)
I was talking about the decline in both BG's and KD's events, perhaps they are intentionally slacking. The events became so popular it was often too crowded. Then people get upset at the long lines and conga lines through the houses. I'm not saying they're intentionally sabotaging them -- they still need something new --, but they are cutting budgets as possibly the peak popularity was counterproductive and unnecessary. Just an idea.
We haven't been this year, and I'm a little concerned now. Maybe by us going on a Thursday (to start our long weekend), the crowds will be minimal, actors fresh, and things will have improved considerably from the bulk of reports here.
A thought I had a few minutes ago: is the park not doing the heavy decorating now, because they have big plans for Christmas Town 2017? I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy typically, and from all reports that's about all I can come up with.
A thought I had a few minutes ago: is the park not doing the heavy decorating now, because they have big plans for Christmas Town 2017? I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy typically, and from all reports that's about all I can come up with.
Busch Gardens seems to be falling into the same pattern it fell into a few years ago. Howl-o-Scream started strong in 1999, but around the late 2000’s it started feeling like it is now. Then in 2011, they hit a huge launch and the event was at its peak in my opinion. Once 2015 came around, everything was starting to slack. The theme was horrible, understaffing was imminent, and the Terror-Torries were lackluster. Hopefully the event picks up once again like Dark Side of The Gardens did. Just want to throw this in. It seems like whenever SeaWorld wants to build something “amazing” they take funds from Busch. It should be the other way around. I feel if Anheuser bought back the parks, we would see HoS skyrocket. If the Busch parks were to separate on their own, the events would most likely be better. I just can’t get at it that SWPE is most likely taking money from Busch instead of funding it.
The parks had more money for support when Busch owned them but when they sold them off it was only the parks supporting themselves. Without that backing they had to put the money in other places they feel would create more money, e.x. Sea World and Tampa. I do miss those Busch owned days but those days are long gone. Still wish I could have gotten of the AB logo red benches. That would have been a great piece for my sitting area facing the lake.MadridBot said:
Has anyone seen any TV ads for the event this year? I don't recall any, which supports my theory they're downsizing it. Christmas Town is probably soooo much more profitable, basically stuffing a theme park full of people when there's a tenth as much to actually do except spend money -- what could be better for them? Minimal overlap with their usual clientele as well.
I think they are both profitable. That said I haven't seen ads or heard radio ads. I finally saw the first billboard for it today. Way less ads than in the past. Food and Wine had more ads even.