Comments on: Halloween-Themed Events: Gory Goodness or Gone Too Far

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 03:24:36 +0000

One thing I find interesting about this post and the comments are the fact that you theme/amusement parks are family oriented. No doubt parks are things that families go to for fun and vacations but I feel like over the past couple years of my travels I see almost nothing but teens/college students or folks around my age at the parks I've been to. It could just be the circumstance and the fact that I don't go in the summer time much or just that I'm a coaster geek and don't pay attention to the family aspect. Another thing I think about is Disney. It is basically the definition of a family park especially for little kids. I know all parks have kid sections but it really does seem like much for kids to do at parks. Once again I must say I really haven't searched out the things to do at parks for kids so there could be much more that I just don't know about. Very interesting stuff indeed though. A lot of people I know our age are really into "the walking dead" and zombie stuff. Do you have any plans for next year yet CC?

By: Pianostar

Pianostar — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 01:46:16 +0000

Sadly, I hate halloween events…. I really don't find them fun. I was at Canobie Lake Park and this freaky bloody clown runs up to me and chases me around the tea party, cannonball, and corkscrew. I was FREAKED. Since then, I've hated halloween. As a kid, halloween isn't fun…. (MOST kids like trick-or-treating. I DON'T.)
P.S. Read my cyclone at Six Flags New England review… I'm on the last page.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 06:32:44 +0000

I find coasters fun – not "scary." Even I-305 and Skyrush were fun, although I didn't go "hands up" on the latter.

Here on the west coast you can ride (weather permitting) in December, without big crowds although the best coasters in the US are not in California.

Sorry I don't understand the "scare me more" mindset.

Some philosophers speculate the human condition is the ever present understanding that we're mortal.

Given the real violence rampant in our world, marketing fake violence as entertainment is bizarre.

War is popular for many people, otherwise it would have vanished a long time ago.

It would be interesting to learn how Halloween got marketed into the billion dollar industry it is today.

—

I don't believe that the big men, the politicians and the capitalists alone, are guilty of the war. Oh no, the little man is just as guilty, otherwise the peoples of the world would have risen in revolt long ago! There's in people simply an urge to destroy, an urge to kill, to murder and rage, and until all mankind, without exception, undergoes a great change, wars will be waged, everything that has been built up, cultivated, and grown will be destroyed and disfigured, after which mankind will have to begin all over again.
– Anne Frank, May 3, 1944

As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular.
– Oscar Wilde

By: CoasterCritic

CoasterCritic — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 03:48:46 +0000

People want FAKE blood and guts. Thankfully we're not at the point where things need to be ramped up to the point that you're talking about. Real things don't evoke a 'good scare', they're disturbing and morbid. For example, I'll never forget some of the images that I saw at the Holocaust Museum. Real does not equal fun and hopefully it never does.

I agree about September, but if you live in a warm climate like NC the crowds haven't really went away fully yet. You're also right about fake fog. I always noticed that it smells kind of weird.

By: CoasterCritic

CoasterCritic — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 03:42:16 +0000

You're probably right Prof. BAM. Although, I think I might be over zombies by now even if I were just a 33 year old single guy and not a Dad. But there's no way to know. I may be more sensitive to this stuff now, but I can also separate adult stuff from kid stuff. I don't look at everything through the eyes of "Is this appropriate for my kids/family?"

I think I just see theme parks are being too family-oriented to go super gory. Even if it isn't for kids. These are the same businesses even if the calendar reads "October". Good point though. Much of this might be from some underlying "Dadification" that's occurred over the past 5 years.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 23:33:35 +0000

Since blood and guts are what some people want, why stick with minimum wage actors and makeup? Footage of real gore and violence would be more popular. War footage from Syria, there's an ample supply every day. Uncensored images from 9/11 (body parts in the street). Traffic accidents. There's a long list of possibilities.

I'm also not a fan of breathing the fake fog, it seems to be similar to antifreeze in its chemistry. I definitely don't need it for night rides on coasters. September is a better time to ride coasters, few crowds, weather is good, and the dumb zombie nonsense isn't infesting the parks yet.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:20:42 +0000

Sure these haunts aren't geared toward families, but my home park, Dorney, has a day-time event called BooBlast! just for kids. They can go trick or treating, visit snoopy and friends in halloween costumes, and there is even a petting zoo. I think that it is great that Dorney has something for kids in the day and for older people at night. If kids don't want to be scared, then they should leave at 6, when the park gets haunted and come earlier in the day. Personally, I like Haunt events. It is cool to see something different at my home park, and go to different areas of the park in haunted attractions that you would never get to see in the regular season. I like the theming and scary feel. I am a horror movie fan, so it is just natural to go in these spooky things. Roller coasters are still the main attraction though. I love diving into the fog on the first drop of steel force!

By: Prof.BAM

Prof.BAM — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 00:24:15 +0000

Maybe this is the scareactor in me, but the public wants this stuff. CC, do you think that being a protective father might have influenced your judgment here? When I read this article, it sounded like the dad that will jump the Empire State Building to protect his kids voice.

By: @mattmcirvin

@mattmcirvin — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:35:48 +0000

I never got into the Halloween haunt thing, but I think the escalation is part and parcel of the general expansion of Halloween as a major holiday over the past decade or two. It seems to be taking the old role of Carnival in our society, the crazy day for everyone to cut loose and be someone they're not. It could even be the ultimate brake on the sprawling growth of the Christmas season!

By: JoeySilva

JoeySilva — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:28:35 +0000

I kind of agree with CC in thinking that they have gone a bit too far. I personally find the zombies disturbing and wish they went back to the cuddly warewolves. However, I love the Halloween events themselves due to less people at the park during the day, the different personality of the park, and special rides. I am going to Magic Mountain in a week and am super excited because they are turing off the track lights for half the coasters at night, running colossus backwards, and Haloween themeing X2.