Howl-O-Scream 2018
- Thread starter Zachary
- Start date
Oof they’ll have people roaming the park. Do I smell the clown gang?
maybe the maiden of the garden? (the mascot of "the dark side of the gardens", I'm not sure what her actual name is)
edit: the lady of the gardens is her name
edit: the lady of the gardens is her name
Lady of the Gardens is cut off in my picture, she is next to the reaper. My bad
Regarding staffing, with all of these scare-actor intensive additions (Haunting Hour, Coaster Creepies, etc.) I am hoping they reverted to their previous scare-actor acquisition model. Years ago, when they started to condense scare-zones to terror-tories and removed elements like roaming hoards and "the scare is everywhere" it was explained to my family and I that there was a shift in scare-actor hiring policy which reduced the available staff.
Whether what this manager explained was factual or not, we were told: In the earlier years of operating Howl-o-Scream regular park employees were allowed to participate and transition to scare-actor roles in the evening. At some point they restricted employees from doing this (at least from a selection of operations areas such as games/concessions) which significantly reduced the available pool of people which could be utilized as actors.
With these recent announcements for HoS 2018, I am hoping that BGW has returned to their former practices of pulling from their current employees to supplement their scare-actor pool. We shall see.
If they are unable to attain more actors... this will be quite a spread-thin event.
My BGW website tracker caught this minor-but-interesting change this evening...
I know the change is because of Haunting Hour, but it's sorta exciting to see Howl-O-Scream break through that long-standing 6pm "glass ceiling."
PS: The website has also been updated with a new background and some other visual changes this evening. Looking much better than it did this morning in my opinion.
I know the change is because of Haunting Hour, but it's sorta exciting to see Howl-O-Scream break through that long-standing 6pm "glass ceiling."
PS: The website has also been updated with a new background and some other visual changes this evening. Looking much better than it did this morning in my opinion.
I fully agree that they should do this. However, I believe the main reason that they stopped this at Busch was because of staffing issues in “vital” departments (rides, games, food, etc.). Once college kids go back, it’s VERY hard to keep a full staff. This problem is rampant at KD, where they currently let seasonal employees transition to Haunt at night after their day shift, but if they are short-staffed in their “home department” for any reason, they are not allowed to go to Haunt and they have to work at their day location until the park closes. They end up missing out on the Halloween fun.
I’m surprised KD hasn’t adopted Busch’s current practice yet and just not let seasonal workers transition, as when these particular monsters had to stay at their ride or game or whatever, it creates another problem—short staffing in the mazes or scare zones. That, and I’m pretty sure these people end up at their day placement more than they end up at Haunt. I always found this whole practice odd, as I thought people came to Haunt for the mazes and scare zones (the temporary stuff) and not the stuff that’s available all season. If both parks want good ratings their Halloween event, I would put the workers where the focus will be rather than worry about a few customers that are mad that Verbolten isn’t running because they don’t have enough ride operators.
I feel strongly about this topic in particular; but in short form, I don’t see Busch changing their policy anytime soon. I see the Coaster Creepers stuff as an odd choice considering the problems with staffing, as I said earlier.
My top guess was either something to do with Raven Twins or House of Vayne, but I have no knowledge of either so idk.
But here's some setup for Ripper Row for y'all
The character next to Scarlett could be a poor depiction of Ms. Vayne from BGT. She was a German vampire fashion model. Ms. Vayne had a dress with a similar neckline and no shoulder straps or sleeves. She also had perfect teeth, unlike the character in the photo. I don't think this is her (it wouldn't make much sense for Williamsburg), but it's an interesting theory.
I wonder if the Grimm Reaper is going to say "Wassup!" like he did on the train in 2000. He also said, "This tomb is for you." That's one reason he was an ineffective mascot: they started giving him silly puns by at least year two.
I wonder if the Grimm Reaper is going to say "Wassup!" like he did on the train in 2000. He also said, "This tomb is for you." That's one reason he was an ineffective mascot: they started giving him silly puns by at least year two.
After looking at it more closely I am nearly positive it is the evil twin from the Raven Twins, since she is "missing" her left eye
Many people actually come for both the rides and the mazes not just one or the other and the rides eat up alot of the crowd level that if the park were to start shutting those down it would causes the lines for the mazes to back up even more which is not going to make people happy. Plus even if you are just interested in the mazes snd scare stuff there is good chance that you are going to want a bite to eat or something to drink. Really pulling staff from other areas to work the mazes is just going to add more issues you can only rob Peter to pay Paul so much before it stops working. And that also bring up the issue that the bulk of the parks money comes from in park sales you need those employees working those revenue generator in park to keep paying the bills.
The whole situation is lose-lose IMO. I sadly agree with all of this now that it has been brought to my attention. The real problem is both parks need to ramp up their advertising campaigns for jobs in rides, food, and such so that they can let their monsters actually scare. The current policies at both parks have major flaws that limit the Halloween event's potential, but the low-staffing is gonna happen regardless of where staff members are placed, I guess.
I have always thought a good solution is to not have the shows running past 6:00 once the event starts, freeing up all of those personnel to be used as scare actors. The shows should be seen during the day, and houses at night. I can't imagine the shows at night get many viewers. I never have seems show past 6:00 during HoS.
This could help them in getting people to come stay all day instead of just showing up around 5:00 for the event, so people can catch the shows they really want to see.
I know this idea is controversial. But I don't see closing rides or shops as freeing up many personnel, hen you compare it to having one or more shows stop showing after 6:00. A whole cast would do wonders.
This could help them in getting people to come stay all day instead of just showing up around 5:00 for the event, so people can catch the shows they really want to see.
I know this idea is controversial. But I don't see closing rides or shops as freeing up many personnel, hen you compare it to having one or more shows stop showing after 6:00. A whole cast would do wonders.
The shows use trained performers you are less likely to want to lower their standards to doing mazes. On top of that while you might not have seen a show after 6 lots of people do crowd eating up.
I can see you're reasoning for not having shows past 6PM but shows are a staple at not only BGW but other parks as well. For example, look at the size of crowds at the Abbey Stone for Feinds and then look at how many go to grab drinks and snacks before and after. My wife and son love sitting down for a few minutes and seeing/hearing the singing and dancing. It also helps with the queues and crowds at rides and houses. Then of course the crowds suck coming out of show ha.
I'm pretty sure there are people who go to HOS exclusively for the shows and bars. HOS needs to offer options to people who don't like haunted houses.
Additionally, the shows draw a lot of people off the paths and offer alternatives to rides and mazes, helping with capacity.
Additionally, the shows draw a lot of people off the paths and offer alternatives to rides and mazes, helping with capacity.
Yeah like I said it would be highly controversial and I didn't expect many to agree with me, but I feel in crunch time it would gain quite a few personnel. Even if they just stopped one show after 6 and maybe rotated which show that is. They already have it how some shows have days it isn't showing at the park, they could institute a similar system and say Friday after 6 no NB, Saturday no Fiends, and Sunday no MS, since Saturday is the most crowded days and Fiends has by far the lowest capacity.
I doubt they'd do it. Just some brainstorming. I don't think it'd be the end of the world.
I doubt they'd do it. Just some brainstorming. I don't think it'd be the end of the world.
At first myself found the Coaster Creepers experince for 2018 to be a poorly planned idea as it will require actors that could be placed elsewhere in the park now on certain coasters and could also potentially lower capacity. These two points alone make it seem like a horrendous idea that will only negatively affect the event. After pondering on the idea and looking at the past years of the event this new Coaster Creepers concept poises a very successful idea if done properly.
I vividly remember in 2009 HOS having various photo spots where guests could get photos with actors in speciality make up that relate to the area. They had minimal lines due to the fact that they weren’t heavily advertised and why would one want to spend precious HOS time purchasing a photo when they’re are various other attractions to experience? Coaster Creepers will kill two birds with one stone as people will now be riding major coasters they were most likely already planning on riding, and are now presented a photo of them riding the coaster with a scare actor as they exit. This rapid succession of taking the photo on the coaster to having a physical copy of the on-ride picture is back to back almost pressuring riders to buy one.
Also, now I understand an issue that could arise from this is capacity and why that is a valid point, if this was done on a coaster like Griffon there are usually several empty seats. Now I understand it may be hard to have scare actors almost act as single riders, but I think if actors are put on some of the higher capacity rides it could be a very successful idea.
I vividly remember in 2009 HOS having various photo spots where guests could get photos with actors in speciality make up that relate to the area. They had minimal lines due to the fact that they weren’t heavily advertised and why would one want to spend precious HOS time purchasing a photo when they’re are various other attractions to experience? Coaster Creepers will kill two birds with one stone as people will now be riding major coasters they were most likely already planning on riding, and are now presented a photo of them riding the coaster with a scare actor as they exit. This rapid succession of taking the photo on the coaster to having a physical copy of the on-ride picture is back to back almost pressuring riders to buy one.
Also, now I understand an issue that could arise from this is capacity and why that is a valid point, if this was done on a coaster like Griffon there are usually several empty seats. Now I understand it may be hard to have scare actors almost act as single riders, but I think if actors are put on some of the higher capacity rides it could be a very successful idea.