Of all the mazes, the line for the Never-After was indeed the longest. We got in it before 7:00, though, so it wasn't too bad. All of the mazes were very well done and full of great scare-actors, except for Curse of Pompeii. We went through late, probably around 10:30. There was literally no line at all, and I only saw about 4 or 5 scare actors through the entire maze. The ones I did see didn't really seem like they were trying very hard. I always say that the timing is important, so I may have just come through at a bad time. I'll give it another try next time.
If you go to Howl-O-Scream on a Saturday, you would be wise to get to the park no later than 4:00, and get in line for the Never-After early as well.
There are like 5 or so scare zones, plus a great Monster Stomp show, and really only like 4 or 5 hours in which to do it all (who wants to go through a haunted house in the middle of the day?). With each line topping an hour, you'd be hard pressed to squeeze it all in in one day.
I know, $35 is a lot, especially since it's already $58 to get in, but the way I see it was that I could WASTE $58 entirely on one or two haunted houses, or I could cough up $93 (ouch), but at least have that $93 be worth SOMETHING.
If at all possible, I suggest buying the fastpass.
Only HOS thing we did was the Pompeii maze during the "friendly" hours. (All special effects on, but no scare actors.) There was a guide who met you in the first room who gave facts about Pompeii -- kinda interesting actually. I did get a big startle when one of those big loud popping blasts of air caught me just right. I guess my guard was down because I wasn't expecting any scare actors! Effects were nice in there, I thought.
Although opening time for most of the mazes was listed as 6 pm, it appeared as we passed by on the train that folks were going into the Never After just before 5 pm. ANYONE KNOW IF THEY ARE OPENING SOME OF THE 6 PM MAZES EARLY? We started to get off the train at Caribou and run check it out, but then thought we'd stick to our intention of leaving due to the rapidly growing crowd.
When we arrived, we concentrated on trying to ride the coasters for probably the last time of the season. AC was fabulous, the line there moves fast even when it looks bad. Also rode Nessie and BBW. Alpie line was horrible even in the early afternoon. Griffon we didn't try, we just didn't end up in that part of the park as we'd gone to Italy after Scotland, then made it only up to New France, where we ate at Trappers and heard the Country Cross Country band (surprisingly good and a seasonal act).
We enjoyed what we did but couldn't believe the Sunday crowd, even for HOS. We enjoy the HOS attractions but love the basic park offerings even more. So, we want to go again next weekend but will get there at opening to hit all our beloved coasters one last time. May or may not attempt HOS again. Should've gone earlier in the HOS season, but we've had some personal things that have kept us from the park a lot this season.
Good luck to anyone planning to go, and I'd definitely say if you want to see the HOS stuff this year, spring for the fast pass. Time is just growing too short to try to get in much if you have to wait out the lines.
I was there for the opening of this "Fall season" for the park. Due to my busy schedule I had NO time to aid in a trip report. (sorry to the regulars on this site) I have not posted one since I'm sure some things may have changed from opening weekend???
I can say that I was there on opening weekend (Sat and Sun). Saturday was for business, and Sunday for family time. On the first Saturday, the total attended people reached over the 26K mark. Pretty high for the park especially on opening weekend for Howl-O-Scream! Friday and Sunday's figures were average as expected, but still very close to projected numbers especially since it was opening weekend.
I realize a balance has to be reached for the park and I'm sure they are working on it??? May I simply suggest, (as I have in the past), that you take the time to write the park, via website, or how you may feel accordingly. Express your experience, (PLS keep in mind a rude or angerly wrote message will be treated with more of an apoligetic response and more so written off as "just one bad experience", were as a thoughtful, well explained experience may be used as a guide to aid in future operations.) This is simply a suggestion and in NO way means a way to express action on my part.
I have to include the last statement so there may be NO backlash on my suggestion????
I feel the park has done a decent job of handling the crowds. My own personnal suggestion is that they extend operating hours as they use to in the past for this time of year. ie.... they used to be open til 11 or 12 on select nights.
Blame the poor economy for this one folks!!! Maybe if conditions get better we could expect the extended hours brought back and then possibly a relief from the full crowds next year???? Either way, know BGE will financially stay around!
ooops..... does this mean I just said their stock is worth while to purchase and increased their buying potential??? :)
As for the "friendly" hours, this only applies to Curse of Pompeii. Friendly hours begin at 12:30 pm until 3:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday (6 pm on Friday). It's basically what has already been said. It has all the same effects, but you don't have all the scare actors. There is some info about it posted in the special events section on this site for Howl-O-Scream.
I hope this helps. :)
Busch is very very concerned with making EVERY customer happy. I've a friend who went to BGA, wasn't happy with her visit (I don't even know the specifics), and received complimentary tickets to BGE (cause that's what she wanted) after she wrote a letter of dissatisfaction.
BGE does NOT want you to go away and never visit again, and they do NOT want you unhappy. If you can't find a buyer for your tix, give them a call.
