cfc Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 (edited) It can be a bit difficult to find your way around Kings Dominion during their annual Haunt, thanks to the fog. Yes, KD loves their fog machines. The chemical clouds spew from every corner and crevice, nook and cranny--and probably from your own personal nooks and crannies, thanks to breathing it in all night. But floating particulate matter aside, KD puts on a pretty good Haunt with nine mazes (two were all new this year), six scare zones (including a new "steam punk" zone for 2011), a haunted car ride (Blue Ridge Bloodbath), and five shows (usually the weakest part of the event). I checked it out on opening night last Friday, where the park broke the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people dressed as vampires (I was not among the legions of the undead). I didn't hit the car ride or the shows. With so many mazes, they can't all be great, but three of them are very good, and there's only one complete bummer (at least on that Friday night--Haunt can be a bit variable as October moves on). Here they are from best to worst: Club Blood--I thought this vampire nightclub was looking a little tired last year, but the park added some new gimmicks, and now it's back to being their best maze at Haunt. Plus, I'm quite the celebrity at Club Blood, as at least one bloodsucker knows my name. The Doll Factory--Last's year's best maze drops to second place, but this tour of a creepy toy factory with dolls made from spare body parts is still quite good (especially at the end). Slaughter House--This one reminds me of "Leave it to Cleaver" from Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Night a few years ago (a tour of a meat-processing plant run by cannibals). I believe KD livened this one up with a few new "gags" (pardon the expression) this year, too. Toxic Plague--This bug-filled sewer is the same as last year. Cartoony, but enjoyable enough. Cornstalkers--This cornfield of carnage is new for this year, and it's fun, even if the scarecrow monsters are all pretty much alike. It's also pretty narrow, but the scareactors still have plenty of good hiding places. Medieval Macabre--It certainly smells "medieval" (that is, kind of skunky) in this pit of plague and depravity. Although they improved the scenery outside the maze this year, most of the inside (except for a few set pieces) consists of crudely painted flats. OK, but not great. Asylum--I preferred the original Maze of Madness from a few years ago, but this stroll through a loony bin is OK, just sort of generic. Camp Killauee--This Friday the 13th-inspired summer camp of horror is also a bit generic, but at least it makes more sense than the Blackbeard maze that used to be here. (Blackbeard in the woods of Doswell?) Outbreak: The Evolution--This year's second new maze, and easily the weakest, most generic of them all. Most of the sets consists of flat white walls, and the mutant monsters seem to be recycled from the old Alien Outpost maze (which had better sets). KD does a better job with scare zones than Busch Gardens, as a general rule. The most interesting one was Ironworx, the steam-punk zone, even though it wasn't so much scary as just plain odd (the scareactors had very good costumes, too). Here's a look at KD's Haunt. I made miminal use of my flash to try and capture all the foggy atmosphere. So, expect some "atmospheric" (that is, "blurry") pictures. Look! A rainbow! There's hope for humanity! Correction: There was hope for humanity. Yes, abandon hope, all ye who enter! Even the shop windows are cursed! But you can buy Fright Lane to save you from the CURSE OF THE ETERNAL QUEUE! (I didn't need it that night.) Here are a few of the 1,000+ vampires who helped KD break that record. Hey, those aren't vampires! Vampires can't be photographed! I call shenanigans! You know, there are many uses for corn. Cornbread. Corn chowder. Corn chips. Side dish for roast leg of YOU! Just like in a horror movie, people always have to enter a spooky old barn. You'd think they'd learn that all they'll find are old piles of horse flop and horrible, bloody death! Welcome to the Necropolis! We hope you enjoy our fog. Welcome to bucolic Camp Killauee! We have many fun activities for you, such as spear fishing, machete throwing, and ax murdering! Our crafts instructor will show you how to make a nice wallet from your own skin and an ash tray from your best friend's skull! Your parents will treasure these fine gifts, made with love! The entrance to the Asylum is here somewhere--trust me. "The Asylum? Where is it? I can't see a thing in all this freakin' fog!" This is the truck next to Toxic Plague, so that you will know it if you see it again. Hmm--looks like Captain Nemo's crew may have mutinied. This certainly is an impressive apparatus. I have no idea what it does. That's what makes it so impressive. Look! Steam-powered lasers! This steam-punk technology is incredible! You know, I bet this guy supplied his own steam-punk costume--and he probably has a Klingon outfit hanging in his closet, too. Bye bye, Ironworx, you amazing World of Tomorrow, you! More to come from Haunt. Edited October 4, 2011 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 (edited) More Haunt--and more fog. Did I mention that KD likes fog? And scary toys? (My god! BK! The Sign of Burger King! This is truly hell!) "Welcome to Medieval Macabre. . . ." " . . . Please do not touch the bumper cars. They will not touch you." There are supposed to be Ruins around here, bit all I can see is this big orange eye. "OK, we have these leftover statues from the Paramount days--find me a reason to use them!" Fog! Blue lights and fog! A recipe for TERROR! This is Outbreak: The Evolution. At least KD has kept its tradition of putting their worst maze in the Flight of Fear queue. Clowns? Why did it have to be clowns? At least KD has a bigger and scarier clown zone (CarnEvil) than BGW. Cough! Hack! Is this more fog, or have I found Jeff Johnson? "I can see through the fog--and I'm watching you!" "Welcome to KD's Slaughter House! It takes all sorts of critters to make our fritters!" This snack stand is cursed! This glowy bling is cursed! This fog is . . . . . . "Yes! Cursed! We get it! We're all cursed Give it a rest!" "Yeah--get out!" Ok, ok, I can take a hint. Thanks for reading. Edited October 4, 2011 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy T. Koepp Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I love the eyes on the tower. I had never noticed that before. Excellent TR. But it was kinda lacking something. Perhaps more fog. Yes! That's what it needed, a heaping helping of fog. Cause you can never have enough fog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugecoltsfan Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Nice TR. I went there Saturday and yeah it was really foggy. I fell over one the many trash cans because I couldn't see in front of the action theater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Palooza Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Great TR Chuck! Can't wait to hang out with you on Friday night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 ^I hope you can find me in all the fog! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 ^ You were in this report? Now if you'll excuse me, I need to walk outside. I keep coughing up fog here at my desk. Oh yeah, and I love the eyes on the tower! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intimidator305 Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Haunt XI looks and sounds pretty good! Nice trip report and thanks for posting! I already have the hotel room booked and I'll be there this Friday and Saturday (a great way to celebrate my birthday)... I can't wait to try CornStalkers, Outbreak, IronWorX, Necropolis, and The Lair. I'm the most excited for CornStalkers (some say it's great) and IronWorX (that seems very interesting and a nice improvement over Central Stalkway). I might check out some of the new shows if I have time. I also really like the outside of Medieval Macabre now, that is a great improvement! I'm also glad to see they are using the new Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular red flood lights for the Eiffel Tower during Haunt. And... am I the only one who likes all the fog? Haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 ^KD was reletively subdued with the fog compared to last year, when it was billowing out into the parking lot. It does add a lot of "atmosphere." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_s Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 ^^-- my thoughts too. It may increase later on, it seemed to last year? First weekend -- or anytime it seems more like summer -- is kind of the "lite" version anyway. I like when the fog drifts to different places like Dominator. There has to be a lot for that to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkd freak Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Great Haunt review and of course Chuck, that was ME. I call your name out every year you come through CB. I love our reVAMPED maze and so glad we have a lot of our fans back as we had in the past! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted October 7, 2011 Author Share Posted October 7, 2011 ^You have a good crew of bloodsucking fiends in there this year--and the upgraded show scenes are good too. I'm always amused, and unnerved, when you call me by name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernierocker Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Another great TR, Chuck! I guess with 9 houses you are bound to have a couple of letdown houses, but it sounds like KD throws on a good event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Great update Chuck. These events really seem more and more like cookie cutter events. Still fun though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDCOASTERFAN Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Great update Chuck. These events really seem more and more like cookie cutter events. Still fun though. I dunno,I found the exterior themeing for medievl macabre to be pretty good looking compared to in year's past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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