What a difference one year and a million dollars can make for an event!
I went to Scarywood this year, expecting a second maze and a few mild improvements around the park. After years watching Disney poor multiple millions into projects (sometimes with mediocre results), I lost faith in just how far a million dollars can go.
The difference between Scarywood this year and last was HUGE. In 2009 the event had some decent props and acting, but the experience as a whole came across as amateur hour (remove the good props and setting and it was comparable to something a Community College put on the night before in my hometown). Scarywood 2010 felt like the park was stepping up to match the rest of the industry, in Halloween events. There were four special attractions this year to compared to the previous years three. This year the features were Blood Bayou (walkthrough), Terror Canyon, ZombieWood Express and Timber Terror (coaster) running backwards. Unlike last year the park wasn't open in the day but instead opened as the sun set around 6:00.
The center of the park was set up as a scare zone for guests. Running with that areas carnival theme they added creepy clown scare actors that would follow guests around menacing them as they went through the area. The area was also decorated by clowns hanging from nooses and a few that were set up with motors that made them twitch. They also ran strobe lights and other effects that kept things disorienting and exciting. This area was almost an attraction to itself.
Terror Canyon made a return to the event this year and was MUCH improved. This maze was the highlight of last years event and was greatly improved upon this year. Last year the scares were great, but there were many areas where the path spread out and it became obvious that you were walking through the drained canal for their raft ride. The scenes last year also felt somewhat random (even had a Joker reference at one point). This year they introduced the scenario with a buss breaking down and psychopaths capturing and tormenting a troop of girl scouts (you even see the buss outside the line for the ride).
Terror Canyon had fewer actors this year, but compensated by placing actors in key locations, making it more about being disoriented (must've read my suggestions last year ;)). Previously there was a short part of going through dark corridors, with walls painted black and sharp corners, making it difficult to navigate. This year those corridors seemed at least three times as long. They also turned up the fog so dense it was hard to see more then a few feet ahead. Chainsaw wielders hid behind objects and jumped out whenever groups became distracted (usually by a girl scout crying for help or perhaps a body being eaten). These elements combined so well there was actually backup at different points when people were too afraid to keep moving forward.
Next was the ride on Timber Terror. This coaster was actually a surprise hit for me. It is normally a great ride, but I hadn't expected turning the trains backwards to give the ride as much extra thrill as it did. Not being able to see whats coming or how long each drop lasts made the airtime feel that much better (and Timber Terror is actually world class for its airtime).
After Timber Terror I made the long walk back to the front of the ride for Zombiewood express. Last year Midfright Express had been the weakest offering and something of a disappointment. This year the experience was completely different. The year before the ride lacked a clear identity, advertised as too scary for those under 12, yet using child friendly terms and lacking any kind of thrill. This year the adult premise was apparent right from the start (complete with cursing in the dialogue). The train had fencing added to it and the inside was covered in blood splatter (and a few warnings written in blood).
The ride starts its journey around the park introducing each train gets to meet its representative zombie hunter. The train passes several scenes were zombies are killed by the various hunters (they even use dynamite to prevent zombies from attacking beneath the rail). Midway through the journey the train stops and the actors get out for a fun zombie brawl (gotta use axes after all). The ending is still pretty cheesy (Elvis Impersonator sings...), but the live performers make the ride a fun adventure (100% better then last year). The improvements really moved the train up from an avoid to a must do.
Finally Blood Bayou was the newest attraction for the event. Located inside the parks large skating building (which I have ignored most trips to the park), this attraction was AMAZING. I couldn't believe they could make so many improvements to the rest of the park and still afford to put on such incredible show in this walkthrough. The outdoor queue was well themed, they placed red dye in the fountain to make the water turn blood red and also set up special lighting to accent it. Under the train track near the building you see a creep with a knife hiding. Stepping indoors my jaw dropped. The theming was massive, you end up inside a graveyard with a giant grim reaper swinging his scythe over the doors into the walkthrough. People are grouped off in this room which had plenty of other details if you waited long enough. Some of soil stirred in front of the graves and a few of the graves would burst open on occasion (this is still the queue not the attraction itself).
The maze itself placed you in several different settings, each well realized and intricately designed. The only real way to shatter the illusion would be to look strait up and see the ceiling of the building, otherwise the sets were tall and had plenty of detail. The walkthrough offered many great moments.
One such moment was, when I was distracted by overhead pipes hitting me with air, then having someone grab my foot from under some equipment (I think?), sending me spinning in circles to have a metal panel slam down and someone yell at me. Probably the eeriest thing was near the end, I made eye contact with this weird creature in a tree and then proceeded along the path. Feeling something skim my hair, I ducked down in time to see the creature swoop almost to the ground and then lift up into the tree in front of me. The creature landed in the tree, turned around and looked at me again shaking its head. Even when I thought the walkthrough was over I was surprised by a giant skull creature bursting from one of the walls and vanishing almost as fast. Blood Bayou made my night and I repeated it a few times because its quality was unbelievable (easily comparable to Disney grade special effects).
Last year I ended my review with a list of suggestions for improvements. However this year I couldn't really think of anything to complain about. Silverwood addressed all of my concerns for last year, picked a target and nailed exactly what the event should be. Only challenge left for them is to keep it fresh. Blood Bayou was a huge investment but if it ends up being the same thing for three more years, there could be problems (same goes for Terror Canyon). If this year was any indicator the event is going to be a must see again next year (if you didn't go this year go next!)
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