Halloween Haunt 2013 opening night review

 
Many thanks to CGA for inviting me to the Media/VIP event for Halloween Haunt's opening night. The food was great, and Madame Marie's interaction with us was hilarious!

In addition to the dinner, being VIPs we were given a one-time use front of the line pass (which we later used for Dia de los Muertos), two pairs of 3D glasses and Gold Striker ERT.

After my brother and I checked in and entered the park, we ran into CGA's Roger and Ryan, who told us that Gold Striker was open. It was truly a walk on, no line whatsoever, and I was told to sit wherever I wanted. I chose row 12, which gives great airtime going down the first drop. With the exception of a few people riding in the front, the entire train was empty, a pretty surreal experience.

Using our VIP passes, the security guard let us into the area that was blocked off to the public. We headed over to Madame Marie's Voodoo Chophouse.

Halloween Haunt 2013 website now up

Great America's Halloween Haunt website is now live, featuring details of this year's event.

Of note this year is two new mazes, Zombie High (located in a new building behind Grizzly) and Dia de los Muertos (replacing Club Blood in the Pictorium).

A new show, Funhouse Express, will be in Action Theater, although it's not known yet if it will be replacing Happy Feet or will be shown in the long-dormant right side of the theater.

Blades of Horror will be performed in Great America Theater.

Black Widow's Cavern will not return, and will not be replaced with a new attraction.

Opening day 2013 report

Opening day was certainly busy with plenty of hiccups. But what do you expect from the first day of the season?

We got there around 9:10, hoping to score a free Gold Striker cup. But everyone else had the same idea!

First, the good: Gold Striker looks amazing in person, pictures really don't do it justice.

New additions and improvements for 2013 season

A group of media were invited to a special event Saturday to witness all the new additions and improvements CGA will have for 2013. Among them:

• Three new Haunt mazes, with one being in a new structure and the other two replacing older mazes.
• New show in Action Theater, but what it will be has not been announced. They did say that it won't be a white water rafting movie.
• Kidzville River Adventure will be removed.
• Parking lot is getting a makeover
• Three new shows: Pop Fusion, On Broadway and Team Charlie Brown. Happiness is Snoopy will return.
• Many buildings/rides being repainted
• Different areas will now have their own special music. No more Lady Gaga blasting across all areas.
• Themeing will be huge on Gold Striker.

For pictures, see the reports on Theme Park Review.

New show for Action Theater?

According to a rumor from PureCoaster, the 10-year-old Spongebob 4D movie in the Action Theater could be on its way out.

The rumor said the film will be replaced with some sort of 2D white water rafting movie, possibly this season or next.

A Gold Striker photo update was posted as well.