So, Scarefest. Such a brilliant and iconic event. The team at Towers have always been fantastic at putting on some of the best mazes in the business in terms of theming, length, scares and story. And the park is a perfect setting for such an event. I may not have been to many but it is the best Halloween event that I have experience and the mazes are better than those at the vastly overrated Halloween Horror Nights at Universal.
You would think an event like this would grow year on year. It would be refreshed. There would be new mazes to look forward to. It's only natural that successful events get bigger year on year is it not?
Well Merlin and Towers have given us the answer to that question, and it's a big fat
NO. Instead the event has got smaller. We have gone from three mazes for as long as I have been to the event to measly two. But maybe we can let them off. With a maze being cut it must been that one of the remaining mazes, most likely TOTT, is recieving a full makeover with a new story, layout, theming and scenes. At least that's a positive, something to look forward to and gives a reason go and visit. Hang on what was that you just said? Both The Sanctuary and TOTT are remaining pretty much them same? Oh. Well that's awkward.
All in all it is pathetic. I think it's fair to say that we all knew and probably accepted that a fourth maze was unlikely, despite it being what the event is crying out for. The most likely scenario was either the same three mazes with TOTT being completely revamped or one new maze to replace one of the current mazes, most likely Carnival. The fact that we have lost a maze with no replacement is awful for so many reasons.
For me a new scare zone is not a suitable substitute. Zombies is nicely themed but it's hardly something I have got excited about in previous years. It just doesn't provide any scares. I hope the new scare zone is more than a three pumpkin rating or else it will probably be another nicely themed bore fest. I do like the concept of the new scare zone, although it seems a more fitting theme for a maze rather than a scare zone. I'd imagine we may seem some old Storybook Land theming return.
It's all such a pity as the entertainments team at Towers are capable of creating some great mazes. They should be given freedom to let their creative sides run wild and come up with some great new additions to the event each year. Merlin should be ashamed of themselves for not allowing this.
Scarefest does indeed rely on its reputation. In the past I have always reccommeded the event to friends who have not visited before. Will I continue to do this? Will I hell. The reputation of the event deserves to take a big hit which is such a shame for those that do care and put their all into it. But it is the only way that the powers that be will realise that what they are doing is wrong, along with a financial hit.
I certainly don't plan to visit as much during Scarefest this year and will not be paying too many times to do the same mazes again and again. Rides in the dark will be taking priority.
It is just so sad that we can't see what is a great event grow. It is not how it should be. It is one of the busiest times of the year, a time when they could make a killing if they wanted to. Making the event smaller is not going to result in greater income. It is no coincidence that the most successful theme parks in the world are the ones that spend money on things rather than slashing budgets left right and centre.