I got the chance to head over to Busch Gardens Williamsburg and check out some of the new things for Howl-O-Scream 2018. I won’t get to the actual park to go through everything until next week so this was a nice sneak peak for me. The park was not open at the time so I could only do what they let us!
Yep those are giant chocolate chip cookies. And they had toppings. I did not partake but others said if you can grab one in the park to share do it. They were rapidly eaten.
Jack is Back and it gives Howl-O-Scream a great new energy- especially after Frostbite not being so great as the new house last year. Jack was a great face of Howl-O-Scream for years and a most impressive costume. This year there are 3 new haunted houses (making 7 in total), 5 new bars (6 total), 2 new Terror-tories (6 total), 2 party zones and 1 new escape room.
I love it when they have so much new to experience- especially since they kept my favorite houses and got rid of the ones I didn’t like!
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The Kids Are Going To Go Nuts
This is the Control Pad. It’s over at Castle O’Sullivan. There is a crazy guy there making drinks but he is not the important part. It’s that screen behind him and that bright green button in the bottom left corner.
There are actually five screens like that- each showing a different haunted house/maze. And each button controls an aspect in one of those houses. And if you have control of the button you have control of that part of the house. For example the picture behind the “bartender” is a cauldron and above it is a giant spider. It sits still in the house unless SOMEONE pushes that button. So you can sit, wait for an unsuspecting person to walk up and then press the button and the spider activates.
And yes some of the rooms have sound so you can hear the big man you just scared scream like a little girl. My 8 year old nephew would be ALL OVER THIS.
I forgot to take pictures of the sign with the price but I believe it was $5 for 10 scares. So not terribly expensive for something I would consider wickedly enjoyable!
The Vault: XX (FLASHBACKS Galore)
The first new haunted house they took us to was “The Vault: XX”. And, for the first time ever, they let us walk through with the LIGHTS ON so we could see all the amazing details. This is in the old Drachen Fire building.
The Vault:XX is a celebration of the 20th year of Howl- O- Scream. It has aspects from a ton of old haunted houses and mazes from over the years. As a matter of fact when you walk through the front the beginning is like the inside of a morgue with the drawers. And on each drawer is the logo of a previous haunted house. LOTS of memories reading those logos.
Anyone Recognize This Logo?
This part was incredibly creepy even with the lights on. It’s Rapunzel’s hair and it’s EVERYWHERE. Hanging all over the place. In the dark it’s going to be really gross.
Demented Dimensions
The second new haunted house they took us to was Demented Dimensions. It’s located over by Cornered (which is one of my FAVORITE things at Howl- O-Scream). The premise is a haunted house built on top of a dimensional vortex. The energies of the vortex have opened portals to other realms where humans are hunted by monsters, where aliens in control and the virtual has become reality.
Basically it’s like walking through a big, complicated house. You start on the front porch and exit out the back door.
It’s not quite as scary when everything is lit up!
This guy was incredible to look at.
These walls were silicone- the detail work was amazing.
The first two rooms were a library and every surface was covered in pages from books. Beautiful!
If you haven’t been to Howl-O-Scream in a few years THIS is the year to go back. Over the last four years that I have gone they have added some really exceptional elements- basically everything except Frostbite in the park now is really good. Full disclosure I haven’t been through Dystopia which is the other new house this year. I’m very excited to try it!
Want to find other discounts? Check out the Busch Gardens Williamsburg Coupons and 10 Ways To Save Money at Busch Gardens Williamsburg!
