Howl-O-Scream
Busch Gardens Williamsburg: For any and all Busch Gardens Fans...
From Jeff M
Posted August 5, 2008 at 6:15 PM
I have been told that by August 15th, BGE will have all if not most of their Howl-O-Scream info available. This is the time table set forth for release?
We'll have to see how true it is???
That sounds about right. It is at that time every year when they release info about Howl-O-Scream and what the attractions are, etc.
I also went to the Howl-O-Scream website, and confirmed there as well that the info will be available starting August 15th.
From Jeff M
Posted August 6, 2008 at 6:19 AM
Thanks Drew.... I completely forgot about the website BGE has for Howl-O-Scream! I'm sure other people here keep up with that more than I?
I only posted this after I had spoke with contacts within BGE/BEC, and they mentioned something about it for this year. My kids were interested in knowing.
My conversation was mostly based upon BEC upgrading security measures within their personnal database and how this was going to effect me. I'm not sure how many may be aware, but there is an article in the Tampa Bay Business Journal regarding this past problem if anyone is interested?
Anyone posting here effected by this, or have you been one offered the year of credit monitoring????
From Tyler S.
Posted August 14, 2008 at 6:02 PM
The new website is up and running!
From Jeff M
Posted August 14, 2008 at 6:40 PM
Hey Tyler, thanks for keeping us up to date!
I saw the new site yesterday. Is Masquerage something new or old? I don't remember it being there last year.
I just checked out the new site as well. Yes, Ben, Masquerage is new, and I am assuming will replace whatever they had last year back near Roman Rapids. My curiosity is about the location of Wicked Woods. If they are going to start work on the new Sesame Street area, is Wicked Woods going to be in a new location? Time will tell...
Also, no mention of the train whatsoever (unless I missed something). But I understand why they would phase that attraction out, because they really want to maintain the train as a method of transportation, for disabled or less mobile people. BG always tries to keep everyone happy...
Yeah Howl-o-scream looks good this year. I will be there the first day sept 19th. Anyone else going that day?
Hey, Christy, I'm either going that day or the 26th!
I always go the first day of, unless of course it is a rain out! It is my favorite time of year at BGE...
Missy, why would you leave if it's a rain out? For me, that's the best time to go (besides a light-rain situation)! If it rains, then the coasters might or might not be down. When the rain ends, you'll have everything walk-on, no matter what. If it's light rain, it's even better 'cause they usually keep the rides on, and everything is a walk-on the whole time. Rain-out situations are the best when they have long days, like BGE.
A light-rain situation once happened to me one day, at KD last year. Belive it or not, Volcano was on the whole day, even Flight of Fear. That was an awesome day!
BGE has a awesome rain policy too. It can be pouring down rain and they still will have the rides going as long as there is no lightning. Im sure Missy wont go in the rain because of her kids maybe. Plus if its raining too much they will close the park early and cancel howl-o-scream, that happened to me last year.
Augh, Christy, that must've sucked! And instead of maybe going to BGE next saturday, I might be going to KD for Dominator!!! The only problem is that my friend want's to save money (he invited ME), so on that saturday, we'll get there at 4:00 or something so then the prices are lower. He doesn't understand what that does to the day, but I guess doesn't have the experiance.
You are right about the rain, Christy. I usually go to Howl-O-Scream opening night with the kids, and the rain is just too much of an inconvenience with them.
And just to be clear, we are very careful not to expose our kids to anything too scary. They don't like the werewolves, or Jack is Back, so we avoid Ireland after dark. And we certainly don't take them through any mazes. We just walk around and soak up the atmosphere, and maybe see a show in addition to the normal rides we would ride on any given day. DH and I wait until we leave the kids with Grandma to go through the mazes!
Eli, when I was younger, I also loved days when the rain thinned things out at BG. I had no problems walking around and getting wet, because the lines were shorter after everyone else went home. But now that I am a bit older it just doesn't seem worth the trouble. I don't get to go to BG that often without the kids, and when I do, I prefer to avoid the aggravation of wet clothes and shoes, etc.
But one evening this summer DH and I were at BG (without the kids) late one evening and had to walk out of the park during a thunderstorm. We were in line for BBW, and just as we got in the front seat, it started pouring. No thunder yet, so they had not closed the ride. Let me tell you, that rain stings your face something insane in that front seat! Then we had to walk all the way out of the park, and it was pouring rain. I was wet to the skin by the time we got out to our van, but I laughed the whole way there. I mean, what else can you do but just laugh and go??? But I might have felt different if I had to hang out at the park another 3 hours!
Anyways, hopefully the weather will be right on September 19th...
Missy-I know what you mean by the rain stinging. Last year when I went that day it rained almost all day long. After about 12noon it never let up. I'll tell ya the only ride I could handle in the pouring rain was Alpengeist(not in front). AC hurt horibly bad and so did Griffon(nothing to block the pellets I guess). We had ponchos on and we still were soaked to the bone when we got back. Luckily I had already seen all the mazes on a previous visit so it wasnt that much of a let down. They ended up closing the park at 8 instead of 10 and cancelled howl-o-scream.
I remember that day, Christy. I was not in the park that day, but I was aware of the early closing. Because there are so few days of Howl-O-Scream, I am sure the loss of revenue is significant when there is a total rain out, so I hate to see it for everyone involved...the guests and the company!
We didn't have any ponchos the day we got rained on this summer, but I doubt they would have helped. If I had known it was going to rain so hard, I would not have boarded the ride. It waited until we were seated, and then the sky just opened up. I cannot imagine Apollo's Chariot in that kind of rain...I think it might draw blood from my cheeks!
Missy, did you ever go over to AC with your kids? How'd you handle the clown bridge to get to Italy? (During Howl-o-Scream.)
Yes, I have taken my kids across the bridge during Howl-O-Scream. They really didn't seem very scared of the clowns, or even very interested. My thought is that they are afraid of the Werewolf area because it is very dark, and the bridge with the clowns is well lit, so it doesn't seem as scary. Also, the costumed scare-actors at BGE are very aware of their surroundings, and always back off when they see small children, strollers,etc.
I don't think we will be spending quite as many evenings at HOS with our children this year, though. We have been going to BGE during the early morning hours more this summer, and our kids seem to like that better. Because everyone seems happy with that timing, I imagine we will continue with it. As far a HOS, they will be happy to just look at the decorations, like the skeletons in Banbury Cross. And DH and I will be happy to wait for a babysitter to experience the mazes, etc.
Speaking of the clowns, are they not haveing the clown fusion this year, I didnt see it mentioned on the site?
I don't think they are this year. I don't think that attraction went over too well last year. Based on what I have been seeing in the park, I think they are going to be using the queue lines for roman rapids to the new Masquerage maze. The other new item that I see this year is the Countdown to Midnight Rockin' Eve's Wrath (I think it will be similar to the old one, but still some differences).
The last thing I noticed is that they do not appear to be doing anything with the train this year for Howl-O-Scream.
Not even the cute little songs? Like ghostbusters etc...
Ruh roh raggy...no more Scooby Doo theme song?!? Wasn't that song in the loop that played on the train last year?
I also assume that because the train is not mentioned on the web site that it will no longer be a HOS attraction. I had not noticed that Clownfusion was absent, but it was about time for something new. If Masquerage is anywhere near as good as the new mazes last year (The NeverAfter, or whatever), we have something to look forward to...
I thought that the train was OK. I sorta wish that the scarecrows during HoS do something this year... Last year, they stood around, like scarecrows do. But, I wish they would've had SOME life. Like, one time, me and my brother went up to one, testing to see what it did. Whe stupidly asked "where's Griffon", and it pointed to the entrence, 30 feet away. No, talking, I guess.
I was at BGW last night, and their are coffins set up next to the train station in England. I know it doesn't say anything about it on the website, but they are there...
I remember in past years when they started setting up for HoS really early, like about this time in August or earlier, but then one year Isabel happened and the next Gaston, and it I'm sure wiped out a lot of stuff. Then it seems, at least to my subjective memory, like they didn't put stuff up as early the next couple of years (and who can blame them). But this year being the 10th anniversary and all, plus a few years since we've had a devastating hurricane (knock wood), and I guess they're starting nice and early.
I just wish we had some cool weather to match!
Yes, they have started a bit earlier than they normally have. I have also updated this site under "Howl-O-Scream" for all the 2008 events that have beenr released. :)
Yeah, I love how busch gardens gets down to buisness, and starts without doing anything to their days. SFA, however, has almost all of September closed because they have to get ready for fright fest!
a lot of places could take a cue from Disney here and have thei maintenance done over night. I know that personnel cost money, but then so does everything else. You'll get a better return on your investment if you actually invest.
I went to BGE Monday, when you ride the train from italy if you look to the left there is a fence and it has "Something wicked comes" written on it. Is this where masgerage will be? Or is it going to be Wicked Woods?
That's Wicked Woods going up behind Roman Rapids. Also, someone mentioned lower rates at night. They do offer an evening admission during most of the year, but during Howl-o-scream, there is no evening rate.
So if wicked woods is going behind roman rapids, where is masgerage going to be? And is there going to be a maze back behind the sky ride in Scotland where Wicked Woods was last year?
Does anybody know why the rapids were closed last year (only Howl-o-Scream or the whole year?)?
Roman rapids was closed from Howl-O-Scream weekend forward. This is an annual ritual. The reason they have it closed is because they use the queue lines that would normally feed into it Roman rapids for a Howl-O-Scream event. Plus, I think they bank on it being cooler that many wouldn't go on it to get wet anyways.
Yeah, you're right, Drew. But, I'm never over there, because I'm just riding coasters.
I heard that the Howl-O-Scream events will start earlier this year. They had started at 6pm last year. I figure around 4 or 5pm maybe.
will it be dark by then? Won't they just start at sundown (around 6)?
I have not heard that Howl-O-Scream events will begin any earlier than 6:00, but that doesn't mean that it isn't going to happen. Last year a couple of the shows started an hour or so before the rest of the attractions. One of the earlier years of HOS they started all of the mazes very early in the day. I remember going through No Escape from Pompeii in the early afternoon, and it just wasn't the same without the darkness outside. I suppose everyone else agreed, because there was no line.
I kind of hope that Busch keeps it just in the late evening...after all, you can get too much of a good thing. Then it just loses its excitement.
From Ben Sutton
Posted August 27, 2008 at 11:58 AM
http://buschgardens.com/bgw/special_events_listing.aspx#
At the bottom of the event list is Halloween. Their is a mention of some of the Howl-O-Scream events starting earlier in the day.
Yep, definitely sounds like they are planning some earlier attractions. My first guess would be primarily shows before 6:00 p.m. But they could be trying to get the mazes going earlier as well....time will tell. I am looking forward to it regardless...I just love Howl-O-Scream.
Heck yeah you said it Missy, I am so excited I cant wait.
About 3 more weeks left. I got a friend who wants to go. His wife may be going too but I'm not sure.
I mentioned going in September. We may go opening weekend or the next weekend.
Only three weeks left, that doesn't seem possible, but you are right...woo hoo!
I may be going to BG this evening, and if I do I will be on the lookout for early HOS decorations.
Hey guys, would you rather be glad that HoS is coming, or sad? Happy because Howl-o-Scream is the best time of the year for BGE, or sad because it means that the season is coming to a close. I'm happy, because this is the only time of year I have my trip.
I kind of go both ways ELi. I look forward to howl-o-scream so much but yet I know its one of my last few trips before the season ends. :(
From Tyler S.
Posted August 30, 2008 at 8:42 AM
I definitely look forward to HOS because I go more then than I do the rest of the season. I try to go twice every weekend.
Hey guys, My friend is going Saturday sept 20th. She is wanting to know what to expect crowd wise since it is the first Saturday of howl-o-scream? I dont know seeing as I never go on saturdays. Whats the best time to hit rides?
Christy, I would say that Sept. 20 will be the least crowded Saturday of all of them...it tends to get a little more crowded as it gets closer to actual Halloween. But all Saturdays are pretty crowded. I would say get there really early and ride the major coasters before lunch time for the shortest lines. Perhaps after dark the lines will slow down a bit as people get in line for the mazes and other HOS attractions. But morning is still the best bet for short lines...HTH!
From Jeff M
Posted September 19, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Slow on this update, and I'm sure website may confirm.
Look's like the show's for this event will run throughout the day, unlike in the past when they started more towards evening hours. If fact, just checked website and it is stated, "Traditional daytime shows are not available during Howl-O-Scream".
I wonder if this means no pet show, etc....????
There was no mention to me about anything else, such as haunts and mazes opening early in the day.
Will be waiting on the BGE regulars from this site to weigh in on their findings.
Until then, I'm heading there on end of year business and will be attending opening events Saturday and Sunday.
The mazes and such will not open until 6:00 pm. I'm headed back up there tomorrow too. :)
If you go to the rides and attractions page for BGE, at the bottom there is a thing for Howl-O-Scream in the special events area. I updated it about a month ago with the pertinent information, including hours and so forth, so you may want to check that out for more info about Howl-O-Scream and the main attractions for it. :)
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