downunder

^That is correct. Primeival Whirl was down so we only did Expedition Everest at AK. Was telling the guy escorting the crowds into the park at the rope drop what we were doing and he slipped us fast passes for AK. Rode Everest twice and were out out of the park 15 minutes after opening. Disney Studios, single rider line for Rock n Roller Coaster, and then Great Movie Ride. Didn't bother with the Tower as I've been on it before and it had a 45min line. Went to Epcot did Test Track with little wait with single rider and Mission Space didn't have much of a line either. Wandered around had lunch there. Went to MK, started working through our fast passes. Got in a few other rides. My mate wanted to see a concert at Epcot so we went back on the monorail. I did Test Track multiple times on single rider line. Went back to MK, did some rides like Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder while waiting for our later fast passes. Finished up with Space Mountain, a few other tomorrowland rides and then Seven Dwarves Mine Train - which was ordinary. Then it took us an hour to get back to the car. It was a long day, got heaps more done than I expected.

^I did most of it in the last two weeks. We clocked up 15 miles walking doing all 4 Disney Parks in Orlando in one day. 12 miles doing Busch Gardens Tampa and Howl O Scream. 14 miles doing Universal with light-on maze tours and HHN. I must say Mission Space was a lot better than I expected and Test Track was very good, it had some intensity. Escape from Gringotts was enjoyable, even if we were stuck at the end for 40 minutes and had to be evac'd. Cheetah Hunt is a really fun ride. Twisted Colossus was a good airtime machine.

Just got back from LA this morning, did a lot of halloween events, including getting much more than I wanted done at 4 Disney parks in one day, this trip for starters: Fun Spot Orlando (nice little GCI woodie there) Busch Gardens Tampa (including Howl O Scream) Disney Magic Kingdom Epcot Disney Studios Animal Kingdom Sea World Orlando Fun Spot Kissimmee Universal Orlando (including Halloween Horror Nights & lights on tour of the mazes) Knott's Berry Farm (including several nights at Scary Farm) Six Flags Magic Mountain Zombie Joe's Urban Death Tour (a haunt in a theatre space in North Hollywood) Queen Mary Dark Harbor Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood Other parks in 2015: Adventuredome Movie World (incl. Fright Nights) Sea World Gold Coast Both Luna Parks 2016 Wish List: Dollywood Knoebels Six Flags New England Lake Compounce Kentucky Kingdom Hersheypark

Maybe this is a good coaster for a new star wars land. Imagine it being in a space mountain type environment, perhaps with star wars projections in the dark, and maybe you're in a fighter dodging stuff.

I went on Saturday night. The lounge for the ultimate terror tour was great, though you don't get as much stuff as last year - just a hat rather than a whole bag of stuff. Though that's not really important to me. As observed previously the 4D movie was a bit average, very abrupt and it used the remake I think. Which is a shame, because some of the kills in the original series especially number one are impressive (including Kevin Bacon pre-fame meeting a grisly end) - though Jason wasn't the killer in the 1st of the original series, but his kills in part 2 especially were insane. The opening was pretty cool, very well presented. Loved walking straight onto the front row of superman with the Ultimate Terror Tour pass, also a free locker for the night was a nice perk - they changed it from the Green Lantern area from the first night. The ultimate terror tour was spooky and fun, a very well performed presentation. The mazes I found were a bit disappointing. The Friday the 13th maze had some nice atmosphere in places, but it was strange not having scenes of Jason actually killing people. I guess I'm used to HHN where Jason is in every room doing the nasty on someone. Wyrmwood had some nice parts, but seemed a little barren and neither of the hero mazes seemed that cohesive in terms of story telling. Wolf Creek was like last year except all the gory scenes were gone if I recollect correctly. Evil Within was good, but I guess familiarity from last year lessened it's impact. I'm no violence fan, but the mazes seemed toned down from last year. Good atmosphere in the streets though scare actors seemed a bit thin on the ground. The night seemed rushed because everything seemed to shut down at 10pm. Unfortunately, I missed the closing ceremony because I was in a panic room, it sounded impressive though. The general entertainment stuff was good, like the band, though I'm not sure about the midget stripper. Did the cirque panic room which I thought was ordinary, no actors in it, and impossible to solve with out phoning them. Really unimpressed not worth the money. Happy to give anyone tips on how to beat the clock if they want it. Not worth the money IMO. On the whole, still a heaps fun night, though there were some shortcomings as I mentioned.

^I hear you, the funny thing is I know people who love this stuff, but are terrified. I guess it's the same appeal as horror movies, except it's more like your in the movie. So who's going when? I'm going Saturday.

^10.40pm might be sold already that's why it doesn't appear.

I'll be in the park before Fright Nights (I'm assuming it will be a big crowd during the day this Saturday because of school holidays), so I'll just show up for Ultimate Tour when I'm supposed to on Saturday. Luckily I'll have locals with me who have a bit of inside knowledge. Going to get my money's worth of food in the lounge. It's a shame they are not doing the separate lights-on tours of the mazes during the day this year, they were cool.

^^Great photos BTW, I really like the angle on the wave swinger.

One of my friends tried on one of the panic rooms, said it was super cool, and that's from someone who thought they would be crap.

^Dude if I was a Disney fan I would spend more time there, instead I'm focusing on the small number of Disney attractions I want to see and spending the rest of my time at Busch, Sea World, and Universal.

Four portaloos without a door handle on the inside?

I'll be there during the day too, so I might try it then. No one I'm going with is interested.

^Ha ha good old Piss weak world, I reference that often, especially in relation to Dreamworld. Whatever there new coaster, if they ever add another lol (like, they cost lots of money), it will be a disappointment. Dreamworld, so many mediocre worlds in one. But seriously, something that goes out into the bush would be cool. Going below and above the treeline.

^I've been every year since 2009 and they're always just past the entrance. The Purge scare zone (and previous scare zones) started just past where the house of horrors was and there's a guy there on a microphone talking advocating a purge. The scare actors work their way back towards the dancers, but don't go that far. This year the purge is the terror tram theme and a scare zone in the backlot.

^My suggestions in the first paragraph were mostly tongue in cheek. The go-go's work at Universal, the event is loud with music blaring, and they adds a decadent, anarchic, adult flavour to the event. And they are positioned well before any scare zone, just past the entrance. Zombie Strippers would have to be one of the stupidest films ever, but it's fun silly.

We're booked, doing Animal Kingdom first - ride the coasters, then out of there - single rider line all the way for Everest, We will get there a good while before park opening. Then the Studios, ride the coaster, done everything else before, maybe do the Movie ride and the Tower again if crowds are good. Then we leave. Epcot maybe if we're doing good for time. Test Track single rider line, been there before, not interested in Soaring or Mission Space unless there are no lines. Then Magic Kingdom, we've pre-booked fast passes for the main things we want to do - which start from 5pm. Anything else is a bonus, done it all before. MK is open until midnight that day. Going on a weekday in late October, no magic hours to compete with for the first three parks. Doing MK on a non Halloween party night. Our goal is very modest, so I think we're a chance. I'm not a huge Disney fan, so I'm not real fussed.

Go go dancers up the front like Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights, pyro as well. Zombie Strippers maze LOL - that's starting to sound like some of the clubs in Surfers. Sccoby Doo might be good if they wanted to go for a more light hearted maze for the scaredy cats. I think they need to further monetise the event, because they get big crowds, but how many actually paid? Generate more revenue, most likely more budget, more mazes.

The Panic rooms take 2 groups per hour (according to the booking engine), so they're earning $160 / hour for 5 hours, $800 a night. I find that hard to believe that will cover costs unless multiple groups can be in there simultaneously. I'm ineterested to see how big these things are and it sounds like they will be occupied by multiple scareactors, maybe they will be like mini-mazes; or just a backyard shed. All will be revealed soon.

Mystery Manor sounds cool, I might have to check it out. I think Hair Raiser is a really good drop tower with a real kick. The jolt at the end ins't too pleasant, but otherwise it's a good ride.

Trapped at Knott's last year was $60 for up to 6 people, and that must have had at least 10 rooms that required escape from if memory serves right. It's not good value at all, I might be tempted to try one out of curiosity, I'm waiting to see what the people I'm going with think. I wonder what they'd do if you fronted up alone to do one and you've paid for it?

Is anyone going to try the panic rooms, has anyone booked already?

At those prices the panic rooms better be something special.

I go to Halloween Horror Night, Knott's Scary Farm and numerous other US haunts every year and I think Fright Nights (which I attended for the first time last year) compares very favorably with the big boys on a number of fronts. The soundstage mazes were impressive and wouldn't look out of place at HHN. The other two mazes were pretty good, I've been in worse clown mazes than the one at FN. And the Ultimate Tour was excellent. One the minus, the scare zones weren't quite as good and the lack of attractions relative to the size of the crowd really told. I like what they've done this year that looks like it will improve the event (more scare zones?, better non-soundstage mazes, panic rooms, 4D film). I wish Universal Hollywood would put on something in their Shrek theatre to eat up the crowds at HHN. Even though I'll be doing HHN on both coasts, Knotts and so on this year. I'll be up again for Fright Nights (or Night in my case).

^Nice observation about Emma Stone. That would be good for a commercial. Zombieland 2, now that's something I'll be looking forward too. If only Bill Murray could make a miraculous recovery from that gunshot wound.