Halloweekends 2013

I just looked at my Getaway Guide ... It states that the outdoor haunts will be open on Fridays and Saturdays, and on Sundays beginning October 6th.

Not sure if this means the park will stay open til 9, or if it means the fright zones will start earlier than 8.

I was wondering if anyone has pictures of halloweekends from 2000-2005. I browse flickr but I want to make a little private collection of them and they're a pain to get off flickr.

With August fast approaching, it is very soon to the announcement of the new haunted house/attraction. Here are some "Sister Parks" that have already announced their 2013 New Attraction Line-Up:

Kings Island:
1. "Board To Death" An evil twist to classic board games theming
2. "Delta Delta Die" one college party you might never recover from
3. "Backwoods Bayou"

Kings Dominion
1. Zombie High School
2. Miners Revenge

IMO, 'Delta Delta Die' just sounds too ridiculously to be taken seriously.

^At Kings Island, it's "Backwoods Bayou" not "Backwards Bayou."

I don't think it will be too much longer until we hear about CP's. I'd love for Happy Jack's to come back, but if not I hope whatever comes will be awesome.

I am a bit of a haunt snob, so I am a little critical... I really enjoy Halloweekends (favorite time of the year), but I also have some criticism toward the event.

First, I wish CP would steal some ideas from Canada's Wonderland... We have gone the past two years and while the scare-zones are lacking a bit, they are stunning house wise. It is up-charge though, which I would be game for if CP could deliver on the same level. While CP made some great improvements the past few years, they still have a long way to go.

CW has houses that were just as good, if not better, than some HHN houses. And that is tough to come by, considering those are some of the best in country.

Terror London for example, was incredible. Streets of the Undead was also amazing which debuted last year. Other strong houses included The Asylum, which was their medical type house (much like the Infirmary at CP)... Although much more immersive. Blood on the Bayou is another very cool house... Not the most scary, but the atmosphere is just awesome. Sometimes, that to me is more fun then being scared... Their Club Blood is also very well done, compared to the highly dated CP version. Same goes for Corn Stalkers, but I think that is mainly due to the epic location in the woods and not through a ride. CW has 4-5 very strong houses, 2-3 great ones and maybe 3 duds. We always leave that event very impressed.

While I don't expect HHN quality/budget at CP, when I see how cool some of the houses at CW and Kings Island can be, I just wish CP could up the quality even more considering how successful the event is crowd wise...

At CP...

Blood on the Bayou has potential, but really needs more cast/props to make it come alive. I dig the atmosphere, but it falls flat at the same time... I much prefer the house version at CW.

Carnevil is not bad, but IMO it is time to retire it... Going since 2004 or so, I think the park got their money worth on the props... Lets change it up and find something else to do with the large zone.

Club Blood needs an overhaul, badly. Ever year, it seems more props go missing (last year the Club Blood entrance sign was gone) and its never that impressive. I like the theme though, if done correctly.

Cornstalkers was great the first year, but has been a let-down every year since for me. I think if they relocated it somewhere else on the island or something it could be a bit better..

Cut Throat Cove is decent for what it is. It is not memorable though. I preferred the location on the island over where it sits now, however.

Eden Muee was a great addition last year... I did enjoy this house, but it did have a few null zones. Otherwise, it was quite good!

Eternity Infirmary was improved over what was there prior, but it also did not change THAT much. Both Kings Island and CW both dominate with the medical theme house... Much more in depth and a more continuous theme. It again just falls flat here...

Fear Faire is just a hot mess... I can't really say much about it. I don't like the location but the theme has potential. Slap this zone down the main midway, condense the scareactors and put some more manpower into it. I have gotten some great scares in here, but it relies way too much on fog and blinding lights (common in CP zones) which is an easy way to scare people, but is a peeve of mine as well in houses/zones... Use those lights to build some better atmosphere and create nulls that can be utilized to get better scares. When the lights are blinding me in my eyes, I expect somebody ALWAYS to be at the end. Cheap scare.

Eerie Estate is by far the most complex house at CP and is very well done. Not many dead zones and is always fairly good... Sometimes I go through and see maybe a few people at most, which is the downfall of this house. It really needs more people inside to make it shine. I think this house is victim to staff issues more than design, because it really is fantastic inside.

Screamworks is a great zone... It has a great location and generally the best staff working. While they could get more props in place and less lights to rely on all the scares, it is the best in the park zone-wise for sure.

Again, I really do enjoy HW, but I would love to see them go to another level like some other parks... The event is CLEARLY popular enough to warranty the money and time, and maybe even consider making the event PG-13 after 6pm... Move the zones from the awkward locations into main midways and make the place rage with horror!

Not sure when it went live but halloweekends.com is live....ok well it redirects you to https://www.cedarpoint.com/haunt but none the less, the full 2013 season info is up!

I am disappointed they are not bringing back Happy Jacks! Miss that one!

They do need to improve the lights and not rely on the colored lights as much. I know they actually did add more props to Fear faire, but it needs more. I love the medieval setting, it has potential. They also need more props in Screamworks and the Bayou, as well as more people working eerie estate, carnevil, and cut throat cove. Cornstalkers has gone downhill since it first opened...needs more screamsters!

I hope zombie HS works out well. (this is where I was hoping they'd put in Happy jacks.)

I know they are doing a kids trick-or-treat in the dinosaurs alive area, and I'm sure they'll make you pay $5 for that too!

So are they bringing back the fright lane passes this year? I can't find anything about it on the site or on CP's main site.

Wow. That sight does not work well on a mobile device. Can't get anywhere.

It seems that the "new" Howl-O-Palooza will be the collection of kid-friendly Halloween activities that have been in the Blue Streak area for a few years now. I suppose it makes sense to finally give that part of HalloWeekends an official name.

Miss_Maverick07 said:
Cornstalkers has gone downhill since it first opened...needs more screamsters!

I actually think Cornstalkers is the one area that works well with fewer Screamsters in it. The suspense of knowing that lots of the "scarecrow" like characters are fake, but a handful are indeed real I think adds a lot that would be absent it if was packed full of people waiting to scare you. Just my two cents.

Never been to Halloweekends at Cedar Point or Kings Island. Based on scares, crowds, and rides, which place do you prefer? I plan on taking a trip to one of these parks in September.

I've never seen Kings Island's haunt but from what I've heard, Kings Island is better but much more crowded.

Because Kings Island apparently doesn't run their event in the rain, I've not been able to experience theirs. Therefore my (biased) vote is to come to CP.

I actually think Cornstalkers is the one area that works well with fewer Screamsters in it. The suspense of knowing that lots of the "scarecrow" like characters are fake, but a handful are indeed real I think adds a lot that would be absent it if was packed full of people waiting to scare you. Just my two cents.

I don't agree at all. After experiencing Canada's Wonderland version of Cornstalkers, it puts the CP one to absolute shame.

First off, they have the CW one loaded up with scareactors AND props. In one little area they may have three scareactors in the same 5' section, so you really don't know who is real and who is fake. One pops out, you jump, turn and BAM there is another one to scare you. They work together very well to make effective scares. Not just isolated shaker cans in your face. I also like how the paths compress and open up at the CW version as well... Plus the fact it is practically in the woods, has a natural dirt floor, etc.... Really adds to it. I think the location of CP's hinders it a bit.

There is also little to no dead-zones at CW that I remember. I have literally walked through CP's a few times where I may have heard a growl, or two, and that was it. Pathetic. I know this has to do with the people working it, but I can also tell it was staffing as well... Many of the areas they would stand/hide were empty.

I like the concept of cornstalkers, but the past few years at CP we usually just avoid it after one or two times of seeing it.

They need more scareactors working together and make it a bit more exciting. Having minimal staff makes it terrible, and that is for almost any haunted house.

I wish for corn stalkers they built an actual corn maze and filled it with lights fog and dead ends and then have screamsters running around inside. That would be fun.

This will be my first year for halloweekends. Going weekend of sep 20th.I have a couple questions.

What should I expect for weather?

Do the actors actually make contact or just come close?

What are the lines like?

You can never completely predict the weather at the Point at any time of year. Since you're going in September, hopefully the weather will be pretty decent. It could be in the 70s, 50s, sunny or cloudy, rainy or stormy, it all depends. HalloWeekends can either have the best weather of the year or the worst. Just prepare for anything.

Screamsters are allowed to get very close to you, but they are not allowed to touch you. Expect some to literally put their face right next to yours, but they will not purposefully touch you.

It depends on the weather. Generally if it's nicer then the park will be more crowded, and if the weather sucks than expect there to be less people. Fridays typically aren't too busy, but still expect some decent waits especially for the Haunts. Saturdays are packed, and are probably some of the busiest days of the park's entire operating season. Expect very long lines for everything you go on. Sundays usually aren't too bad, and keep in mind the outdoor haunts won't be open. Like I said, weather will be the biggest factor in determining the crowds.

Have fun on your trip and I know you'll love it. HalloWeekends is an awesome event and all the haunts are very well thought out and put together.

I just noticed the outdoor scare zones are not open on Sundays this year (except Columbus Day weekend). Due to crowds, some popular advice is to hit the park on Sunday. I think it's important to know that the outdoor zones aren't an option on Sunday like in the past.

Thanks.