Imagination
TS Member
James said:
You can pick up pre-booked maze tickets from any of the sales and info booths.
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Scarefest 2013: Discussion
You can pick up pre-booked maze tickets from any of the sales and info booths.
djtruefitt
TS Team
So here are some of my thoughts and feeling about Scarefest so far this season. I will pretty much ignore the whole of last weekend as almost everything was utter crap due to the powercut/rail and various other issues. However I have since spent all of Friday there and yesterday afternoon and evening on park.
The Sanctuary:
For me this maze has become a little boring, it might be because I overdid it last season and at the start of this season. But its the same old maze every time you go through it, the actors say the same things, they jump out in the same places, etc. The finale is also still weak, often with one or two actors, there just isn't the scares compared to the TOTT finale.
Terror Of The Towers:
On the staff preview this maze was quite good, however all weekend it was running poor. It has now returned back to a similar level to last year and the staff preview. However overall it is just very tired and needs replacing. Everytime I do it I know where the actors will appear from and where to go, as I have just done it far too many times. The banqueting hall is nice this year, but the actors don't always use it to its full potential. The same can also be said for the corridor afterwards.
Also the BIG problem with TOTT this year is the batching! I did it four times on Friday and once yesterday, on all five times we either caught up with the group in front, the group behind caught up with us or both! On Friday night at one point there was four groups (40 odd people!) that had joined together before the strobe maze. This lead to no scares and a very boring few rooms.
For this to happen so often, either the video has been speeded up this year, the gap in between videos is shorter, or the staff are just far too eager. On Friday the maze was walk on all day, yet they were still batching you straight away, as you walked into the video room, the group before you were still just leaving. I really hope towers sort this out, for a paid maze it is poor, and for it to happen on all my visits on different days throughout the day, shows it isn't just one staff member or anything.
Carnival:
Firstly i'm rather glad they have moved the fastrack entrance, it was a utter joke last weekend!
This is by far my favorite maze this year by far. Everything seems to work so well compared to other years, and it finally has a finale that works! All the actors are on top form and really know where to scare from, also the various tricks work well this year, such as the Voltex, Spot rooms, Trommel, etc, Despite doing the maze at least 6 times in the last few days, there are still new things I notice (like the man in the mirror, in the mirror maze) or new places where the actors seem to appear from. There are just no end of places they can scare you from. However quite a few of the batching staff leave a lot to be desired. Even a week in to the event, many can't remember the brief they are giving.
Finally the finale is great, but it only works with smaller groups, we had 15 yesterday and it just doesn't work, as if you are at the back you can't see a thing, and the people at the front are just too close. Other than that I think its fantastic. And does get people running and screaming out of the exit.
The Sanctuary:
For me this maze has become a little boring, it might be because I overdid it last season and at the start of this season. But its the same old maze every time you go through it, the actors say the same things, they jump out in the same places, etc. The finale is also still weak, often with one or two actors, there just isn't the scares compared to the TOTT finale.
Terror Of The Towers:
On the staff preview this maze was quite good, however all weekend it was running poor. It has now returned back to a similar level to last year and the staff preview. However overall it is just very tired and needs replacing. Everytime I do it I know where the actors will appear from and where to go, as I have just done it far too many times. The banqueting hall is nice this year, but the actors don't always use it to its full potential. The same can also be said for the corridor afterwards.
Also the BIG problem with TOTT this year is the batching! I did it four times on Friday and once yesterday, on all five times we either caught up with the group in front, the group behind caught up with us or both! On Friday night at one point there was four groups (40 odd people!) that had joined together before the strobe maze. This lead to no scares and a very boring few rooms.
For this to happen so often, either the video has been speeded up this year, the gap in between videos is shorter, or the staff are just far too eager. On Friday the maze was walk on all day, yet they were still batching you straight away, as you walked into the video room, the group before you were still just leaving. I really hope towers sort this out, for a paid maze it is poor, and for it to happen on all my visits on different days throughout the day, shows it isn't just one staff member or anything.
Carnival:
Firstly i'm rather glad they have moved the fastrack entrance, it was a utter joke last weekend!
This is by far my favorite maze this year by far. Everything seems to work so well compared to other years, and it finally has a finale that works! All the actors are on top form and really know where to scare from, also the various tricks work well this year, such as the Voltex, Spot rooms, Trommel, etc, Despite doing the maze at least 6 times in the last few days, there are still new things I notice (like the man in the mirror, in the mirror maze) or new places where the actors seem to appear from. There are just no end of places they can scare you from. However quite a few of the batching staff leave a lot to be desired. Even a week in to the event, many can't remember the brief they are giving.
Finally the finale is great, but it only works with smaller groups, we had 15 yesterday and it just doesn't work, as if you are at the back you can't see a thing, and the people at the front are just too close. Other than that I think its fantastic. And does get people running and screaming out of the exit.
ImUrNemeis
TS Member
After visting the park today, I can honestly say how disapointed I was with Terror of the towers. Hardley any communication in the pre video section, with no one telling you to go on and ended watching the film twice. Plus chavs, messing around at the front, which didn't help. Only a small amount of actors, that were not that scary and no atmosphere in the maze what so ever.
This attraction used to be amazing once apon a time.
This attraction used to be amazing once apon a time.
badlydrawnkelBel
TS Member
James said:
I do think that this is a good idea as I always forget that there are no actors in that part and I always feel on edge!
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KingNemesis
TS Member
It's hit and miss, some members of staff say "Because your at the front when the video ends go towards that curtain, you will see it open up"
Where as some don't.
But in all fairness if you see a curtain opening and a light shining onto it you kind of assume you are supposed to go that way and not just stand there.
Where as some don't.
But in all fairness if you see a curtain opening and a light shining onto it you kind of assume you are supposed to go that way and not just stand there.
James
TS Founding Member
Carnival of Screams was closed most of today. Then it reopened this afternoon... only to close again! Apparently they have got some power problems. I avoided it all day, hearing from people walking around the park there's a lot of unimpressed guests!
I didn't stay too long on park today although generally you get the Halloween feel in Towers Street, then it stops. The atmosphere in Fountain Square is fantastic and I caught a glimpse of the Trick and Trick show which I must say is very good. It looked cheesy on videos I've seen but in person you'd swear you're watching something completely different! Good effort by those involved.
Pizza Pasta was playing Halloween songs, the pizzas had all Halloween-type names and there was some light decoration in there. I would say that's the only other part of the park you feel like "yep, it's Scarefest".
Lighting isn't too bad this year. No where near as good as 2010. But still, not horrific. Some more gels on lights would be nice though.
I'll probably add some more thoughts in a few days as I'm on park again tomorrow with a full day and night there.
I didn't stay too long on park today although generally you get the Halloween feel in Towers Street, then it stops. The atmosphere in Fountain Square is fantastic and I caught a glimpse of the Trick and Trick show which I must say is very good. It looked cheesy on videos I've seen but in person you'd swear you're watching something completely different! Good effort by those involved.
Pizza Pasta was playing Halloween songs, the pizzas had all Halloween-type names and there was some light decoration in there. I would say that's the only other part of the park you feel like "yep, it's Scarefest".
Lighting isn't too bad this year. No where near as good as 2010. But still, not horrific. Some more gels on lights would be nice though.
I'll probably add some more thoughts in a few days as I'm on park again tomorrow with a full day and night there.
Rob
TS Team
In terms of lighting, I was watching the Q&A Pete did with TT on YouTube earlier and he said that in 2010 when the lighting was at its best around £25,000 was spent. They do not have the budget for that now unless they cut a maze for example. It would apparently cost around £8000 to go around the park and change all the halogen bulbs to coloured ones. However even if they did this there could be potential H&S issues due to the required amount of light needed for safety cameras on rides etc. So yeah, by the sounds of it we are just going to have to be patient with lighting, I think it will get better year on year.
Plastic Person
TS Member
Rob said:
I'm sure this will prompt the usual, and ultimately true "Oh, it's a business though" responses, but the fact that a park the size and standing of Alton have this little budget to work with for their premier, most profitable event shows what frustrating, dreadful paymasters Merlin are.
I think your forgetting the current economic climate though - gate numbers will be down, people are not spending as much, hotel bookings are probably down, in 2010 people were spending more money in the park.
Every business the past 2 years or so have had to cut back and Alton is no different. Regardless what we think, every business at the moment has to be careful and sensible with its spending. I would rather see alton spend less on lighting for 2-3 years than see it close down or have to cut back on even more things, such as opening less during the year (like Oakwood, closed some days), or even not running Scarefest.
Every business the past 2 years or so have had to cut back and Alton is no different. Regardless what we think, every business at the moment has to be careful and sensible with its spending. I would rather see alton spend less on lighting for 2-3 years than see it close down or have to cut back on even more things, such as opening less during the year (like Oakwood, closed some days), or even not running Scarefest.
Scott
Former TS Team Member
I think we'll always have issues though due to the strict rules on how much permanent lighting the park is allowed... Of course it isn't an excuse to cop out with attempting good lighting but it probably does have a significant impact.
Equally, I'll be interested to see what this seasons gate figure is estimated at considering it's fallen the last two years. If it doesn't see a significant rise then Merlin will pull tighter on the purse strings no doubt.
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Equally, I'll be interested to see what this seasons gate figure is estimated at considering it's fallen the last two years. If it doesn't see a significant rise then Merlin will pull tighter on the purse strings no doubt.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.