Howl-O-Scream

[Nicole]

Actually, I disagree with you.

Going back to what I have several times now, the issue is that the Halloween party event interferes with the haunt event by killing the atmosphere with bright lights and upbeat music. And NOT just in Aquitaine.

Killarney.
The rock music completely kills the creepy haunt mood, and the entire area is fully lit. The Nurses selling jello shots just makes the entire hamlet seem like an 80s frat party.

San Marco.
The Misspelled Pirate Baaar couldn't encroach more on the path, if they tried. Add the bright lights, loud, unfunny pirates, and mobs of people, and once again the the tension is extinguished.

Aquitaine.
I think we have beaten this one to death.

Oktoberfest.
While I believe OPEN CASKet is the least offensive HOS bar, that doesn't mean that I love having it that close to two houses. The music in the area is actually appropriate for Halloween (Lost Boys soundtrack, Smiths, other "goth" stuff), and the space in front of the Festhaus is so large that it feels empty. So, I don't think is breaks up the mood as much as the others.

I feel like a broken record, but I must not be expressing myself well.

For the haunt to work, the entire park needs to be dark and creepy. Tension needs to be allowed to build. Guests should not be assaulted by lights and upbeat music as they walk from house to house.

If the park is only interested in how much alcohol they can sell, maybe they should focus on the party, and stop spending money on scare zones and mazes. I'm not personally sure we need another alcohol-centered event, but the goal of any business is to make money.

The only feasible way I see to do both is to take the bars off the main paths. And yes, I see the value in Halloween-themed bars. Real Halloween parties are fun and the seasonal overlays are cool. So, I also disagree that the existing bars serve the same purpose.

 

[deacfan31]

Just had a warm and fuzzy nostalgia feeling for the old school Jack. Who's with me?! Ha

 

[Wings]

I don't disagree that Killarney and Oktoberfest would be better off having a more spooky atmosphere to it and ditching the rock music. I'm not advocating for the current vibe in which they give off. I was simply stating that is the way they have always been, at least for the past ten years of Howl-O-Scream.

Those areas could benefit from change, but are definitely not the bone of contention.

My point being, are these two areas really causing Howl-O-Scream to move in a negative direction? Or are they just not contributing to it being its full potential?

 

[MrBradferd]

I remember when I was at HHN and they were playing scream o while in line for something. That was pretty cool and created a atmosphere

 

[netdvn]

In regards to this whole "dark creepy vibe" when I went to Haunt for the first time last year I didn't get a creepy vibe outside the scare zones. Literally anything outside the scare zones and I Street is virtually undecorated. What makes HOS any different?

Outside of the (excellent) shopping cart guy and a few actors here and there they didn't have any Halloween decorations up outside of the scare zones to keep the atmosphere up.

The demon area is still the best scare zone in the park. Its loud, chaotic, and its got chainsaws which makes it an excellent people watching spot. The view going across the railroad tracks at night or at the top of Griffon looking down is amazing. It kicks the utter shit out of half of KDs scare zones in terms of actually being scary. I don't see the problem everyone seems to have with this scare zone.

 

[Nicole]

I don't disagree that Killarney and Oktoberfest would be better off having a more spooky atmosphere to it and ditching the rock music. I'm not advocating for the current vibe in which they give off. I was simply stating that is the way they have always been, at least for the past ten years of Howl-O-Scream.

Those areas could benefit from change, but are definitely not the bone of contention.

My point being, are these two areas really causing Howl-O-Scream to move in a negative direction? Or are they just not contributing to it being its full potential?

I am not making a normative judgement.  As I have said countless times, parties and haunts are both valid approaches to a Halloween event.  They are also mutually exclusive.  The park needs to decide which way they want to go.

The fact that people object to them, means by definition they are contentious. And I am hardly the first or only person to point to them as a problem. Incidentally, 10 years is a bit of an overstatement.  The Nurses and Vampires have been serving drinks for closer to 3 years.

 

[Peej1212]

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.)

THIS!!! i completely agree with you  nicole. I think with the party in the middle of that area its just creating a bottleneck. And yes i agree that the anticipation and fear can and should be created from house to house. This is a haunt themed event all areas should reflect that BGW has some WONDERFUL areas that tension can really be created in, due in part to the natural landscape in some areas. I really hope that soon they learn that sometimes less is more and to learn what they have to improve things. And yes i agree with the bit about moving the dj. I dont know what area i would place it in to better improve the sitchuation but i agree to move it.

 

[SWStevo]

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.)

THIS!!! i completely agree with you  nicole. I think with the party in the middle of that area its just creating a bottleneck. And yes i agree that the anticipation and fear can and should be created from house to house. This is a haunt themed event all areas should reflect that BGW has some WONDERFUL areas that tension can really be created in, due in part to the natural landscape in some areas. I really hope that soon they learn that sometimes less is more and to learn what they have to improve things. And yes i agree with the bit about moving the dj. I dont know what area i would place it in to better improve the sitchuation but i agree to move it.

Maybe they could put that Demon D.J. in the concert venue behind where he is now. But then you're forcing the creepy que for Catacombs to be a party. You could put him in San Marco... nah! Possibly, just get rid of him.

 

[MrBradferd]

I would LOVE to sit with the "masterminds" that come up with howl o scream and hear them talking about ideas. Lol

 

[Sky]

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.

Thank you.

When it truly comes down to it, the only true party atmosphere is in Aquitaine, and even that is just an awkward dj "spinning" the same triple-track on a loop. Drop the dj and the party atmosphere drops drastically.

Personally I've never experienced the "intrusive party atmosphere" throughout the park. In fact, it has become more adult over time. Does anyone remember the family friendly dance party in front of Das Festhaus?

 

[Wooemwoemeht]

Busch Gardens is looking to make money and turn a profit and having the bars with music set up around the park does that for them. It doesn't take away from the halloween theme for me and it could give that break of creepiness for people that literally get scared easily. I'm one of the guilty ones that spends my cold hard cash at those bars and of course not to get drunk but to loosen up and have a good time. I do have to agree with the DJ, not a fan of him or his unitard.

 

[Sky]

Busch Gardens is looking to make money and turn a profit and having the bars with music set up around the park does that for them.  It doesn't take away from the halloween theme for me and it could give that break of creepiness for people that literally get scared easily.  I'm one of the guilty ones that spends my cold hard cash at those bars and of course not to get drunk but to loosen up and have a good time. I do have to agree with the DJ, not a fan of him or his unitard.

Currently working on a mega-post, but you just hit the nail on the head with "it could give that break of creepiness for people that literally get scared easily."

Ya'll are all overlooking a major conversation that we've been having for years - the fact that they haven't decided which event they want. But it seems as if the past two years they've been trying to find a better balance.

Sky

Annnnnnd it just deleted itself. Lovely

 

[Peej1212]

 It doesn't take away from the halloween theme for me and it could give that break of creepiness for people that literally get scared easily.  

Then you are now at the point of "Ok you scare easily... If you dont like to be scared why come to a Haunt?" We had alot of ppl like this when i worked in haunts. They didnt want you to scare them or come near them. It only made it worse for them because they then became the focal point. While i understand this I must admit the people like those always annoyed me. Because we had many people who would be upset because we scared their child who doesnt like to be scared. Im sorry butttttttt again you brought your child to a HAUNTED ATTRACTION. No one else knows your child like you do. So dont be upset when the actors scare them. You should have known better... Sorry end rant.

 

[Wooemwoemeht]

 It doesn't take away from the halloween theme for me and it could give that break of creepiness for people that literally get scared easily.  

Then you are now at the point of "Ok you scare easily... If you dont like to be scared why come to a Haunt?" We had alot of ppl like this when i worked in haunts. They didnt want you to scare them or come near them. It only made it worse for them because they then became the focal point. While i understand this I must admit the people like those always annoyed me. Because we had many people who would be upset because we scared their child who doesnt like to be scared. Im sorry butttttttt again you brought your child to a HAUNTED ATTRACTION. No one else knows your child like you do. So dont be upset when the actors scare them. You should have known better... Sorry end rant.

Busch Gardens hosts a haunted attraction but the whole park isn't one. That's why there are mazes and terror-tories. You have that option of going them if you want to. I feel that you could bring a family to BG with some smaller kids and stay past 6pm and they would be okay.

I have worked Haunt in the past and I totally agree with the parents bringing their young kids through the mazes and then get pissed at you because you are trying to do your job of scaring them. Once a person crosses the threshold of a maze or terror-tory then it should be game on. I'm sure the took into consideration of where the terror zones are located so if you wanted to, you could traverse the park without ever going into one.

 

[Sky]

 It doesn't take away from the halloween theme for me and it could give that break of creepiness for people that literally get scared easily.  

Then you are now at the point of "Ok you scare easily... If you dont like to be scared why come to a Haunt?" We had alot of ppl like this when i worked in haunts. They didnt want you to scare them or come near them. It only made it worse for them because they then became the focal point. While i understand this I must admit the people like those always annoyed me. Because we had many people who would be upset because we scared their child who doesnt like to be scared. Im sorry butttttttt again you brought your child to a HAUNTED ATTRACTION. No one else knows your child like you do. So dont be upset when the actors scare them. You should have known better... Sorry end rant.

Busch Gardens hosts a haunted attraction but the whole park isn't one.  

Bam.

The Scare is Everywhere does not work. The park undergoes a partial to major overlay, not an entire one.

 

[Peej1212]

Ok i get that it gets an overlay. But then you have alot of people who feel the park doesnt do enough for the HOS side of things. And there are warnings that are presented about what the park becomes after dark.I dont know if making this a separately ticketed idea would work but, I would IMO leave my daughter at home until she was old enough to understand the scarier side of this event. Alot of what i personally think is that the more they numb down this event because of people being scared i think it loses the "flavor" lol. I think we all agree that we want good quality from an event like this, but i think its in hearing the opinions of each other that we get to see the kind of compromises neccesary to appeal to both sides.

 

[Wooemwoemeht]

I like HoS as a whole compared to Haunt. I love the decorations, the mazes and scare areas are pretty decent, and i like the bar/party scene areas because I enjoy spirits and thirst quenching ales. If I were to rate HoS, I would rate it PG-13. The mazes and terror-tories are pretty mild compared to Haunt which I would rate "R". Some of things that they decorate the mazes with at Haunt are pretty adult rated. In maze of madness, they had topless foam women everywhere and bare booties. Theme park haunt attractions don't bother me because I know there are strict rules that enforced on all scare actors. Now when I attend a haunted attraction in the middle of the woods, that does get the blood pumping a little because there really aren't many rules.

 

[Peej1212]

 Now when I attend a haunted attraction in the middle of the woods, that does get the blood pumping a little because there really aren't many rules.

Now see this is where im more comfortable! I have done ones like this for years lol. Its the ones with the more rules or places that have to be "safe" that i feel are more tamed down. There are so many ways to do a haunt that as long as people are safe and its at least mediocre ppl will come. I am just used to the ones that are strickly only a "Haunted attraction." Where even parking in the parking lot is enough to get you messed with by some roaming monsters lol .

 

[wxfrcaster]

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.)

THIS!!! i completely agree with you  nicole. I think with the party in the middle of that area its just creating a bottleneck. And yes i agree that the anticipation and fear can and should be created from house to house. This is a haunt themed event all areas should reflect that BGW has some WONDERFUL areas that tension can really be created in, due in part to the natural landscape in some areas. I really hope that soon they learn that sometimes less is more and to learn what they have to improve things. And yes i agree with the bit about moving the dj. I dont know what area i would place it in to better improve the sitchuation but i agree to move it.

It would make sense to me, and maybe just me, to make Festa (wow - the name actually means festival!) the party zone and let the rest of the park be haunted. Festa is a dead-end (see what I did there!) cul-de-sac where you could have a little more control over those who over-imbibe, the party atmosphere is mostly contained and the noise and music wouldn't spill over into other houses.

 

[TheMostHappy]

Am I the only person that feels that neither aspect (party or scary) interferes with their ability to enjoy the other? Nicole keeps saying they are mutually exclusive, but for me (and I would guess many others) that simply isn't true.

I have fun and enjoy the silliness of the party areas when I'm in them. I am scared and feel the tension in the haunted houses when I'm in them. I don't need or want to park to maintain one of those feelings throughout the entire park. And honestly I think there are better places to go if you really want just one or the other- go to a standalone haunted house without rides, restaurants and shopping if you just want a night of only being scared, go to a Halloween party or bar if you just want a night of having fun. Howl-o-Scream is great to me because it offers variety.

At any rate, I'd rather see the park move in the direction of being more adult, meaning more scares and more "adult" party stuff (alcohol/sexiness) than try to balance either one of those aspects with family-friendly stuff. To me, out of the three "themes" (scary, party, family friendly) those two pair together much more naturally.