This years Halloweekends, a letdown.

Anyone else feel this year's Halloweekends was a bit of a letdown?  First, there wasn't nearly as many decorations as last year (I'm hoping this is due to not everything being out, but I doubt it.).  Second, where were all the shows?  They  had 3 or 4 more last year.  The only shows returning that were worth anything was Tale of Terror (A must see by anyone, absolutely fabulous show. I was glad to see that one back.  Hopefully it'll become a mainstay at Halloweekends.), and Aaron Raditz (I feel this was his weakest show.  All of his previous shows I thought were great, but this one fell short).  Third, I think the haunted houses have great sets, but they seriously need to do something about their actors.  I worked in a haunted house for 6 years, and gave a better performance while I was on break than I saw any of the actors give.  Undertaker U. was a definite improvement over Cedar Manor or whatever the one that was there the last few years was called.  The haunted carousel horse was a bit of a letdown, but was kinda cool, since it's supposedly really haunted.  And finally, I was unimpressed by the Fright Zone, but then I went on a Sat. and it was really crowded, I image it's much better on a Fri. night.  All in all, I hope Halloweekends 6 was much better than this year's.  All previous years, except maybe the first were far superior than this years. 

Not as many decorations? Are you insane? The park has spent more money this year than they ever have, and it shows. There have to be twice as many fog machines, and they finally changed the haunted house lineup.

-----------------
Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
Watch my grass grow: http://www.sillynonsense.com/subdivision/

I was there on Saturday and was blown away with how good it was.  Definitely better than last year's.
-----------------
--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
MF count: 52

*** This post was edited by GregLeg1 on 10/1/2001. ***

I agree this years Halloweekends are definitly the best yet.  The 3-D effect in Pharoh's Secrect is awesome, all the fog machines are cool, and Fright Zone was a great idea, could use some modifications for next season, but its a great start.  As for the people in the haunted houses, they are fraturnity and sorority students raising money, and they are differnt people every weekend so it is hard to get good at it when you are only there for 3 days!

I'm not talking about the decorations in the haunted houses, that was a definate improvement., I'm talking about the decorations around the park, not counting fog machines, lights, ect.  There were many of my favorite decorations from years past missing.  Like the fallen skyride car, the smoking tree, the little touches that had always made Halloweekends so unique.  I know this stuff gets ruined sitting out in the weather, then sitting in a warehouse for the rest of the year, but this was the stuff that truley made this time of year my favorite time to visit CP.  I just think that they were lacking in the decorations around the park.  As for the people in the haunted houses, I realize they're part time, and just college kids looking for a little extra income, but as far as I'm concered, when I take a job, I put some effort forth.  I don't just stand around and slam a door.  And yes I realize this isn't the park's fault.

Judging by the two topics you've started, it seems that Cedar Point just can't do enough to please you...
-----------------
"I dont think I can take anymore. I am going to phone my family, read some comics and hopefully dream about the Authority being real and sorting this mess out. Naive? Sure, but I have dont have any other ideas right now."

...really.

I loved this years Halloweekends.  I'm going back too.

The Haunted Houses were better, and the coolest part was in Frontier Town with all of the fog machines.  We went on Friday the 28th and the park was pretty slow.  With the clouds being lit by the exposed moon and the fog, it looked like a perfect set for a horror movie.  It was creepy.  The actors on the trail were great, especially the drunken dead dead guy that hung around the MF tunnel into Frontier Town.

I'd have to say I agree with mrh216. I like the point like everyone else, but I wasn't that impressed. They played the normal sound tracks in the park until it got dark. Walking around seeing Halloween stuff and listening to the summer music didn't do much to get me in the mood. Several props that were out last year were missing. The area by the Iron Dragon was the biggest hit area. All of the aliens were missing. The crashed ID car was gone. The truck and the people hanging from the laser show booths were missing.

Putting the witches show in the peanuts playground was a mistake. It went from an adult/kids show that was neat to a kids show that was ok.

With that said I did like the Fright Zone. Undertaker U. was pretty cool. The 3D wasn't that good in Pharaoh's Secret. We were pushed quickly through it. Blink and you missed it.

I think they did make several great improvements to the haunted houses and in the creation to the Fright Zone. I think they took a step back in general props around the park, general presentation, and live entertainment.

Just my opinion. I know that this will cause some of you to gag.

I can't wait to go and see all the stuff they have this year! October 20th is when I'll be going. ihave not been on the train in a LONG time, (since I was a kid), do they decorate "Boneville" up at all? If so, how good is it?
-----------------
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY HERE AT CEDAR POINT...AMERICA'S ROCKIN ROLLER COAST. *CLEAR*

I love what they do for Halloweekends. Every little prop, decoration, theme, show and or ect. ect. ect. impresses me and I try to notice and appreciate all of it.

I did though, notice a couple of things missing from before. Area 51 (the crashed UFO), the tree with all the wild dogs, and maybe a few less cemeteries. Hardly enough to make me say that it was a letdown, that's absurd. I am wondering however, where all the extra money went that they put into it this year. A few more fog machines and upgrades to the haunted houses don't really demand thousands and thousands of dollars.

-------------
I was super before Superstew was cool!

The best prop, the dead people from the Iron Dragon car that fell off is missing. ;)

I still think it is a improvment :).

It wasn't a letdown, it was just different.  I, too missed the crashed sky ride car and that alien thing between the two summer spectacular structures.  Was the crashed Irod Dragon car there this year?  I didn't see it. 
(Midway Man)- I hadn't been by Boneville since I was little until 2 weeks ago, so I can't tell you if it was decorated or if it was just the way it always is.
-----------------
Magnum may be high, but Raptor rules the sky!
Paul

*** This post was edited by CP4LIFE on 10/2/2001. ***

The dead rock cafe tombstones are missing,how hard is that to set up? No candy given out on the Cadillac cars-kids were bummbed.And we to missed all the past displays on the Wildcat midway.Like the new stuff but figured they would add to what they already had.But we will be back!!!

-------------
Later Wally

Given the media attention to amusement accidents (but not necessarily an increase in frequency), does it really make sense to have a crashed ID tub out there? I think not.

-----------------
Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
Watch my grass grow: http://www.sillynonsense.com/subdivision/

Yeah Jeff, that is what I was thinking.  Not to mention the fact that dead bodies dangling (in the air) from the laser booths might prove to be in bad taste so close to the events of September 11.

Yeah, but come on guys, it's Halloween. We should be able to distinguish between decorations that are there for fun and the you know what media that's always picking on our rides, not to mention that crap on the 11th.

-------------
I was super before Superstew was cool!

Yeah, you are right, we should be able to distinguish between decorations and real life.  But can everyone do that?  I'm sure that some of Cedar Point's customers could potentially get offended by some decorations.  Cedar Point is going to go the safe way and keep them down just to be safe.

Anyway, this is just a theory, the missing decorations might not have anything to do with ride accidents and terrorism.  I understand that the smoking tree with the wild dogs that used to be by Gemini is gone.  There wouldn't be any politically correct reason that I can think of to not put that prop out.

I think that the Frontier Trail was the best, you could hardly see 2 feet in front of you.  That is the way it should be.  The 3-D thing was kind of lame, but I expected that. 

Kudos to Cedar Point on Saturdays, all the rides are open, not too many other Halloween fests are like that.  It gives Season Pass Holders like me many many more times to ride before the long winter sets in.