Unearthed returns for its third season in the former Gwazi station area. As was the case last season, the icon character Scarlett will not be featured in the house, but eagle-eyed guests might spot some references left in the theming. Unearthed is located at 1 on the map.
Guests are armed with only a Z. Zombie Eradication Device in this interactive experience. This is the only house not participating in the Front Line Fear upgrade option see below. ZCU15 is 7 on the map. The oldest returning house, Death Water Bayou is back for its fifth season, where guests will have to escape the curse of the Voodoo Queen. The first of the new scare zones had its name voted on by guests on facebook, and the winner was Class Deceased.
A cruel headmaster has the tables turned when the unruly students take their revenge. The last of the three new scare zones for Howl-O-Scream is Meat Market, where sinister and cannibalistic creatures feast on the weak. Expect the monsters to be carrying carving implements, including chainsaws! Wasteland returns along the bypass between Stanleyville and Congo Jungala will be closed again this season during the event.
Between the relatively narrow path and tons of theming elements, this scare zone is unnerving just from the claustrophobic feeling you get, never mind the warped survivors who terrorize you while walking through! Playground is the other returning scare zone, along the pathway in Nairobi near the train station. Derelict playground equipment and creepy children and toys lurk here to pounce on unsuspecting passersby.
While not an official scare zone, the main entrance area will also have some scare actors to get guests in the haunt mood as the enter the park. Expect the same high energy dance numbers mixed in with new pop culture references and adult humor from Dr. There will be four shows scheduled each night. One of the only things still not officially revealed is what is taking place of Fiends at Dragon Fire Grill.
All that has been said is there will be an exclusive performance during Fright Feast, the up-charge buffet option that gives guests early access to the houses see more below. There will be four performances each event night, with the first being an exclusive show for Fright Feast guests.
For those looking to let off a little steam while at Howl-O-Scream , there will be three DJ booths set up around the park playing party favorites. Elsewhere in the park, besides the scare zones and roaming scare actors, look for a few stationary photo op locations:. The team members are very friendly, helpful, and dedicated to Guest Service and Safety.
The one downfall for our experience was the communication of the Sampler cards. These cards are supposed to give you a food or beverage item at the Howl-O-Scream locations.
This ended up causing confusion and our sampler cards ended up being unused after visiting a few spots since we were more focused on experiencing all of the haunted attractions. Perhaps some clearer information upon issue of the card could clear up this confusion as well as a clearer indication as to which items were eligible for redemption small icon on the menu items, light up sign at the front of each location, etc.
Safety overall is taken into high consideration at Howl-O-Scream, but as this was opening night, there were a few minor challenges. This could be avoided with some slight paint treatment on this wall to make it at least slightly noticeable.
Side note: this was one of the best scares of the night. Kudos to this performer and design! Great final scare of a house.
The first time we went through UNEARTHED, we were bummed that our group was not captured in a photo, though understandable due to the timing of the scare and camera capture. When we went back through just before closing, we were disappointed to exit and see the monitors shut off and team members shutting down the kiosk before all Guests had exited the house.
Since the end of the night was rather quiet, it is understandable but on a busier night when the attraction is operating well past closing, it would be great for the kiosk to stay open until all Guests have exited giving them the same experience as previous Guests. Despite these minor challenges, everyone we encountered was extremely pleasant, and not once did we feel rushed or neglected, as can be the case at other theme park haunted attractions.
Not one area is untouched in Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, making the attraction completely different from the experience had during the day. Every area, while dark, is lit with textured lighting, creating a spooky feel and never creating too much light or an unsafe level of darkness. With characters everywhere, from the tram stop in the parking lot to the ride platforms and even the rides themselves, really the only place without actors is the restrooms thankfully. The blurred zones are very enjoyable, and while there are distinct themed zones, the fact that performers are around every corner and mini unadvertised scare zones make for really fun surprises and atmosphere.
Howl-O-Scream does a phenomenal job of creating an immersive environment allowing the thrill and suspense to never dip, an immeasurable task for their massive park. Many photo op locations make for fun moments with or without performers as well.
While Howl-O-Scream provides less special effects than some competitors, the ones they do employ have great effect and are well placed. Overall, in areas when a theme is given, Howl-O-Scream does a good job at delivering solid themed elements. The one confusing passageway was a near black hallway with no light except some that leaked in from above. Many elements seemed out of place or misdirected leading to a confused theme and unclear concept.
UNEARTHED had perhaps one of the best themes overall matching the distressed construction workers with a truly haunted house where horrific things are happening deep underground. Of note, this year the event will not be offered on Halloween night itself. Carver and Case of the Haunted Hotel which will be reviewed separately from the event. The fire-breathing giant that once guarded the enchanted dark castle has met his chilling demise.
He once stalked the premises, providing the warm lifeblood for the stronghold, but now his bones are mere decoration in a macabre icy grave. Frostbite now consumes all those trapped within. Those who dare to walk through this fortress are exposed to a harrowing array of chilling elements, from a fog-shrouded graveyard to a creepy cavern filled with frigid creatures.
The cold is not the only bone-chilling resident of the castle, however. For the ice has teeth … And this frost … Bites. Frostbite quickly becomes not about an immersive storyworld, but rather some rare photo opportunities in the track area of a major dark ride attraction. Needless to say, as such it should be noted that The Curse of DarKastle itself no longer operates during the fall season.
Interestingly, the massive projection screens from the ride are in use during the haunt, featuring custom footage. In terms of phsical set pieces, while the locales inherited from The Curse of DarKastle are of course compelling, the new bits added specifically for Frostbite were budget at best and embarrassing at worst.
It seems clear that the design team opted to really do nothing more than ride the coat tails of The Curse of DarKastle rather than put any real effort into producing any quality enhancements. So- does it scenically work? In a word, no. Not at all.
Much of Frostbite relies on its location- with very little benefit or impact from the few scareactors we encountered within. No one knows when or where the tents will rise, but all who see them are drawn to find out what lies inside Circo Sinistro at Busch Gardens. The haunted house is not of this world and not of this time — but beware, what you see, you soon will be. Circo Sinestro started — or at least, attempted to — with a preshow moment, where large groups of guests are gathered in the first big top tent.
Almost as though someone was pulled from their break to cover a spot without any time to prepare. In the end, this preshow added nothing to the overall experience through the haunt — and if anything, it hindered it by creating a much more slowly moving queue to get inside. Circo Sinestro exists, quite appropriately, within a series of tents set up in a wooded clearing outdoors.
As such, keep in mind that should you enter this particular haunt before sundown, your experience may be impacted by light leaks. Moments within this haunt were actually disorienting. In fact there were one or two where even I inadvertently took a wrong turn and needed a bit of direction to get me back on the intended path.
While this may not be the best design choice big picture, I felt it actually added to the allure Circo Sinestro was aiming to achieve. Each time someone goes missing, an intricate corn husk doll is left behind leading many to suspect local corn-farmer Jasper McCobb. Could the missing townspeople be somewhere in the maze of maize?
Join the search party and find out. Cornered is another example of Howl-O-Scream putting little effort into their story and relying more on the physical location to carry the Haunt. In this case, it somewhat works for them. That corn maze is, in itself what makes Cornered somewhat work. It evokes a classic Halloween flavor that almost excuses the lack of evident story or scares.
Because Halloween, I guess? The corn stocks themselves start smaller and seem to overtake you the further you get into this Haunt. Without question, what works the most of all is the finale section, where the corn bends over you creating tight passages — literally made of real corn — that you need to duck under and squeeze through if you hope to escape. This haunt exists entirely outdoors — so keep that in mind when deciding what time you visit during your time at the event.
The corn is the story, the setting, and sadly also the scares. Many simply stood around. Clearly we have indeed stumbled into a lumberjack camp in the middle of the woods, and the mood of the scene makes it easy to become immersed in this one.
Minimal set pieces and decor takes a backseat to the real star of Lumberhack: the actual woods behind Busch Gardens Williamsburg. As with Cornered, this haunt exists entirely outdoors — so keep that in mind when deciding what time you visit during your time at the event.
Intentionally, I passed through twice — one by day and another by night. The experience simply cannot compare. As with any outdoor haunt, Lumberhack is clearly designed to be experienced at night — and as such you definitely should.
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