So... You Want To Be The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Hype Thread)

[TheOriginalTiki]

Alright folks, it's time to bring back a hype thread staple...Question of the Day
This time there's a gameplay related twist that could give you a slight advantage coming into the season just by participating. The person who gives the overall best, most interesting answer between all the prompts will be chosen by the judges to get the first key to Walt's Vault. Project one is going to be a big group project before the players get divided into teams, so project two will be when Walt's Vault goes into effect. Every question also hints towards one of the prompts in the game. They'll be distributed in a random order and will be pretty vague clues, but it should make for a fun guessing game if you follow along! With that in mind, let's get to the first question...

Question of the Day...
What is the best scare maze you've ever been through at a Halloween event. If you haven't been to any, what's a maze you wish you could have experienced? ​

 

[Brer Panther]

I've never been to a scare maze.

 

[TheOriginalTiki]

I've never been to a scare maze.

I'll fully admit this is probably THE worst question out of all the ones we had in the tank to randomly land on as the first one haha. I'll go ahead and throw a couple honorable mentions to some stand outs from HHN31 in Orlando which is the only HHN I've attended. "Bugs: Eaten Alive" really got under my skin with the sound efffects and imagery. Probably the actual scariest maze I've done. "Dead Man's Pier" is a bonafide classic from that year and was a total masterclass in atmosphere and storytelling while not being particularly scary. The ship set piece was incredible to see in person.

My real love in this genre is Scary Farm. I've only been a few years, but here's some highlights

Paranormal Inc. - The majority of the maze is kind of a blur for me at this point because it was so long ago, but this was the very first Scary Farm maze I did and I'll never forget the opening set piece with the ghost on the wire flying out of the fake mirror. Knott's in general has a really great skill for creating memorable openings for their mazes. I think they're notably better than HHN in that department.

Pumpkinhead - Not really that scary, but what stood out here was how creative it got with the maze route going both inside and outside. The theme of going through a giant rotting pumpkin was really well realized with realistic spongy walls and floors that gave the whole thing a tactile element you don't really get on many of these.

Cinema Slasher - As a horror movie fan this thing is like catnip for me. It basically takes the "walking through the movie theater screen" effect from the Runaway Railway preshow and uses that as a jumping off point for traveling into various horror movies. I really like that all the horror movies you visit in this maze are from the same series of fake Slasher films and yet they all have their own unique flavor and get progressively darker and scarier as the maze goes on. The movie theater lobby/screen transitions between the major set pieces really make this thing.

If you're inexperienced with Haunt stuff, I'd love to hear what Disney movie you'd like to see translated into a maze if Disney ever started incorporating mazes into their Halloween events. ​

 

[Pi on my Cake]

Alright folks, it's time to bring back a hype thread staple...Question of the Day
This time there's a gameplay related twist that could give you a slight advantage coming into the season just by participating. The person who gives the overall best, most interesting answer between all the prompts will be chosen by the judges to get the first key to Walt's Vault. Project one is going to be a big group project before the players get divided into teams, so project two will be when Walt's Vault goes into effect. Every question also hints towards one of the prompts in the game. They'll be distributed in a random order and will be pretty vague clues, but it should make for a fun guessing game if you follow along! With that in mind, let's get to the first question...

Question of the Day...
What is the best scare maze you've ever been through at a Halloween event. If you haven't been to any, what's a maze you wish you could have experienced? ​

Last year was my first HHN or haunt event ever and I had a blast! I love horror, but hate being startled so haunted houses always seemed like a bad idea so I stayed away, but one I started dating someone who could get me a free ticket I decided to take the plunge. Definitely enjoyed the scarezones more (Toxic Twenties was fun), but the two mazes I did were great even if part of me hated the things jumping out lol

Five Nights at Freddy's was probably my favorite. Both because I've been a fan for years and because I loved seeing all the puppets and animatronics. That being said, even for me as a big baby man who hates being in a haunted house it was not scary at all.

El Artista was definitely more exciting and creative with more engaging sets and some much better horror atmosphere. There's a moment where a gargoyle flew above our heads (on a zipline) that blew my mind! Was hoping to do Dolls but ran out of time

Looking forward to getting to try some more houses this year!

I'll fully admit this is probably THE worst question out of all the ones we had in the tank to randomly land on as the first one haha. I'll go ahead and throw a couple honorable mentions to some stand outs from HHN31 in Orlando which is the only HHN I've attended. "Bugs: Eaten Alive" really got under my skin with the sound efffects and imagery. Probably the actual scariest maze I've done. "Dead Man's Pier" is a bonafide classic from that year and was a total masterclass in atmosphere and storytelling while not being particularly scary. The ship set piece was incredible to see in person.

My real love in this genre is Scary Farm. I've only been a few years, but here's some highlights

Paranormal Inc. - The majority of the maze is kind of a blur for me at this point because it was so long ago, but this was the very first Scary Farm maze I did and I'll never forget the opening set piece with the ghost on the wire flying out of the fake mirror. Knott's in general has a really great skill for creating memorable openings for their mazes. I think they're notably better than HHN in that department.

Pumpkinhead - Not really that scary, but what stood out here was how creative it got with the maze route going both inside and outside. The theme of going through a giant rotting pumpkin was really well realized with realistic spongy walls and floors that gave the whole thing a tactile element you don't really get on many of these.

Cinema Slasher - As a horror movie fan this thing is like catnip for me. It basically takes the "walking through the movie theater screen" effect from the Runaway Railway preshow and uses that as a jumping off point for traveling into various horror movies. I really like that all the horror movies you visit in this maze are from the same series of fake Slasher films and yet they all have their own unique flavor and get progressively darker and scarier as the maze goes on. The movie theater lobby/screen transitions between the major set pieces really make this thing.

If you're inexperienced with Haunt stuff, I'd love to hear what Disney movie you'd like to see translated into a maze if Disney ever started incorporating mazes into their Halloween events. ​

I would adore a genuine horror take on Beast's castle where a lurking creature stalks you through a dark castle, wolves roam the dark snowy woods outside, and every grotesque statue you pass might come to life

 

[DisneyManOne]

It will take me some time to finish that trip report thread but here's some photos from my trip!
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I love that the castle has its original colors back again.

 

[Disney Warrior]

I've never been to a scare maze.

Same, unless you count local low budget haunted attractions

 

[Lizzy May Bee]

It will take me some time to finish that trip report thread but here's some photos from my trip!
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These are really nice, perfect framing on the castle and TOT especially

If you're inexperienced with Haunt stuff, I'd love to hear what Disney movie you'd like to see translated into a maze if Disney ever started incorporating mazes into their Halloween events.

The Black Cauldron, horrible movie don't get me wrong but its relative darkness is the only thing it has going for it so a Halloween maze could really be its shot at redemption.

I think I'd love something like HHN or Knott's Scary Farm but unfortunately I've never gotten the chance to go, maybe one day though.

 

[Brer Panther]

If you're inexperienced with Haunt stuff, I'd love to hear what Disney movie you'd like to see translated into a maze if Disney ever started incorporating mazes into their Halloween events.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is probably too obvious a choice, but sometimes the obvious works in your favor.

Same, unless you count local low budget haunted attractions

I did do ONE maze that I can recall - in 2023, that "Dr. Seuss Experience" thing came to a mall near me. For those unaware, among the things it had was some sort of Sneetches-themed mirror maze. Lotta mirrors, lotta Sneetch statues behind glass. It was terrifying and convinced me to avoid mirror mazes.

 

[TheOriginalTiki]

Speaking of super low budget local haunted houses, this one was at a pumpkin patch way out in the middle of the outskirts of the Petaluma countryside last year. It's nothing super fancy, but the creative use of space really blew me away.

 

[TheOriginalTiki]

That being said, even for me as a big baby man who hates being in a haunted house it was not scary at all.

Don't tempt me to start calling you Big Baby Man as a running joke

 

[Lord Fozzinator]

Ya know what, after thinking on it pretty heavily, I’ll join in if there’s enough room. I’ll give y’all a sneak peak of a project I’m working on tho (yes, I’m trying a new art style)

 

[Disney Warrior]

Same, unless you count local low budget haunted attractions

I also forgot I’ve been to some of those low budget touristy haunted walkthroughs in Niagara Falls, and one of them had a rough coaster on the roof

 

[TheOriginalTiki]

I also forgot I’ve been to some of those low budget touristy haunted walkthroughs in Niagara Falls, and one of them had a rough coaster on the roof

Wait, there's also a haunted house attached to the Burger King rooftop coaster???

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Thanks for the invitation, but I've got a very busy summer ahead of me, so I'll have to pass. Have a great time! Keep me in the loop for any OSCs that might pop up over the next few months!

 

[Disney Warrior]

Wait, there's also a haunted house attached to the Burger King rooftop coaster???

Yes, but I only did the coaster (don’t ride it)

 

[TheOriginalTiki]

Question of the Day: What is your favorite boat (either ride vehicle or set piece) in a Disney park? ​

For me I've got to pick a stone cold classic and go with the Wicked Wench from Pirates. Disney attractions have evolved a lot over the years, but to this day no other moment in any theme park attraction gives me that instant "wow" factor that transports me back to being a kid every single time.

Of course it's better at Disneyland with the whole Blue Bayou build up and the longer caves. Spending the whole first third of the ride slowly going towards that reveal of the ship and fort really sells it and just literally dropping into the battle doesn't have the same effect at WDW. Still, it's a huge set piece that really set the standard for immersive theme park design, and as a biased Millenial old timer I really don't think anything Disney makes is ever going to top it.

 

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

Question of the Day: What is your favorite boat (either ride vehicle or set piece) in a Disney park? ​

For me I've got to pick a stone cold classic and go with the Wicked Wench from Pirates. Disney attractions have evolved a lot over the years, but to this day no other moment in any theme park attraction gives me that instant "wow" factor that transports me back to being a kid every single time.

Of course it's better at Disneyland with the whole Blue Bayou build up and the longer caves. Spending the whole first third of the ride slowly going towards that reveal of the ship and fort really sells it and just literally dropping into the battle doesn't have the same effect at WDW. Still, it's a huge set piece that really set the standard for immersive theme park design, and as a biased Millenial old timer I really don't think anything Disney makes is ever going to top it.

Davy Crocketts! It costs an arm and a leg when you put your full effort but such an amazing bonding experience

 

[TheOriginalTiki]

Davy Crocketts! It costs an arm and a leg when you put your full effort but such an amazing bonding experience

I'm low key amazed they're still around. I honestly thought they were on their way out 20 years ago. It's not something I want to do every time, but it's a really unique experience and one of the closest things the park still has the to the flavor of 1950s Disneyland. @D Hulk has a really fun story of riding the Tokyo canoes in the rain if he'd like to share

 

[Lizzy May Bee]

Question of the Day: What is your favorite boat (either ride vehicle or set piece) in a Disney park? ​

For me I've got to pick a stone cold classic and go with the Wicked Wench from Pirates. Disney attractions have evolved a lot over the years, but to this day no other moment in any theme park attraction gives me that instant "wow" factor that transports me back to being a kid every single time.

Of course it's better at Disneyland with the whole Blue Bayou build up and the longer caves. Spending the whole first third of the ride slowly going towards that reveal of the ship and fort really sells it and just literally dropping into the battle doesn't have the same effect at WDW. Still, it's a huge set piece that really set the standard for immersive theme park design, and as a biased Millenial old timer I really don't think anything Disney makes is ever going to top it.

Has gotta be the Mark Twain for me, one of those weird attractions which is frankly kind of boring but adds so much to its park in terms of atmosphere.

 

[D Hulk]

@D Hulk has a really fun story of riding the Tokyo canoes in the rain if he'd like to share

Since you asked…

I was at Tokyo Disneyland during typhoon season. Thank you, absurdly cheap airfare and spur-of-the-moment decision making! Due to heavy lines elsewhere (typical Tokyo), I opted for the ride with no wait whatsoever and I did the canoes 100% solo, in the middle of basically hurricane weather, just me and twice as many cast members - bored stiff on the dock and glad to be out on the river - chugging along in the downpour! It strongly reminded me of rafting during flash floods on the Colorado.

I have fond memories too of the Shanghai canoes. Forget the canoes sticking around at Disneyland, Disney actually built a new version in the 2010s! The Chinese locals do not paddle at all; cast members do all the work. So I wrangled a gaggle of Chinese college kids beforehand, psyched them all up despite our language barrier about defeating the other canoes, and off we went like a rowing team in perfect synch! We passed EVERY canoe. It was glorious.

Question of the Day: What is your favorite boat (either ride vehicle or set piece) in a Disney park? ​

SS Columbia, DisneySea