Howl-O-Scream 2019
- Thread starter Gavin
- Start date
Weather at the park was great through closing, shorts and a t shirt and still was sweating. The winds were strong but it was cool seeing fog blowing through places where you usually dont see it. The storms that rolled through later in the night were the worst ive seen in about a year. I dont doubt there wasnt some decor damage.
Not sure where you're located, but there were bad storms with sideways rain driving out of uptown Charlotte around 5:30.
Regarding lackluster BGW operations, was this definitely due to potential bad weather? I hope HOS hasn't declined to the point where they don't even care about guest experience on actual Halloween.
My experience was somewhat different last night. There were a few places that I was surprised to see closed, but a lot of stuff was open. The weather was great. And there were no crowds. The paths had atmospherics, just not actors. I'm pretty sure I saw FF running early in the night, but it seemed to have a maintenance issue a little later. The pottery place in New France was open, when we walked through, as well.
Also, Trappers was great and she gave us a ton of meat.
Also, Trappers was great and she gave us a ton of meat.
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The barker dude from Circo was in Vault saying “The Circus has taken over the Vault.”, which is a very cool touch. Also, a scare actor was wearing a London Rocks outfit, which is hilarious in its own right.
A monster sat next to me on InvadR.
Went to the park today. It was my 10yo daughters first time their at night. From her perspective she had a blast and Ripper Row was the best show of the year. We saw it twice, 2 and 9. The 9 has a different female lead and was waaayyyy better than the 2. The percussionist are always great. I am a percussion in the vein of what they do from marching/drum corps experience and being a set player. I really appreciate their performance level, technique, musicianship. The Jack lead was great! Great range for his part.
Anyway- for my daughter, it was enough scare to enjoy her time- perfect for her. For my wife and I, we had a good time, but noticed the ...transition into Christmastown and the lack of decorations and scare actors in the park. Count ‘em... 3. Seriously, we saw three. Two chain saws and a girl wind up doll. The two chainsaw guys just migrated from Aquitaine to New France and never saw anyone in Germany, Italy, England, or Scotland. Ireland had Jack is Back throughly the day.
I’d’ve been mad if I paid full price for HOS for half of it to be taken down and no actors populating the park.
Anyway- for my daughter, it was enough scare to enjoy her time- perfect for her. For my wife and I, we had a good time, but noticed the ...transition into Christmastown and the lack of decorations and scare actors in the park. Count ‘em... 3. Seriously, we saw three. Two chain saws and a girl wind up doll. The two chainsaw guys just migrated from Aquitaine to New France and never saw anyone in Germany, Italy, England, or Scotland. Ireland had Jack is Back throughly the day.
I’d’ve been mad if I paid full price for HOS for half of it to be taken down and no actors populating the park.
Not to kick a dead horse (I hate that term btw) but as someone frequents Jack is Back, there is ALWAYS the park ops provided walk through to get through during the show, the show also dissipates instantly after its 11 minute run time. So those who are shook about it being crowded are just complaining to complain. “But what about the high capacity days??? (Including the above photo)” someone cries in the distance. You showed up to Howloscream (the most popular event in the area) on a Saturday. That’s like going to the grocery store the second Friday of the month and being mad that there are long lines at the check outs. Also, just because Jack is Back isn’t lewd, doesn’t mean it’s geared towards kids, many adults love the songs and love to dance and be the dancing queen, as many children don’t even know who ABBA is. Seeing how I have been told of the people feeling up the pumpkin ladies and making lewd comments about them and their scarecrow companions, I doubt busch’s Entertainment department would write shows any more lewd. I’ve used that word so many times now it doesn’t feel like a word anymore. I digress as usual, Jack is Back is a much needed refresh, and the complaining about it is unprecedented and childish. There are far more pressing Howloscream concerns. ?
No one said Jack is Back is a family show because it isn't "lewd." Jack is Back is a family show because it's a party hosted by a pumpkin man with happy scarecrows on stilts dancing with kids in the street. That just doesn't belong at a serious, adult, theme park Halloween event if you ask me.
Again, have a daytime harvest festival for families with Jack as the mascot—let Jack and his scarecrows dance with kids in the paths all day long—just end that shit before 6pm.
Also, maybe if cast members are being felt up by guests it's a red flag that what the park is doing is NOT AT ALL OK. Maybe keep casts out of reach of guests.... You know, by putting them on a stage or something...?
Lastly...
Actually, it's with many years of precedent. All of these same complaints were voiced over and over again leading up to Jack is Back's first removal.
Again, have a daytime harvest festival for families with Jack as the mascot—let Jack and his scarecrows dance with kids in the paths all day long—just end that shit before 6pm.
Also, maybe if cast members are being felt up by guests it's a red flag that what the park is doing is NOT AT ALL OK. Maybe keep casts out of reach of guests.... You know, by putting them on a stage or something...?
Lastly...
Actually, it's with many years of precedent. All of these same complaints were voiced over and over again leading up to Jack is Back's first removal.
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Better get used to Jack....he will most likely be "back" again in 2020. I would like to see Grogans numbers this year compared to last year during HOS. Im betting they are doubled. Jack is Back played to great crowds even on nights the park was desserted and after each show he had a line of people to get a photo with him.
You won't see me disagree there. I know it's popular and I expect to be stuck with Jack's pumpkin plague and its many, many undesirable side effects for years. Clogged paths, seas of children enjoying Howl-O-Scream, intoxicated parents enjoying their children enjoying Howl-O-Scream, packs of strollers migrating to and from Killarney... Ugh.
Howl-O-Scream fanboys and fangirls wonder why people think Howl-O-Scream isn't actually trying to be a serious, scary event... Shit like this is why people think that.
Howl-O-Scream fanboys and fangirls wonder why people think Howl-O-Scream isn't actually trying to be a serious, scary event... Shit like this is why people think that.
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Popularity aside: it’s also and excuse for them not to pay big dollars for a new stage show in the Abbey Stone Theatre.
Having the AST as a cut-through is the only way I can see them rationalizing a crowd control nightmare like Jack is Back.
Having the AST as a cut-through is the only way I can see them rationalizing a crowd control nightmare like Jack is Back.
Given the choice on the 3 shows this season I would pick Jack to go see. I despise the seating system BGW used in the Globe. They block off rows near the front that either go empty or they let cast from other shows walk in at the last minute then they hold cellphones up the whole show taking photos. The show is the same boring crap they have spewed for a few years now. The only good part of the show is the skeletons because that reminds me back to the days when Monster Stomp was back where the Catapult is now. Festhause is no better. Audio most nights sucks and the show is just a shell of what it once was. At least Jack you can show up right at showtime, have a good view, grab a snack or drink during the show, people seem to be having fun dancing, and its something we having seen in a few years. If I had to vote one out right now JAck would be my number 3 choice.
I also want to bring up a point that was mentioned. Plenty of adults like Mickey Mouse but that doesn’t mean Mickey Mouse isn’t geared towards kids. The show is literally pumpkins and scarecrows, two of the most benign icons for the holiday.
It’s absolutely 100% geared towards kids.
It’s absolutely 100% geared towards kids.
Just call the show "Jack's Not So Scary Halloween Party" ?
How were the crowds yesterday?
How were the crowds yesterday?
I counter your point again with many adults enjoy the oldies disco tunes, actually more than the children. Drunk adults need something to do other than cause fights and Jack is Back provides a much needed positive outlet