Fright Nights - 2015

[Zanstabar]

Are they only allowed to touch you during the Terror Tour? Thanks for the reply!

Yes. Physical contact is pretty much only allowed during the tour. 

[aqu]

Yes. Physical contact is pretty much only allowed during the tour. 

Ah, that sucks! I'm gonna do it next year, 16 is an alright age, yeah? I turn 15 on the 15th, so next year I'll be 16 by the time I go, and luckily enough I just got my first job last week, so I'll be able to afford it, fuck yeah!

[Brad2912]

Tone down the language. That's MA15+ talk and you're not there yet.

[downunder196]

Haven't been yet but doesn't sound like much has changed from the queueing point of view... People overreact though, even with long lines you can still get all 4 mazes done easily.

Edited October 3, 2015 by downunder196

[aqu]

Tone down the language. That's MA15+ talk and you're not there yet.

Right.

[themagician]

So tonight queue were a lot longer, but last night was a sell out. Can anyone who went tonight comment on this?

[aqu]

Anyone here going on the 16th and/or 23rd?

[Reanimated35]

So tonight queue were a lot longer, but last night was a sell out. Can anyone who went tonight comment on this?

I'll put up some of my thoughts a bit later/tomorrow, but it felt a lot quieter than previous years. Got a maze done and a ride on SE within the first hour. 

[Reanimated35]

[Reanimated35]

[maxito]

I attended Fright Nights yesterday and also went on the Ultimate Terror Tour. The whole tour was worth it and the lounge was great with complimentary canape's on arrival and buffet through out the night. The briefing with the scare actors gave us an insight into the duty of being a scare actor and many opportunities for photo's etc. We were then escorted to main street into a reserved roped of section in front of the panic rooms for us. The opening ceremony/parade was exciting and pumped you up for the mazes and the night ahead. 

Off the Beaten track tour: 

I found this tour more fun than horrific and scary as mentioned by Michael at the briefing. It was still dark...Very dark. The actors gave it there all though.They utilized the Kids WB area well and all worked nicely with the theme/story line. This experience was a nice addition to the tour and hope it will continue in the following years- different story line hopefully.  I don't want to spoil it so i will leave it at that.

Wyrmwood: 

This was the first maze i went in on the night. I had mixed feeling when it got announced it would be a maze but because it is one of the hero mazes this year i had hope. There was definitively a difference in the sound stage mazes this year in comparison to previous Fright Nights. For one they seemed a lot shorter. Is this due to the Secret Rooms in the middle of the maze? And two the maze lacked in overall scenery and atmosphere (IMO). From memory the majority of the maze had just plain black corridors and in a way wrecked the mood. It also didn't seem that there were many actors (might have been the timing i went through). This didn't mean it was a bad maze but i feel it didn't have a solid story line or theme. The scares were very average but making some of the scares happen in the VIP secret rooms were a lot of fun. Overall 7/10. 

Friday The 13th: 

I was most excited for this maze and was almost certain this was going to be one of the best seen at FN's. Boy was i wrong. I just didn't enjoy this maze. Again, very average scares. Same goes for basic set in exception for the lake at the start and the tunnel made from dirt. You would turn a corner in a basic black corridor hoping for a scare... nope. The few Jason scares were great but not enough. There was something missing in the two sound stage mazes that i couldn't just put my finger on. They do get right up in your face though. Something i admired about all the mazes in general were the soundscapes blasted above your head. For Friday the 13th I actually got more jumps from the loud sounds than the actual actors. The secret room was a hell lot of fun pressing buttons, pulling levers and looking at the maze layout. I will say no more for the people doing the tour though. Overall a bit disappointed. I am giving this maze a 6/10.

The two hero maze lines were about the same size for the majority of the evening with the main queue 'zig zag' 3/4 full. Guessing 45 minute waits max just from inspection. And for the first half of the night, us UTT and Fast Track people waited for no more than 5 minutes for all of the mazes. 

Wolf Creek 2: 

After not really liking last years adaption this years was a game changing revival for me. It was fast paced and in general a compact version of last years. Being in such a smaller location this made a lot of scares more intimate and happened one after another quickly. There were some rooms and corridors that looked like the designer had given up on ideas on what to put there but it was still awesome. This years Show Stage maze is on par with Hillbilly slasher, i personally loved Hillbilly despite the mixed reviews. Overall i rate it 8/10. 

Evil Within: I was looking very forward to this maze as it was my favorite maze ever at Fright Nights and was curious how it being in the arcade would effect the brilliant theming/set it entailed last year. I wouldn't say it was as good as last year but still was a kick-ass maze. Scare after scare, awesome effects and returning characters such as Reborn Laura and the chainsaw butcher were great quality scares. It will be sad to see this one finish this year and not return but had a good run. I would rate this maze also 8/10 

Devilution Panic Room: 

My group decided to choose Devilution after being spoiled on how to figure the way out for The Playpen. I was the first to enter the room and had no idea what to expect and was very nervous. I was blind folded and taken into the room and handcuffed. When we were allowed to take the blindfolds off i was startled by an 'infected' man grabbing my legs in a cage. We didn't figure out the code to get out but according to the staff watching us we were very close. I wasn't upset that i didn't finish but more eager and curious to have a stab at the rest and find out what the others offer. It wasn't scary at all for me after i initially got over the fact that the actor may touch you. I enjoyed the experience and was well worth it. Has any one else done the other rooms? If so what are your thoughts?

Scare Precincts:
I loved the precincts this year and I can tell that Fright Nights are becoming bigger each year by making the precincts an actual thing not just some zombies wandering around the park. My favourite would have to be Zombie Land as it was just so well done. Maybe a bit more actors and the precinct would of been near to perfect. Freaks was just plain fun and was very happy with the outcome. It was the most lively precinct and very interactive. The cage man smothered in blood was back again and more creepy than ever. Besides from them two precincts the 2 other precincts were meh. Gothic Hall should of been listed as a performance not a scare precinct. Zero actors. But nice to listen to when you are passing by. Demons Lair was interesting. I think it had a lot more potential.Although I really liked how dark it was and the strobe lights make it hard to navigate your way to Evil Within and Wolf Creek. There were no real scares but at least they can improve these zones in the coming years. 

On another note Zombie Alley was a let down and have been getting worse each year. The first time I passed through we didn't see many zombies at all. Leaving i got chased all the way out from soundstage to superman. Although it was fun and scary i noticed he was the only actor in the alley. 

Overall 2015 Fright Nights brought a new era including Precincts, panic rooms etc and will be curious to see how the event will be improved over the years. The mazes were just missing something and just didn't seem right. I left feeling rather unsatisfied.Though i thoroughly enjoyed the Ultimate Terror Tour and will be booking it next year. It was the best of the worst Fright Nights. 

Edited October 3, 2015 by maxito

[BNErider]

Interesting reading about the mazes. TBH, I was never blown away by the maze choices but I was hoping the two stage show mazes would be awesome!? Argh!

[maxito]

Interesting reading about the mazes. TBH, I was never blown away by the maze choices but I was hoping the two stage show mazes would be awesome!? Argh!

I was hoping the mazes would be amazing regardless of the choices. Boy was i wrong. I did enjoy them though but left as though they could have done so much more! However definitely give them a go, seems like others liked it. I am interested to see how they will go in Showstage and Arcade next year.

Edited October 4, 2015 by maxito

[Cooper Olsen]

Well we will at least know soon know either one maze or precinct by Halloween this year for Fright Nights 2016! 

[themagician]

To the people who have been, do the rides close at 9pm, except for SDSC which closes at 10:30pm?

[maxito]

Well we will at least know soon know either one maze or precinct by Halloween this year for Fright Nights 2016! 

It was said at the beggining of the tour that Wyrmwood and Friday the 13th will be returning for 2016 along side two fresh new hero mazes. This pattern will continue every year.

 

Edited October 4, 2015 by maxito

[Cooper Olsen]

^Also that the winner of Reel Horror competition will get to see there short film turn into a maze or precinct in 2016 

[maxito]

^Also that the winner of Reel Horror competition will get to see there short film turn into a maze or precinct in 2016 

I haven't seen the film yet but I hope next year it becomes a maze not a precinct. It could be situated in the scooby line as it might not need the extra detail Wyrmwood and Friday will need. Therefore next year I am hoping for five mazes!  

[themagician]

^The thing is, if there has been some disappointments with the 2 new mazes this year, then would we want an extra maze. We won't the park to put as much detail and scares into the mazes possible and with the extra new additions this year, I think it is because of this, they haven't been able to put as much detail and scare actors as they can. With the scare precincts they are needing scare actors to be active in those spaces as much as possible, which it seems has an affect on the zombie alleyway that has always got good scares. It seems like (based off what people have said) MW have hired about the same amount of scare actors as they have in previous years, but they've added panic rooms. Maybe we will see some more scare actors at FN later in the month when tickets cost more.

[Reanimated35]

To the people who have been, do the rides close at 9pm, except for SDSC which closes at 10:30pm?

Rides closed early because of the finale at 10:15. 

SE closed 8:30/9 like normal and SDSC closed the queue around 9:30.

[maxito]

Just curious but has anyone done the other Panic Rooms? If so what were your thoughts and do you think they have a chance of returning next year? 

[aqu]

Rides closed early because of the finale at 10:15. 

SE closed 8:30/9 like normal and SDSC closed the queue around 9:30.

When you say the "finale" do you mean the "the freaks" thing at the end? I've seen it all over instagram. Also, is that every night or just yesterday and Friday?

[Reanimated35]

Showstage maze queues were also closed around 10. 

The finale is

The big song and dance/mosh pit in main street with the zombies/actors

It's a very effective way of clearing the park. I think they got sick of people slowly filtering out and having to keep staff on til 11/11:30. With most people watching the finale, they usually leave straight after then there's just the last few from mazes and rides.

Edited October 4, 2015 by reanimated35

[aqu]

Showstage maze queues were also closed around 10. 

The finale is

 

Hidden Content

It's a very effective way of clearing the park. I think they got sick of people slowly filtering out and having to keep staff on til 11/11:30. With most people watching the finale, they usually leave straight after then there's just the last few from mazes and rides.

Yes that's what I meant by "The Freaks", but was that a one time thing?

[Reanimated35]

Having only been one night, I can't confirm yet, but I'd assume it will be their park clearing technique each night. I'll let you know next weekend though.