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Howl-O-Scream

Busch Gardens Williamsburg: It's that time again!

From Tyler S.
Posted August 19, 2009 at 9:51 PM
The new Howl-o-scream site is up! Any thoughts? I think the names could use some work but overall this will be the best year ever! 4/6 houses are 5 pumpkins and the other two are 4 pumpkins.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Ben Sutton
Posted August 20, 2009 at 2:57 PM
what happened to Ever After? Deadtime Stories? Tommented Tales? I really liked those.

From Jason Jackson
Posted August 20, 2009 at 7:08 PM
It looks like they are retheming some of the mazes to me. I hear one of them will be where corkscrew hill is and one will be at the Royal Palace. I did notice that nothing is mentioned about the train ride though.

From Adam Nodjomian
Posted August 21, 2009 at 7:21 AM
I was hoping they would bring back the haunted train ride. That was a lot of fun. The last Howl-O-Scream i went to was when it was a kid's attraction. The scary one was much better.

I'm also glad that there are some new mazes and haunted houses as well as some that are only 4 pumpkins instead of all of them being 5.

From Daniel Williams
Posted August 21, 2009 at 8:51 AM
The train attraction had to difficult to put together, expensive to staff, and ultimately poorly received in the ratings.

Not that I'd know.

From Angelica Davis
Posted August 25, 2009 at 12:39 PM
I just looked at the site today and am soooo happy with the results!
i'm glad that none of the scare zones or mazes have less than a 4 pumpkin rating.
yes the name choices could have been better, and some of the descriptons as well.

i noticed that there is nothing for children besides the show at elmo's castle. i really think this is a bold step for BGE seeing as the one in Tampa has had VERY extreme and mature themes in past years, and they worked. i believe its a step in the right direction, and could ultimately bring in more fans.

as for the train. i remember back in 04' or 05' when the train was VERY scary. i just think over the years it has lost alot of its flare. last year it was boarding the train and listening to a soundtrack of children's halloween songs. i think taking the train attraction out of HOS is a good idea.

i'm kind of sad to see Masquerage gone. it had a special something to it that i liked.

last thought!
i'm still really sad about the original monster stomp being gone. i dont know what it was about the revamping of it, but it just did not appeal to me at all. i felt like the original show was more intimate and real.

i'm excited to see what Jack has in store for us this year! :)

From Drew Petzold
Posted August 31, 2009 at 1:57 PM
I think part of it is that they normally do not post all of the attractions on their site for the children. Here's why. Howl-O-Scream runs from 6 pm to closing. They are catering to the older crowds at that time, as most with younger age children would tend to be leaving the park by that time.

We'll have to wait and see if they do some "friendly" versions of those attractions like they did last year.

From Jason Jackson
Posted August 31, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Many of the HOS attractions will be starting earlier this year according to the website.

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