Originally Posted By boyumz We always go the second Wed or Thurs night the haunt is offered and have always had enough time to see and do everything, including ride Xcelerator! The trick is going in the beginning of the month, when its not too crowded and going to the VIP dinner where your night will begin a little sooner than all the poor souls waiting in line outside the gates. It helps to go the first time with a seasoned veteran that can show you the ropes. We took about 15 people with us last year that had never been. They were thankful afterwards because we knew the layout of the park and where the mazes were. They didn't have to wander aimlessly.
Originally Posted By oc_dean My goal is to do every maze, along with the Calico Mine train, and Timber Mtn. Log Ride. And the Hanging. That's it. The other shows don't matter .. and the rest of the rides don't matter. I'll make sure dinner comes well before the 7pm opening. And then I want to hit the mazes commando style. Think I can do it darkbeer? I have to wait for the second half of October to go. (I have a New England Fall vacation for the first half to do).
Originally Posted By SuzieQ boyumz, will you please email me a strategy when you get back? I want to get the boys through as much as possible! Thanks!!
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Dean, yes, I think the shows take more time than the mazes on slow days, so if you are not going on a peak day, you should be fine. As for the rides, I want to ride the Log Ride and the Mine Train since they are a combination of a ride and a maze, but for the rest of the rides, they can wait until another visit.
Originally Posted By Spooky Ghost I've gone on the 2nd friday of the month for the past 3 years and ive gotten throuh all the mazes/haunted rides and The Hanging
Originally Posted By oc_dean It seems the hour gained by going on a Friday or Saturday is thrown in to compensate for the wait times to get into each maze, and the larger rides, themed to Halloween. And if that's the case ... no one is going to be getting in any more mazes/attractions on Friday and Saturday nights .. as apposed to the nights where the park closes an hour earlier. I'm going to shoot for Oct 18th, or 19th. The last full week of October will most likely be the most crowded. But the middle week seems like it will be fine.
Originally Posted By LuLu Have a great time, Dean! And enjoy "back East" too Sheesh, it took me an hour to get my dinner reservations this morning! Call 714-220-5055 between 9 and 5. But they didn't answer this line til 9:30, and then it took 1/2 hour before I didn't get a busy signal! SuzieQ, if you haven't booked yet, the VIP dinner does have limited seating... but make sure you're going, as once you book, there are no refunds.
Originally Posted By Dave >>>Even though the Haunt is till 2am on Fridays and Saturdays ... Is it possible to see everything on a night that's open till 1am?<<< If you do the dinner (Auntie Pastas I believe the name is) and do the correct route you can have needed stuff done by midnight. Well we have in the past anyway.
Originally Posted By LuLu >>do the correct route<< Well? Are ya gonna post it for everyone's benefit?
Originally Posted By Futurist Yeah .... I'd like to see this route too. Pretty please. I'm still going to shoot for middle of a week. I think I'm best to avoid Friday, Sat, even Sunday. Unless some people here might think a Sunday is good???
Originally Posted By Spooky Ghost I'm going friday the 6th. I recoomend doing Red Moon Massacre and Cavern of Lost Souls first as their lines get slow and longer as the night goes on. then hit the newer mazes: Dark Realm, The Grudge 2 and Lost Vegas
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Got a Mailing that was sent to Knott's Annual Pass Holders. The coupons are... $24.50 (half price) on September 28th and 29th, and October 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th, 11th, 15th, 18th & 30th. $27 on October 12th, 19th, 22nd, 26th, 29th and 31st. So if you know an AP holder, ask them (there are multiple coupons for each offer in the mailer).
Originally Posted By LuLu Futurist??? Who dat? :-D I'm counting on Sunday being good. But I guess equivalent to a Weds or Thurs.
Originally Posted By boyumz Futurist, we went on a Sunday last year, about mid-month and it was fine. The same level of crowds as on any Thursday we've gone.
Originally Posted By LuLu We went on Sunday and did all the Haunt rides and mazes, plus the 2 main shows (the only ones we were interested in) and were done by 10:45. I was happy to see the replacement show for Ghouls Gone Wild has been toned down substantially. It was pushing "R" before, now barely pushing PG13.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 LuLu, last year was our first time at the Haunt and I have a question. First I'll say that we followed everyone's advice and went on the 2 Haunted rides first, saw the hanging and then did a couple of mazes, I remember one with clowns and that's about it for the mazes. We saw a couple of shows, one was sort of a Comedy Club set up (we saw the guys in DL the next day and the other was a magician show that I remember had a duck. Finally my question Are the shows and mazes the same each year? Is there a show/maze you would recommend?
Originally Posted By oc_dean I finally got my date down - Oct 22nd. I got my Burger King coupon for 34 bucks ... So .... from the time the doors open till closing at 1am .. I plan on hitting every single maze, The Hanging, Calico Mine Train, and Timber Mtn. Log Ride. Any suggestions on what I should hit first, and any particular order through the night .. I'd love the tips - Big thank you!! >>Futurist??? Who dat? :-D << I heard he's some nunatic who's the Peoplemover's number one fan. :~
Originally Posted By oc_dean Hey Darkbeer ... I gotta question for you.. I want to purchase my ticket either on the evening of the event (Sunday the 22nd) or the day before. Do you think this might sell out before then? Should I purchase sooner than that?
Originally Posted By oc_dean Well, I did it! I pulled off getting on everything I said I would between 7:30 to 1:00am. 1) The two big "E Ticket" rides redone for Halloween: Calico Mine Train and Timber Mtn. Log Ride. 2) The Hanging 3)All 10 mazes Even the themed walk areas .. "The Gauntlet" and "Ghost Town" ... and some time for a late din-din. A few pointers for anyone going soon.... Do "The Grudge II" first. This was the newest maze .. and had the longest line. It was good. Well done. Perhaps just a hair above the quality of the other mazes. My personal favorites were the 3D mazes .. where you do need to buy 1 dollar 3D glasses either at "Lost in Vegas 3D" or "Terror Vision 3D". The third good one was a slight take-off on the "Knott's Berry Tales" attraction: "Feary Tales 3D". The only maze that was a bit of a 'wash' was "Dark Realm - Laser Rage". If a person misses this ... you're not missing much. So again ... the 3 3D mazes. "The Asylum", "The Grudge II" and "Lore of the Vampire" were the best. The others, Hatchet High, Red Beard's Revenge, and 13 AX Murder Manor were okay. AX Murder Manor reminded me of the Haunted Mansion in DL. The first part takes you through a series of doorways that are knocking from the other side .. then into a rounded room with a seance going on. Sound familiar? One note though ... unlike DL's policy where where one can get onto a ride 1 minute prior to park closing .. they do shut down the lines 30 minutes or more before park closing for their most popular "Halloween" attractions. They were doing that for The Grudge II, and the Calico Mine Train, to my knowledge. Though ... I went against a CMs statement about closure for the Mine Train 30 minutes before park closing earlier in the night. Later, I walked up at 12:45am .. and they were letting people on. So, can't always go by what they say earlier in the evening. Finally ..... The Hanging was terrific as usual. If you want no spoilers .. don't read the next paragraph......... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pot shots at different singers, Brokeback Mtn. guys, Lex Luther, Superman, Super X Girlfriend, Captain Jack Sparrow .. YES, "DISNEYLAND" icon who makes many appearances within the 30 minute show .. my favorite line .... "Wrong theme park! Should have made a left at the Claim Jumper" .. and getting him envolved with the Brokeback Mtn. guys!! FUNNY, FUNNY, FUNNY! Brokeback Mtn. scenes mixed in with Disney characters! GOOD WHOLESOME KNOTT'S FUN! Jay and Silent Bob make it in .... and kudos for Knott's for giving Cheney a good Looney Tunes send-off ...... "Time for me to go back to running the country into the ground!" Big laughs from me!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And lastly ... to make every maze, The Hanging, and the two big rides decorated for Halloween ... I did it all by not wasting any time on rides that weren't decorated that I can go on anytime in the year. It's possible to do all the Halloween attractions. (Minus the minor stage shows.) Walk around, and still take your time.
