Went back to SFMM for another round of Fright Fest (it's free for me as a Member). Report, updates and tips:
- Go Thursday or Friday night if possible. Even on Friday nights, lines are basically pretty short, and there's basically no need for Express. If the line to get a wristband is very long at the main location near FT, there are many other, smaller booths around the park that also sell wristbands that usually have little to no wait.
- Saw opens at 7, but it's also right near where the monsters come out at the beginning of the night--and everybody goes there to watch. We stood in line for Saw at 6:45, and were maybe the 4th group in the line (not counting a few Express people). By the time it opened, including the Express people, we waited maybe 15 minutes. But by the time we got out, everybody who was watching the monster show had stormed over, and it looked the the queue was getting pretty full. So if you're willing to sacrifice the opening show, you could get on Saw pretty quick. Still looked pretty good. A few of the trap actors were not as good this time, but the Piggies are getting a bit more aggressive. Also noticed a few more sound design elements, so they maybe improving that, and a few scareactor positions moved a bit, but otherwise the maze looked the same as opening night.
- Went directly to Conjuring next, and the line was maybe 15 minutes as well. I do like the 1st half of this maze a lot, but after the grave scene, it's a bit of a dud. Also, the floor sliding actor wasn't there. I think if they improved the 2nd half (assuming the maze is there next year), it could be a strong contender, but as it is now, it's mid-to-good.
- Went up the hill to Willloughby's, and Sewer. Both were total walk ons. We were the only people in Willoughby's! And yes, it's exactly the same design-wise, but they both still look great, and the scare actors were numerous and highly energetic. Love how many will get at you on floor level. Also saw a male in a female gothic dress, and thought it was very cool SFMM was inclusive about such things!
- Did Truth or Dare, which has received even a bit more set dressing just from last week (mostly the first hallway to the dressing rooms). Design-wise, it's still huge improvement from last year. No comparison. Maybe I had bad timing, but unfortunately many of the scareactor positions were missing from my walk though, so it was a bit of a let down this time. But when all the scareactors in in there, it could maybe be my favorite. Keep in mind the line moves really, really slow, since they are currently doing the pre-show room. That said, I gotta give credit to whoever made the queue music... really puts you in a cheesy game show vibe.
- Vault 666 had no line whatsoever. While mostly the same, there are a few improvements, and sound design throughout elevates a bit more, so give it a chance.
- Condamed had a very short 10 min wait. Basically the same as Scream Break. Got all mazes (except Aftermath) done by 9pm without any Express. Longest wait was for Truth or Dare.
We focused on mazes, so we didn't do any rides, but they basically all looked open (including JL, Roaring Rapids, Superman, and Ninja). The only closed rides I noticed were Crazanity (anyone know what's happening with that?), Jet Stream, and Scrambler.
Also, if you go on Fri-Sun, Oktoberfest runs their booths until 9pm. However, I have noticed many booth are running out of items. Oktoberfest also had it's own merch booth, which was surprisingly fun, but tucked away towards the back. Saw also has merch between the Saw maze and the Carnival games. Conjuring merch was at the gift shop near Apocalypse, now renamed Haunt Emporium.
It's interesting that Saw, Conjuring, and Truth or Dare are the big crowd draws. And at least Thur/Fri, you could basically do any other maze with little to no wait whatsoever. And the scareactors really are improving, and with the exception of Truth or Dare (and again, it may have been a timing thing--when we did it last week, it was very well staffed), were very well staffed. If there is a line, expect it to move pretty slow, as they are really putting a lot of space between groups... which is actually sort of cool, IMO.
At Midsummer Scream, they announced that Scream Break was returning... I'm curious to see if Truth or Dare will be included in it this year. I'm hoping so! Also curious to know if Scream Break will be happening at any other SF parks... I thought I had heard that for the chain as a whole, it didn't work out so well. But not surprised it would work in LA, with such a huge haunt community, and basically no one else in Socal are doing haunts mid-year.
