I don't think they've changed much in length (sans Grimm which is super long), but I do think the difference in quality is ENORMOUS. If any of the late 2000s-era houses like Medieval Macabre or Toxic Plague we're to reappear at the event today, they'd make 21 looks like an absolute masterpiece. House sophistication has advanced to an astonishing degree at KD in the last decade.
Kings Dominion Halloween Haunt 2022
- Thread starter mtorange
- Start date
I don't think they've changed much in length (sans Grimm which is super long), but I do think the difference in quality is ENORMOUS. If any of the late 2000s-era houses like Medieval Macabre or Toxic Plague we're to reappear at the event today, they'd make 21 looks like an absolute masterpiece. House sophistication has advanced to an astonishing degree at KD in the last decade.
Clint Novak just published a Haunt opening weekend youtube review. The first part featured specialty Haunt related eats and drinks. Course, they tried the tacos, grilled corn on the cob (parmesan cheese & garlic; cilantro-lime flavors). Met chef Dennis at the pit for an apple moonshine glazed turkey leg. Tried the "Blob" funnel cake. Also, the cookie dough has moved to Fountain & Floats on I-Street. Not sure if this is permanent or just for Haunt.
Now, concerning the mazes and scare zones. Clint was told by park sources that a couple mazes were NOT complete for opening weekend. First, there will be more stuff going into Grimm Woods. Secondly, the 21 maze was not complete. Clint, stated the path through that maze this past weekend was temporarily rerouted to bypass the unfinished rooms. I don't know if there will be more added to the existing rooms as well.
Now, concerning the mazes and scare zones. Clint was told by park sources that a couple mazes were NOT complete for opening weekend. First, there will be more stuff going into Grimm Woods. Secondly, the 21 maze was not complete. Clint, stated the path through that maze this past weekend was temporarily rerouted to bypass the unfinished rooms. I don't know if there will be more added to the existing rooms as well.
21 seemed a little better tonight in the props and decorating department. Crowds were extremely light so there wasn't a whole lot of rucous tonight but I still witnessed way to many teens cutting in even short lines including a group that jumped the wooden fences at TT to shortcut the queue without any consequences.
As horseboy mentioned, it was super light yesterday night. Had some of the best run throughs I've ever had of a haunted house - Bayou was really something else last night. Grimm Woods was almost unrecognizable to me - they really ramped it up in there since last week.
I have a couple of questions.
What house gets the longest line?
What ride gets the longest line?
Are the shows worth it?
Where‘s the best food?
Do the blood bags have alcohol?
What house gets the longest line?
What ride gets the longest line?
Are the shows worth it?
Where‘s the best food?
Do the blood bags have alcohol?
- I haven't been this year yet, but last year the house lines were all long but tended to move quickly so none were that bad. I believe I went on a Sunday.
- Tumbili had the longest line when I went (before Haunt). In fact it was the only coaster with a line that day. It wasn't a bad line, but on a busy day I'm sure it's a pretty long line because it's the newest and it has low capacity.
- The shows at Haunt are a pretty nice way to take a break. I haven't been this year, but last year the shows were fun. Definitely do the main show, at least.
- The best food normally is definitely at Grain & Grill. I'm not sure if Haunt has some special foods or not that might compete, but you can't go wrong with Grain & Grill regardless.
- I assume the blood bags have alcohol, but i don't know. I'd get a beer, myself. The King's Brew iPA at the bar right outside of Grain & Grill is good if you like IPAs.
There are three drinks served in blood bags. One is non-alcoholic (purple) and the other two "Zombie Juice" (green) and "I vant to drink your blood" (red) have alcohol. I have not had them, so I don't know about the drink quality.
The lines can get long for all houses. In the past, most indoor mazes, (Condemned; Blood on the Bayou; Trick or Treat), open at 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. All scare-zones and the remaining mazes open at 7pm. On Friday nights, everything opens at 7pm (no daytime hours for kids on Fridays).
Several shows have changed for this year; so, I can't give a review yet. Last year, they were pretty good. There are a couple larger shows and several cabaret sized shows. Most are not huge productions like at BGW
I can speak to our experience last Saturday night. We had an excellent time and from what I can tell it was night and day from the Saturday before (we had someone in our party who was there that Saturday night and they mentioned that this was 1000 times better). Maybe it was because of the strange schedule due to the hurricane (5:00 park opening). We got through the gate at 4:30 and it was deserted so we were able ride Dominator, Blue Ridge cars, Flying Eagles and Twisted Timbers (2x) by 5:30. The houses opening at 6 was great as well as there were no lines at all - we did Trick or Treat and Blood on the Bayou with no lines. The only house we had to wait for was 21 (about 25 minute wait around 9:30 PM).
As for rides, the only real waits were Flight of Fear and I305, and the latter was because of 1-train ops, not length of line. Even Tumbili was a short wait, at least when we were back there.
Mini-review from someone who has not gone to Halloween Haunt a lot:
- Mazes: 21 seemed to be the favorite of the group I was with, although it was recognized that it felt a little bare and everyone was confused as to the theme. Trick or Treat felt tired and thinly-staffed. Cornstalkers did not seem to have many actors in it and was more about claustrophobia. Blood on the Bayou has excellent sets and props and was probably the highest quality house in my opinion. Grimm Woods was fine but a bit too spread out - good spooky horrow movine in the woods atmoshpere created, but basically felt like a brisk walk through the woods (there was zero line). We did not do Condemned as the wait was too long.
- Scare Zones: The group working the Pumpkin scare zone around 10:00 was amazing - I had gone to this event last year and felt that zone was blah but this year it was our group's favorite. Seemed like the props were arranged better to ensure engagement with the actors and the crew was really good I thought. Jungle zone was good energy from the actors as well. We did not like the shows being in the zones - was too much in one spot. The bands should be able to stand on thier own and deserve the attention of the audience.
- Food: disappointed that the Taco shack was not open. In general it felt like not enough food options were open. DId not get a chance to try any of the Haunt-special food.
Nope! It’s just normal operation until Haunt officially starts at 7 (though Blood on the Bayou, Trick or Treat, and Condemned are indoor mazes that open at 6).
Finally got to go to haunt, im not going to lie, i was pretty disappointed.
I went last night as part of the VIP Showcase, where they had some really good food available alongside open bar at the Outpost Cafe a few hours before Haunt began.
That was probably the highlight of it for me - the event is designed to try to sell corporate packages, apparently they're now selling the use of park restaurants as event space.
Another cool thing to learn was that they plan on having Outpost open during WF, converting the outdoor seating to heated indoor seating.
Otherwise, the rides we did were just as good as ever; though I did notice a typo on the signage behind the prop I-305 car - it says North Wilkeboro Speedway instead of North Wilkesboro - enough rounds of watching Bright Sun Films' Abandoned series...
BLSC had the police car lights working, and the fireball effect at the MCBR though the helicopter didn't move or light up.
Trick or Treat could have had more scares, though I think it's how we were batched - you could hear the scares ahead or behind us.
GrimmWoods was... Ok. The thing that would have helped tie it together would be to not spread out Red Riding Hood then cram everything else in the back 1/2 - also, not sure if it was intentional or they just need to make some repairs/adjustments, but a few of the last storybook signs weren't that well illuminated, so unless you were looking for it you likely would have missed them.
Edit: forgot to add, as we were waiting for Tumbili to open for the night, one of the ride ops we chatted with were incredibly knowledgeable of general thoosie stuff and happy to chat. I mentioned the possible retheme rumor for BLSC and they said they've heard it but have also heard other things as to what could be happening (not sure if that means anything or not). They also saw the RMC giga teaser, and predicted it'd be at Energylandia or somewhere out in Europe over stateside, let alone KD. Again, no idea if that's indicative of anything - my guess is they know about as much as the rest of us.
That was probably the highlight of it for me - the event is designed to try to sell corporate packages, apparently they're now selling the use of park restaurants as event space.
Another cool thing to learn was that they plan on having Outpost open during WF, converting the outdoor seating to heated indoor seating.
Otherwise, the rides we did were just as good as ever; though I did notice a typo on the signage behind the prop I-305 car - it says North Wilkeboro Speedway instead of North Wilkesboro - enough rounds of watching Bright Sun Films' Abandoned series...
BLSC had the police car lights working, and the fireball effect at the MCBR though the helicopter didn't move or light up.
Trick or Treat could have had more scares, though I think it's how we were batched - you could hear the scares ahead or behind us.
GrimmWoods was... Ok. The thing that would have helped tie it together would be to not spread out Red Riding Hood then cram everything else in the back 1/2 - also, not sure if it was intentional or they just need to make some repairs/adjustments, but a few of the last storybook signs weren't that well illuminated, so unless you were looking for it you likely would have missed them.
Edit: forgot to add, as we were waiting for Tumbili to open for the night, one of the ride ops we chatted with were incredibly knowledgeable of general thoosie stuff and happy to chat. I mentioned the possible retheme rumor for BLSC and they said they've heard it but have also heard other things as to what could be happening (not sure if that means anything or not). They also saw the RMC giga teaser, and predicted it'd be at Energylandia or somewhere out in Europe over stateside, let alone KD. Again, no idea if that's indicative of anything - my guess is they know about as much as the rest of us.
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I haven't had a KD pass for a couple of years now, but decided I really wanted to hit Haunt this year. I ended up springing for a Gold pass, which in retrospect was probably a mistake. I went last night (Sunday), hoping crowds would be manageable. I got there at about 5:30 and was back in my car heading home by 7:30. It was a stark reminder why I had let my pass lapse. Haunt may be the superior event, and certainly BG is having its own issues right now, not just with HOS, but man, it is just a much, much, MUCH more pleasant place to be. To be fair, it was a Sunday before a holiday, so probably more crowded than a normal Sunday, but it was just miserable, and it appeared the park wasn't prepared for it. I've got a pass now, so I'm sure I'll give it another shot, but man, that was miserable.
I was out there all day yesterday and I am not sure why you were so disappointed.
You arrived right between the Pumkin Fest families leaving and everyone for the Haunt arriving/already there, so that was the most crowded time of the day.
You also seem to have left before the haunt actually started, so you can't have seen much of the actual haunt atmosphere in the park.
I definitely was more crowded than I would like, but we were easily able to get perfect spots for several of the shows, went through 4 of the houses without any issues and we were able to get our dinner within 10 minutes around 5pm.
Not sure what could be considered that they weren't prepared for the crowd.
On a different topic:
Really happy with the Pumkin Fest as well. My little one got to trick or treat with dressed up employees, paint an actual pumpkin and get soaked in a foam pit.
I arrived after 8 last night, definitely crowded. Columbus Day is apparently the new long weekend, but KD has the usual schedule. I was hoping cold would chase people out later, but didn't happen. Border's still had a line out the door when I went by at 10:20 and it took until 11 to get out of the parking lot. Due to the fair, everyone must exit out the back 1 lane road? Looks like the far side of the lot gets out first when that happens. Broken. Anyway, managed to do better at making the best of it, eventually dining on Nashville (scathingly) Hot sandwich with Convergence and getting a post-closure walk through 21.
In other news, I finally got a non-random startle scare on Friday in Uprising. I thanked the actor profusely. About time, being my 3rd haunt session this year (including a HoS). In the past, that often would happen in the first 5 minutes. I had just been thoroughly ignored in Cornstalkers.
In other news, I finally got a non-random startle scare on Friday in Uprising. I thanked the actor profusely. About time, being my 3rd haunt session this year (including a HoS). In the past, that often would happen in the first 5 minutes. I had just been thoroughly ignored in Cornstalkers.
I heard Hersheypark had a 2+ hour wait for Storm Runner the other night and every maze was 1.5+ hour waits.
It's entirely possible I was just trying to do the wrong things at the wrong times. I was trying to grab a bite to eat between 6:30-7, and lines for everything were out of the buildings and not moving. I stood in a few of them and they weren't going anywhere. Lines 30+ people deep is what lead to my theorizing the park was not prepared for the number of people in attendance. I definitely wasn't knocking Haunt, as you rightly note, I didn't get to experience anything except whatever I passed on the way out of the park. I love Haunt, and will give it another go, but being back in the park just reminded me of why I let my pass lapse in the first place. IMO, the park isn't as well cared for as other parks, and the guests are much more poorly behaved than they are at other parks. I love their rides, and I love Haunt, I'd just rather spend my time elsewhere.
^^--Sunday was worse about everywhere, more like a Saturday with good weather. Friday would have been more like last years except closing at 11 means it doesn't taper back off at the end much. Sunday 2 weeks ago was normal. 3 weeks ago, before Haunt, I got 2 Zen rides on I305 before the rain descended.
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No idea what other parks you might be referring to. KD is unmatched for the combination of quality and light(er) crowds.
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Haunt last night sucked for the record. Like others have said, every last house was a congo line. Young kids were everywhere. Super annoying parents who had never been to an amusement park (let alone a haunt event) absolutely swarmed the park with their demon spawn. I saw strollers being pushed through houses with hordes of like 5 year olds surrounding them. A pack of entirely unmonitored tweens literally ran around and jumped all over chairs in the Parched Pig yelling, screaming, and even banging on the windows trying to taunt the actors outside or some shit. Legitimately just the absolutely most annoying, most intolerable swaths of humanity packed shoulder to shoulder in a park that could not handle those crowds. Not good at all.
A KD chaperone policy is long overdue. A stroller ban in houses is long overdue. I desperately hope that the separately-ticketed Haunt in 2023 thing comes to pass. I'm so tired of this event—which is, in my opinion, one of the best haunts in the country—being ruined by enormous floods of awful guests.
A KD chaperone policy is long overdue. A stroller ban in houses is long overdue. I desperately hope that the separately-ticketed Haunt in 2023 thing comes to pass. I'm so tired of this event—which is, in my opinion, one of the best haunts in the country—being ruined by enormous floods of awful guests.