Fearfest; 10/02/04

[hauntguy]

October 2nd, 2004- I arrived at PKI at 12:46pm, I was glad to see that the park had such a great turn-out for Fearfest. As I walked lazily through the park I could notice several changes in the scenery from just one weekend ago (Toyota Familly Day). The Coney Mall (Maul) seemed naked with it's hanging ropes removed. I was pleased to see the fog machines still remained for the use of Fearfest. I started out the day with a nice ride on The Racers. From the top of the lift I could clearly see several of the mazes and entrance to the parks haunted trail- Psycho Path.

After The Racers I headed a few feet down to the Adventure Express. This ride is small but really fun! I really think PKI should do something cool with this ride to tie it in with Fearfest. Just some colored lighting and fog would do the trick. After my fast paced ride on AE, I stumbled my way over to Son of Beast. I had a bruising, rough but fun ride on the SoB, reminding me that my favorite ride in the park is still The Beast. After my ride, I ate some delicious pizza at the Festhaus were I walked upon the NEW facade of the Circus of Horrors. I was very happy to see PKI painted over the HPI TerrorVisions in 3D facade with there own design.

From here, I will review the haunts in order as I attended them. So read on very carefully:

Curse of the Crypt: I jumped in line for this attraction 30 minutes early prior to it's opening. In return I only waited about 45 minutes to tour the haunt. What can I say besides the attraction was DARK!! To dark in fact that it took away from the whole experience! My group DID NOT get to experience the tunnel that you have to crawl through or any other room of meaning. We ended having to be lead out due to the darkness. I was REALLY disappointed after this attraction. The year before (2003) this was a great haunt. But now it is a waiste of time. So I give this attraction a 2 out of 10. Why only 2? I will give PKI credit for having a well kept facade up for the haunt and for being orginized and prepared for the crowd.

Maze of Madness: PKI has really done alot with this attraction. The great acting alone in this haunt is enough to please the most avid haunt tourist. But the "cool" factor of this haunt is AMAZING. With the re-design of the floorplan and maze layout, one is sure to get lost. The chainlink fence, strobe light, mirrors, fog, constant sounds, and awesome acting makes this one sweet attraction. I also noticed that PKI add a few animated props from Distortions Unlimited (Haunt industry prop/animation creator). I was pleased to see that PKI is keeping this haunt updated and nerve racking. I would go into detail on what I think would make it even better (as a pro-haunter myself) but that is not my job. I give the Maze of Madness a sweet 8 out of 10 for being one awesome attraction and PKI's desire to keep it updated and scary.

Dracula's Haunted Castle: I thought this was going to be one cool ride, but man was I wrong. I waited in line maybe an hour for this ride and it SUCKED. I was down right ****ed off that PKI added this attraction. Elvira's Superstition is a better ride than this. I was glad to see the old Phantom Theater animations in the line, and actually working! It also pleased my ears to hear the music from PT as well. I was really expecting an deep, heart felt apology after this ride. With barely any sound, almost ZERO seat movement and a story that would bore my baby neice... I could make a ride way better than this. I give DHC a horrorific 1 out of 10, I don't want to go into this.

Circus of Horrors: For once I am glad to be going through a Halloween Productions (Haunt Industry leader) haunted attraction. I know there was alot of cunfusion in past years when the park maps said "Circus of Horrors" but the actual facade read "TerrorVisions in 3D". So I was pleased that PKI painted over this and added there own design to the attraction. This unique 3D attraction always pleases me everytime I tour it. This year, PKI added a mirror maze to lose you in the haunt. Hint: Don't trust the clown, he WILL NOT help you out of the maze! It seems as if the actors in this haunt have improved 200% from last years actors. Whatever PKI did, they did it right. Several moments in the haunt made me jumpback, sometimes into other actors! I will give the Circus of Horrors a 3D-rific 9 out of 10. This is just one great and fun haunt.

Sleepy Hollow Horror: I waited about 45 minutes for this haunt, but it was WELL worth the wait. Let me just say that the EXTREME detail in this haunt actually puts you into the 1700's! The Barn, Wine Cellar, Farm House, Attic... it's all detailed to the bone, it was a sight to see. The effects in this haunt are top-notch. The severed heads, portraits that follow you, and drop windows and doors all add to the overall "fright-factor" to the whole haunt. Then the inflated walls at the end add that extra "thrill", as if you can't get out makes it worth while. The haunt might look small (since it is under a tent) but it is massive! I give Sleepy Hollow Horror a goretastic 10 out of 10. Everyone on this forum should tour this haunt!

Friday the 13th: Jason's Extreme Cuts: This was a really cool, multi-sensory event. The movie itself is gory, bloody, and sometimes un-easy to watch. The added "spews" into the front rows of the crowd adds to the event. But watch out! Jason is on the prowl in the theater and you just might be his next victim at feared Camp Crystal Lake! Hint: The goofy guy from Magic of the Movies is back as a camp employee for this one. Hint2: The front rows will get sprayed with water, "toxic waiste", and pieces of a smashed fruit!!! I give Friday the 13th a bloody 7 out of 10. This is a fun attraction for all Jason fans.

House of Darkness: This is the parks traditional haunted house, and what can I say but SPOOKY!!! PKI decided to add a dark maze right in the middle of the haunt to lose it's guest. The swimming pool "noodles", crunch's on the floor, and (what felt like) artificial fishing worms on the wall added to the wierd level of the maze. After you find the way out you travel through more twisted corridors and paths until you come into a "butcher shop" like area. It looks like PKI had some left overs from the Maze of Madness becuase the walls were chainlink fence and those white curtains as before. I was also glad to see that PKI added some more new props from Distortions. I will give this haunted haven a 8 out of 10. This fright fest should not be skipped.

Psycho Path: This is the same as previous years with the addition of a corn maze style haunt in the beiginning half of the trail. This gore fest kind of a let down due to minimal actors and scares. The wait wasn't bad, about 30 minutes. The sounds of scream from the woods filled the sky as you approached the entrance. I was somewhat please to see that the trial was easy to walk on and well kept. I must give Psycho Path a passing 5 out of 10. You don't have to wait for this one, some might be very disapointed.

Overall I was really pleased with PKI's new take on the Halloween experience. The decor in the Coney Maul was nice. The slidders were startling and very effective. The fog just added a more "dead" look to the park. And the purple Eiffel Tower was just plain spooky. I hope PKI continues to take FearFest on it's upward trend to greatness. I had an AWESOME time and think any haunt lover would too. Happy Haunting. -Hauntguy

[Hoskins123]

I really thought Psycho Path was the best. It got the most reactions out of my group.

[FamousLastWords]

I felt that Sleepy Hollow was lacking in true scares. The headless horseman only appeared once, and he was sitting down, showing you his head right at the beginning. Everyone else just looked like a bunch of zombie Paul Reveres and Ben Franklins. Sure, the hanging heads were very realistic, and the whole house was very detailed, but without any real horror, it was like watching a movie that was just pretty to look at, but had no real substance (What Dreams May Come). I think SHH had two major problems. 1) There was too much light. I don't want it pitch black like Curse of the Crypt, that just ruins everything, but instead, just enough darkness that you can't see everything up ahead. 2) The biggest scares in these houses come from the unexpected, i.e. someone jumping out at you and people popping out of the wall (dotted clown in COH3D). I don't know what the rest of you experienced here, but only one person jumped out at my group, and the rest just walked around as if being there was scary enough. Great idea PKI, it has potential, but it definitely needs work for next season.

Oh, and what did the inflated walls at the end have to do with Sleepy Hollow. That was just weird.

[TheKlockster]

I went both days. It was pretty cool. I didn't do any fearfest attractions, just regular rides. But it was fun. The guys walking around in coney mall were pretty cool. It was funny to see them keep scaring the girls by running up to them and sliding on their knees.

The theming is great in coney maul.

[hauntguy]

Maybe, PKI could attach a ply-wood wall to the inflatables. This will cause the actuall walls to come in on you, without putting to much pressure on the body. I agree, the theming in the Coney Maul was top-notch. Happy Haunting. -Hauntguy

[TheSnapper]

I liked the trail the best. Sleepy Hallows theming was un real it was awesome but a lot of dead spots through out the maze though.

[pki_rulz]

people please remember that sleepy hollow was not completed until during the day saturday. do you honestly think they had enought time to figure everything out?

[TheSnapper]

Very true but they should have it done and ready by when there suppose to also.

[FamousLastWords]

people please remember that sleepy hollow was not completed until during the day saturday. do you honestly think they had enought time to figure everything out?

Yes, I do. They had to plan everything beforehand. You can't just put all that together without a single idea of what it will look like before you build it. However, this season is like a trial run. PKI will see what worked and what didn't, and make changes for next season. Look at Psycho Path, they changed some details of it this season to improve it. The only thing they did wrong with Fearfest this year was bring in Dracula's Haunted Castle. But at least it's most likely safe to say we will never see that movie again. Anyway, they designed it, they built it, and they got people's reactions from it. My reaction is: good layout, but changes in some scare tactics are necessary.

[hauntguy]

Actually, Oak Island Productions out of Tampa Bay Florida designed and built the attraction. The reason why it lacked the scares is because... Due to the recent hurricanes hitting Florida, Oak Island had to buckle down. Until recently, did the company actually get all there stuff shipped out. Two Saturdays ago (Toyota Familly Day) they were just starting to put up the basic walls of the haunt. So PKI and Oak Island were really rushing to get Sleepy Hollow Horror open Saturday. And with that said, I think PKI did a AWESOME job with the haunt. Happy Haunting. -Hauntguy

PS: Here's the company that built the haunt- www.oakislandinc.com Enjoy!