Fright Fest 2014 Lineup

[Viper 88]

I got there yesterday and by the time we parked it was 11:15. I made a bee line to X which in was closed for about an additional 1/2 hour. Ok I go to Eagle it breaks down. Try X, I don't know who considers row 4 big boy seats, but whoever it is must be blind. Upon further inspection close up I just think they chose a different color for the belt. Lines were abysmal 1/2 hour lines for Funnel Cake and soda. Just a couple places to eat inside. Ride lines were horrendous too, Though initially Eagle's moved quickly the P.I.T.A (pain in the @ss) was the FP they even once sent a train with 4 open seats they should have filled them. No one was for GD, Goliath was 2 hours 30. Some were quick though KC for me was a walk on, 2 cycles for Condor, Triple Play. Slowest was DEMON (or it seemed that way) Little Dipper (yeah I crammed my self into it). Terror Twister, but who wants to ride it first thing with the sun shining, though it is now seamlessly in the dark no peeks of light they did it right this year. Haunted Houses were ok you think for 24.99 (no tax) they would've been better. Over all MMC and MM were severely under staffed. MMC was darker than in years past, but the darkness was a distraction for there only being a few actors in it. MM was on no real story. Fear was decent and the longest wait. The ending was the best part. Abyss was Good much better improvement than last year good ending. It gets my number 3 spot. Wicked Woods was especially better they finally got the amount of decorations right and had a fair amount of actors though could have used some more. It gets number 2. Mausoleum had a few instances that did spook me. It ges number 1. Not gaving gone in summer were operations as bad as this the whole year?

The. decorations it seemed were also highly lacking, it seemed like there was no music, there was not as much fog. The only area that got this right was Carousel. They need to think about what they are doing and how much they are charging. JPM needs to take over again this in house business is nice, but you can tell the budget was just not there. Maybe because we aren't getting a new ride next year maybe the budget will be better, and Fright Fest can be restored to its former glory. Also Showtimes are jumbled We barely made it to LAFF. Positively skipped Dead Mans which I really wanted to see didn't catch Full Moon Rocksplosion show but watched the short parade and I do mean short. Missed Character Candy Trail (though not for candy, just to see Bugs and gang in Halloween garb).

[Stoogie]

Sounds like it just plain sucks this year. When the built Goliath, you'd think they would have engineered it to retain the pathway. Hell, you can drive thru Eagle.


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[Bakercat13]

I'm going next Saturday. How bad should the crowds be? And are gold flash passes enough or should I go for platinum?

[sfgamguy]

Sounds like it just plain sucks this year. When the built Goliath, you'd think they would have engineered it to retain the pathway. Hell, you can drive thru Eagle.

There is a service road under Goliath that every single worker has to walk through in order to get to work and every service vehicle goes through there as well... I'm sure that when the ride was engineered the entertainment dept. didn't put in a special request for a path for a haunted walk through that could have potentially changed the blueprint of the ride. Although I'm sad to see it lose the original path, sometimes change is good, especially for such an old attraction. And if you remember back to last year, they took out all the living bushes at the front and all the actors until you hit about the halfway mark on the path... With the gradual decline in staffing for that area, (one or two less actors every year) I kind of wish they would just scrap it and devote all their work toward a new walk through like the one in Bermuda. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Necro and I go through many times a year, but it's been extremely neglected for the past couple of years. But I haven't gone to FF yet so I'll have to see how I like it this weekend...

[Stoogie]

We just need JPM back.


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[Viper 88]

Rightly said ^

[Director_Guy]

We just need JPM back.

Agreed.

[Stoogie]

FF is not FF without them.


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[FParker185]

was def better with them, but even when they set up the event, the last couple years of them it wasn't any better than now other than the iconic characters like Mayor Slayer and the Freak Show

[Stoogie]

'97 Brutal Planet was the best year.


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[w00dland]

My thoughts from my first visit to FF in 6 years:

Got to the park around 5:30 on Saturday and was shocked by the state of the parking lot. Probably the busiest day I've ever seen at the park which I think it saying a lot. Cars and pedestrians everywhere with one poor parking attendant trying to keep control of a nasty situation. Bad start.

Inside of the park was a zoo with people, and I was pretty disappointed that most of the theming seemed to be missing from my last trip. The new animatronic pumpkin guy in front of Columbia was really cool though. Necropolis was smaller than it used to be with a lot less actors, I didn't bother with the haunted houses. Love at First Fright was just as entertaining as I remember it being back in '08 - it seemed like a few of the actors were the same as well?

Hurricane Harbor was just awful - some old net theming on an empty lazy river and 3 boxes for actors to "hide" behind. Just the saddest thing I've seen at a haunted attraction. Loved the actors near Columbia - it was cool to see the "classic" monsters out there. Best costume award goes to the Dollhead actress in Necropolis, way creepy.

One interesting note is that despite the massive crowds, the haunted attractions were practically dead while the ride lines were enormous. We tried Goliath's single rider queue and waited an hour and 15 minutes to board. I think its interesting how the park organizes that line, with some groupers clearly taught to ignore the line unless completely necessary which I suppose makes sense. To be fair, the station was complete chaos between 8 and 9 when we were up there. Flash Pass/Single Rider/EAP line was down the stairs the whole time, and the line for wheelchairs at one point was so bad that they forced everyone back down to the exit because of overcrowding. For about 30 minutes the trains were dispatched at 50% standby queue and 50% flash pass/EAP with pretty slow loading times. Just feels like the station needs to be bigger to handle the crowds. Tried Raging Bull's Single Rider Queue as well, but after waiting for 20 minutes (and 3 phone calls) at the flash pass entrance for the crew to bring down the lanyards, we gave up on it.

All in all we left at 11:15 and did 3 rides: King Chaos, Goliath and Triple Play (which closed at 11PM). Not sure if I'll be back again this year - maybe Sunday of closing weekend would be worth it depending on weather? I'm not sure if I've just gotten used to better ops at different parks, or if SFGAm has just gotten worse. It wasn't a terrible trip to the park, just seemed like a lot of work to have some fun.

[CoasterCale]

^^Hmmm I was given a wristband for SR at RB. I used it throughout the whole day. I've never used a lanyard at any other SR lines besides Goliath.

[steve0145]

I'm looking for the name or what it might be called of the large pumpkin machine by the carousel that talks?

[Stoogie]

I'm looking for the name or what it might be called of the large pumpkin machine by the carousel that talks?

That has been there for a while. I believe since 2007. I could be wrong. I think it's Pumpkin King?


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[steve0145]

Do they offer dinner for food pass holders on Fridays since they open up later?

[Guy_With_A_Stick]

Just got back. A lot more stuff has been added. Lots of fog and mist. The 7 sins cemetery now has 7 mausoleums- one for each of the Seven Deadly Sins. Necropolis went downhill. A lot. Terror Twister 2 is still my fav FF ride, and Goliath is still my personal fav. Yukon Territory has Undead Lumberjacks as their scary people. The park was literally vacant. Walk up on everything(except Goliath of course). The STT gondola has Orange lights, and smoke is spewing out of the tower.

That pretty much sums up today.

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[DeathbyDinn]

Thankfully, my second visit yesterday was much better than on the first day. Necropolis still wasn't great, but the rest of the park was much better now that a lot more decorations have been put up and the overall atmosphere has improved. I think they really just need to start setting up sooner. It seems like maybe they don't wanna have a lot of FF stuff up during the regular season, but then they need to bust ass to get it all up for day one.

I don't know if they started this last weekend, but one of the clowns had a little bike and two others had knee-pads for sliding. Not sure how well that'll work on days when it's slammed, but it works great for Friday nights when the midways are nearly empty.

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

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I don't know if they started this last weekend, but one of the clowns had a little bike and two others had knee-pads for sliding. Not sure how well that'll work on days when it's slammed, but it works great for Friday nights when the midways are nearly empty.

Anyone else remember when they had the people with knee pads sliding around in Orleans Place? Had to be around 10 years ago back when Fright Fest was great.

[steve0145]

I have to say this. I have been going to the park now for 7 years and this year has been the worst Fright fest I have seen in the 7 years. They did get the uprising better but they killed off Necropolis. I real hope next year is better.

[Jodon]

Does anyone know if they have single rider lines still for most of the bigger coasters?


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[Guy_With_A_Stick]

Yes, Raging Bull, Superman, Batman, and Goliath all have single rider lines.

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[Iron Wolf 90-11]

What is your favorite character this year at fright fest?

[steve0145]

I always go to the clowns like them all.

[CoasterCale]

Yes, Raging Bull, Superman, Batman, and Goliath all have single rider lines.

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I thought the Batman Line went away.

[aaronmckie]

Hmmm, not much talk about the mazes the last couple weeks, has anyone been in them recently? Never done the mazes at Fright Fest before but am going to on Sunday and have a some basic questions.

I am planning on getting the Express Haunt wristbands, it's only $10 more and figured it'll come in handy since the park closes at 9. Is that a good idea or will the crowds for the mazes be minimal?

Also, I can't find out information anywhere about where to pick up the wristbands (plan on buying them online later today). Is it inside the park, or out? I'm hoping inside because I'd rather not deal with the guest relations line if at all possible.

Thanks for any help, I've been lurking for years and never had any reason to post until today. Love the activity on the boards here