L7123456

HYPERspring
 
B&M hyper or RMC hyper-hybrid confirmed!!
 
It's happening folks!!!
 

Can't wait for sex education the experience xx
 
 

Well I never, it’s... it’s....
 
a WoRld fIrSt!
 

How many threads do you need the same post in ???

Now this is an interesting one. At what point should they start reducing the group sizes? And at what point should they start increasing them again if the queue becomes too long? 
 
It's something that has no clear cut answer, but I'd be interested to know what Thorpe's take on it is. The park want to get as many people through the mazes as possible to increase maze 'ridership' (and we see that especially during half term when the mazes struggle to cope), so it makes sense to keep group sizes the same in that respect. That number is going to be one of the most important numbers to them.
 
But then, generally speaking, small groups = better experience (not always, but often). The park should want to give better experiences and improve maze satisfaction and guest scores as much as possible. But how many people are going to notice (or care) that they're getting a better experience for waiting slightly longer? People are more likely to moan about a longer queue time than they are to praise a really good experience.
 
My guess is the park try and just make it so a maze is effectively a walk on before batching smaller groups. Internally, it will make for better numbers (more people going through the mazes quicker) and reduces the risk of complaints.
Room 1 is the same basic principle, but with new theming. Room 2 is completely different and has a completely different phobia as it's theme.
 
This intrigues me. Midnight Syndicate are royalty free as far as I know; all they need is permission and to have a notice somewhere saying they use the music. Presumably it's not as simple as that and that could be hidden issues, but the park never seemed to have said issues up to 2015 (and then 2016/17 they used IMAscore).
This is a shame. Platform had been one of my favourite mazes in 2017 and 2018, though I thought it was a bit flat on Thursday. I had hopes it may have been the actors just needing more of a chance to get into the groove of things. Hopefully it grows as the event goes on.
 
The Towers team were involved, as were MMM (the first time the company's higher creative team have been involved in a Fright Nights attraction since Asylum I believe, since they usually only work on main rides). I also believe that Theme3 (who were involved in Experiment 10 and Cabin in the Woods' theming) were involved with the theming of the attraction.
 
Creek Freak had a very big budget this (definitely one of the biggest a single maze has had in recent years), and I think that shows. I hope that Thorpe realise that by putting the money in, they've reaped the rewards out with a maze which, so far, has received very good reviews.
 
If we had 4-5 mazes of Creek Freak's quality, I don't think anyone could complain about the attractions. 
 

Oh no yeah, there are definitely enthusiasts out there who do abuse RAP’s who really don’t need them, I just want to clarify that the comment wasn’t directed at myself, as we were re-running Creek a fair bit, but I do genuinely need a RAP at the moment and we use it correctly. It’s such a flawed system, but that’s a discussion for another time...
 
In other news, Fright Nights is honestly great this year. Will write out a review post it in this thread tomorrow!

Edited. Comment removed, not necessarily there are other previously banned forum members, who were users who are using it constantly.

All things spoilers for Fright Nights 2019 are discussed here!
 
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I attended Press Night tonight, and I'll give some brief spoilery thoughts about the mazes. However, it's very hard to judge the mazes based on run-throughs of tonight; I experienced them in such small groups (and on more than one occasion, alone), making it unfair to judge.
 
Creek Freak Massacre
This will get a very good reaction from the masses. It's very well themed, has lots of good effects, good opportunities for the actors to scare you, and of course chainsaws. There's some multi-route aspects and I encountered 3 chainsaws during my goes. And, importantly, this doesn't feel like a Thorpe's attempt at Chop Shop; it feels original.
 
The maze is quite long (probably the second longest, behind Platform) which is good too.
 
I have concerns about the reliability of the effects (not that these detract from the experience in fairness), the reliability of chainsaws (they require regular petrol changes) and how this will cope when the park is busy. I hope those fears are unfounded, but for now, the jury is out.
 
Terror at Amity High
Just a flash mob/dance routine, with actors interacting with the crowd in between performances. However, this is really well done, and a refreshing change from all of Thorpe's angsty characters in the past.
 
Do or Die
Seen some changes this year, and the theming within the 3 containers you go in is largely very good. Outside them is basically the same as last year and doesn't feel great.
 
There's a very cool sequence in one of the containers. However, I don't know how it will work in the long run with larger groups. So again, I'll wait and see.
 
Blair Witch
Very dense forestry and very good layout given the space, but the actors' script is a bit weak. Fun and different, but nothing special.
 
Platform 15
Has a new ending, which I'm sure will go down well in big groups and be a hit with the public. I wasn't a fan of it though. Actor numbers felt a bit sparse but I hear they will improve.
 
Living Nightmare
Same as last year but with a slightly different ending. Probably the best themed ending they've done, but not all that scary.
 
Containment
Rooms 1 and 2 are different this year. I hadn't done this for a couple of years, so had forgotten that it's pretty decent. Would recommend if you haven't done it for a while.
 
Parkwide Theming, Audio and Lighting
Minimal. Didn't notice anything aside from a couple of hanging bodybags and some zombies. Colossus apparently has some stuff but I hate Colossus so didn't pay attention.
 
 
Verdict
For now, it's safe to say that this year's Fright Nights is significantly better than last year. Though that was not very hard to achieve. Every attraction has seen work to try and improve it, though some attractions have missed the mark for now. As ever, I can't give a fairer review until I've done the mazes in a more normal condition.
 
Creek Freak will hit the spot it needs to for the park are it'll go down well. I enjoy aspects of it, though in reality it's not completely my cup of tea. I just hope my operational fears are unfounded.

Why though, the tent mazes back in the day were so much better than all these outdoor mazes.

Precisely, as we were told last year by almost certainly the same people that 2018 was “the best Fright Nights yet”. Look at how that ended...
 
I just hope this year the park don’t just focus purely on the scare mazes and instead look at all other areas which contribute to the event. Things such as park lightning, decorations and audio are just as important I’d say, especially for those not wishing to go in the mazes.
 
Last thing I want to see are X’s lights flashing all over the entrance bridge again... it looked ruddy awful last year.

A blog about the score for Creek Freak Massacre, which isn't being done by IMA Score or Thorpe bae Nick Hutson...
 
https://www.thorpepark.com/blog/a-theme-park-like-no-other-the-sound-of-fright-nights

An article in  The Sun (sorry) suggests that there will be multiple routes / groups split up in Creek Freak Massacre: 
 

I’m assuming that it’s there in the case of light leakage into the building. If there is any, it’ll be blood red so as to fit the theme of the maze and hopefully not detract from the experience.

I’m assuming that it’s there in the case of light leakage into the building. If there is any, it’ll be blood red so as to fit the theme of the maze and hopefully not detract from the experience.

I’m assuming that it’s there in the case of light leakage into the building. If there is any, it’ll be blood red so as to fit the theme of the maze and hopefully not detract from the experience.

I’m assuming that it’s there in the case of light leakage into the building. If there is any, it’ll be blood red so as to fit the theme of the maze and hopefully not detract from the experience.

It's cheap and easy.
 
Thorpe rely on their night time riding to pull in visitors for Fright Nights, which is a shame as it shouldn't be.  Cutting back on some rides like flying fish, tidal wave, storm surge, zodiac, depth charge, banana ride, tea cups. (how many of those are open I'm not too sure..) But closing them at 5 and using that operational budget to fund two actual decent scare zones, followed by 7-8 mazes would be the right direction in my eyes.
 
I love that a brand new maze, not even finished yet, is being advertised as their most intense maze ever. Once again, Thorpe will sell an attraction as something its not (just like Derren Brown). Why did Big top do so well? Because there was no expectations, no one knew what was to come. 

And there we have it!!
 
“Introducing our brand new district "Wastelands" the home or our brand new attraction Wastelands Penitentiary.
The year is 1998, 13 years beyond the moment of “light”, the explosion ripped through our world, bringing an end to civil life. Buildings became ruins, forests became wastelands and to survive humans pulled on their primal instincts. The penitentiary was strong and secure, but since the disaster it has become a haven for all that is bad. The power shift has changed. Inmates once detained are now free, guards that were in control are fighting to survive…will you?”
 
Solid looking line up!! This and Wreckoning look like two very strong additions to the line up potentially. 

If there's a touch scare maze featuring the roaming nurses then I'm cool with that 😍

Ooh a pirate-themed maze!
 
Maybe they’ll use parts of Black Buccaneer for the theming 😂

It's formerly the Colony so approx. duration in the maze is 2 hours.

So this is how the Ghost Train ends, not with a Screaming Roar. but with a Cough

“And I believe this represents the future for spreading a cold across the world!!”

bUT  wWTP, wE mIGHt sTiLL gET A sURpRiSe aNnOuNcEmEnT

Perhaps the crystal ball shall reveal a date and time?