Kings Dominion Halloween Haunt 2023

[mwhinva]

KD's web site has Haunt 2023 facts for this separate ticketed event.

Halloween Events & Attractions | Richmond, VA | Kings Dominion

When darkness falls at Halloween Haunt, fear rises. Kings Dominion's annual Halloween event is back! Learn more & begin planning your visit this season!

www.kingsdominion.com

Bottom line, Gold and Platinum pass holders do not have to leave the park between the fall day events and Haunt. BUT, you will have to go back to the main gate to have your pass re-scanned at the end of the daytime park operating hours to stay for Haunt. Sorry no details on how this will be carried out by the park.

 

[Mushroom]

What exactly is the purpose of making Haunt a separately ticketed event? Is there some security benefit? Or did the marketing/finance teams just realize they can make more money if they split them? I know this has been a trend at other parks, so just wondering if anyone has any insight on the rationale.

 

[Diamond Dave]

I wonder how it's going to work out. Are rides going to be closed in between daytime hours and haunt start? Will they implement a "holding" area encompassing international street and Dominator(?) and block off the other areas of the park while they are cleared?

What exactly is the purpose of making Haunt a separately ticketed event? Is there some security benefit? Or did the marketing/finance teams just realize they can make more money if they split them? I know this has been a trend at other parks, so just wondering if anyone has any insight on the rationale.

Probably a bunch of factors. I imagine there will be a lot of GP that do not have gold/platinum passes that will be double-dipped on admissions instead of paying just for one ticket. I imagine that if they are requiring pass members to get there passes scanned again they will have to go through the "additional security measures". My understanding from reading pages on their website is that costumes are allowed during daytime fall hours, but not haunt, and they couldn't do that without clearing the park. I think they have a separate bag policy too that is more restrictive during haunt hours.

It'll be interesting to see!

 

[mtorange]

Another interesting tidbit, the park will be closed from 5-7pm on Haunt weekends. I assume all mazes and zones will open at the same time after Blood Reign.

 

[horsesboy]

KD's web site has Haunt 2023 facts for this separate ticketed event.

Halloween Events & Attractions | Richmond, VA | Kings Dominion

When darkness falls at Halloween Haunt, fear rises. Kings Dominion's annual Halloween event is back! Learn more & begin planning your visit this season!

www.kingsdominion.com

Bottom line, Gold and Platinum pass holders do not have to leave the park between the fall day events and Haunt. BUT, you will have to go back to the main gate to have your pass re-scanned at the end of the daytime park operating hours to stay for Haunt. Sorry no details on how this will be carried out by the park.

honestly U

I think that trying to coral pass members and clear day guests from the park is just asking for problems. I think it would be simpler all around to just close clear and reopen. I mean they are basically going to have to do that anyhow.

 

[Gavin]

Bags are banned unless they are clear and of certain size, even if you bring them in before Haunt.

 

[Theoneandonlyteddy]

I wish it worked like Stay and Scream at HHN, where there are holding areas around the park you can wait in for each house, and then once the event starts you are guided to the closest house queue.

Having everyone walk over to the entrance just to scan their ticket to stay in the park sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Beetlegoose]

I wish it worked like Stay and Scream at HHN, where there are holding areas around the park you can wait in for each house, and then once the event starts you are guided to the closest house queue.

Having everyone walk over to the entrance just to scan their ticket to stay in the park sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

I agree. If the park remains open, I for one, will not be doing any rescanning unless directly confronted by staff. Seriously, what’s the point? I don’t see any way they can do this without closing the park and reopening. If they don’t close the park and then come on the intercom and say “Single day ticketed guests please leave, thank you,” I will have a seizure from laughter.

 

[Nicole]

I imagine they will clear the park, pushing everyone to the front. While that wouldn‘t be as effective as USO’s holding areas, it is hardly the approach you seem to be describing.

Regardless, I hope you aren’t using our Forum to announce that you intend to ignore the park rules and processes entirely, especially since the system is likely intended to address the perennial KD problem with violence during Haunt.

 

[Beetlegoose]

I imagine they will clear the park, pushing everyone to the front. While that wouldn‘t be as effective as USO’s holding areas, it is hardly the approach you seem to be describing.

Regardless, I hope you aren’t using our Forum to announce that you intend to ignore the park rules and processes entirely, especially since the system is likely intended to address the perennial KD problem with violence during Haunt.

I am using your forum to express the rediculousness that would insue by not closing the park and then reopening it for everyone. I also don’t appreciate your threat.

I imagine they will clear the park, pushing everyone to the front. While that wouldn‘t be as effective as USO’s holding areas, it is hardly the approach you seem to be describing.

Regardless, I hope you aren’t using our Forum to announce that you intend to ignore the park rules and processes entirely, especially since the system is likely intended to address the perennial KD problem with violence during Haunt.

That sounds like you are threatening me.

 

[Nicole]

I’m confused. What threat?

 

[Jonesta6]

I am using your forum to express the rediculousness that would insue by not closing the park and then reopening it for everyone. I also don’t appreciate your threat.

That sounds like you are threatening me.

While the verdict is out on how ridiculous their solution will be in practicality (given the reported Grizzly ERT queue issues, really hard to say it'll be a successful system on the first pass), I think @Nicole is coming from a genuine place in that this forum community does apparently get looked at by various individuals that have some level of influence into park operations which means when folks like you indicate you'll blatantly ignore or refuse to follow their rules the whole community gets a bad rep from these people that matter; moreso if the community itself as moderated chooses to accept or at least ignore your posts on the matter.

TLDR; don't be the one ruining what goodwill everyone here may be able to enjoy by choosing to not follow the rules and/or boundaries set by the parks.

 

[Beetlegoose]

I’m confused. What threat?

The hope I do or don’t do something or else what? That’s a threat.

 

[Beetlegoose]

While the verdict is out on how ridiculous their solution will be in practicality (given the reported Grizzly ERT queue issues, really hard to say it'll be a successful system on the first pass), I think @Nicole is coming from a genuine place in that this forum community does apparently get looked at by various individuals that have some level of influence into park operations which means when folks like you indicate you'll blatantly ignore or refuse to follow their rules the whole community gets a bad rep from these people that matter; moreso if the community itself as moderated chooses to accept or at least ignore your posts on the matter.

TLDR; don't be the one ruining what goodwill everyone here may be able to enjoy by choosing to not follow the rules and/or boundaries set by the parks.

IMO, if park operations are viewing this thread then I’ve just done them a favor. Now they know what some people in the park will think if they operate the way I previously described.

 

[Nicole]

I never said anything about “or else.“ I said that I hope you aren’t using our Forum to broadcast the intent to violate park rules. I genuinely was hoping I was misreading your implication, because as @Jonesta6 explained, that isn’t the kind of content we prefer here.

To address your claim that it can’t work, neither Disney nor Uni require people to exit the park before separately ticketed events. Perhaps KD will end up using a similar system to one of those parks. Either way, there is no evidence they moving people to the front of the park is a bad idea. I do think making them exit and go through security again, however, is a terrible idea.

 

[Beetlegoose]

I never said anything about “or else.“ I said that I hope you aren’t using our Forum to broadcast the intent to violate park rules. I genuinely was hoping I was misreading your implication, because as @Jonesta6 explained, that isn’t the kind of content we prefer here.

To address your claim that it can’t work, neither Disney nor Uni require people to exit the park before separately ticketed events. Perhaps KD will end up using a similar system to one of those parks. Either way, there is no evidence they moving people to the front of the park is a bad idea. I do think making them exit and go through security again, however, is a terrible idea.

After looking at the schedule released by KD we might have an answer. They close at 5pm on Haunt days and reopen at 7pm. So my guess is they are going to kick absolutely everyone out of the park at 5 and then reopen and let everyone back in at 7. So now it appears you will have a lot of people sitting in the parking lot for 2 hours just waiting for the park to open back up. That could also be dangerous. You’re going to have a large group of waiting, possibly inpatient people, in a parking lot for 2 hours that haven’t gone through security. Idle hands are the devils workshop. Who knows what they will do to just not be bored.

 

[Zachary]

Any SCarowinds regulars able to explain how our sister park down south handles the transition? Presumably we will follow the same playbook and all of this will be a non-issue.

 

[Beetlegoose]

Any SCarowinds regulars able to explain how our sister park down south handles the transition? Presumably we will follow the same playbook and all of this will be a non-issue.

Straight from the Carowinds FAQ’s “SCarowinds is a separately-gated event and requires a SCarowinds ticket for entrance. Carowinds will close prior to opening for SCarowinds.”

So I think that answers it. Thousands of possibly inpatient people waiting in a parking lot for 2 hours that are sitting in their cars without having gone through security is the answer.

Not to mention, those thousands of people are all going to get in line for security at the same time at 7pm

 

[mwhinva]

Kings Dominion has had Haunt info online for a month now. Go to kingsdominion.com/events/haunt . Scroll down to the FAQ's section and expand all. Look at the answers to questions 3 and 4. Those are tied to combo day tickets as well as Gold & Platinum season pass holders.

I assume all rides, shops, restaurants, and games will shut down at 5:00 pm. Security will probably make a sweep of the park to round up any stragglers and move them toward the park main gate.

What happens to separate the daytime ticket holders and Silver season pass holders from the combo day tickets and Gold/Platinum season pass holders is unknown.

Also, the baggage policy changes for Haunt. Only clear/see-through bags, with max Dimensions of 12 X 12 X 6, are allowed. Not sure how KD handles those folks, that were daytime visitors, who don't meet the baggage criteria (a trip to the car?).

Straight from the Carowinds FAQ’s “SCarowinds is a separately-gated event and requires a SCarowinds ticket for entrance. Carowinds will close prior to opening for SCarowinds.”

So I think that answers it. Thousands of possibly inpatient people waiting in a parking lot for 2 hours that are sitting in their cars without having gone through security is the answer.

Not to mention, those thousands of people are all going to get in line for security at the same time at 7pm

 

[Beetlegoose]

Kings Dominion has had Haunt info online for a month now. Go to kingsdominion.com/events/haunt . Scroll down to the FAQ's section and expand all. Look at the answers to questions 3 and 4. Those are tied to combo day tickets as well as Gold & Platinum season pass holders.

I assume all rides, shops, restaurants, and games will shut down at 5:00 pm. Security will probably make a sweep of the park to round up any stragglers and move them toward the park main gate.

What happens to separate the daytime ticket holders and Silver season pass holders from the combo day tickets and Gold/Platinum season pass holders is unknown.

Also, the baggage policy changes for Haunt. Only clear/see-through bags, with max Dimensions of 12 X 12 X 6, are allowed. Not sure how KD handles those folks, that were daytime visitors, who don't meet the baggage criteria (a trip to the car?).

Okay so this then brings me back to my original scenario. What’s to stop someone from telling security “We have gold passes and we already scanned back in” even if they didn’t, or a daily ticket person saying “We have gold passes.” They would have to be able to scan their pass to be able check for that and if they are going to do that anyway, then why even make people with legit gold passes scan a second time at all if security can just scan my pass to verify without me having to go back to the front gate.
Also, if they do close the rides and make everyone rescan. Does that mean everyone will be waiting at the front of the park all crowded together doing nothing and wasting 2 hours of our lives?
Either option is going to lead to a disgruntled guest experience.