Halloweekend Haunted Houses

Sorry if this has been discussed but I wasn't able to find anything in the forum or on CedarPoint.com. During Halloweekends last year I finally ventured into the haunted houses and must say I was thoroughy disappointed. Especially during Pharaoh's Secret when we saw an out of costume worker standing there drinking a pop. Anyway, are the houses different this year or is the layout, theming, and "surprises" all the same?

I didnt bother to do a trip report, but I must say both my wife and I were disappointed in all the haunted houses this year (we were there 9/29).

For example, the guy pulling out his vampire teeth to read his script to the people going into Lair of the Vampire. Where we also saw people out of costume/character....and the vampires at the end of the attraction totally missing.

Maybe its becasue it is still early in the Halloweekends "season", but thats no excuse, IMO.

Poor quality this year.

I am pretty sure they get a bunch of college students to do it, so they are not full time employees. So you would get a lot of messing around and stuff.

I've mentioned it before too, Cedar Point's haunted houses just aren't that scary...yet this is a family park, so exactly how scary is scary?? For me personally, Ive been through them so many times, the element of surprise is really gone. However, I went with my girlfriend this past weekend and she was absolutely scared to death. So really, how do you judge scary? It is different for everyone.

^ The "regular" employees at Cedar Point are just a bunch of college students, too. I know what you mean, though.

I took my girlfriend through Pharoh's Secret, and I came out with nail marks in my arm from her death grip.

Sounds like not much has changed at the houses. I think I'll save the half hour wait and ride something instead. Although I do enjoy the "walk-through" attractions.

I think perhaps it does indeed have something to do with having been through the exact same haunted house year after year. It would be nice for them to mix it up a little bit.

Does anyone know what the pharoh's secret is anyway? First you're in some psychadelic LSD trip through Egypt, and then there's an alien...I guess now I know why they put it in Disaster Transport's "box".

By the way, I would like to thank everyone who encouraged to see the Poe readings in the glass theater. That is BY FAR my new favorite event now!

The Tell Tale Heart is reason enough to go to Halloweekends in my opinion. I think it is that good, the actor there does a wonderful job.

I've been to Halloweekends the past two years. Neither year did we bother with haunted houses. I go to CP for the rides and the environment. We enjoyed the rides and we enjoyed the Halloween atmosphere. We took walks through Frightzone and Carnevil, both in which I enjoyed a lot. If the lines are short this year I'm sure we will take a trip through the houses, otherwise we will enjoy the other attractions.

I went to Halloweekends in 2004, only went through the UR Dade, my kids and wife were scared to death, they wanted nothing more to do with the haunted houses.

We are going next saturday, no haunted houses are planned, but like Vince, I too go only for the environment and rides, and most likely will head out before the walk through outdoor fright zones open.

Pete, you are dead on about the guy who does Tell-Tale Heart. The guy who does Raven is pretty darn good as well.

ejh1701 said:
I am pretty sure they get a bunch of college students to do it, so they are not full time employees. So you would get a lot of messing around and stuff.

Bingo. We don't have that problem in Fright Zone/Carnevil/Fear Faire because the actors in there are "regular" employees, many of which are hired just for Halloweekends, so they love their characters and love doing the job. Although to be fair, the haunted houses aren't 100% "volunteers", I do know a couple of regular employees who work in them.

I agree, the tell-tail heart is great. But the haunted houses are kind of lame. I had people in costumes walking out in front of me and saying "boo".

I have been to many haunted houses in my life, and even worked in and operated my own for several years.

The best haunted house in the park(still weak), is u r dade. There is very few scares, but the decor is ok.

I guess the main problems that I see with the haunted attractions at cp is this..

1, They send groups that are too large in at once.(there should be no more than 4 people in a group).The less people that are in a group, the smaller the persons comfort zone is going to be.

2, They send the groups in way too soon after the last group has went in.(there is always bottlenecks).

3, There is very little motivation of the workers.(they just dont seem to want to be there).

4, There is no "startle" scares...you can more less see everything before it happens(this is in part due to reason # 2).

These are just a few reasons.

Its just the opposite on the fright zone. The workers on the fright zone are really into it and do a great job.

I was disappointed with the haunted houses as well. Aside from the obvious problem that they haven't changed much the past few years, there were a couple blunders:

There were these two chicks in UR Dade that had their masks off when we walked through their area. They just smiled at us. We didn't smile back.

The scariest thing that happened was on Sunday, we were the first to go through Lair Of The Vampire. Lots of screamsters seemed to be missing, and when we got to the exit, the door was locked! The vampire dude in the last room tried to open it for us, then he took of his mask and shook his head, telling us he'd get somebody to open it. We waited 5 minutes until somebody unlocked it from the outside...

Does anyone know what song they play while in line for Pharo's Secret?

ThrillRider, did you find out what the song is? I also would appreciate any info on that song.

Just wondering if anyone caught a glimpse of the "ghosts" walking around in the dead ride graveyard across from raptor?...I have seen them and I thought they were awesome! ;)

I have a question: Why is the line so long for Were Wolf Canyon? I was there three times for Halloweekends this year and every time it had a 2+ hour wait. I've been through it one time (its opening year) and was very disappointed- is it any different? Thanks for the answer..

Nope, just more christmas trees and less werewolves. Fear Faire, carnevil and fright zone are the only good haunted attractions at cedar point.

Fear Faire was very good additon, to the park. As for Were Wolf Cannon I can't answer that question because I don't think it is that great standing in a line when I could be riding a ride.