[HOS] Busch Gardens Williamsburg Howl-O-Scream Mega Post

Alright, I've done one of these for Universal Orlando, Hollywood and even Busch Gardens Tampa's Howl-O-Scream...about time I got around to Williamsburg's eh? Not much is changing this year at Busch Gardens except for pretty much everything that isn't a house.

The overhaul is actually quite massive and hopefully will result in some better crowd reactions throughout the entire park!

Not only are they adding in all new scare-zones for this year, but they're also adding in new dining, drinking and even a brand new maze into the mix! I've also heard rumor that they've done some extensive overhauling to the Root of All Evil maze as well, but we'll see for ourselves when we attend the Howl-O-Scream media event on the 13th.

So, let's get on with what's new for this year's event and while I've covered a good bit of this in detail before, this is just the mega post, putting that all in one place. You're more than welcome to read the previous articles too if ya want! (here and here) There's tons of commentary on what I think and other such madness within them, so may wanna check 'em out.

Now, let's get on with it...

So, as I was saying up above...this year's event features four all new scare-zones or "Terror-tories" as Busch is likening to call them for this year. I do like the sound of Terror-tories to be honest...nice play on words and the such. Anyways, here's what to expect from them and where they'll be located!

Demon Street (France): 
Paris is burning. Can you escape before the city is engulfed in flame? Let the smoldering ruins light your way, but beware, fiery fiends lurk around every corner ready to put you on the coals. The smell of a burning inferno fills the air and rumor has it unsuspecting souls will be roasted on a spit. It’s about to get very hot in Paris, stay cool or you may find yourself going up in smoke.

Ripper Row (England):
Things are looking a bit unsettling in England; a murderer is on the loose plucking unsuspecting victims from the city streets to satisfy his grizzly curiosity. No one knows what Jack the Ripper looks like or who he will strike next. Authorities hunt furiously among the crowds in search of the killer nabbing anyone who looks at all suspicious. Keep your head down and your wits about you...read on for more!

Vampire Point (Germany):
 
Even vampires need a vacation once in a while and Vampire Point™ is the perfect destination for bloodsuckers. Watch your step and your neck or you might end up the main course. Dawn is hours away, your last salvation lies in escaping the vampire village before the inhabitants sink their fangs into you.

Ports of Skull (Italy):

The Jolly Roger has risen over a ship graveyard filled with lost souls doomed to haunt the vessels they once sailed. Chart your course through Cut Throat Cove™ or cozy up to the Pirate Baarrrgh™ for a swill ‘o the grog, but keep a weather eye open or you may find yourself keel-hauled by cut-throat buccaneers. Read on for more...


So, there's the all new scare-zones that will be dredged up for this year's event, but what about the newest maze for this year? Well, as you may have guessed, this year's newest realm of terror is themed around pirates! 

Cut Throat Cove:
Heed the warning: Abandon hope all ye who enter. Cut Throat Cove™ is the haven for bloodthirsty, dangerous rogues – where the scurvy dogs, buccaneers and scoundrels go for shelter. Proceed with caution. Alas, something has gone terribly wrong. Within this macabre market, the pirates have been slaughtered and mutiny is afoot. The way out lies with the buried treasure and the blood-curdling screams you hear just might be your own. 

However, that's not all. In the past couple of years the event had just a single liquor service bar in the entire park for HOS. This year? They've got three! This makes me a very happy fox indeed as what better time to loosen up a bit then when surrounded by bloody thirsty and maniacal creatures of the night? 

So here's a look at what's new and old in the realm of the ever popular libations. One of the more interesting things is that we've found out that a lot of the specialty beers and wines are still around from Food & Wine earlier this year. So, if you missed the opportunity then...there's a good chance you'll get to have a few of them at least during Howl-O-Scream!

OPEN CASKet™ (Returning): The dead are alive and so is the fun. Hang around, watch your neck and toss back a specialty brew served by the coolest vampires this side of the Rhine River.

Demon Drinks (NEW): On Demon Street, everything is sizzling. Join the club, beat the heat and throw back a cold one. The Demon Drinks’ DJ and his too-hot-to-handle hosts are happy to serve guests as they fan the flames of fun. 
 
Pirate Baarrrgh (NEW): Ahoy scallywags, when the gale winds blow through the creaking yardarm, it's time for dead men to tell tall tales at Pirate Baarrrgh. Grab a swill o’ the grog stolen from Davy Jones’ locker and mingle with the likes of Peg Leg Pete, Billy Bones and Blackbeard. 


Inoculation Station (Returning): No appointments are necessary. Head over for the shot of a lifetime with your favorite fiends in pink. Get your prescription filled – a test tube shot and photo op are always in stock.

There's also a ton of new food options that are being brought out for this year's event as well. Always nice to see more themed options for that and really something you expect out of an event of the caliber that Busch Gardens puts on. So, now that we've had a couple of drinks, time to soak it up some...

Blood Banquet: Visit Count Vlad’s hotel and meet a variety of paranormal characters for an all-new interactive dining experience. This one-of-a-kind spooky atmosphere paired with unexpected twists and turns offers guests the chance to sink their teeth into a whole new way of dining. With an eclectic menu, haunting music and an atmosphere to die for, Blood Banquet is otherworldly. 

This is an upcharged dining experience that costs $20 per person, but does have quite a few perks to it that other dining situations seem to not have since I can't find any mention of them on the website at all. Either way, those looking for a bit more food than normal and an interesting atmosphere may want to pony up the extra cash...

Fright Feast: The laboratory lights are on and the electricity is crackling. Dine with the surgeon, his assistant and their kooky monster at Freakenstonia Castle. The slab is just as hot as the food and the drinks are flowing faster than an I.V. drip in this riveting, entertaining and live-action experience.

Buccaneer Galley: Arrgh matey!  The galley cooks have prepared a buffet fit for a buccaneer. Join the lovely hostess as she and her cutthroat crew serves up a captain's feast – pirate buffet-style.   

As of right now, I'm not sure if either of these two are going to be similar to Blood Banquet, but I'm sure that Buccaneer Galley will be taking over the buffet area located in Festa Italia and probably will be quite good. The last time we ate there it was quite good and looking forward to seeing what new offerings they have for this event! 

Alright, now that we've gotten everything that's new and a few old things out of the way, let's take a look at the rest of the houses coming for this year's Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg!

For 13 long years, the dark tower was locked away from the world—existing only in the nightmares of those who had dared to experience Howl-O-Scream’s first and most terrifying maze. But now the seal has been broken. The tower is open once more and on the 13th floor, your darkest phobias and fears lurk in the shadows. Are you brave enough to face them or is your number up?

The seeds of evil have been sown. Venture if you dare into a decrepit greenhouse. Experiments here have not gone as planned and evil has taken control.

Botanists, landscapers and staff all poisoned by the very plants they created. In this maze of foliage, you are ripe for the pickings.

Through a ruined cemetery filled with statues lies a tunnel that leads to an underground city. Its history is more terrifying than that of France’s worst revolutions. Deep within these tunnels lie mile after mile of bones—the final resting place for those who are buried here. But all is not as quiet as it appears. As guests venture forth into the dank, dripping corridors of rat infested remains, the voices of the dead begin to speak, and some have taken shape.

Suspicion, darkness and mind-numbing fear surround the “Bitten” house which is set in Eastern Europe in the late 1800s.

Full of legends and lore of vampires and the undead that preyed on the innocent, this manor sits by the road upon which all travelers must pass but few return.

Deep underground, construction of the newest line of the Pompeii Metro was moving smoothly until an ancient pipe was accidentally struck. At first, it seemed like steam. Then the mist became thicker, more sinister. Now the strange gas is leaking quickly, and everyone trapped inside is infected. The difficult decision was made to cut off all communication to the outside world. The Dead Line is off the grid.

Alright, there ya have it. All of the new Terror-tories (aka scare-zones), mazes, food options, drinking options and more. What about shows? Well, all of this year's shows are returning from last year...so nothing new at all there, but we've got ya covered...

Dig It Up!

Relics long forgotten and buried in the vaults of the Museo di San Marco have recently been dug up, dusted off and brought to life through song. Cavemen, Egyptians, Romans, and even an alien encounter make their musical debut in this eclectic energy packed anything goes at Halloween show.

Night Beats!

Things that go bump in the night sing, dance and transport you on a musical journey. From the devilish sounds of the roaring '20s to vamping it up with the music of today, this show is filled with dazzling dance numbers, sizzling singers and a barely live band that will leave your heart … beating.

Fiends!

The wacky doctor and his manic nurses are creating the ultimate Fiend, and there’s not a bad seat in the lab.

The voltage is high, and so is the fun as they sing, dance and bring you along on the operation of a lifetime.



Alright, now I'm really done with everything that the park has to offer for this year's Howl-O-Scream, but that's really not all. By now you're probably wondering about ticket prices and VIP experiences and all that good stuff. Well, good thing for you I've done my homework a bit and dug up some information on all of this and more!

Tickets for this year's event run $70 for a single day, but the real gem of a deal is the Fall Fun Card. That too costs $70, but you get access to the event for the entire run. Yep, that's right...every day from now until October 27th for the same as a single day. You really can't go wrong with it at all, especially if you're local or planning a multi-day trip to the park.

Now, ontop of this there are a couple of VIP experiences that are offered and I can attest that these are very much worth it if they're anything like the Coaster Insider tours they offer. The first of these is the Howl-O-Scream All-Access Insider Tour. 

Costing an additional $100 per person, they offer a ton of unique and interesting looks into what makes Howl-O-Scream tick as a whole. The best thing? Dinner at Festhaus is included! 

It's really not a bad deal, but it would be nice if they would've given an upgrade for parking or some such considering the extra cost that's being put out by guests. They do this for their regular VIP tours so not sure why this is different. 

However, if that's a bit too rich for your blood, they do also offer their Howl-O-Scream Eerie Insider Tour. 

For only $70 more you can get a lot of the same perks that the All Access Tour provides, but a few things are left out like the Meet & Greet and meal options that that one offers. You still get all of the other perks though like priority access to all of the mazes and shows. Which, on a busy night can really be worth it! 

Still think it's too high? Well there is a 3rd way...for either $30 or $55 you can get access to all of the houses and select rides one time or unlimited times during your visit. The unlimited one obviously costing the $55 there...

So, pretty much any way that you slice it, there are a ton of really good offers that bring in more value and how you spend your time during your visit. Usually, if it's busy, +Carrie H.C. and I almost always get the Quick Queues. Why? They include Verbolten these days and offer up one free photo from one of the rides on the unlimited. So if you've got two people, that's a picture on two different rides! 

And that's pretty much everything I can think of at this point to dig up from the darkside of Busch Gardens for this year's Howl-O-Scream. Hope that you've enjoyed our coverage of all their announcements so far and hope that if you attend you have a great time this year! 

Carrie and myself, again, will be attending the Media Event on Opening Night, Friday September 13th and will be live tweeting and posting our experience to all of you out there. It's the very start of our Haunt Tour this year so it'll definitely be one to remember for sure! 

As always, you can find more information about Howl-O-Scream at Busch Garden Williamsburg on their official website and don't forget to follow us on Twitter @kitsunehazard and on Google+ for updates, live reports and more on your favorite haunts throughout the country!