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Scarefest 2021

tayspru said:
I think paid entry to scare zones is absolutely the wrong move. They need to be free, and located in such a way that they can be avoided if needed. I think the best route would be three scare zones (FV, DF, and WM plaza) and then the additional family stages at MB and KC. This is alongside the main ents that we’ve seen on the lawns.
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I didn't say paid for, just that entering them needs to be a choice to turn off the path and go into it. Or at least clear that there is an alternative path around the zone.
 
They did make clear alternate paths when Freak Show was a scare zone. I think it's safe to assume they would do it again. Also I agree above Mardi Gras- style scare zones and also costumes would be absolutely fantastic.

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So following on, here are ideas for what could be implemented for "scare zones" . I envisage these to be free to experience, and be focussed on atmosphere rather than jump scares - this would mean that they would have a broad appeal. I have come up with three zones that could complement their areas and use a similar number of actors as Mardi Gras. Considering I farted this out in under an hour, I hope Merlin or Towers have something up their sleeves!

zcxVvIw.png


Apocalypse 3000
This zone would be based on a Mad Max style aesthetic, loosely tied to the Nemesis story. As well as some roaming actors, I would have a rock / metal band set up to perform on a stage on top of the games unit. Theming could be limited to banners and barrels, although lighting towers would also enhance the rock concert atmosphere I imagine for this zone

The Welcoming
The most family friendly of zones, I would have theming elements from the original maze incorporated into this area, and actors creating the kind of village festival atmosphere that we saw at the rides opening. Live drumming would be a part of the atmosphere for this one. This would be the least expensive to achieve as we know Towers rarely throw out their theming and costumes

Undergrowth : Roots of Evil
This zone would play on the forest setting, with actors disguised as plants (if anyone experiences the Seeds of Extinction maze at HHN you get the idea). I would achieve the atmosphere here by rigging camouflage above areas of the lower portion of Dark Forest, with smoke machines, lighting, and additional set pieces filling the space. This zone would be going for a creepy atmosphere rather than jump scares. I was unable to find a way to have alternate routes to Thirteen and Rita within the DF scarezone, however it wouldn't be difficult to have actors focussed away from their entrances - the theme I have chosen it would work better for the actors to stay close to the central planted area!

Areas like these, alongside the existing line up, would really help the event to be enjoyable for those who feel paid mazes are a rip off alongside the already high park entry price, as well as offer less intense scare experiences. What do you think?
 
tayspru said:
So following on, here are ideas for what could be implemented for "scare zones" . I envisage these to be free to experience, and be focussed on atmosphere rather than jump scares - this would mean that they would have a broad appeal. I have come up with three zones that could complement their areas and use a similar number of actors as Mardi Gras. Considering I farted this out in under an hour, I hope Merlin or Towers have something up their sleeves!

zcxVvIw.png


Apocalypse 3000
This zone would be based on a Mad Max style aesthetic, loosely tied to the Nemesis story. As well as some roaming actors, I would have a rock / metal band set up to perform on a stage on top of the games unit. Theming could be limited to banners and barrels, although lighting towers would also enhance the rock concert atmosphere I imagine for this zone

The Welcoming
The most family friendly of zones, I would have theming elements from the original maze incorporated into this area, and actors creating the kind of village festival atmosphere that we saw at the rides opening. Live drumming would be a part of the atmosphere for this one. This would be the least expensive to achieve as we know Towers rarely throw out their theming and costumes

Undergrowth : Roots of Evil
This zone would play on the forest setting, with actors disguised as plants (if anyone experiences the Seeds of Extinction maze at HHN you get the idea). I would achieve the atmosphere here by rigging camouflage above areas of the lower portion of Dark Forest, with smoke machines, lighting, and additional set pieces filling the space. This zone would be going for a creepy atmosphere rather than jump scares. I was unable to find a way to have alternate routes to Thirteen and Rita within the DF scarezone, however it wouldn't be difficult to have actors focussed away from their entrances - the theme I have chosen it would work better for the actors to stay close to the central planted area!

Areas like these, alongside the existing line up, would really help the event to be enjoyable for those who feel paid mazes are a rip off alongside the already high park entry price, as well as offer less intense scare experiences. What do you think?
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I love these all so much I want to give each a mini review.

You made me realize The Welcoming honestly should have been a scare zone in the first place. The theme is much better suited to focus on atmosphere rather than jumpscares. The festival setting also makes it the perfect one to be a family friendly scare zone.

Roots of Evil did remind me of Thorpe's maze last year. Unlike Thorpe though, this theme for a maze makes perfect sense for Dark Forest. The Thorpe maze was poor imo and your description executes the concept a lot better. Perfect for the thrill seekers.

Apocalypse 3000 is probably my favourite. The tribes using the universal language of music is honestly brilliant imo. It fits in perfectly to the Forbidden Valley, but makes it stand out from the other FV apocalypse mazes in the past. Furthermore, the focus on music rather than scares means this one will also be more accessible for a wider audience.

By my ramble I hope I got all my praise to you lol. This scare zone lineup is creative and very accessible. Let's hope we're in for something like this for Scarefest!

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I would love to see scare zones back, it would just make the event feel more park wide and not just scare mazes in the towers and some burning on towers street. More roaming actors around the park would be good as well, and not just the Alton Ancestors
 
I think Towers scare zones were a lot better when they were more of a one way system i.e. Scary Tales / Zombies, they felt like more of an attraction with theming, music and actors packed into a tight space. The later ones such as Freak Show and the Dark Forest one just lacked for me, they just consisted of a smoke machine and a handful of actors, a lot of the time you wouldn't even realise you were in a scare zone. It might work abroad but over here I'd like to see the original set-up return, I felt like you got more for your money.
 
Since Gangsta Granny is almost entirely screen based, could they not make a Halloween overlay for it?
I know it would never happen but still... it would be a great cheap/low effort extra attraction with zero actor costs!

Also, a lot of the Mardi Gras theming was weirdly halloweenish, think they're planning to reuse it for Scarefest?
 
Britford said:
Since Gangsta Granny is almost entirely screen based, could they not make a Halloween overlay for it?
I know it would never happen but still... it would be a great cheap/low effort extra attraction with zero actor costs!

Also, a lot of the Mardi Gras theming was weirdly halloweenish, think they're planning to reuse it for Scarefest?
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Proper Towers job, find something dumped in say CC, tart it up and boom it's a Scarefest prop.
 
Line up is out, it's exactly the same as last year - Mine Tours, The Attic, Darkest Depths, Toxic Junkyard.
Whispering Souls is back, and there's a new interactive walkthrough (upcharged) called Trick O Treat Town.
 
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Danscott22 said:
Line up is out, it's exactly the same as last year - Mine Tours, The Attic, Darkest Depths, Toxic Junkyard.
Whispering Souls is back, and there's a new interactive walkthrough (upcharged) called Trick O Treat Town.
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I got very excited when I read this! Thanks for informing us.

I will say though, I will be very disappointed if this is truly the full lineup. Trick'O'Treat Town looks like a good addition for families, but usually when they add a new family experience they also add a new scare experince for thrillseekers.

I'm pretty sure this would be the first year in Scarefest history where all of the scare mazes are the same two years in a row, (please correct me if I am wrong).But all in all if they don't reveal another scare maze I will be very disappointed.

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I'd decided earlier this year that I wouldn't do any maze I'd done before, so it looks like I won't be actually doing any this year.
 
Danscott22 said:
I'd decided earlier this year that I wouldn't do any maze I'd done before, so it looks like I won't be actually doing any this year.
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I was honestly expecting them to replace Mine Tours with a new maze. I've heard good things about it but this will be the 6th year Alton has hosted this maze. Obviously there is nothing wrong with long-lasting mazes, (just look at Sub Species, even if I agree 5 years was enough), but surely it gets stale after 6 years?

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Batzy said:
I got very excited when I read this! Thanks for informing us.

I will say though, I will be very disappointed if this is truly the full lineup. Trick'O'Treat Town looks like a good addition for families, but usually when they add a new family experience they also add a new scare experince for thrillseekers.

I'm pretty sure this would be the first year in Scarefest history where all of the scare mazes are the same two years in a row, (please correct me if I am wrong).But all in all if they don't reveal another scare maze I will be very disappointed.

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I'm not surprised they're the same as last year. You've got to bear in mind we're not out of the woods yet with Covid and all those mazes worked very well last year with the stricter restrictions that were in place then. So to me, there is some logic to them being the same this year as there is no reason why they will not work with any restrictions [still] in place come October. If they're the same next year then I'll be disappointed.
 
I can understand three of them being the same but Mine Tours has been around since 2016, and has really had its day.
 
Yes, Mine Tours certainly could do with refreshing or removing next year, but it's good to see that nothing has been removed from the lineup; only added to.
 
Steve74 said:
I'm not surprised they're the same as last year. You've got to bear in mind we're not out of the woods yet with Covid and all those mazes worked very well last year with the stricter restrictions that were in place then. So to me, there is some logic to them being the same this year as there is no reason why they will not work with any restrictions [still] in place come October. If they're the same next year then I'll be disappointed.
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I agree and absolutely cannot deny the covid impact on Alton as a whole. I've been thinking about it more and there I realize the logic behind their choice. It'a safer in case covid flares up again, but they know these mazes work within restrictions.

However, Alton has also shown that they are able to create a new maze within covid restrictions with Toxic Junkyard. I can't help but feel like TJ was a somewhat last-minute addition with it being an existing Scarefest brand already, (which I'm not saying is bad at all. Alton did a fantastic job within the pressure of covid), but I could also be completely wrong. It's just my personal theory that we were originally going to get something similar, but TJ was the result of last-minute tweaking to be covid-safe. As I said, just a personal theory.

What I'm saying is that they can do it. Imo they should've replaced Mine Tours with another outdoor maze. It could even have similar themes, props, etc. Just as long as it was different enough.

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