Fright Nights 2025

[Flynn_Smith]

My god this year feels like it will be cheaper than ever. Hoepfully i’m wrong…

[Brad2912]

Really seems they have gone the cheap option with 5 non-IP mazes (yes DCeased is an IP but it’s one they already own, so not costing them anything).

I was underwhelmed with all 3 of the returning mazes when I saw them 2 years ago, it’s crazy they are now rehashed a 3rd time.

[themagician]

23 minutes ago, Brad2912 said:

gone the cheap option with non-IP mazes

And I see that as a good thing, in recent years the IP mazes have been underwhelming and the non-IP have been so much better. And honestly, I wouldn’t mind if they did that for years to come. Save the money on the license and invest that money into creating actually good mazes and not whatever the shitshow that the DCeased m̶a̶z̶e̶ walkthrough is.

[Brad2912]

1 hour ago, themagician said:

And I see that as a good thing, in recent years the IP mazes have been underwhelming and the non-IP have been so much better. And honestly, I wouldn’t mind if they did that for years to come. Save the money on the license and invest that money into creating actually good mazes and not whatever the shitshow that the DCeased m̶a̶z̶e̶ walkthrough is.

Time will tell if the money saved on IP goes into production/staffing/atmosphere improvements or simply improves their P&L

Edited August 15 by Brad2912

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

On 15/08/2025 at 7:57 PM, Levi said:

i’ve also noticed Wild West Falls is no longer open this year, neither are the wizard of oz coasters, meaning only 5 attractions will be open this year.

West has been on and off for a while. the old boats had a risk of people exiting them and getting into the surrounding areas. they've used the west theming for premium experiences too. It's also the closest to the rear residential area and while there is a scream shield I think the noise is still an issue for them. I don't see any issues with West being offline TBH.

As for WOZ, I think WB would be very protective of their IP here. While there is a great opportunity for flying monkeys or scarecrows, woodsmen and the like, I just don't think such a classic should cross over into horror genre in park - at least not yet. Though it's a shame they won't open the land for capacity reasons I suppose...

[downunder]

On 15/08/2025 at 7:58 PM, Flynn_Smith said:

My god this year feels like it will be cheaper than ever. Hoepfully i’m wrong…

I wish the prices were getting cheaper lol, just not good value for money imo. Definitely not sold on coming up for it, just like last year. Glad I'm not alone in thinking DCeased was utter trash (at least from the last time I went in 2023).

[New display name]

Isn't WOZ for children and FN is for older people?

[themagician]

On 18/8/2025 at 8:22 AM, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

As for WOZ, I think WB would be very protective of their IP here

I wonder if they’ll keep the land blocked off for the event. In previous years they would use this area of the park as a pathway to access the maze precinct so the path alongside WWF didn’t become a bottle neck. I assume it won’t be as they’ve managed the past couple of years.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

I haven't seen WOZ in person, but from what i've seen, the only way to the maze precinct through Woz would be to go via the ride queue pathways? If the rides are closed for the event, either the whole land is, or the rides are closed so that they can use the ride queues for getting guests to the mazes. Not sure how the internal areas of the WOZ queues will stand up to night time fright night shenanigans... so I'm hoping they don't use it.

[Levi]

20 minutes ago, themagician said:

I wonder if they’ll keep the land blocked off for the event. In previous years they would use this area of the park as a pathway to access the maze precinct so the path alongside WWF didn’t become a bottle neck. I assume it won’t be as they’ve managed the past couple of years.

i think they will just be using the gate behind wwf as well as the doomsday gate, i won’t be surprised if the entire area is sectioned off, especially since there is no scare precinct up that way. 

[themagician]

2 hours ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

the only way to the maze precinct through Woz would be to go via the ride queue pathways?

They still have the gate to access the pathway that leads to the mazes like they did when it was Arkham Asylum

[Ashley Jeffery]

2 hours ago, themagician said:

They still have the gate to access the pathway that leads to the mazes like they did when it was Arkham Asylum

So immersive Disney must be jealous MW could do this for just 100M

Edited Tuesday at 03:41 AM by Ashley Jeffery

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

1 hour ago, Ashley Jeffery said:

So immersive Disney must be jealous MW could do this for just 100M

I mean, I don't like that jarring aspect that comes with leaving these sorts of things untouched, but i've said multiple times in the past that if you're a 'movie studio' park you get a pass on sight lines as the idea is it's only what the camera can see. There's plenty of lights, rigging, booms and other film making devices just outside the lens.

[themagician]

@DaptoFunlandGuy I agree, but that still doesn’t give them a pass on painting large walls a solid green or making your queue area an unshaded cattle pen. It just demonstrates a lack of care or effort.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

I mean - there's plenty of solid green walls in film making (but I do know what you mean)

 

But 100% agree with you on the shade...

[New display name]

WOZ was never made to look like a it was on a movie set.

Edited Tuesday at 11:23 PM by New display name

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

Perhaps not but it sure resembles one

[New display name]

When you get a chance to visit for yourself, I believe your perspective will change.

[themagician]

1 hour ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

Perhaps not but it sure resembles one

The WoO precinct doesn't look anything like this. There are some design and aesthetic nods to what we're seeing in this image, but this actually looks immersive... the MW land does not. MW's attempt at this theme looks more like a low budget movie set than the original film does.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

39 minutes ago, themagician said:

but this actually looks immersive...

Yes, because it's what the camera sees.

It doesn't see the studio lighting, and the scaffold holding up the house set (and all the other sets) and the overhead catwalks and rigging (or the mass of cameras, booms, dollies and other filming equipment behind the camera either).

The original film set had the benefit of:

1. being 100% indoors
2. not needing to meet practically ANY level of fire safety
3. not needing to adhere to any WH&S requirements.

Naturally the park isn't going to be able to recreate an all-weather, all-season, immersive recreation of the original sets. For one - there's too many vandals masquerading as guests who would destroy it inside a week. But it's certainly enough detail to show what they were going for. In a real movie set environment, this would be the facade set up, and then set dressers would come in with all the foliage and flowers and little touches that complete the look. It's like visiting a backlot that isn't currently being used for a production. 

By all accounts though there is one thing MW was able to get right about the original film sets of WOZ:

Quote

Wizard of Oz was nearing 100 (fahrenheit - about 38 celsius). It also had to be insanely bright for the old Technicolor process. People on set had permanent vision problems because of how bright it was. So very hot and very bright

Imagine wearing a full lion pelt or a clunk metal suit in that heat

 

[omega237]

If only Village Roadshow & Warner Bros could make a deal with Universal & Blumhouse. Because well how many would have wanted Five Nights at Freddy’s in Fright Nights?