Fright Fest 2011

[Necropolis]

2 more days until Fright Fest 2011 begins!! Can't wait!!!!

[Ilovthevu']

How many people are going to beat the rush, and get their at 10 AM Sat... I wonder how many people will be mad that the park isn't open at 10?? 11 am instead

[Jackluver18]

I get to go in a few weeks. It's gonna be awesome

[Johnny.Ink]

How many people are going to beat the rush, and get their at 10 AM Sat... I wonder how many people will be mad that the park isn't open at 10?? 11 am instead

HA!

We usually get there about 30 minutes early so we don't have to rush, but yeah, it'll be nice to get to sleep in an extra hour before having to leave for Six Flags.

[Jackluver18]

^ I agree. I love that the park is gonna be open till 11

[lord soth]

I'm a bit surprised that our big friend hasn't climbed to the top of Sky Trek Tower yet. I wonder if he will make an appearance for FF this year? As of 6pm this evening, he was not there.

[sfgamguy]

I really cannot say much, but I can say that from tonight's preview, this will be the best fright fest yet! There are a lot more actors around, and MMC is very good.

http://newssun.suntimes.com/news/7924482-418/six-flags-ready-for-halloween-transformation.html

[TonyMichaud]

Edit

[sfgam1]

Thanks for the AWESOME update Tony! That is crazy about the past ride cemetery!! I really look forward to Sunday! Can't wait to see the pics!!

[Jackluver18]

Sounds pretty awesome. Can't wait

[DejaVu2001]

My understanding regarding Larry's (the Gorilla) absence is with all the rain this week, they haven't had an chance to safely set him up. Looking at tomorrow's forecast of high winds, looks like he'll miss the first weekend.

[Stoogie]

Thanks Tony. I wonder if MOT will be any different this year? It's been the same for the last 4 years. Same directional layout. What I did think was cool was when they had an actor flinging himself next to the guy in the electric chair but he was live..lol. He got my wife pretty good. Scared the yell out of her. Anyone know if the Twins are back this year? I know they worked for that "other Company" but dang if they were'nt effective..lol. Why were'nt all the rides operating?

[TonyMichaud]

Why were'nt all the rides operating?

Because it is Preview Night for the employees - Some offer to operate rather than "play" so they can only have a handful of rides in operation. Gives the employees a chance to check out the Haunted Houses and look at the park.

[TonyMichaud]

Edited

[JuleeM13]

Thanks for the recap! Even more excited now!

I have a stupid question. If you go into the Haunted Houses during the day with discounted admission, is it still as dark in them as it would be at night? I seem to remember doing so years ago and light crept in kind of ruining the effects. Just wondering if this is why the discount it.

[TonyMichaud]

Thanks for the recap! Even more excited now!

I have a stupid question. If you go into the Haunted Houses during the day with discounted admission, is it still as dark in them as it would be at night? I seem to remember doing so years ago and light crept in kind of ruining the effects. Just wondering if this is why the discount it.

Excellent question. If any outside light gets in, I sincerely doubt it's enough to ruin the effects. I believe they only discount the price before 5pm because they want some people to go in the Houses prior... If everyone that wanted to go through them came at 5pm and beyond the line would be without a doubt, hours and hours. Not sure how many people take advantage of the price cut, but going to a Haunted House (even at Fright Fest) is a little odd during the day hours. (But that's just me, I enjoy the overall atmosphere of waiting for a haunted attraction, feeling the intensity build as you know your group is next to go, etc.)

NOTE: It was light out when I went through MMC last night, and I assure you no outside light got in. As I wrote previously, I did not enter Maus, so cannot comment on that.

As years past, once I go this Sunday I'll provide a TR that will highlight all Haunted attractions and whether to ride during the daylight hours or save for night time. You can see those posts in previous Fright Fest threads within this website. (As Fright Fest crowds are often big, knowing what rides to hit first in the daytime and those to visit later at night will save time for any group wishing to hit as much of the fun as possible and experience the best possible parts of every attraction.)

[JuleeM13]

Awesome thanks! I'm going Sunday too so I'll check our your post from last year! Is it in the Trip Reports forum?

[TonyMichaud]

Awesome thanks! I'm going Sunday too so I'll check our your post from last year! Is it in the Trip Reports forum?

No, in the Fright Fest topics from years past. Believe I started my TR's in 2006 or so.

[JuleeM13]

For those going this weekend it's Coasters for a Cause too so if you plan to purchase your tickets online enter Promo Code "CALSANGELS" and get them for $28.30 instead of $34.99.

[Stoogie]

For those going this weekend it's Coasters for a Cause too so if you plan to purchase your tickets online enter Promo Code "CALSANGELS" and get them for $28.30 instead of $34.99.

AWSOME! Thanks!

[Big Frank]

I'm going sunday can't wait.

[Paradise]

Have fun today everyone!

[RBullFan97]

Ha, I love those defunct ride gravestones. Where exactly in the park are those?

[Jackluver18]

Over by Pit and Massacre

[DeathbyDinn]

Just got back from Fright Fest, thought I'd share my thoughts on it.

Overall, I thought the event was better this year compared to last. There seemed to be more theming, a lot more scare-actors and just an overall better atmosphere. The Gorilla and the FF ride signs are yet to be put up (except for Terror Twisters) but with the recent weather I was surprised more wasn't done. Plus, the park was very empty for FF, so that just makes it better on its own.

Carousel Plaza: The graveyard around the reflection pool looked great, and just in the small area behind the carousel and between the entrance to HTS and OP, there were 3 or 4 actors while I don't remember seeing any there last year!

Bayou De Vaudou: I didn't like Seven Sins Cemetery, I didn't like this. Pretty much the same theming, but at least there were 4 actors, were as last year I saw 1.

Last Stop: Burn 'Em and Buried Circus: Not too different from last year, but the Dying Trapeze overlay was well done, and a clowns are just scary in general so it was pretty good.

Necropolis: Different from last year, but better in my opinion. The asylum for the insane was gone, but the cool axe girl video/animatronic was still on display.

Port Dread: One of the smaller zones, but very well themed with great scare-actors.

The Ruins of Fenrir: According to the FF map the zone is between Fiddlers Flung and the train station, but all that was there was dead trees and cornstalks so..not too sure what that was all about. I didn't go by after 4 though, so I can't comment on scare-actors. The ride graveyard, while not technically in the zone, is nearby and was very well done. SWF, SW and GAR cars on display, plus a freshly dug grave for IW. (Which is completely blocked by cornstalks, so to get any deconstruction pictures you have to stick a camera over the fence.)

Hellmouth: Seemed like a bit of an afterthought. Outside of Demons sign and the wood-chip pentagram, there wasn't much theming. At least the scare-actors had cool costumes that were pretty unique.

Tinseltown Terror: More spread out this year, twice the amount of actors, and new better costumes.

Sector 7: Probably the best scare zone. Whizzer had some nice theming added to it that you see in line and on the ride itself, lots of radioactive barrels all over and as we know barrels=theming, and 4 or 5 scare-actors that seemed to be getting the most scares out of people. Plus it has LAFF and lots of pretty X Flight pictures, so it gets a few extra points of that.

As for actual houses I only did Massacre Medical Center. It was good enough that I'd definitely do it again, but not after 5 when it's full price. I was in the middle of a large group, so while for me it wasn't particularly scary, it was still very fun. There's also a very cool scare they do at the beginning, which I wont spoil, but is definitely something that stuck out to me.

As for shows, just LAFF, but like last year it was great. Same premise, same songs, mostly same cast, but better jokes in my opinion as well as a great use of Rebecca Blacks infamous "Friday."

And then we get to Terror Twister Two: A Turn for the Worst. It's still amazing, had some cool new lights, and was just all around great. The music could definitely be turn up though, as you can hear it from outside the ride, but isn't all too loud on the inside. Might just be me, but I think for a ride like this the music should be blasting. The DJ was also not yet/will not be up.

And thats it! Definitely looking forward to going back soon and hopefully trying a few other houses.