Howl-O-Scream

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Question that's unrelated to anything about this year's HOS:

My impression from my time on this forum and from the people I know IRL is that the clown area that saw several iterations in Festa Italia was one of the all time most popular areas of Howl-o-Scream. Everyone always seems to freak out about how great that was- I certainly loved it. That's the only area I ever recall the rides even getting an overlay (the tented tea cups ride, anyone?), which was amazing.

Festa Italia is arguably one of the least beautiful areas of the park, and it lends itself SO WELL to a carnival theme, and Busch clearly has the props for clown stuff- so why has Busch not done a clown theme area over there in years? Am I wrong in my impression that that area was almost universally beloved? It just seems like no one likes the pirates and everyone loved the clowns, so I'm curious if y'all know why they moved away from that theme.
 
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Well also KD completly closes anything kid related (Planet Snoopy) should BGW do the same? I think for HOS is a yes or no. Yes because it will add a better feel around the park and eliminate some strollers and no because they try to have a park for everyone.
 
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Zimmy said:
If it were up to me, after 6 no one under the age of 13 would be permitted in.  Further there would be age restricted areas for 21 and over.  The dance party stuff would be in a corner somewhere, where it did not block paths, and bartenders would be better trained to cut people off.  Also the overall light level would be reduced.

you know my opinion of shows.
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I have to respectfully disagree with the age limit. Both of my children have been going to HOS since they were babies. My son is 8 and my daughter is 17 now. We taught our children at an early age that everything in the park is fake and they are just people in costumes.That being said I never took my children into any of the houses. I can't stand to see children in there clinging to their parent's necks in pure terror. I understand your perspective, but I seriously doubt it would work. My son still doesn't go into the houses because my husband and I don't think he's ready. I do agree parents should take their children out of the park if they can't handle the atmosphere. It does take away from the other guests experience to be in a house stuck in front or behind a screaming child.
 
MrBradferd said:
Well also KD completly closes anything kid related (Planet Snoopy) should BGW do the same? I think for HOS is a yes or no. Yes because it will add a better feel around the park and eliminate some strollers and no because they try to have a park for everyone.
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BGW started to do that years ago, but people complained. Williamsburg's first error was that they started too fast too soon. Tampa (which started a year later) started slow and then worked their way up. By their fourth year or so, when Scott Swenson officially became the creative director, all kiddie rides closed an hour early. They have not looked back since.

Williamsburg kept promising to do similar things, but they kept taking it back. Scott Gasparich may have had something to do with this, because he didn't really like being scared. Corporate seemed to be edging them along though, so we may start to see some results now.

This year is supposed to be a fresh slate. Provided they stick with the plan this time, we could have a fully scary event within at least the next three years. (Three years is what they call the magic number for the way they "cycle" most events.)
 
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Wasn't it stated somewhere earlier that Forest of Fun might be closing at a more appropriate time this year, 6 PM? Rather than when it closed at 8 PM in past years. Land of the Dragons has been closing at 6 PM during HOS for a while now, but it always seemed so stupid to me to allow Forest of Fun to stay open until 8. If the park wanted to be more proactive I would suggest closing LoTD, FOF, and all "kidsiderate" attractions around the park at 5 or 5:30 PM like Castle O' Sullivan said BGT does above. But none the less, I feel that closing Forest of Fun at 6 PM is a step in the right direction.
 
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TheMostHappy said:
Question that's unrelated to anything about this year's HOS:

My impression from my time on this forum and from the people I know IRL is that the clown area that saw several iterations in Festa Italia was one of the all time most popular areas of Howl-o-Scream. Everyone always seems to freak out about how great that was- I certainly loved it. That's the only area I ever recall the rides even getting an overlay (the tented tea cups ride, anyone?), which was amazing.

Festa Italia is arguably one of the least beautiful areas of the park, and it lends itself SO WELL to a carnival theme, and Busch clearly has the props for clown stuff- so why has Busch not done a clown theme area over there in years? Am I wrong in my impression that that area was almost universally beloved? It just seems like no one likes the pirates and everyone loved the clowns, so I'm curious if y'all know why they moved away from that theme.
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Over the years BG has used Festa as a clown theme. I can recall at least 3X of the last 7 years being used as clown theme. A few years ago they even used the Roman Rapids queue area as a clown "fun" haunted house and used the back area (now Pirates) as a clown camp gone bad. I liked the clown camp theme the first year the next it was really lacking as they pulled a lot of actors out and it was under staffed. The past 3 years you could see left over props in 13.


Anyone have an idea when BG should release a map of Howl-O-Scream?
 
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Um...why do you think the park lacks a good work ethic? I think they do a great job setting up between events.

If you mean that they lack the drive to create a scary HOS or to make the changes to improve the event, I think the jury is still out. There have been indications that new leadership may be focusing more on the haunt this year.
 
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I think a company is only as good as the people leading it. It seems that leadership is making the movements to make it work. Cant wait to see what comes next
 
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Hmmm i am hoping they make this incarnation of jack more sinister. I think he NEEDS to be EVIL to make theming around him work. I am holding out hope for this one because i think if done right it would be a very nice way to bring back an old icon. I always thought lady of the Gardens had a real chance to be something more. Just the way she looked alone helped me at least want to know more about her, she just seemed like an overall character that i wanted to know more about. That to me makes an icon for things like this even better. Destiny is one im SUPER stoked about because i have never seen before, and plus who doesnt love a dose of possesion in a Haunt?!?!?! Possesed people can go two ways when it comes to haunt.. really good or really bad, im hoping that since she is a tampa original she is awesome. The trickster i think looks interesting .I really dont know enough about him to state either way but trusting what some more knowledgeable ppl have said, im not sure if i want to see him be brought to the table this year. But i still dont doubt we will see a little of each canidate in Scarletts Revenge. It just seems to well a fit to have twelve canidates plus Scarlett which equals 13. In the old building that 13: was in. I mean come on it just fits too neatly lol .
 
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TheMostHappy said:
Question that's unrelated to anything about this year's HOS:

My impression from my time on this forum and from the people I know IRL is that the clown area that saw several iterations in Festa Italia was one of the all time most popular areas of Howl-o-Scream. Everyone always seems to freak out about how great that was- I certainly loved it. That's the only area I ever recall the rides even getting an overlay (the tented tea cups ride, anyone?), which was amazing.

Festa Italia is arguably one of the least beautiful areas of the park, and it lends itself SO WELL to a carnival theme, and Busch clearly has the props for clown stuff- so why has Busch not done a clown theme area over there in years? Am I wrong in my impression that that area was almost universally beloved? It just seems like no one likes the pirates and everyone loved the clowns, so I'm curious if y'all know why they moved away from that theme.
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I loved the tented tea cups that year of HoS, and the maze that year (lots of mirrors from what I remembered) . I don't go to HoS every year so I missed the other clown themed years. I think clowns are pretty frightening when done right, so I am surprised they haven't done that theme in a while. Maybe they were afraid of it getting stale? Not sure.
 
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ppl complained clowns were too scary - the only reason they left

voting ends today

jack 199
lady of the gardens 186
trickster 85
destiny 74

chester 41
queen 37
ripper 34
vlad 26
pirate 17
bones 11
conroy 9
death 6
 
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