In my opinion, I have to say i like that they seem to be stepping up their game. Whether or not they succeed at it is to be seen of course, but i give Kudos for trying. now i am not happy that things like the demon DJ will be back. But since were getting three new houses. I can let something small like that slide. I just really see a glimmer of hope in this. I see them at least attempting to give a damn. And to me thats OK, an A for effort is better than just throwing up some decorations willy nilly and saying aren't you scared now?
Howl-O-Scream
- Thread starter wombat96
- Start date
Peej1212 said:
Maybe next year we can hope for a re-vitalization of France when it comes to Terror-tory and Haunted House. But three new houses is definitely a step in a good direction. The past couple of years have definitely been more focused on refreshing the shows and general park atmosphere, and less of a focus on the houses.
I'll still say this: If they want an area that they want to have a DJ and serve drinks, and least make the theme make sense. I've been feeling for awhile that they'd be much better off turning France into some Masquerage kind of place - where unsuspecting party goers are lured to their deaths'.
And i agree with you on this as well. I always thought that area was small for the people that gathered there. I thought a bigger area might serve it better. Because between Demon drinks and Dj, you get ppl who are trying to order drinks and some dancing drunkingly (lol), People who are running from the roaming hordes and ppl who are just trying to get through.Wings said:
Why do we need a dance party in Aquitaine, a bar in Oktoberfest, a bar in San Marco, and outdoor jello shots in Killarney? Why do we need a dance party outside at all?
I guess there isnt really a need. i know ppl who have to drink at EVERY occasion. Unfortunately i cant escape it because they are family but i dont share their beliefs, not everything needs a drink. But i guess in this case the park is thinking that its another form of revenue maybe? :-/
Nicole said:
Any Halloween event drags in a greater population of young adults, teenagers with fake IDs, and generally just a demographic more prone to consuming alcoholic beverages than your typical family summer day at Busch Gardens.
Considering the park sells anything with a drop of alcohol for $6+ and gets away with it, it would be stupid business to not meet the demands of this demographic because it creates a big profit.
I'm not at all defending the fact that any of these things fit the theme of the event, I just can't argue that park management is crazy for fostering an environment to sell booze during their Halloween event.
And I will say again that they need to pick a direction: Halloween party or Haunt. The two do not work well simultaneously. If they want a party, that is fine, but then focus there. If the still want to have a haunt, they need to find a way to keep the loud, drunken parties off the main paths. And they certainly shouldn't be encouraging strollers all over the scare zones.
I believe, as I said last year, that massive dance parties belong inside. Honestly, the only bar that didn't interfere with the haunt last year was OPEN CASKet in Oktoberfest.
I am not saying that they shouldn't sell alcohol. BGW started as a park to market beer, for goodness sakes. What I am saying is that they are trying to do three mutually exclusive things at once: a Halloween party, a haunt, and children's event.
I believe, as I said last year, that massive dance parties belong inside. Honestly, the only bar that didn't interfere with the haunt last year was OPEN CASKet in Oktoberfest.
I am not saying that they shouldn't sell alcohol. BGW started as a park to market beer, for goodness sakes. What I am saying is that they are trying to do three mutually exclusive things at once: a Halloween party, a haunt, and children's event.
Peej whatever makes them more money so we don't see another clone at Busch. :s sorry I had to go there
For what it is worth, I feel far less inclined to attend Howl-O-Scream because of the bar/party atmosphere. I would much rather spend my money at an event exclusively focused on being scary (see: Haunt).
That, of course, is anecdotal, and maybe I'm the only one who prefers "scary" to "party." But my point is trying to rake in the money with bars is a double-edged sword.
That, of course, is anecdotal, and maybe I'm the only one who prefers "scary" to "party." But my point is trying to rake in the money with bars is a double-edged sword.
It definently is a double edged sword, because in both cases the park loses something. If they dont make alcohol and partying a primary part of HOS, they may lose revenue because lets face it that is a major part of it for some ppl. And on the opposite side if they do make it a big part of the event they lose alot of ppl who would attend multiple times, but dont because of that vibe. Also you lose the group that comes to actually be scared. I myself am one of those, i prefer scary to party, I can deal with it if i have to but id much rather them keep it scary.Joe said:For what it is worth, I feel far less inclined to attend Howl-O-Scream because of the bar/party atmosphere. I would much rather spend my money at an event exclusively focused on being scary (see: Haunt).
I agree with you on this. I have never been to haunt so this year I am going to give them a shot,since i have heard that it is more scare based rather than party vibe. So im crossing my fingers and hoping i will enjoy it
That, of course, is anecdotal, and maybe I'm the only one who prefers "scary" to "party." But my point is trying to rake in the money with bars is a double-edged sword.
I like to be scared with a beer in my hand. Accidentally spilling said beer out of terror will lead me to the next closest bar to replace it. I would then walk straight through any party atmosphere to find the next frightening activity. *cycle repeats*
I think keeping the parties and bars inside or off the main paths would go a long way to solving this problem. Similarly, restricting the children's event to the day time could address other issues we have seen.
But we have said all of this before.
I will say that OPEN CASKet manages not to interfere with the haunt feel as much as the other bars.
But we have said all of this before.
I will say that OPEN CASKet manages not to interfere with the haunt feel as much as the other bars.
Alcohol is the biggest moneymaker in most things its involved with
It would be bad business to let that revenue go
It would be bad business to let that revenue go
Who has said anything about cutting sales of alcohol?
All I (at least) have said is that BGW needs either:
1. To decide on a focus for the event; or
2. To find a way to minimize the impact of the parties on the haunt.
At the end of the day, HOS is not a beer fest or a wine festival. It is a Halloween event. In my opinion, the more they dilute the unique purpose, the less satisfied their guests will be.
I personally know people who have stopped attending HOS, because it feels more like a generic block party with an insanely high cover charge than a haunt. Conversely, if I am going to a Haloween party, I want to wear a costume, and don't want to be startled constantly. In other words, I really don't see how both can coexist effectively.
All I (at least) have said is that BGW needs either:
1. To decide on a focus for the event; or
2. To find a way to minimize the impact of the parties on the haunt.
At the end of the day, HOS is not a beer fest or a wine festival. It is a Halloween event. In my opinion, the more they dilute the unique purpose, the less satisfied their guests will be.
I personally know people who have stopped attending HOS, because it feels more like a generic block party with an insanely high cover charge than a haunt. Conversely, if I am going to a Haloween party, I want to wear a costume, and don't want to be startled constantly. In other words, I really don't see how both can coexist effectively.
I'm NOT talking about the drunk people. I agree they are a problem, but I doubt moving the bars will solve it. Really the only way to prevent aggressive drunks in the park is to train the bartenders in the signs that someone has had enough and enforce a policy of cutting those people off.
I am talking about the effect sticking a loud, raucous party in the middle of a main path has on the over ambiance of the park.
If this is supposed to be a haunt (and maybe it isn't anymore?), bright, noisy areas in my opinion interfere with the guest's experience. One of the reasons to have path scares is to extend the tension and fear beyond the mazes. In my experience, anxiety can build from house to house, making the night even scarier, but that doesn't work if I am confronted with upbeat dance music, bright lights, and a mob of people drinking, laughing, and dancing. That is why I keep harping on my preference for a dark, creepy ambiance throughout the park. Music should be used to increase tension, not kill it.
The only way I can see to do that is to move the drinks and dancing inside, or at least to less-traveled areas. Sticking the Demon DJ smack in the middle of a main thoroughfare and outside one of the darker mazes is the worst possible decision, in my opinion. (Just as an example.)
BGW and KD both used to transform their entire parks into haunts. My hope is that HOS once again becomes such an event.
I am talking about the effect sticking a loud, raucous party in the middle of a main path has on the over ambiance of the park.
If this is supposed to be a haunt (and maybe it isn't anymore?), bright, noisy areas in my opinion interfere with the guest's experience. One of the reasons to have path scares is to extend the tension and fear beyond the mazes. In my experience, anxiety can build from house to house, making the night even scarier, but that doesn't work if I am confronted with upbeat dance music, bright lights, and a mob of people drinking, laughing, and dancing. That is why I keep harping on my preference for a dark, creepy ambiance throughout the park. Music should be used to increase tension, not kill it.
The only way I can see to do that is to move the drinks and dancing inside, or at least to less-traveled areas. Sticking the Demon DJ smack in the middle of a main thoroughfare and outside one of the darker mazes is the worst possible decision, in my opinion. (Just as an example.)
BGW and KD both used to transform their entire parks into haunts. My hope is that HOS once again becomes such an event.
Nicole said:
I agree with you on all of this, my point on alcohol sales is that if you reduce the partying/dancing aspects of the event or even reduce it, your probably letting go of a good chunk of revenue from alcohol.
However moving the party to a single location indoors like you said seems like it would be the best situation for both the park and for the parkgoers.
^What you are forgetting is that plenty of the park's permanent restaurants and vendors already sell alcohol. I question the necessity of adding multiple additional bars when places to buy booze already exist.
It seems to me that the real issue about this party atmosphere, which it has already been addressed forever and ever since they've started terror-tories is the Demon DJ. 90% of us on this forum don't like it, and wish it would go away.
As per other areas of the park,
Ireland and it's jello shots, for as long as I can remember, has always served alcohol and had music that was not Halloween-esque. Even when Jack was still around the thememing and atmosphere was basically the same - 80s Rock, strung up things, beer served. The only thing that's changed was some nurses and we now have strip lights instead of pumpkins strung up across the hamlet.
Pirate Barrrrrrrrrrrrgh isn't too much of an issue, its decently themed and there's no music that intrudes with the atmosphere. While I hate pirates to begin with, I do have to admit that good ole drinking "up me hearties, yoho" at the Pirate Barrrgh is not out of theme.
Open Casket as Nicole said, isn't really intruding either. It fits well with the show inside of Das Festhaus, and Oktoberfest to begin with isn't a very atmospheric place as they already play 80's rock music here too.
So that just leaves good ole Demon DJ and his bar.
As per other areas of the park,
Ireland and it's jello shots, for as long as I can remember, has always served alcohol and had music that was not Halloween-esque. Even when Jack was still around the thememing and atmosphere was basically the same - 80s Rock, strung up things, beer served. The only thing that's changed was some nurses and we now have strip lights instead of pumpkins strung up across the hamlet.
Pirate Barrrrrrrrrrrrgh isn't too much of an issue, its decently themed and there's no music that intrudes with the atmosphere. While I hate pirates to begin with, I do have to admit that good ole drinking "up me hearties, yoho" at the Pirate Barrrgh is not out of theme.
Open Casket as Nicole said, isn't really intruding either. It fits well with the show inside of Das Festhaus, and Oktoberfest to begin with isn't a very atmospheric place as they already play 80's rock music here too.
So that just leaves good ole Demon DJ and his bar.