I actually think WW was fairly well done. It is like most Terror-tories: better at night.
Howl-O-Scream
- Thread starter wombat96
- Start date
Yes blue mesh was very much everywhere, but there was much more to the area. There were building renamed, "guard towers" throughout the area, metal fencing, animatronic boxes with chains, a full broken down truck, a fake work board with research papers, large entrances on both sides of the village, lots of good lighting and fog, and so on.
There was a lot of really good things. Honestly, I do feel that Terror-tories should look better at night. The night is a natural element for fear. If ti doesn't look better at night something is wrong. Plus, it's not like their trying to scare you at 11am. I won't/can't say it was better than other places, but it was really well done for what it was.
There was a lot of really good things. Honestly, I do feel that Terror-tories should look better at night. The night is a natural element for fear. If ti doesn't look better at night something is wrong. Plus, it's not like their trying to scare you at 11am. I won't/can't say it was better than other places, but it was really well done for what it was.
I actually thought the theming was one of the better aspects of WW. It looked kind of minimal during the day, yes, but at night like Nicole said when all the special effects were working, it was probably the best terror-Tory in the park in terms of immersion.
Honestly, I could care less about the quantity of theming put in to a terror-Tory. If at the end of the night, I feel immersed and like I'm not in New France anymore, that's what really matters. Wendigo Woods did this perfectly, and was the only terror-Tory that made me feel that way. I also got fairly good scares from it throughout the season.
Wendigo was by far one of the biggest HOS accomplishments in a long, long time. That's not to say, like everything, it could use some improving, but I did really like it. Plus, Wendigo Rations=:heart:
Honestly, I could care less about the quantity of theming put in to a terror-Tory. If at the end of the night, I feel immersed and like I'm not in New France anymore, that's what really matters. Wendigo Woods did this perfectly, and was the only terror-Tory that made me feel that way. I also got fairly good scares from it throughout the season.
Wendigo was by far one of the biggest HOS accomplishments in a long, long time. That's not to say, like everything, it could use some improving, but I did really like it. Plus, Wendigo Rations=:heart:
I don't know about you, but that Circus scare zone and Feary Tales both were in some desperate need for decoration. KD is about on par with HoS for Scare Zones. Both staffing and decoration wise. And both aren't very good imo.Joe said:
Wendigo Woods lost their theming about half way into the Terror-Tory, but the circus one has what like 5 tents? And then maybe one or two "circus" themed things around in the median dividing the scare zone form the non-scare zone, and that was it.
I'm hoping that we can get rid of Vampire Point. Vampire Point just isn't working. And for for the love of everything out there, ditch the awful makeup. My god, do not buy those cheap face paints from Party City and then follow the direction booklet, or directions on the back. You look stupid, and it's awful. No blue or yellow pirates. No purple vampires. No 5 eyebrowed vampires. Just go back to simple makeup. Contour the face to look gaunt, add scars here or there, you don't have to get "fancy" with it.
You people are all a bunch of crazies, how did you guys not love the Drag Queen Pirates?!
Also, Wendigo Woods was the only Terror-Tory with good, gory and minimal makeup. Another aspect of it that just made it better.
Also, Wendigo Woods was the only Terror-Tory with good, gory and minimal makeup. Another aspect of it that just made it better.
Because I prefer real drag queens. They are far more fabulous.
I thought the Smurf pirates were a nice tribute to Kings Dominion's 40th...
Well my six year old cousin really enjoyed Ports of Skull. She said "It's just like the pirate dress up (Pirate Leauge) at Disney World!" The problem with POS is San Marco really doesn't have that many hiding places and you can't add any props in the pathways bacause it's so tight. Ireland could definetly be a decent location for a Terror-Tory considering the amount of room and the castle architecture.
Killarney is not an ideal place, because it's fairly narrow, much like Aquitaine, first off. It'll bottle neck something fierce. Secondly, they seem to have that area dedicated to the theming of Fiends. (Nurses, old castle ruins, a "lab" of some sort.)
Unless the Terror-Tory is going to be all the Doctor's botched experiments, and screaming nurses. I don't see it working. And really, it's time to even out the playing field a bit between the male to female ratio they have going on. :/ Girls are great, but so are guys, please add male nurses.
Unless the Terror-Tory is going to be all the Doctor's botched experiments, and screaming nurses. I don't see it working. And really, it's time to even out the playing field a bit between the male to female ratio they have going on. :/ Girls are great, but so are guys, please add male nurses.
Back to the Wendigo Woods discussion, I can say I liked it. But I didn't LOVE it. The concept as a whole had great potential, but it lacked proper execution.
A prime example is how the damn creature was a prop. KD sends clows out on stilts and that terribly creepy mechanical man on a stilts with the big green eyes peering through the fog, and BGW can't find some used Bigfoot costume on eBay? (Don't take that last comment too seriously...)
Nonetheless, for something that was most likely thought up last minute, and on what I presume was a very limited budget, it did do pretty well.
Let's just hope for an upgraded WW 2.0 this upcoming season.
A prime example is how the damn creature was a prop. KD sends clows out on stilts and that terribly creepy mechanical man on a stilts with the big green eyes peering through the fog, and BGW can't find some used Bigfoot costume on eBay? (Don't take that last comment too seriously...)
Nonetheless, for something that was most likely thought up last minute, and on what I presume was a very limited budget, it did do pretty well.
Let's just hope for an upgraded WW 2.0 this upcoming season.
The one ffect i feel wasnt executed properly was the helicopter search light. You could see the tower plain as day. Better camoflouge for the tower, or better yet, use a pulley system to have a light over the trees pass by. On top, spinning blades, the mechanism itself is helicopter shaped, with a spotlight under it that combs back and forth as it moves. That way the light shines from different areas and gives the illusion of a real helicopter. Another idea is to have "Automated turrets" Which shoot compressed air down at guests. Maybe a section thats themed to medical examination, where they search you for contact with the wendigoIt would be at one of the sides, preferably the rhinefeld side, as that side is more barren. Where you muster enter through white medical tents splattered with blood, a few flashing lights(not strobe lights) and some mild gore. And as stated previously, a wendigo actor would benefit greatly, but allow him/her to roam more freely, perhaps over towards the train station. Hell, if you dont want a proper wendigo, a ghillie suit will do!
Applesauce said:
Killarney would EASILY make the best Scare-Zone for the very reasons you mentioned.
The best areas in the park for a scare zone will likely never be used due to their proximity to family attractions, etc (I'm looking at you Oktoberfest). Not to mention, these areas are LARGE. The best way to control atmosphere (especially on a budget) is to LIMIT AND CONFINE SPACE AND CONTROL THE LIGHTING. The more space you are attempting to deliver atmosphere to, the more quickly cost rise, and the more resources(manpower) you need to do so. I'm actually literally right now in the middle of a predicament where i'm trying to do precisely the same thing for an area at a music festival.
Where my problem is closing off the space and designing and building infrastructure to do so without annihilating the budget for the music, the park's primary issue is finding how best to utilize the confined space they already have (not regarding the other problems they would have to deal with, Crowding , budget, revamping an area is less of draw than a whole new area etc.). I've actually had an idea for a year or two regarding Killarney and HOS... Not to different from what you suggested.
Dr. Freakenstein's Hamlet:
Concept: The Dr's whittled away all year preparing for his greatest experiment ever, and now it's ready! The Dr. invites you to his Castle Laboratory's Courtyard to celebrate, but be warned the Dr.'s ideas never quite go as planned... *queue spooky music*
Experience: The guest enter the area to find in the midst of all the celebration some of the Dr.'s spookiest failed experiments have escaped and are running amok in the midst of the *Looks over shoulders to make sure PK isn't watching* Party.
Guest will get to enjoy some of their favorite experiences from previous years, but look out! There are monsters roaming around!
The Guest will interact with the nurses as the nurses try to maintain the idea that everything is going fine while they also try and stop the failed experiments from getting a hold of guest and ruining the big experiment.
The area is adorned in similar decoration to prior years but there is also the addition of fog, moving lights, lasers and a DJ (placing the DJ in Killarney would solve a plethora of problems with the music in Demon street). The DJ spins exciting spooky dance tunes and creates extra atmosphere for the chaotic nature of the primary attraction (Fiends). Guest waiting in line are entertained by the music and the actors in the area.
Why this works:
There motive for the party, the DJ etc, the whole theme of the Hamlet: It plays into an existing attraction.
Creates something *new*, while using existing resources.
Frees up France for something that would suit it better.
At night, Kill-arney would be easily one of the most immersive and impressive Hamlets during HOS. It could have as much visual impact as the walk-up to demon street, but due to the size and layout of Killarney (you can pretty much see across the whole Hamlet) The *potential* visual impact and experience will be greater because you are working over a smaller area with fewer segments and areas in need of extreme detail... Not to mention the existing decoration does a fine job of creating a great atmosphere on its own. This would take it over the edge. Lights and lasers. A good DJ actually spinning music without having to set up speakers to compensate for much delay. Perhaps a few Nurses and experiments dancing in cages.
You can have a pre show announcement from igor or something like that... Funnel more guest into the fright-feast.
And as for the DJ spinning spooky dancey songs?
Stuff like this maybe?:
One can dream...
Jacques said:
Woah this is a theme park not a big budget Hollywood movie. The spotlight was decent. I actually think the light synced with the audio worked really well. The problem is no matter what you do the light will almost always have to be stationary. A pulley system would be a nightmare. You have to hire additional technicals to operate it, you have to pay for the maintenance of it as well. Those costs can get expensive. I actually felt like the location of the light was also spot on (pun intended).
Since the light was stationary it had to be in a location that reached many different areas. It also had to be well hidden. The light was located in a forest area very cleverly behind a few buildings. It was well away from the main path and still managed to reach much of the area. Sure if you're looking for it you're going to find it, but you should take into consideration that the point of these terror-tories is to put on a show at night. During the night, it is much harder to spot the light that is until it comes on.
I have to agree with PR. Unless you were heading to Le Catapult, you mostly likely wouldn't see the tower where the light was located. Also, Monster Stomp is expected to stay, as for Fiends and Nightbeats are they on the chopping block?
I liked themeing of WW but what bugged me about it was a) the prop monster in the cage was cheezy, cool looking but still cheezy, along with the way it only moved every now and then and how it moved, b) the actors with the shock sticks and c) the actor(s) with the bullhorn. I really didn't need the loud popping of the shock sticks constantly, which became annoying, along with having a bullhorn pointed in my face. I know it's not the actors fault as it's what they were told to do but something else would have been better.
I never really understood the monster in the cage. I've said it before, but that's not a Wendigo. And it looks nothing like how Wendigo's are described as.
But, who the hell in some top secret area, keeps a monster in a tiny cage in broad daylight? Out in the middle of the area, where every worker has to pass by it, going to and from their works. That makes zero sense. Like I understand for haunt purposes you gotta have your monster out in the open. But honestly I feel like it could be executed better.
For one, I'd ditch that caveman with overly pronounced nipples and deer horns attached to it's head. Move the broken down truck in the center of the hamlet. Put the cage in the back of the truck, and have it empty. The bars busted, cage slanted.
Now as for the Wendigo, a stilt walker. You can have them on all fours, or have them on two legs. I'll take either, but the stories of the Wendigo are generally based on humans who have gone cannibalistic. So two legs might be better. Now you've got a tall and most likely skinny monster. Throw on some torn clothes, decorate how you like NOT USING FACE PAINT UNLESS IT'S TO MAKE THE CREATURE LOOK GAUNT. and you have your own Wendigo.
If you don't want stilts, or want more Wendigo's, or possibly want them to move faster, then you make them people on the ground. Same concept applies, just now you have more.
Honestly, that's how I'd fix it. Because for all it's hype and name, I never felt threatened by the Wendigo. It was a beefcake in a cage, and they weren't dancing, which could have been threatening. Not that I found the military guys there threatening either. But at least have your monster that you named the area after actually trying to get you. There is zero threat if I see an animatronic in a cage, unless you're a child.
But, who the hell in some top secret area, keeps a monster in a tiny cage in broad daylight? Out in the middle of the area, where every worker has to pass by it, going to and from their works. That makes zero sense. Like I understand for haunt purposes you gotta have your monster out in the open. But honestly I feel like it could be executed better.
For one, I'd ditch that caveman with overly pronounced nipples and deer horns attached to it's head. Move the broken down truck in the center of the hamlet. Put the cage in the back of the truck, and have it empty. The bars busted, cage slanted.
Now as for the Wendigo, a stilt walker. You can have them on all fours, or have them on two legs. I'll take either, but the stories of the Wendigo are generally based on humans who have gone cannibalistic. So two legs might be better. Now you've got a tall and most likely skinny monster. Throw on some torn clothes, decorate how you like NOT USING FACE PAINT UNLESS IT'S TO MAKE THE CREATURE LOOK GAUNT. and you have your own Wendigo.
If you don't want stilts, or want more Wendigo's, or possibly want them to move faster, then you make them people on the ground. Same concept applies, just now you have more.
Honestly, that's how I'd fix it. Because for all it's hype and name, I never felt threatened by the Wendigo. It was a beefcake in a cage, and they weren't dancing, which could have been threatening. Not that I found the military guys there threatening either. But at least have your monster that you named the area after actually trying to get you. There is zero threat if I see an animatronic in a cage, unless you're a child.
I agree with the idea that the monster in the cage needs improvement.
As for the soldiers and researchers, they seemed to be there more for the atmosphere than scares; however, the actors had the tools to provide some scares. I think that the feeling of annoyance by the shock sticks was that they were overused. If they used the shock sticks more sparingly instead of constantly, you get more startled reactions.
The researchers did have some tools, mainly clipboards. Those clipboards were used quite effectively in some cases and I saw quite a few people jump. The main issue is that there was no real monster out and about and the actors that had tools that could be used were limited and overused.
I would add a real monster running about causing chaos. Perhaps the monster tries attacking the researchers and running away from the military men? It could be like how the characters in Ripper Row used to interact with each other.
Then I would make sure the actors do not overuse the tools they are given. If you are given a shock stick, use it every few minutes and not every few seconds. You want to surprise and startle the person, not keep it going so they expect it.
I would also use additional tools. I'd have to really sit down and think about what else could be done, but I'm sure there are things that can be done.
Something I do think that would be more immersive is having actors up in the "watch towers" where there were dummies. Perhaps put bull horns up there so they don't sound too loud and annoying in people's face.
As for the soldiers and researchers, they seemed to be there more for the atmosphere than scares; however, the actors had the tools to provide some scares. I think that the feeling of annoyance by the shock sticks was that they were overused. If they used the shock sticks more sparingly instead of constantly, you get more startled reactions.
The researchers did have some tools, mainly clipboards. Those clipboards were used quite effectively in some cases and I saw quite a few people jump. The main issue is that there was no real monster out and about and the actors that had tools that could be used were limited and overused.
I would add a real monster running about causing chaos. Perhaps the monster tries attacking the researchers and running away from the military men? It could be like how the characters in Ripper Row used to interact with each other.
Then I would make sure the actors do not overuse the tools they are given. If you are given a shock stick, use it every few minutes and not every few seconds. You want to surprise and startle the person, not keep it going so they expect it.
I would also use additional tools. I'd have to really sit down and think about what else could be done, but I'm sure there are things that can be done.
Something I do think that would be more immersive is having actors up in the "watch towers" where there were dummies. Perhaps put bull horns up there so they don't sound too loud and annoying in people's face.
Based off of Mythological testimony here's an artist's depiction of a Wendigo..
Imagine that thing chasing you around a dark path.
BGW's Bigfoo....I mean "Wendigo"
But like I stated before, the whole event was on budget limitations. There was only so much they could do, so I doubt 100% accuracy was a priority.
Imagine that thing chasing you around a dark path.
BGW's Bigfoo....I mean "Wendigo"
But like I stated before, the whole event was on budget limitations. There was only so much they could do, so I doubt 100% accuracy was a priority.
I'm pretty sure hiring an actor and making a cheap costume would run about the same as buying a beefcake and putting him in a cage.
It'd be more threatening too.
It'd be more threatening too.