Also went yesterday and had a great time, ngl, Ghostrider night ride was once again the highlight/ start of the night. (the Mad dash was INSANE, 90 mins in the first 10mins) and man... this and Twisted Colossus both battling for first place in my coaster rankings.
The Mazes were great too albeit staffed fine, with how they seem to be designed, it seems like they create hundreds of boo holes and just let the actors pick where ever they want to be, (a fully staffed house could probably have 50+ spots) its cool but they should at least staff the "showstopper scenes" since then you'll know something is missing. Anyways Rankings:
1. Widows and Eight Fingers Nine: The BoogeyMan
Both 2 new ones steal the show, Walked into Widows and the first room blows HHN away Scenically out of the water! Boogeyman also had great sets with the small towns and forest scenes it creates. Very scenic, very dark, too dark sometimes, could of been lighten better to show off some of the details or create more boo spots of actors.
Widows had a lot of good characters and fun spider actors. The first half is really strong in the Nursing home, the second half more so is just hallways of rocks and spider mesh but that finale is great. And someone in creative saw Chucky last year and wanted to top that, I don't think it did but it was still fun.
Nine Fingers Eight was really good, I thought I would not have been able to get the story but I'm glad it wasn't too direct but gave you enough to think about. The cat scare is hilarious, I loved the small town sets and the aesthetic of the house was great. Loved the vibe and far more eriee tone then what the rest of the houses do or try to do. One complain tho is the lack of Mr. Ate Fingers Nein. Shows up at the start, his one animatronics near the middle and finale scare also really goofy mask, nothing like the art)
Can't really say which I like more but both where this year's Highlights
Also the only ones I did 3 re-runs since they were just that good)
3. Chilling Chambers
The Keeper being gone wasn't really an issue for me, they still reference him in audio and its more made up with the little tweaks they've given the maze. Giving the first half a roof, new. audio for rooms, staff just as good as last year, and again all the nods to previous houses, this is an anniversary house for the ages!
4. Cinema Slasher
Compared to last year were I wasn't a huge fan of it, this year however was a REALLY great run, turns out not having 2 consistently screaming girls behind you does make for a better experiences. This is pretty much what I would of wanted from a Blumhouse of Horrors to use the Theatre setting, transition from movie screens, book open and end with, and each section was really well done. I think it does die down once you enter Slaughterhouse but who doesn't love a gaint chainsaw. And the transition characters with Not Bendy and the Ink Machine Camera Guy and Popcorn mascot with a knife were highlights, I loved em XD.
5. Mesmer: Circus of the Mind
One that is mind boggling, literally, everytime I've done this maze, its been firing on all cylinders with the effects, character interactions and "minimalist design?" Not grand or insanely detailed but it works for a more experimental maze with trippy visual. The audio is also a heavily highlight I think a lot overlook, akin to Muerte as you narrator thru the house with more follow through out the maze. Great One everytime only fallen in rankings because newer houses have overtaken it
6. Origins: Curse of Calico
I get the hype for this house, still not a SUPER fan for it but it has its moment, this is where I started to realize how many boo hole a single house can have an when they aren't filled you'll notice em, but there was also a surprising number of ones I didn't expect and thas what make it super fun. I think its the sets leading themselves to a great number of scares, got a few but also the integral ones like the Green Witch and Courtroom scenes were missing and that's where I think they should of prioritized staffing.
7. Room 13
I was planning on skipping this one since I had no desire to do it but wait was low and was pleasantly surprised. I liked the low ceiling as it helps it feel like you are going thru the bowels of a Hotel, it works in this location (expect that one high rise effect, either clean the floor or get less foggy panels). This is the maze tho that kinda shows Knott's weak spot with scare and how they could heavily benefit from some trigger scares, like it does feel like an HHN house just without the effects and triggers), a lot of rooms if they had a trigger scare would of help (the closet, elevator room, bathroom section, Tavern jumpscares etc.) If they found a balance with trigger and roam around scares Knotts would be on top 100% of the time!
8. Wax Works
Gonna miss this one, but unfortunately its time, my least favorite run of it since I did it back 2 years ago. I still had a good run and like Depths last year probably my scariest run of the night, but its showing its age so its time. Great house, super gory, fun manequinn scares, and the tune of Crooked Man plays thru to and the facade! Also I forgot how BRUTAL that Air canon scare was, felt like a punch to the arm GODAM. But I'm cool with Wax Works going, its left a well legacy at the farm and just before it would of been truly falling apart.
9. Bloodlines 1842
Glad its going, wtf. Both Bloodlines in last place this year is insane. Where as Hollywood's Bloodline is Small jack@%^# rooms with action going on (if you can catch it), 1842 has grand sets with almost nothing going on in em. The only room populated was the finale after 5 mins of just walking thru a poorly lit museum. Cool build up music but thas all it is, build up. Better than last years run were it literally was empty but glad it's going out, on a whimper unfortantely.
I did not do Grimoire, I had no desire to do it but it'd probably still be better than Bloodlines
Scarezones are good but one thing I LOVED and noticed even more know is Lighting! Something that gets slept on through the whole park.
Great night yesterday, operations were smooth (minus rides), and the waits were chill (minus rides) no more than 20 mins. Loved the atmosphere, classic Halloween Vibe.
Great year and pretty much an improvement from last year, was a solo night so maybe would of been better with the homies but it was nice.
Definitely, better scenically than HHN, but scares still left a bit to be desired (mainly a game of peek-a-boo and would surprise the actors more often than not lol).