Divv3k Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Hi everyone! This past weekend some of the British contingent from TPRs 2008 trips caught up with each other at Alton Towers for their Halloween event - Scarefest! Overall we had a really great day despite a few rides being closed and some very long lines. Whilst you could tell the park was really getting ready for off season we still managed to have a lot of fun. Afterall this was more about some good friends catching up with each other more than getting every coaster done over and over. The Halloween stuff was very good. The Terror of the Towers maze, now in its last year apparently, was a lot of fun. Having just visited Halloween Horror Nights it was interesting to compare the different approaches the parks use. I love how Alton take you through the maze in groups and have the actors talk and interact with the guests. Although this approach doesn't really help out with queue times as the line was over two hours long all day. Luckily we went for it as soon as it opened and didn't have to wait long. Some of our group tried the two upcharge mazes next to the hotel later in the day, so hopefully they'll chime in with their thoughts on those at some point. Also for Halloween Alton did a slight makeover of Duel. Calling it Duel: Live, they basically added actors to the queue and also added one into the ride itself to jump out at guests. The best part of it for me was all the srtupid target lights being turned off and the guns not functioning. Plus the old Alton Haunted House soundtrack was in use which was very cool. We did a couple of coasters too. Air kept opening closing throughout the day and kept commanding long lines so we didn't bother. Rita was closed all day which was slightly sad. Nemesis was running as great as ever and Oblivion was good fun too. Of course we had to pay our final respects to Corkscrew which basically consisted of standing outside the queue entrance for a photo followed by buggering off for donuts! Kind of shows how much we're gonna miss it ! LOL! Anyway, a good day was had by all. Can't wait to get together with those guys again in the future! It's great that TPR trips can bring together people to do things like this! Just another reason to sign up for one of 2009s offerings! Here's some photos... Lou's self photography is far better than mine so I'll use this one she took to close this out! We had a really great day. It's a real testament to the friendships that can be forged on TPR trips that we did this. Yet another reason why TPR trips are the greatest thing ever! Thanks for reading! Scarefest at Alton is an ever improving Halloween event. I can't wait to go back and do it all again next year! As darkness descended some of us headed home whilst others prepared to check out the other mazes. Spinabll's a good fun ride if you get the right combo of people in it. We decided that tea and donuts was a far better idea! Here we stood outside and debated how much we really cared about riding Corkscrew one last time. I guess we better go pay our final respects. Anth does not approve of closed Rita. This guy was great. He basically followed Stacey the entire length of Haunted Hollow! "It definitely feels ginger!" The actors in the Duel: Live queue were great! Fudgey quietly enjoys the "organic lamp post" I'm Doritosexual so Alton Towers is Divv approved! Dave loves having his head wrapped in big furry flowers. This photo is scarier than anything I saw at HHN. Fact. But that's because he got to ride with a hot chick! Mike firmly believes that the Runaway Mine Train is better than Nemesis. Pre-construction photo alert. Next year this building will be a Sea Life centre. OMG, lets make sure we don't miss out on "Furry Friend Petting!" Alton Towers reget that the guy that programs the LED board can't spell. Dave just wants to dance. Anth approves of never before seen angles! Bet you haven't seen this one either. Here you go. An exclusive, never before seen photo of Oblivion! You know its end of the season when the only drinks on offer at KFC are 7UP and Diet Pepsi. Eww! Yeah, there were some long lines today, but still nobody cares about Battle Galleons! Of course this group is incapable of going through a halloween maze like "normal" people. We have to do a conga! Where the hell did Fudgey go? "More corpses!" OMG. Watch out for that smoke! It eats people! Fudgey loves lamp posts. We don't really know why but we indulge him anyway. Man, Alton Towers are really scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for scare actors! Our group is one third female. This automatically makes us better than any other coaster group in existence. Terror of the Towers. If you didn't catch it this year you may never get the chance apparently. Air kept closing and reopening as the day went on so we decided not to bother with it on this occasion. In the queue Ben proceeded to make everyone jealous by pulling the remains of last night's Subway and consumed it in front of us all. Nemesis is always the perfect ride to start out a visit to Alton Towers. It's Halloween at Alton Towers. Time for Scarefest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 I take it that "Terror in the Towers" is in the actual castle itself? (If so, that would pretty cool.) Good to see the British contingent again, even if only online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Divv3k Posted November 3, 2008 Author Share Posted November 3, 2008 ^ It is indeed inside the castle Chuck. It's very cool, though I'm guessing a there's a lot of trips and slips as there are a lot of steps in the dark. Still it's great fun. I'm hoping whatever replaces it is still inside the Towers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 What no Hooters pics? Did they have the cornfield of zombie mayhem this year? - I ask, just that due to a misunderstanding on the part of Alton management myself and an assorted bunch were actually escorted out* of the cornfield last year before getting half way through so I was looking for some views of the entire experience. Sorry to have missed out on the fun - it even looks like it didn't rain. *we did no wrong of course and were refunded the up charge. Evidently we had scared one of the zombies (uh???) and the supervisor accused us all of being drunk -MASSIVE indignation all round I can tell ya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyoverlord71 Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Awesome pics. I was at the towers the two days before Scarefest. Everything was basically walk on as the English were in school. I got my first rides on Air, Nemesis, Oblivion and Rita. I also took a last ride on the Corkscrew and for the first time ever, had to wait to get on and then ride with a full train. Dare I say it but it was running SMOOTHLY!!! Rita broke on the second day early on and didn't open again. Was the Skyride open when you were there as it was closed for us on both day's? I've always wanted to see Alton Towers during Scarefest so thanks for the pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy T. Koepp Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Great TR Divv! It was awesome meeting you and more of the UK contingent in Olrando this year. It looks like you all had an awesome time there at Alton Towers! Mabey in a few years we can do a Halloweek there in your neck of the woods. That would be awesome! Guy "Count me in!" Koepp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Divv3k Posted November 4, 2008 Author Share Posted November 4, 2008 Thanks guys! Steve - We never made it to Hooters this time sadly. We figured without you there it just wouldn't be any fun! monkeyoverlord71 - The Sky Ride was open but we were hardcore and walked all day. Okay so we started walking and then halfway realising that we should have took the Sky Ride! Guy - You're welcome over here any time! - Divv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eBen Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 It was my breakfast dam it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fallen Heretic Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Looks like a fun time, sorry I missed it. I should have gone, my halloween party here got cancelled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zjerre Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Awesome pics. I was at the towers the two days before Scarefest. Everything was basically walk on as the English were in school. I got my first rides on Air, Nemesis, Oblivion and Rita. I also took a last ride on the Corkscrew and for the first time ever, had to wait to get on and then ride with a full train. Dare I say it but it was running SMOOTHLY!!! Rita broke on the second day early on and didn't open again. Was the Skyride open when you were there as it was closed for us on both day's? I've always wanted to see Alton Towers during Scarefest so thanks for the pics. 26/10 the skyride was also closed for us but the 27th it was open! thank god cause i really liked the ride over the valley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob.Lloyd Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Did they have the cornfield of zombie mayhem this year? - I ask, just that due to a misunderstanding on the part of Alton management myself and an assorted bunch Assorted bunch ! you must mean me then Steve ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Great photos Dave! Corkscrew was closed for me when I went on the 27th so I didn't get to ride it one last time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fry Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 ^That's funny, it didn't look like you were at Alton on the 27th when I saw ya Tom . And I'm SO glad Rita was open when we went on the 28th! Especially since she was running beaaauuuttiiiffulllyy (as usual!). Not QUITE so glad that Corkscrew was open... Loved the PTR Dave, I didn't think much of Terror of the Towers (but, it was MILES better then last year!), but I did like the overall event more this year, felt more thought out this time. Didn't get to do the hotel mazes this year (had to get up north towards the fit Ultimate), but, Room 13 was the only one of the two I liked last year, and they ripped that out... so... eh. And they actually let you ride the front of RMT? LUCKY! Lol, we were stuck with the middle on that because the front few rows were shut every run (which was weird, I think it was disabled, but it was literally like, 8 per ride, which was a LOT), and the back was constantly taken by Fastpassers. Still, even there, it IS better then Nemesis . Especially with fabulous ride ops, hehe. I'm blabbing... loved it! Alton's awesome though . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecoasterkid Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 I WISH I WAS THERE WITH YOU!!!! *Ahem*. Now that's out of the way...it looks like you guys had a blast! I really need to get out to the UK and see these parks some time. Nemesis looks too good to pass up! I miss our Hooters antics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamjar Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Heh heh heh I love school's being closed! I got to the first night of scarefest and all day the park was near enough empty! I'd never been on oblivion before but ended up going on 7 times rita was fantastic as usual, but I swear that I'm not made for mazes I screamed all the way through But yeah, good to know you had a good day, just a shame about the queues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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