kris3012
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Pretty sure it was there last yearThe Scare section of the ride times on the app suprised me, nice feature that is! New for this year or have i just been missing it
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Scarefest 2016
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MattyH
TS Member
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Towerslover
TS Member
What have queue times been like throughout the day?
Coasters have had long queues all day, in particular the smiler which was listed as 45 minutes right up until park close. Mazes haven't been too bad, with sub species being the only one to go over half an hour (other than the 11684 minute queue for terror of the towers of course). Family ride queues have been fairly short all day. This is the first day though, so expect queues to be shorter unless you're going on the 31st. I am basing this on ride times though, and an 8 day queue for TotT doesn't exactly come across as accurate.
The shows aren't scary, and towers are doing "trick or treating" (I wouldn't bother, it's going round getting sweets for an up charge, but if you're really stuck for things to do), scarefest pop badges, and rides in the dark (Congo and mine train are good in the dark as far as family rides go). Maybe alton ancestors wouldn't be too much?
Hope you enjoy it
Towerslover
TS Member
Are Halloween pop badges free and does anyone have any tips on how to get one?
Swap with the staff. Ask in box office if you don't have any but some staff swap legoland, chessington, or fake towers badges. They are on staff lanyards and you have to swap.
Last year, they had five different badges, and each badge had a different area of the park. The "patch" badge could be easily found if you looked around nemesis, and other badges could be found in different places. Not sure if it will the same this year though.
Martin
TS Member
Quick reviews here, will try to not give anything away.
TotT was rubbish again, different route to last year but same story and even the staple strobe maze failed to thrill or scare.
Sub Species once again was completely terrifying and amazing, pretty much the same but twice as long and with new elements, staff are great like last year but would have liked to have been roughed up more.
Skin Snatchers/Alronville Mine Tours was really cool, interesting concept and execution, the ending seemed to build up to something that never happened but other than that, it was really cool and really well done in my opinion, although more creepy than scary. Again the actors will touch you, (but not as much as Sub Species), and they were really good. Considering last year the third maze, Molly Crowe, was a stroll around with a bag over your head, this is a massive step up.
House of Monsters was a great laugh, fantastic for families and worth the price. It's mostly a walk through and show sort of thing, with a scare maze ending, embarrassingly for Towers however, the ending was more intense than TotT.
The new scare zone was a lot better than the Dark Forest one last year, and the Valley one was really good again, now with added chainsaw.
Lighting across park is better again, Nemesis looked the best it has in years, lots of actors around Towers Street, and generally a decent atmosphere.
Good to see improvements across the park, especially with the scare attractions, but please Towers, put TotT out of its misery.
TotT was rubbish again, different route to last year but same story and even the staple strobe maze failed to thrill or scare.
Sub Species once again was completely terrifying and amazing, pretty much the same but twice as long and with new elements, staff are great like last year but would have liked to have been roughed up more.
Skin Snatchers/Alronville Mine Tours was really cool, interesting concept and execution, the ending seemed to build up to something that never happened but other than that, it was really cool and really well done in my opinion, although more creepy than scary. Again the actors will touch you, (but not as much as Sub Species), and they were really good. Considering last year the third maze, Molly Crowe, was a stroll around with a bag over your head, this is a massive step up.
House of Monsters was a great laugh, fantastic for families and worth the price. It's mostly a walk through and show sort of thing, with a scare maze ending, embarrassingly for Towers however, the ending was more intense than TotT.
The new scare zone was a lot better than the Dark Forest one last year, and the Valley one was really good again, now with added chainsaw.
Lighting across park is better again, Nemesis looked the best it has in years, lots of actors around Towers Street, and generally a decent atmosphere.
Good to see improvements across the park, especially with the scare attractions, but please Towers, put TotT out of its misery.
Just got back from a couple of days at the Scarefest.
Saturday was very busy. Today was quieter.
The Mazes were really good this year.
Terror of the Towers wasn't as good as previous years, but I sill loved it. The strobe room finish wasn't as intense as previous years and a little bit on the short side. The only scare maze where you have to place your hands on the shoulders of the person in front, not only which is uncomfortable, but the person in front can block your view, especially if they are taller than you, plus if you are at the back, you are pulled along faster than you legs can manage to keep up.
Sub Species was better this year than last year. Was the one that made me jump the most out of the three.
Altonville mine, what was all that about? Unless I went in it when the acting wasn't at it best?
The Apocalypse zone in the Dark Valley was good again this year.
The Freak Scare Zone was more funny than scary.
Overall a great couple of days. I've got a few more visit book for this Scarefest coming up
Saturday was very busy. Today was quieter.
The Mazes were really good this year.
Terror of the Towers wasn't as good as previous years, but I sill loved it. The strobe room finish wasn't as intense as previous years and a little bit on the short side. The only scare maze where you have to place your hands on the shoulders of the person in front, not only which is uncomfortable, but the person in front can block your view, especially if they are taller than you, plus if you are at the back, you are pulled along faster than you legs can manage to keep up.
Sub Species was better this year than last year. Was the one that made me jump the most out of the three.
Altonville mine, what was all that about? Unless I went in it when the acting wasn't at it best?
The Apocalypse zone in the Dark Valley was good again this year.
The Freak Scare Zone was more funny than scary.
Overall a great couple of days. I've got a few more visit book for this Scarefest coming up
Just back from this weekend. Was good to see the park busy again!
Some decent efforts around the park to add lighting to the rides, in particular Nemesis with its new red LEDs which make it look amazing.
My thoughts on the scare attractions:
TOTT - 2/5
Seemed very short, little substance, didnt notice any smells this year, and the strobe cage at the end seemed very short. Surely it cant survive another year!
Sub Species - 3.5/5
Again, seemed shorter than last year however had some good scares, particularly the end scenes. A little longer would have scored higher for me
Altonville mines - 4/5
Really liked this new maze. The build up was good and the themeing was very good. The actors inside were excellent, especially the large chap with his belly hanging out who liked to stroke your face. The "car chamois" bit left me a little confused - because it smelt like a branch of Halfords, and surely they could have sprayed them with some foul smelling stuff perhaps, but only a minor detail. LOVED the interactive mining lamps! If they add a little more to this next year I think they are on to a winner.
Scarezones :
Freak Show - 3.5/5 - Was ok, nothing special, liked the music and lighting, and the actors were good. Didnt expect too much as its a free maze after all, but didnt seem to have the same atmosphere as the old zombie scare zones did.
Maze in Forbidden Valley - 1/5 - Sorry Ive forgotten its name but it was very very poor. 2 or 3 actors at the most, lots of space, little smoke, walked through it a few times to see if would get better but was very poor. One single free maze which has more effort put into it would be better.
Overall, was a good fun weekend ans the weather was perfect. As a total surprise to the weekend, who was I sat next to in the bubbly wubbly pool today in the Waterpark but none other than John Wardley himself! Had a chat for a few minutes before he said his goodbyes and went onwards with his family. Spotted him in the rollercoaster restaurant as well yesterday but didnt disturb him as he was with his family. Apparently he was having a weekend with the fam and staying in a treehouse. Nice chap though, always very pleasant to speak to.
Didnt spot any travellers this weekend so chances are they will be on park this weekend coming.
Some decent efforts around the park to add lighting to the rides, in particular Nemesis with its new red LEDs which make it look amazing.
My thoughts on the scare attractions:
TOTT - 2/5
Seemed very short, little substance, didnt notice any smells this year, and the strobe cage at the end seemed very short. Surely it cant survive another year!
Sub Species - 3.5/5
Again, seemed shorter than last year however had some good scares, particularly the end scenes. A little longer would have scored higher for me
Altonville mines - 4/5
Really liked this new maze. The build up was good and the themeing was very good. The actors inside were excellent, especially the large chap with his belly hanging out who liked to stroke your face. The "car chamois" bit left me a little confused - because it smelt like a branch of Halfords, and surely they could have sprayed them with some foul smelling stuff perhaps, but only a minor detail. LOVED the interactive mining lamps! If they add a little more to this next year I think they are on to a winner.
Scarezones :
Freak Show - 3.5/5 - Was ok, nothing special, liked the music and lighting, and the actors were good. Didnt expect too much as its a free maze after all, but didnt seem to have the same atmosphere as the old zombie scare zones did.
Maze in Forbidden Valley - 1/5 - Sorry Ive forgotten its name but it was very very poor. 2 or 3 actors at the most, lots of space, little smoke, walked through it a few times to see if would get better but was very poor. One single free maze which has more effort put into it would be better.
Overall, was a good fun weekend ans the weather was perfect. As a total surprise to the weekend, who was I sat next to in the bubbly wubbly pool today in the Waterpark but none other than John Wardley himself! Had a chat for a few minutes before he said his goodbyes and went onwards with his family. Spotted him in the rollercoaster restaurant as well yesterday but didnt disturb him as he was with his family. Apparently he was having a weekend with the fam and staying in a treehouse. Nice chap though, always very pleasant to speak to.
Didnt spot any travellers this weekend so chances are they will be on park this weekend coming.
bluesonichd
TS Member
Just arrived home. Managed to get the last run of the day through Altonville mine tours.
There were only 3 of us.
Wow is all I can say. This has gone to the honkytonk hillbilly top of my Towers scaremaze list.
Wish they would use small groups for all mazes.
Also had an alone walk through of Freak Show
Very much fun.
There were only 3 of us.
Wow is all I can say. This has gone to the honkytonk hillbilly top of my Towers scaremaze list.
Wish they would use small groups for all mazes.
Also had an alone walk through of Freak Show
Very much fun.
Martin
TS Member
Was going to do longer reviews tomorrow but I'm not feeling quite as ill as I was earlier so here goes.
Overall I think there was a big improvement, they seemed to really pay attention to last year, what was good, what was bad, and what was a good idea that didn't quite come off.
TotT
Sub Species
Altonville Mine Tours
House Of Monsters
Scare Zones
Overall I think there was a big improvement, they seemed to really pay attention to last year, what was good, what was bad, and what was a good idea that didn't quite come off.
TotT
Really isn't much to say here really, especially if you've been through this maze in the past. Same video at the start setting up a story that gets forgotten about the moment the maze starts, same generic 'haunted house' creatures and VIBES, a couple nice sets but that's it really. Not sure how I'm supposed to be scared when they can't touch me and when we have to go through in a conga line. Strobe maze is cool but eventually you just realise it's just the same as the rest of the maze but with some flashing lights. Yawn.
Sub Species
Said since last year I'd be happy if Sub Species was exactly the same, so I was delighted to see it get bigger. Starts off the same terrifying way as last year, with the three opening doors and people getting pulled in, but this year they had some of us line up with our backs to the door so they couldn't see if they were going to get grabbed. Last time the maze started off full throttle, which I loved, but this year they took advantage of the extra space and gradually ramped it up as it went on, not really worse or better, just different.
There were two of the 'maze' sections where you have to find your own way through, with the second seeming to have more actors, and they seemed more physical. There was more variation in how the actors would interact, and they would 'personalise' it and speak to you, as well as grab, pull and block you, there was lots of face touching so if that's not your thing then be ware of it. New this year is a dark room where you have to follow a rope, a bit like Molly Crowe but without the hood, the occasional flashing light and actors who will still touch you.
The tunnel section is longer, has two routes and actors in them, while there is now only one ending, but it combines both endings from last year, running round the corner from the alien straight into the chainsaw man was a great ending. The exit is right in front of the towers, so there's quite a crowd watching people's reactions as they walk (or run) out, and occasionally the chainsaw actor would come out and interact with people standing around.
Like I said, I'd have liked to have been roughed up more, would love to do an extreme run, maybe I got unlucky but it seemed last year, even though there was less 'interaction', was more violent, and that's what I want, would love if they started throwing in shoulder barges and rugby tackles and stuff, not everyone else will and that's fair enough, I can see why, but for me, if there's going to be touching, I really want them to go for it, I want to come off bloodied and bruised, make me convinced I really am going to be eaten by a mutant.
Again, Sub Species was by far the best maze and the scariest, it's definitely the closest to real fear I've had in a scare attraction.
There were two of the 'maze' sections where you have to find your own way through, with the second seeming to have more actors, and they seemed more physical. There was more variation in how the actors would interact, and they would 'personalise' it and speak to you, as well as grab, pull and block you, there was lots of face touching so if that's not your thing then be ware of it. New this year is a dark room where you have to follow a rope, a bit like Molly Crowe but without the hood, the occasional flashing light and actors who will still touch you.
The tunnel section is longer, has two routes and actors in them, while there is now only one ending, but it combines both endings from last year, running round the corner from the alien straight into the chainsaw man was a great ending. The exit is right in front of the towers, so there's quite a crowd watching people's reactions as they walk (or run) out, and occasionally the chainsaw actor would come out and interact with people standing around.
Like I said, I'd have liked to have been roughed up more, would love to do an extreme run, maybe I got unlucky but it seemed last year, even though there was less 'interaction', was more violent, and that's what I want, would love if they started throwing in shoulder barges and rugby tackles and stuff, not everyone else will and that's fair enough, I can see why, but for me, if there's going to be touching, I really want them to go for it, I want to come off bloodied and bruised, make me convinced I really am going to be eaten by a mutant.
Again, Sub Species was by far the best maze and the scariest, it's definitely the closest to real fear I've had in a scare attraction.
Altonville Mine Tours
I really didn't care for Molly Crowe, so I was happy to see the back of it, and was looking forward to its replacement. In this maze they make the front, back and middle people in the group wear a hard hat with a light on, which I thought was really cool and made navigating more fun. Despite the dark and closed spaces, the actors will still touch and move you, but it's not Sub Species level, and they pick on the people with the hats more.
The actors are really good and the costumes are fantastic, it's really creepy when they get right up in your face. The sets are really well done, loved the skin on the ceiling near the end.
The biggest problem with the maze is the climax, they tell you they're about to blow the mine and tell you to run, but there didn't seem to be any sound or special effects, would have been quite something if they had some explosion sounds, maybe some smoke or pyro, maybe have a few actors chase you out acting as if the mine is collapsing or something. Seems like they wanted a set piece ending like Molly Crowe but didn't have the means to have an actual set piece after actually spending the money on the maze itself this time, and to be honest, I easily prefer it like this.
Wouldn't mind this coming back next year with some tweaks, there was obviously some effort and some ambition to do something different here and it mostly paid off. Most people seemed to like it, certainly got a better reception than Molly Crowe so fingers crossed next year sees something even better.
The actors are really good and the costumes are fantastic, it's really creepy when they get right up in your face. The sets are really well done, loved the skin on the ceiling near the end.
The biggest problem with the maze is the climax, they tell you they're about to blow the mine and tell you to run, but there didn't seem to be any sound or special effects, would have been quite something if they had some explosion sounds, maybe some smoke or pyro, maybe have a few actors chase you out acting as if the mine is collapsing or something. Seems like they wanted a set piece ending like Molly Crowe but didn't have the means to have an actual set piece after actually spending the money on the maze itself this time, and to be honest, I easily prefer it like this.
Wouldn't mind this coming back next year with some tweaks, there was obviously some effort and some ambition to do something different here and it mostly paid off. Most people seemed to like it, certainly got a better reception than Molly Crowe so fingers crossed next year sees something even better.
House Of Monsters
One for families this, it's an extra £5 but with discount it's worth it. It's not scary, but it is fun and lasts like 20 minutes so you get your money's worth. It's mostly a series of well done rooms with sets and an actor getting you to do things, there's one room with benches like the Ice Age 4D ones which vibrate and have leg ticklers. The acting is funny and pitched just right for the audience. The end is more like a scare maze, with monsters jumping out at you. It's only a minute or two long this bit but it's actually more intense and varied than the whole of TotT. Didn't expect it to be as good or as fun as it was. Great laugh, would definitely recommend.
Scare Zones
The Valley one was far better than the Forest one last year and I'm glad it has returned. Loud music and sound effects, bathed in red light so it looks great and it can be hard to tell who's an actor and who isn't which is cool. Think there was at least four or five actors which was enough for the size, especially as one has a chainsaw. It's quite open too which I think makes it better than the other one.
Freak Show is on the path to X Sector past Spinball, so it's enclosed on the sides, like the DF one last year, but obviously larger, and actually has a theme, rather than just random ghosts and stuff. There's a bit of theming, half of it recycled from past mazes and the actors were clearly enjoying themselves just as much as they were on the mazes, last year they seemed bored on the zone this has replaced.
Freak Show is on the path to X Sector past Spinball, so it's enclosed on the sides, like the DF one last year, but obviously larger, and actually has a theme, rather than just random ghosts and stuff. There's a bit of theming, half of it recycled from past mazes and the actors were clearly enjoying themselves just as much as they were on the mazes, last year they seemed bored on the zone this has replaced.