Howl-O-Scream 2019

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Look, you can say what you want but I pay more for my membership now than I ever thought was possible 10 years ago and the product then was better. If they cant get it installed in a reasonable time they need to hire more people plain and simple. This is not some church haunted maze that relies on volunteers to put up as a fund raiser its a business. Yall act like we should be grateful to BGW for giving us a halloween overlay of the park and basically take what ever we get. They have added more nights to try and spread out the crowd but yet it seems like you have to wait till the last weekend to get the full event since they add more and more each week. This past weekend in comparison to all previous years had many parts of the park that had not been touched. Ive never seen the park so brightly lit during HOS and the lack of fog was noticable. The abient music wasnt there in many places, this all adds to the feel you get, even if you have less houses and 1 show compared to the 3 you had last year if the park still gave you that spooky feel it could have been a fun night.
 
NoStylGia said:
... I mean the whole park is still open? lol the rides, food, and what they have of HOS are still available so why wouldn't they charge the admissions fee? I think you are a little too focused on the fact you may be there for -just- HOS while during the time of HOS it is still a fully functioning park so like, why would they water down the price of admission? They don't do that in the spring when nothing is up for any events, and the park is just open.
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This is actually a very fair point. I'd say if HoS was a seperately ticketed event, then these criticisms of an incomplete product would be so much more valid.
 
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NoStylGia said:
... I mean the whole park is still open? lol the rides, food, and what they have of HOS are still available so why wouldn't they charge the admissions fee?
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This is NOT true though. Family and kiddie attractions shut down, all three water rides are closed, Battle for Eire inexplicably shuts down, the main season shows are not running, many dining locations are closed, etc.

I'm not actually advocating changing the admission fee. I'm advocating not creating different tiers of the Howl-O-Scream experience based on the specific time of year you decide to visit. I don't know why this is a controversial position to be honest. I thought everyone agreed that opening Monster Stomp late was a bad idea...?

I'm going to add this too: This year's event just isn't being pummeled with hate. In past years, the park has been hit with a tidal wave of angry guests following HOS opening weekend with little to nothing good to say about their experience. That just really isn't happening right now. People have criticisms, but no one is saying that there aren't positives at this year's event. Coming in here and claiming that the vast majority of our members are endlessly bashing the event (when that isn't what's happening) isn't cool.

Just as a refresher, speaking just for myself now, I've literally only made a single post in this thread thus far this year about my actual experience at this year's event: Link. Outside of this thread, I also posted my thoughts on Dimensions, here. I'm confident neither of these posts are hateful.

I'm in the middle of writing something enormous about my first impressions of HOS 2019 which is why I haven't said more already. If/when it's done, I'll decide if it's worth posting.
 
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Jahrules said:
You gotta keep in mind that this being an enthusiast site; people are going to nitpick everything to pieces. It's kinda what we do.
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It's unfortunate that this occurs, because I think it takes away from the enjoyment of the park. Not only at BG, but others as well. I try not to be critical within the park unless its a severe inconvenience. I'm sure I've made some complaints, but I try to be open minded on every trip. Sure, there may be some disappointment due to changes, but overall I have been pleased with my experiences. That is why I have a membership and return on a regular basis. I'll be there on Friday to soak in HOS and utilize the new dining plan.
 
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Of all the haunt events I've attended over the years, BGW still pulls the most park decor out of all the others.

That includes
2 SF Fright Fest events
KD Haunt
HOS Tampa
and HHN, the "gold standard"

I had a good time at the park this past weekend. Opening weekend usually has its struggles but I know the event will improve somewhat from there.

I did notice the mazes and scare zones are really well staffed now. Usually the park suffers from staffing issues but even the vampire scare zone had 10-11 people roaming around. Just expand the zones and bring back the troll
 
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Someone who doesn’t like being scared just told me she thinks Howl-O-Scream is getting better each year because of the increased emphasis on party atmosphere. I hope BGW never decides to go completely kid friendly in terms of scares, but they seem to be pleasing some people with their current approach.
 
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CastleOSullivan said:
Someone who doesn’t like being scared just told me she thinks Howl-O-Scream is getting better each year because of the increased emphasis on party atmosphere. I hope BGW never decides to go completely kid friendly in terms of scares, but they seem to be pleasing some people with their current approach.
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The event's designed to be scary, so party zones should have never been conceived in the first place. BGW won't move off them though, they probably make a boatload of money off them
 
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as I have said many times before. I wish BGW would quit trying to be all things to all people. I do not care what path they take, just that they focus on it. That is to say I care in so far as I prefer scare but that is minor compared to do one thing well. I read a quote once:

"If you're going to be a bump on a log, do it so swell that everyone everywhere says, "Hey man, you do that bump-log thing well!" More of that please.
 
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I think Demon Street being a scare and party zone was well..The theme seemed to fit the 2 together very smoothly in my opinion and for a number of years was my favorite scare zone because of demon streets atmosphere. I look at Fools Court and Garden Of The Souls to be reincarnation but they both fail hardcore at trying to mix the party and the scare together.Demon street will be the only scare zone I'll ever see that fits both party and scare together.
 
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Phant0m said:
I think Demon Street being a scare and party zone was well..The theme seemed to fit the 2 together very smoothly in my opinion and for a number of years was my favorite scare zone because of demon streets atmosphere. I look at Fools Court and Garden Of The Souls to be reincarnation but they both fail hardcore at trying to mix the party and the scare together.Demon street will be the only scare zone I'll ever see that fits both party and scare together.
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Haven't been to HOS yet, but to hear the things I have about Fools Court is so upsetting. It was EASILY the best Scarezone last year IMHO
 
Rheath said:
Haven't been to HOS yet, but to hear the things I have about Fools Court is so upsetting. It was EASILY the best Scarezone last year IMHO
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Fools Court and Garden Of The Souls have NO atmosphere in my opinion.Still love HOS to death though.
 
I don’t quite get Garden of Souls. Day of the Dead is not meant to be a scary event. Last year in one of the San Marco shops, we did find a few beautiful mini-statues to add to our ofrenda, but I don’t understand the thought process behind adding a Day of the Dead theme to HoS. It seemed completely out of place.
 
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