Fright Nights 2017

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

1. it varies. some scares are piss funny after the initial shock, others are literally terrifying for the right people. If your missus doesn't like major scares, it can be hard to judge, but a person who is figuratively shitting themselves into a puddle will find the actors back off - they go for the 'scream and run, turn around look back, and then laugh whilst the adrenalin wears off' reaction, not the 'i'm going to need therapy fora very long time' reaction. Depends on the actor really, but i guess the biggest point here is to 'give it a go' at least once.
2. Mazes vary too - in the past with soundstages they've had LOTS of room to use. With more compact facilities, things are shortened or crammed in, but once you're through the queue and actually entered into the maze, its usually 5 mins or less. Depends on how fast or slow your leader is and whether any groups in front of you are clogging it up.
3. Too much to do depends on what you go there for. Rides really shouldn't be the motivation, but it is so rare to ride some of these things at night that many want to try it. I'll never understand why Scooby is so popular on the night... people are weird. If you plan to skip the rides, you've got a fair chance to get the non-pay-to-play experiences done fairly easily, if you play a good strategy (which usually consists of heading for a group of mazes that are furthest away from the entrance, and doing them back to back quickly, not stopping to eat, worrying about street entertainment and shows last, and of course, skipping the rides). Of course the Ultimate Terror Tour (and the new Hyped tour) adds much more to do within the same amount of time more or less, so again, it depends on what you're going there for - you'll definitely get all the mazes done, but whether you get all the 'FN related' stuff done comes down to your pace and strategy...
   I'd suggest for a first time, go as a punter rather than a VIP and experience it as is. If you'd rather not spend your entire time in queues, or rushing, then spend a little extra for a Maze fast track, so you can do them at your own leisure and enjoy the ambience and other entertainment without worrying about whether you'll get through it all - the fast track is cheaper than the tour passes, and give you one fast tracked admission to each maze, ensuring you'll get them all done.

***I haven't been to FN in a few years, and while i'd hoped to go this year, at this point i'm probably not getting there, so this is based of my own (*dated) visits as well as the discussions had here on Parkz. I don't think i'm far off the mark but if something i've said is inaccurate or outdated, i'm sure someone else will correct it soon enough.

Hope you guys enjoy it when you get there. It is well worth the trip - even if it is a crushing sea of humanity.

[Redboost]

Yeah, the family and I have been going to the Gold Coast on and off for the last 10 years and I haven't done a single feature night (FN, WC, Carnivale) so it'd be nice to at least do one. Was hoping to do Carnivale this year until it got moved to SW so I guess FN holds the most appeal at the moment.

[themagician]

I’m someone who doesn’t like to be scared and refuses to watch horror films, but I still go to FN because for some reason I do find enjoyment out of it, and love to see what the park does. 

There is a massive variety of scares, as already mentioned. But my advice would be to do the mazes from least to most scary, so you get a feel for the event.

For me, from least to most scary:

From dusk till Dawn

Jigsaw

Conjuring 2

Halloween.

And then there are all the Scare actors down Main Street, around the fountains and into the Western area. Generally they target young screaming girls, but if you show fear they will chase, so if they do frighten, try remain calm and they’ll find someone else to scare.

[themagician]

Tim Tracker has visited HHN Hollywood, where they allow for cameras within the mazes. And at the event they have a Saw Maze, based off Jigsaw. And it is interesting to see how the park did Maze, compared to the one we have at this years FN. Saw starts at 16:12

. 

[pin142]

Saw maze at USH was really well done, no idea how it compares to the one here as I am unable to do Fright Nights locally nor could I be bothered trying to get time off for it at short notice.

[westical]

On 27/10/2017 at 12:02 AM, pin142 said:

Saw maze at USH was really well done, no idea how it compares to the one here as I am unable to do Fright Nights locally nor could I be bothered trying to get time off for it at short notice.

Tip - Fright Nights happens annually around this time. 

[pin142]

14 hours ago, westical said:

Tip - Fright Nights happens annually around this time. 

Was more concerned organising a US trip, normally have time off around this time in October but not this year so my free entry to fright nights wasn't used. I could have called in sick one night but didn't see it as worthy of using a sick day especially when compared to what I experienced in the USA. If they ran one or two Sunday nights I would have been on it like a fat kid to cake but I guess selling out Friday and Saturday nights are more important.

[themagician]

But the thing is, this year they only had 2 Saturday nights sell out. In previous years, nearly every night would sell out (sometimes days in advance, or just hours before the event). Personally I believe that from MWs perspective, it wasn’t as successful this year as it has been. Queues weren’t crazy long compared to previous years (But that might be based off better organisation). For me, it definitely wasn’t the best year (once again), because it doesn’t feel like thlike y pushed the limits with the mazes (There was really only 2 that I really enjoyed, Halloween and Conjuring). And the Precincts really didn’t seem existent this year. Remember how awesome they used to be. The Zombieland Precinct was awesome (So much detail, tonnes of scares, photo opportunities). And really it doesn’t seem like people on Parkz were as excited either. In recent years we’ve easily gotten 30-40+ pages discussing the event, while this year we only did 12. I really hope MW can come up with something awesome for 2018.

[xRazzBerryx]

I do think they’ve been going on a decline in the recent years. I believe not being able to use the studios has been a HUGE reason as to why the mazes have not been as good. 

I remember back in 2014 in the Wolf Creek 2 Maze, you would literally walk inside a full sized lodge (house). This maze had huge sets & the theming was outstanding. Same goes for Evil Within 2. Easily the best mazes ever done IMO. The fact that the Studios had heaps of room means the sets were bigger, longer & more immersive. 

I found a video from Wolf Creek 2 here - 

 

In 2015 when they moved Evil Within & Wolf a Creek 2 to the Dodgems area & Soundstage, they were still good however I could definitely notice how they had been shrunken down In size to fit the area. As for Friday the 13th & Wyrmwood that were in the Studios, they had huge sets. Walking over the bridge as you went into Friday the 13th, to then walking down the big caves, it was just awesome. 

As for precincts, I definitely think they could be better. I think The Evil Within 2 precint this year had a good atmosphere but lacked actors. Zombie land was definitely one of the best.  

The roaming actors this year was way better than last year! Even if it was just zombies running up and down Main Street, it’s still better than having a dead/boring area. 

For next year, this would be my ideal layout if I could choose.

-2 NEW mazes in the Studios.

- 2 returning mazes in the sheds

- Zombie Laser Tag in the soundstage. 

I just hope that the Studios will be free for next year but I doubt it ☹️

 

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

23 hours ago, themagician said:

But the thing is, this year they only had 2 Saturday nights sell out. In previous years, nearly every night would sell out (sometimes days in advance, or just hours before the event).

One factor to take into account is that they aren't giving away the gate anymore. Every passholder from the cheapest to the most expensive used to have Fright Nights included - there were a lot of 'free' entries making up those sellout nights.

These days only the higher tier passes have it included, and for everyone else it's chargeable, with passholders having a reduced price ticket. I wouldn't write off this year as a failure for the park - they've obviously managed to reduce patronage, but in the same turn have likely increased revenue - either from 'gate' tickets, or charging more for the passes that have it included. This is the direction we've all been screaming for them to take, so its nice to see that it has worked. Imagine the queues if all the VIPs still had free entry...

[Locke]

I went to Fright Nights for the first time at Movie World and as a newbie to such things it was much better than I thought it would be - the park was full, the atmosphere was great and the there were a few frights, so you got what you paid for.

Quite an impressive production on the whole I thought, especially against the backdrop of the newly opened DC Rivals at night the park really felt like it was firing on all cylinders.

 

[aaronm]

I kind of agree that the quality this year wasn't quite there. It was most noticeable in the lack of scare actors in some mazes (think I counted eight total in Conjuring on Saturday night), basically the maze just becomes a stroll through some foggy corridors.

Ultimate Terror Tour was solid as always, but is it just my imagination or has the event become a lot shorter - I thought it used to wrap up around 11pm, not 9:30?

[JaggedJanine]

6 hours ago, aaronm said:

I kind of agree that the quality this year wasn't quite there. It was most noticeable in the lack of scare actors in some mazes (think I counted eight total in Conjuring on Saturday night), basically the maze just becomes a stroll through some foggy corridors.

Ultimate Terror Tour was solid as always, but is it just my imagination or has the event become a lot shorter - I thought it used to wrap up around 11pm, not 9:30?

The closing show has been at 10pm in previous years finishing around 10:15pm - 10:20pm. This year the closing was at 9:40pm so it could be finished by 10pm.

[Brad2912]

Not sure if it was all ticket holders or just members, but I received a survey/feedback from VTP yesterday about FNs. 

Good opportunity to let them know what you liked, didn’t, and what you would like to see in the future! (Everyone pls put you would like to see 1 or 2 nights for +18s only! Haha)

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

10 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

(Everyone pls put you would like to see 1 or 2 nights for +18s only! Haha)

...on a sunday...

( @pin142 )

[WalleyWorld]

10 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

Good opportunity to let them know what you liked, didn’t, and what you would like to see in the future! (Everyone pls put you would like to see 1 or 2 nights for +18s only! Haha)

On the topic of age limits / age recommendations for Fright Nights......last Friday night I saw 3 families with young kids/infants and their prams strolling around the park. I found that quite bizarre, as the entertainment offering at Fright Nights is definitely not kid friendly.

[YaBoySlam]

4 hours ago, Luke said:

On the topic of age limits / age recommendations for Fright Nights......last Friday night I saw 3 families with young kids/infants and their prams strolling around the park. I found that quite bizarre, as the entertainment offering at Fright Nights is definitely not kid friendly.

I wonder if those families complained to management because the website didn't state that this was a mature event, is it just me or every parent these days have to start a lawsuit

[JaggedJanine]

The event is recommended for 14years and up. But every child is different so it is up to the parents to judge whether their kid would be able to hand the environment. 

[YaBoySlam]

1 hour ago, JaggedJanine said:

The event is recommended for 14years and up. But every child is different so it is up to the parents to judge whether their kid would be able to hand the environment. 

I have heard of parents taking their kids into Deadpool because they were too daft to see the obvious rating and also just because "its a superhero movie, nothing too harmful", so these parents taking super young kids may think  "oh its just going to have Looney Tunes characters handing out candy to kids, no chainsaws and mazes based off a torture porn movie", though their kids may be very tough, I'm not a parent so what do I know

Edited November 1, 2017 by YaBoySlam

[Brad2912]

Before the current incarnation of FNs it was a more family/young kid friendly event, but that changed about 6 or so years back, I don’t think parents are that naive to think it’s still that way, more so they think their children won’t be negatively impacted by that imagery (and they may not). I personally wouldn’t take a 5 year old there, but I can’t speak for others choices. 

[pin142]

1 hour ago, Brad2912 said:

Before the current incarnation of FNs it was a more family/young kid friendly event

Was this when they gave a crap about the look of the entrance and went all out with it instead of the current "band aid logo" solution in use now? Makes me sad seeing photos of the castle they put up compared to what they do now.

[rappa]

The 'Hell's Gate' entrance was definitely once the period of Adults Fright nights had begun and the first year of Sudden Impact being involved properly.

 

IMO the best mazes of all time for character and detail were Wolf Creek 2, Evil Dead and Hillbilly Slasher because they were more than just a walk through and people they yelled boo. They had environments, change of levels and texture and a greater sense of place and journey. Since then the mazes have kind of stagnated with almost 'same maze, different wallpaper.' The envelope isn't being pushed in terms of scares and technology and I think the scenic has actually regressed. 

It's still a solid event, but the maze side of it isn't progressing at all.

[YaBoySlam]

23 minutes ago, djrappa said:

The 'Hell's Gate' entrance was definitely once the period of Adults Fright nights had begun and the first year of Sudden Impact being involved properly.

 

IMO the best mazes of all time for character and detail were Wolf Creek 2, Evil Dead and Hillbilly Slasher because they were more than just a walk through and people they yelled boo. They had environments, change of levels and texture and a greater sense of place and journey. Since then the mazes have kind of stagnated with almost 'same maze, different wallpaper.' The envelope isn't being pushed in terms of scares and technology and I think the scenic has actually regressed. 

It's still a solid event, but the maze side of it isn't progressing at all.

The film vault and Zombie apocalypse mazes were interesting because they chose minimal to no theming yet they did very well with the use of a crap tone of strobes and fog machines

[rappa]

2 hours ago, YaBoySlam said:

The film vault and Zombie apocalypse mazes were interesting because they chose minimal to no theming yet they did very well with the use of a crap tone of strobes and fog machines

Yes IMO 'the freezer' style mazes are one of the most effective, there were people literally scared of nothing in there. The film vault version was a nice touch at adding just a bit extra. 

 

Id sooner see a maze like this as an extra addition and leave scenic budget for plussing others. 

They cost a lot to run (huge amounts of fog fluid) and the fences cop a beating but they are quick and simple to construct. 

[Brad2912]

Agree with the above ‘best mazes’. Film Vault & Evil Dead probably the best imo... 

i also thought The Walking Dead was great (even though at the time I had never seen the show), the use of good scenes and changes of directions etc were great