Post by wolfblood on Oct 25, 2009 22:01:23 GMT -8
Hey there everyone, Wolfblood here. I just got back from my annual trip over to Wild Waves for their Fright Fest event, it was pretty much the largest theme park Halloween event of the northwest...until Silverwood kicked things up with Scarywood.
None the less, my Dad and I still attended since it's still a fun event and he hasn't been to an Halloween event yet for this year. (He was in Minnesota when my Mom and I hit up Scarywood.)
The weather was a bit cool and rainy, but nothing unbearable to us.
As for crowds and operations, well it certainly was a lot less crowded then last year. Mainly due to last year we visted on a Saturday then a Sunday and the weather gave no trouble.
I was actually able to hit Timberhawk this year, and I have to say it's a whole lot smoother then it was when I rode it two years ago. I also experienced a first, it was so empty the ride ops were letting people do a "Chinese Fire Drill". When the train came back in the station, you would get off, wait at the wall and let the next group of riders take a seat...when all have taken a seat, you were allowed to fill in any empty seats.
Naturally, me and my Dad made sure to get plenty of rides in because of that. I may also add that for the first time they were just running one train.
Operations in the rest of the park were fine, Kang A Bounce was open this year...though a good amount of seats were blocked off.
Another fun thing to mention was the I-5 Sky Dive was doing $10 flights, so that was certainly a very good deal.
Now then, onto the haunted house reviews. Now last year was very solid, Scream Factory (The main haunted house) was the best I've seen it all the times I've attended...and the brand new Trail of Terror was a solid first year effort.
Now how does this year fare? Read on to find out.
Scream Factory
Well for this year one major difference was the maze got a layout change with plenty of different rooms, however classics like the dot room were removed. Another big difference was the ending, there is no more chainsaw scare at the end...but an actual maze. I will admit I did run into several dead ends during the course, but it was amusing with the live actors inside it.
Another noticable feature was at the enterance to the house, the park has an animated bust (a la' Haunted Mansion) that explains the rules of the house. Unfortuntly before my Dad and I reached the enterance, something went wrong and there was no projection...oh well.
As for the house, it was fun and I did get a couple good scares...however I will say this was the very first year it felt really understaffed. There was a good amount of monsters in the beginning, but there were some really empty rooms in the middle and near the end.
None the less, it was still a fun haunt.
Now then, the review for Trail of Terror...or not.
Apparently, the Trail of Terror that was located in the picnic area was a one year wonder. It doesn't exist anymore, however there is a brand new attraction.
New for 2009 - The Saw Mill Slaughter House
This new attraction is located in Lumberjack Falls, while the name is pretty inticing...the attraction is pretty much just an actual maze inside the ride station. The wall's are just black with various props hanging and on the wall, the soundtrack is pretty much chaotic noises, and the lighting is a lot of strobe lights.
Now for me I didn't find the maze too hard, however my Dad got lost inside it. Thankfully I didn't have to run in and fish him out since he soon found his way.
While there are deranged lumberjack zombies inside the maze, I didn't get any scares (from any actors) at all. However I will say I saw and heard and lot of others getting scares, the maze does hold plenty of diabolical hiding spots.
The only scare I got was from a static bat prop, I don't know why...I just turned a corner, it was in my face and I jumped.
Once one finds their way out of the station, you go through a covered bridge with a few actors inside and have to deal with a chainsaw person roaming around outside.
I do have to say this was pretty fun, now while I'd love to see theming that would make this more of an slaughterhouse. Looking back on things, most actual mazes don't really theme at all since people are just focused on finding their way out.
Now I will say it would be wise for Scream Factory to remove it's maze next year since it just seemed repetative to have two actual mazes, with one being the whole attraction.
With that said, I will firmly say Terror Canyon at Silverwood massacred the two attractions here at Fright Fest.
Though I will return here to Fright Fest and over to Scarywood since the way I see it, I now have two theme park haunts I can easily go to.
All in all, it was still a fun night. While I feel Silverwood still kicks the crap out of Wild Waves, this park is still fun to go to for a haunt.
None the less, my Dad and I still attended since it's still a fun event and he hasn't been to an Halloween event yet for this year. (He was in Minnesota when my Mom and I hit up Scarywood.)
The weather was a bit cool and rainy, but nothing unbearable to us.
As for crowds and operations, well it certainly was a lot less crowded then last year. Mainly due to last year we visted on a Saturday then a Sunday and the weather gave no trouble.
I was actually able to hit Timberhawk this year, and I have to say it's a whole lot smoother then it was when I rode it two years ago. I also experienced a first, it was so empty the ride ops were letting people do a "Chinese Fire Drill". When the train came back in the station, you would get off, wait at the wall and let the next group of riders take a seat...when all have taken a seat, you were allowed to fill in any empty seats.
Naturally, me and my Dad made sure to get plenty of rides in because of that. I may also add that for the first time they were just running one train.
Operations in the rest of the park were fine, Kang A Bounce was open this year...though a good amount of seats were blocked off.
Another fun thing to mention was the I-5 Sky Dive was doing $10 flights, so that was certainly a very good deal.
Now then, onto the haunted house reviews. Now last year was very solid, Scream Factory (The main haunted house) was the best I've seen it all the times I've attended...and the brand new Trail of Terror was a solid first year effort.
Now how does this year fare? Read on to find out.
Scream Factory
Well for this year one major difference was the maze got a layout change with plenty of different rooms, however classics like the dot room were removed. Another big difference was the ending, there is no more chainsaw scare at the end...but an actual maze. I will admit I did run into several dead ends during the course, but it was amusing with the live actors inside it.
Another noticable feature was at the enterance to the house, the park has an animated bust (a la' Haunted Mansion) that explains the rules of the house. Unfortuntly before my Dad and I reached the enterance, something went wrong and there was no projection...oh well.
As for the house, it was fun and I did get a couple good scares...however I will say this was the very first year it felt really understaffed. There was a good amount of monsters in the beginning, but there were some really empty rooms in the middle and near the end.
None the less, it was still a fun haunt.
Now then, the review for Trail of Terror...or not.
Apparently, the Trail of Terror that was located in the picnic area was a one year wonder. It doesn't exist anymore, however there is a brand new attraction.
New for 2009 - The Saw Mill Slaughter House
This new attraction is located in Lumberjack Falls, while the name is pretty inticing...the attraction is pretty much just an actual maze inside the ride station. The wall's are just black with various props hanging and on the wall, the soundtrack is pretty much chaotic noises, and the lighting is a lot of strobe lights.
Now for me I didn't find the maze too hard, however my Dad got lost inside it. Thankfully I didn't have to run in and fish him out since he soon found his way.
While there are deranged lumberjack zombies inside the maze, I didn't get any scares (from any actors) at all. However I will say I saw and heard and lot of others getting scares, the maze does hold plenty of diabolical hiding spots.
The only scare I got was from a static bat prop, I don't know why...I just turned a corner, it was in my face and I jumped.
Once one finds their way out of the station, you go through a covered bridge with a few actors inside and have to deal with a chainsaw person roaming around outside.
I do have to say this was pretty fun, now while I'd love to see theming that would make this more of an slaughterhouse. Looking back on things, most actual mazes don't really theme at all since people are just focused on finding their way out.
Now I will say it would be wise for Scream Factory to remove it's maze next year since it just seemed repetative to have two actual mazes, with one being the whole attraction.
With that said, I will firmly say Terror Canyon at Silverwood massacred the two attractions here at Fright Fest.
Though I will return here to Fright Fest and over to Scarywood since the way I see it, I now have two theme park haunts I can easily go to.
All in all, it was still a fun night. While I feel Silverwood still kicks the crap out of Wild Waves, this park is still fun to go to for a haunt.