Scarefest 2014

What I would like next year is the same as this year but with

1 adult maze to replace carnival. (Even tho if they could keep carnival I would be equally happy, it's a fun little maze and easy to have roaming actors breaking out from.
1 family maze (ala hocus pocus)
Mood lighting throughout the park.
Ban on genny white lights.

Personally i think they most defiantly need to bring back Terror Of The Towers as a free maze alongside Carnival Of Screams.

I also thought it was a little stupid charging for The Sanctuary when it was free back in the opening month of the season.

As Gerry (Aka Dr Kelman) has left the resort it would be nice to see The Sanctuary return for a 3rd year but with a change of story. Maybe a little more themeing and change of scenes. The Sanctuary is a great maze and if it doesn't return then i'd be sad to see it go but if thats the case then Entertainments defiantly need to come up with a better maze. I'd love to see all 3 scare attractions come back, maybe as well as a fourth too.

They also defiantly need to bring Zombies! Scarezone back as well.

I'd be very happy with a new TOTT storyline, Carny and a new maze elsewhere on park to replace Sanctuary. As long as Zombies returns I'll be a happy chappy.

To be honest, the ridiculously rich history of the place should warrant some serious inspiration the the creative team. How the folk legends, creepy tales and local myths haven't been lent to a scaremaze yet (properly) I will never know. Catacombs would make an amazing scaremaze.

Agree with the above. A maze historically linked with Alton itself would be very fitting (something could even work with the TOTT brand).

Ideally for 2014 I would like to see TOTT given a complete revamp (it's obvious 2014 will be the year unless budgets are down to nothing) and made to be a free maze again. Carnival to stay the same (I would like to see it changed although it wouldn't hurt to stay for one more year) and to stay free. So the park has two free mazes. Then The Sanctuary removed (it was nice when it lasted although the story has gone as far as it can). Two completely new mazes (these would be the paid mazes), preferably inside a marquee away from the Towers.

I really dislike there being two mazes inside the Towers. I just like it being simply TOTT rather than two completely different mazes sat in the same building which has a history attached to itself.

Scare zone wise, if the above came to happen I would be happy with the current zombies zone staying the same. If budgets allowed, a new scare zone with a new theme. Ideally it would be suited for the family market between 12pm and 4pm and then from 5pm to 9pm it would take on an adult theme for the thrill market.

More drip feeding of lighting would be nice. I know it's a slow process so maybe just a handful of new coloured lights would do nicely.

The family offerings could do with a bit of a mix up. The Trick or Treat stage particularly needs a new look and new shows alongside it. I would like all the family stuff to stay in Fountain Square though, that area had a real Halloween vibe this year and it really made the place feel more alive.

If anything though, priority should be sorting out the mazes next year!

Hopefully the apparent success of this years event will persuade Merlin to give Towers a bigger budget for Scarefest next year.

I'd like to see a new version of TOTT. I love TOTT but it has been pretty much the same since 2009 bar a few tweaks here and there. However the current finale to TOTT is utterly brilliant, it would be sad to lose that.

I wouldn't mind losing The Sanctuary next year. I think it has been my least favourite maze this year and last year actually (that doesn't mean it's bad, just a personal thing). I'm not sure how much longer they can make it work. If it does stay I'd like to see significant changes. Clearly there will be no Dr Kelman next year so that lends to changes of some form.

I'm happy if Carnival stays. I think they can improve it yet again for next year. I really like the concept and it can be good fun as well as scary to go through at times.

Zombies will almost certainly stay. It was the strongest it has ever been this year with some excellent theming additions. I don't think this would need changing much for next year really.

I think the above is a realistic expectation for next year. I would consider anything else in addition a huge bonus. In an ideal world we would get a fourth maze next year. However if TOTT was completely re-done and The Sanctuary had hefty changes this would probably be unlikely. One thing I would like to see next year is a new scare zone and I do think there is a chance of this if the budget allows. I'd like a really intense thrill orientated scare zone, ideally using chainsaws. I know they are a bit stereotypical as it were for scare attractions but in a scare zone they would work really well, and they genuinely do scare!

I'd keep Franklin's Freaky Fun Zone in Fountain Square. I thought that worked really well this year and it looked brilliant. This could maybe be expanded slightly. Another nice idea would be some form of family maze aimed at people that are too young of afraid to go through the main scare mazes. This would fill a gap in the current Scarefest line up.

Then finally some more new lighting is a must next year. I'm quite happy for them to slowly introduce new coloured lighting to the park each year through changing bulbs etc. Then in 5 or 6 years time the lighting could be brilliant!

For me the problem with chainsaws in scare attractions is that people are either terrified and start running or just look at the actor and think "OK, what exactly are you going to do with that thing?" However, having an area called Dark Forest where the trees are trying to take over gives Towers a more legitimate reason to use them than most parks! Perhaps Zombies could be moved elsewhere in the park, allowing its current site to be used for some sort of scare zone featuring deranged lumberjacks (and potentially wraiths too)? It's probably a terrible concept, or at least needs a lot of refinement, but it'd certainly be unusual.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with The Sanctuary. If it does return then, as excellent as he is, Gerry Cannell leaving Towers might do the maze good. The focus this year and last year was very much on Dr Kelman having founded it and being in charge, with his introduction at the start and his voice following you through the downstairs section. Not having him involved might well change the feel of the maze entirely, and Dr Dalton/Doulton gave us an excellent introduction on Sunday if they still want to have a doctor explaining the facility before you enter.

Personally I would almost start again with a lot of Scarefest, so much is looking tired and boring now.

I loved the family stuff in fountain square, but maybe create some new shows, as they have had the same show for years now. Other than that I liked it there and it worked well.

I would completely redo TOTT, new story, new sets, new layout, everything. Its far too tired and predictable now, and often rather boring. The same can also be said for the Sanctuary, I used to love this maze but its a bit boring now, and it will be interesting to see what they do now Gerry (Dr.Kelman) has left the resort. I would give it a move about, and a new story.

Carnival I think could stay for another year, as it was my favorite maze last year. Zombies was also fine this year, but I wouldn't mind another scarezone somewhere on park, maybe up towards Forbidden Valley, just to spread out Scarefest a bit more.

Call me absolutely crazy but I am really hoping beyond anything that they do the extreme scare mazes next year again. They were the absolute highlight of scarefest for me. Especially the extreme sanctuary on the very last night.

I'd like to see some changes to the maze lineup, I think ToTT and CoS have had their day and need to be given new themes, but please don't go down the Thorpe Park route of giving them horror film themes.

I would also like to see Towers do more Halloween themed shows for Scarefest to offer something different than they've done in the past, target the right audience and they will make money if people stop to watch them and have the chance to buy food and drink at the same time.

ScottPBE said:

I'd like to see some changes to the maze lineup, I think ToTT and CoS have had their day and need to be given new themes, but please don't go down the Thorpe Park route of giving them horror film themes.

I would also like to see Towers do more Halloween themed shows for Scarefest to offer something different than they've done in the past, target the right audience and they will make money if people stop to watch them and have the chance to buy food and drink at the same time.

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I think the shows / family entertainment aspect needs to be boosted quite considerably.

Scarefest is a stale event; you can tell Towers themselves know this given the survey that went out earlier this year.

The core of TOTT should remain the same, but with new scenes and a new backstory. Carnival of Screams, I actually felt, was very good this year, especially as several scenes had been changed and the finale was entirely new. That said, it has served its time.

Major changes for 2014, please.

AstroDan said:

ScottPBE said:

I'd like to see some changes to the maze lineup, I think ToTT and CoS have had their day and need to be given new themes, but please don't go down the Thorpe Park route of giving them horror film themes.

I would also like to see Towers do more Halloween themed shows for Scarefest to offer something different than they've done in the past, target the right audience and they will make money if people stop to watch them and have the chance to buy food and drink at the same time.

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I think the shows / family entertainment aspect needs to be boosted quite considerably.

Scarefest is a stale event; you can tell Towers themselves know this given the survey that went out earlier this year.

The core of TOTT should remain the same, but with new scenes and a new backstory. Carnival of Screams, I actually felt, was very good this year, especially as several scenes had been changed and the finale was entirely new. That said, it has served its time.

Major changes for 2014, please.

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Agreed, I have in the past thought CoS was the best maze of them all but I couldn't really see how they could improve it or make people want to keep doing it over and over again which I suspect may have something to do with the fact it was the free maze this year.

I'd love to see Towers improve their show lineup throughout the year but especially at Halloween, as you say major changes in 2014 let's see the enthusiasm for Scarefest return to how it was in 2007.

Looks like The Sanctuary is being removed... Does this mean it won't return i wonder.

ThemeParkJack said:

Looks like The Sanctuary is being removed... Does this mean it won't return i wonder.

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I think The Sanctuary should leave this year unless it has a change of route, story or scenes.

I have a few things scarefest needs:

- More roaming actors at night. During the day they have enough but they need some at night. I know most will be needed in their mazes but I feel the event would be more thrilling if there were actors roaming in the dark.

- Theming throughout the park. It's all well and good having it in towers streets but maybe if they added some bits of theming in other places the atmosphere would be a lot better

- A maze with an intricate back story which is original and not ripped out of a horror movie

That being said, the event is pretty good and the staff do put in effort to make it good for all guests (when me and my sister went on air the fasttrack checking person told us the ride was haunted. His expression made it creepy as hell) and I think it is ok. It just needs to be AMAZING

ThemeParkJack said:

Looks like The Sanctuary is being removed... Does this mean it won't return i wonder.

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The sanctuary might not return in it's current story but there will be a similar maze using the same route. They spent a lot of money electrifying that part of the ruins so they are not going to abandon it as a maze.

Dave said:

ThemeParkJack said:

Looks like The Sanctuary is being removed... Does this mean it won't return i wonder.

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The sanctuary might not return in it's current story but there will be a similar maze using the same route. They spent a lot of money electrifying that part of the ruins so they are not going to abandon it as a maze.

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True it seems to have cost a lot of money it can be similar but entirely different if that makes sense

I think they have to take down The Sanctuary every year because they have to have the ruins open for a certain number of days each year.

Jamie said:

I think they have to take down The Sanctuary every year because they have to have the ruins open for a certain number of days each year.

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A requirement from the heritage folks I believe, although the period of time they were open for last year was far too short lived. Although thankfully the fact that The Sanctuary isn't opening along with the start of the season this year hopefully means the ruins will be open from day one.

I want The Sanctuary to return, especially with Dr K!!

The way he had me in the extreme run through making me bow and worship his picture was frankly brilliant ;D

Fair to say I'd been through it enough times (as others did) where he greeted you personally in the queueline hahaha!

Probably the point you know you've done a maze one too many times.

All the same, I managed two extreme run throughs last year, the very last early season run through, and another in Scarefest. I would really love to see it return, improved though yes, the biggest disappointment for me was always the Marm room.

Maybe they will bring it back as if it's the modern version like in the viral videos. That's my suspicion anyway, that it will be bought up to the modern version with nods back to the original.