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The 'nothing has changed' thought process is interesting. I don't disagree (because it is true), but I don't view it as a bad thing. Fright Nights is in a position where there's 4 mazes, each with very different themes, plus some scare zones and shows. It's a strong position to be in. Plenty of theme parks and scream parks keep mazes for a long time, and also sometimes have less diversity in themes. So what Thorpe have done this year is no different to what the majority of the scare industry do. Obviously there shouldn't be complacency from the park. And there's room for improvement. And charging for mazes creates a whole different dynamic and level of expectation which the park need to navigate still. The issue for me would come if we have repeated years of little-to-no changes. That's thr aforementioned complacency. If this year brings more consistent operations / effects, tweaks to some mazes and a stronger park atmosphere, I'd see that as a massive win. Then next year the park can continue to diversify and change their offering.

Paid mazes combined with no "off peak" days killed Fright Nights for me, simple as. Pot luck to your group size and number of actors you will see, therefore experience, with no option to go again. You pay your money and you make your choice. No thanks.

I’m not going to heading to fright nights this year. Two reasons, mainly because I’m off to uni so won’t be around, but even if I was I feel it’s not really worth the trip much anymore. Nothing has really changed since last year, and bar Deadbeat last year didn’t see much change either. I feel the lineup has become stale, trailers has been milked enough, even if it gets a few new rooms; survival games is really fun in my opinion, but I’ve done it enough times now; stitches is a cool maze, but I think the experience is ruined by the amount of people you get sent in with, especially on a busy day; deadbeat was a stand out for me last year, I wasn’t overly a fan of the theme but I got separated from my group early one so had pretty much a solo run through, but even that I’m not itching to do again. It’s quite showing how the maze I most want another run through is survival games, and I’ve probably done that 4 times already. On the scare zones/other experiences, they are once again just all the same as we’ve seen year after year. Crows is so busy as the closest thing to a maze for free it’s almost unbearable, Amity vs lycanthrope or whatever it’s called now is the same as it’s been for as long as I can remember coming for fright nights and lucifers lair is just begging to be put in the new preposed stage location, it still feels so cramped around the stage and needs something new to add to it’s atmosphere too. Rides in the dark are always a great part about FN, but I feel even those I can skip on now; a 7pm close in September gets you nearly the same experience, without having to queue for 2 hours per ride. I’m trying not to be negative overall, I love fright nights so much, I’ve spent many years looking forward to October half term so I can go, but this year the same repetitiveness of it is starting to get at me. Its not a bad event by any means, and for people going for the first time, or taking a return trip for the first time in a few years it’ll be great, just as someone whose gone every year for the past 4, I can’t justify it this year. I feel I’ve written a lot so TL;DR - in my opinion the lineup is getting stale and the sheer busyness of FN (especially when I used to go towards the end of October) makes it not worth the trip as much this year, especially for me as I’m going to have to take a longer journey to arrive.

It’s back on the app today so hopefully that’s a good sign. It also looked intact when I visited on Wednesday so I’d assume they were waiting for a part which has potential arrived now?

Still no updates on Samurai, with it's position next to SAW, Hyperia & Colossus , it does tend to help suck up those oversold Fright Night's queues, so one would assume they would like it open soon....

Further to the above - it's still closed - probably dead for the rest of the season now, one would assume?

This thread has been quiet. I guess that's not a surprise - no new maze, scare zone yet to be announced (with no obvious work happening), minimal construction updates. Well let's change that with some construction updates: The Crows is getting another new route / layout I'm a little concerned that it could become a little too "outdoor scare maze" looking at that. But we'll see. One of the biggest issues I've had with The Crows in the last year or two is the higher security / plain-Thorpe staff in the attractions, which I believe comes from the fact it has less CCTV / no e-stops. If they keep building it up like this, they may as well go for e-stops and take the potential operational blips over neutralising the experience with many non-actors. Or take a step back to what it was like in earlier years to reduce the number / need for such staff. Creature Campus set is same as last year: And the stage for Lucifer's Lair is in the same spot (which was definitely better in terms of footfall and guest flow compared to its location in the past): I have heard the scare zone will be announced this week (although that's not a surprise...it is less than 3 weeks until the event starts after all). Given there's no obvious work happening anywhere on park, I expect that means it will be a more literal interpretation of the word "zone" (ie not a walkthrough like Crows / Death's Doors was). Which is fine; the scare-zone side of Lucifer's Lair works well in that regard, so another area of the park like that is no bad thing in my books!

I've never seen that issue before. Potentially a side effect of visiting when quiet. I don't think signage needs removing or anything. Simply that batching staff need to remain clear with telling full groups to go up the left stairs.

Remove the signage. I don't think it used to be there anyway.

Noticed whilst riding yesterday a potential issue with the queueing. On multiple occasions I saw odd groups split up even numbers go to the left for the main queue whilst the third person would join the single rider line. Luckily yesterday queues weren’t long enough to make it a major annoyance however I think the batching staff need to get a bit better at ensuring everyone goes the correct way or perhaps remove the single rider signage

new paint swish not long lasts, sticking plasters help bit for, swish swash tick tock ding dong dingy

parp parp parp parp, parp parp parp parp tick, tock, parp parp parp parp, parp parp parp parp tick, tock, huuuuuur huuuuuuur huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuur, spinnies or stitches?

cold steel, cold steel, cold steel, cold, cold steel

No difference. The park run both events on the same day, but it doesn't matter whether you buy a Spooky Days or Fright Nights ticket. You still get access to park from 10am-11pm. Officially Spooky Days runs till 5-6pm, with HFN starting at 6pm. In practice all that means is the scare zones are friendlier until 5pm, and then scarier after 6pm.

Thankyou both, much appreciated. Think I've settled for both the Walibi Parks this year, and may try Europa or something different next year. Walibi Holland is a new park for me so going to go for 2 days there, especially after hearing how busy it gets for Halloween. @JoshC. on days the parks open till 11 do you have to buy a day ticket as well as a fright nights ticket? They sell spooky days and fright nights tickets on them days and unsure what the difference is?

Unsure, but it hasn't been seen the last couple of seasons.

Just as an update, I've just purchased my Halloween attraction tickets for Walibi Holland. The absolute cheapest way of buying tickets for all the Halloween attractions (which consists of 4 mazes, 3 experiences and 2 outdoor walkthrough) costs 116.50euros (just shy over £100). That includes a "before dark" ticket where you have to do 3 mazes and 1 walkthrough before 7pm, which is very tight to do since most open at 5pm. It is experience, but genuinely I think is worth it.

Does anyone know why the third boat is missing?

Walibi Holland (when I last went in 2019) was by far the best Halloween event outright I've done. Their standard mazes are good quality. They excel with their 'experiences' (of which they have 3), which are more intense, smaller groups / alone. Their scare zones, which they have several of, are brilliant, along with whole park atmosphere. It gets CRAZY busy though. I'm returning there this year for the event. I've had to budget to include ride and maze Fastrack - whilst it's possible to do all the Halloween stuff without extras, you will be rushed off your feet, and will almost definitely not get a chance to do any rides in the dark without it. I did Traumatica at Europa Park last year. Given it's Europa, the operations leave a lot to be desired (their Fastpass is necessary), and the quality of the mazes is very mixed. Atmosphere is very good though. You need to book in early September to have a chance of getting Fastpass / doing the alone experience. Linnanmaki have a fun event, but nothing to write home about. I haven't done any more, but some notable ones... -Walibi Belgium rebranded their event last year into Ibilaw. The best years of their Halloween event are arguably behind them, but they still do well (the Zombie Bar hasn't been around for a while) -Spanish parks tend to do great Halloween events, if you can deal with the queues / atmosphere. There's also a very well received scream park, Horrorland -Liseberg is pretty consistent

Fire effect update please anyone xox

Since I don’t do mazes I rely on the resident expert at home for those. Liseberg's was good. Walibi Holland mazes were a bit meh. Toverland was ok. Best part of Walibi Belgium was the Zombie Bar on the lake but no idea if they do that anymore. General atmospheres are good though. Probably would need a fastpass equivalent though if available since you know, QUEUES.

Has anyone done any Halloween events in Europe, and if so any recommendations? I did Asterix last year which was great so I’m keen to try some others this year, looking at potentially doing Walabi Holland and Belgium but any thoughts would be appreciated If anyones done either of the Walibi parks at Halloween what did you think of them?

Hopefully it's nothing to do with the ride itself, just the weather.

Potentially weather related; been storms about in the local area.

Been closed all day today, anyone know what's happening?