[Haunt Review] Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt Blends New and Old into a Terror Filled Headtrip

Second review from Haunt Tour 2015 week two takes us to Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt! This one is jam packed with tons of different mazes, scare zones, and a dining experience like no other out there. There's quite a mix of new and returning attractions for this year's event, and luckily we managed to hit everything to give you our take on it all.

Just so much to see, and experience, that there's almost not enough time in a night to do it, but somehow we managed to make it through it all. It was a great time this year and they really kicked it up a notch with their new additions, Trick or Treat and the all new Cornstalkers. The Skeleton Key room experiences were definitely interesting as well, but more on that in a bit.

A little heads up, I know that I said we'd try the method from the survival guide that I wrote a couple of weeks ago, but we just didn't get the chance to. Instead, we pretty much did the reversed version of it. That makes sense as it was the other option since we were in the park before hand! 

Quick Look

• Date Visited: 9/19/15
• Review Team: +Kitsune Hazard, +Carrie H.C., +Filip Muncan 
• Rating: Really Damn Good
(Food: Excellent, Mazes: Really Damn Good, Scare Zones: Very Good)
• Recommendation: Definitely put it on your list of things to do this Halloween season!
• Likes: Trick or Treat, amazing. Mansion Meal? Insane. Age of Darkness Skeleton Key room, weird as hell but awesome and just the overall atmosphere.
  
• Dislikes: Some actors not bothering with their lines, too much dead space by Stinger/Possessed, and some of the Skeleton Key rooms weren't as good as they could've been.
• Pro-Tip: Mansion Meal. I'll keep saying it over and over. Also, if it's busy? Do the Skeleton Key/Fast Lane option. Not only do you get special experiences, but also an extra maze, Black Out! 
• Video Review: Quick Cut Review

Disclaimer: The Kverse team was invited out for this year's Halloween Haunt, and as part of that we were given access to the Mansion Meal experience along with Fright Lane+Skeleton Key. This in no way influences our experience, just lets us tell you about them!

Now then, on with the insanity!

Having already been in the park for a good bit of the day before our reservation, getting to our 5:30pm VIP dinner experience wasn't too much of a problem. Though, as usual, we got a little confused before finding our way to where we needed to go. Once there, and after a short wait, we were let inside of the Mansion House Hotel and seated in the dining room.

To say this experience is awesome, is an understatement. Not only is the food incredibly top notch, but getting to eat inside of one of the mazes, and with the cast? Always a blast. One thing we did notice was that a lot of the residents this year were a bit new, but I suppose that happens at times and the unevenness will sort out.

The cool thing about this, aside from the food, is that you get a bit more backstory on the maze's theme. There's a wedding going on, and you just may be invited to join the young bride...

...but don't be too quick on that. Her last groom has gone missing.

Seated, we awaited the arrival of our first course, and for me it was spicy roasted tomato brushetta. I'm not typically a tomato lover, but holy crap it was amazing. There was a sweetness to it that mixed just perfectly with the hint of spiciness. Call me a convert now, and things were off to an awesome start!

Next up, was the salad. I went with the Belgium endive and frisee salad with a lemon vinaigrette and shaved parmesan. After the sweet/spicy combo of the brushetta, the slightly bitter flavors that were going on with this really hit the spot. So far it seemed I had made the right choice in the first two courses. Not gonna complain at all there!

The main course was up next, black pepper pancetta wrapped filet topped with shiitake mushroom hash next to a port wine blackberry sauce, and wow. It was similar to what I had last year, but with a few new twists. The blackberry sauce was so good in pairing that I didn't want it to end. Seriously top notch stuff here.

Finally, we wrapped things up with desert. And all I gotta say for that is two words, dismantled tiramisu. Was a killer ending to another awesome food experience by the park's Executive Chef, Jan Giejda.

Before we get into the mazes and scare zones, just have to say that if you can, you need to do this. It's $99 a person but that includes your park admission, Fast Lane+Skeleton Key, and the dinner along with a glass of wine or beer, and/or soft drinks. It's an absurd bargain for what you get in quality and atmosphere. Seriously, this is up there with the best quality that Disney or even fine dining restaurants offer here and if you don't take advantage of it? You might already be dead.

Again, one of those memorable experiences that sticks with us all year long, and I'm sure it will for you as well. I really hope that Dorney continues this tradition in the future because, I'll say it again, it's that damn good. 

Okay then, let's get onto the rest of the evening!

First up after dinner was being the first group through the Mansion House Hotel.

This is home to one of the Skeleton Key rooms, and while it may look exactly like last year, there is a different way of going about things in here and it's not where you'll think! It was fun, and running into one of the cast from dinner made it that much more enjoyable of an experience for our group as well.

Having escaped, we were sent back out into the lobby and then escorted into the maze itself. This hotel has long seen better days and within the walls are all manner of tortured souls. As you go through, you're enveloped into a story. A young bride, without her groom, prowls the halls of this once grand establishment and you probably don't want to stick around for the wedding.

One of the coolest things about this maze is that it's less maze like and more room like, if that makes any sense. Sure, there's twisting hallways, even an elevator, but you walk through scenes as if you're walking into a story happening. This is one of the things I love about how Dorney goes about their haunts too.

The only thing I hate about going early through this one is that it's light outside and there's some areas that really benefit from it being dark. So, if you're going to hit this, I'd suggest night time being the key time to do it as there's a lot of open air.

Either way, it's still a great time, and while a few things may get lost to those that don't know the full story, the actors still nail it throughout most of the scenes.

Having survived our stay, we took a trip back topside to get a few things from our locker that we had rented and then decided that since we were there, that we might as well hit up Chamber of Horrors.

It doesn't take very long to realize that things inside this wax museum have gone horribly, horribly wrong. From the very first scene, through the end, there's a new horror waiting as new additions to the exhibits aren't what you think.

You'll go through exhibits, featuring serial killers, the famous and more, before going into back rooms where all manner of terror is just lurking from all sorts of places you'll never see coming. There's a few scares in here that use great misdirection, and we love that.

Overall, really loved this one, and while a few key scares were missing we remembered them from last year, so we know their impact when staffed. That said, we did have a bit of confusion after the climax in finding the exit. That's something that could likely be worked on as the season goes on though.

Since we were in the neighborhood, and not turned into wax, we figured that we'd hit Black Out up next. Now, this one is just for Fright Lane+Skeleton Key pass holders, or those who do the Fright Feast (it's one of the options). That said, last year this was our biggest disappointment and that proved to be true once again this time around.

It's a pitch black experience, that you go through as a group holding onto a rope to keep together. Dodging unseen bits hanging from the ceiling and some pretty inventive scares and lines from those dwelling inside as you go.

However, from the start we knew that things weren't really any better here. They had arrows on the floors to show your way, you could look up and easily see where to go, and the actress in the first room? She didn't even bother to learn her lines, deciding to show us the paper they were written on. Really bad form there.

At least we got that taste out of our mouths before we took a trip over to Desolation: Operation Latchdoor. 

This one's pretty unique and uses some monster set pieces, but before you even get to that you're lined up for a picture of your group in front of a green screen. For what? Who knows...

Once past that area, we lined up in the Fast Lane/Skeleton Key line and awaited our turn to be let into our special area to start things off.

Greeted by military officer, who then instructed us that we had to keep the Antidote that she gave us close at hand, as we'd be needing it, we were a little concerned to say the least. Soon after she dismissed us, we were let into the haunt proper.

Through military installations, into a town filled with mutants and then into some kind of twisted medical clinic we went. The whole time, harassed and blindsided by all manner of the living, not quite, and definitely dead. All throughout the actors were having a blast, but it soon came our time to enter into the Skeleton Key room. From there? Well, remember that antidote? Yeah...had something to do with that. Not telling, so no spoilers!

Once we were released, we went back into the medical facility to face even more horrors, all while trying to figure out what had just happened in our little experience moments earlier. It was a trip and a half and left us all with some odd questions.

Halfway through, and a little less sane

After finishing up with Desolation, and checking out our picture, we decided to head down to one of the newer additions to Dorney this year, Cornstalkers: Barn Bred and Blood Fed. However, it's in an all new location this year and we had to head to the lower part of the park for that.

Thanks to that, we had to first get through the CarnEvil scare zone. Located by Meteor and Hydra, and the freak show is definitely in town.

There's a ton of high energy impact scares going on in here too. Sliders are out in force, there's a clown trying to avoid being eaten by alligators, and a ton more insanity. It's a great area and the hill really does provide for some awesome things to happen.

This pass through we really didn't give ourselves too much time here, figuring we'd come back later to get a better feel of it.

Down the hill, and through some fog filled pathways and we found ourselves down in the lower part of the park. No more hills! Well, for now anyway.

Finally, CornStalkers! 

This one's all new, having moved from it's old location and is kind of combining two mazes together in a weird mix of things, but it works.

This was our third Skeleton Key room of the night, and once again it was at the start. We entered into the room and met up with a family that definitely wasn't all together. What we had to do to get out? Not telling.

Released into Mama's House, we made our way through the various rooms. All of them filled all manner of weird and odd hillbilly horrors.

Then, we were outside, released into the cornfield to try and make it out alive or at least mostly in one piece. Now, this was the Cornstalkers that we remembered. Sure, the level of detail inside is what we expect, but the way that they make the maze of corn seem so real is just another level. It's just more attention to deal that they have going on here which we love to see.

However, we weren't quite done yet. After surviving our way through the rows of corns, and the creatures that lay in wait, we found ourselves in the barn and forced to survive yet another onslaught of chaos. This was a three way punch of insanity, and we were loving it.

More maze like than before, the overall feeling was disorienting, and a nice contrast to the open feeling we got in the house at the start. That kind of made sense here. All the while, victims were seen everywhere and their screams echoed throughout the walls as we were hounded by more of this killer family.

Not nearly as long as it used to be, this new version of Cornstalkers is actually superior in a lot of ways in spite of that. It's telling a story now, and you're not just watching it, but are are a part of it too. The indoor portions aren't really "maze like", and more along the lines of walking through the set of your own personal of horror movie in a way. It was also great to see the the actors were really on it here and that the level of detail was still being kept up. Even though the actors were great, I will say we were all a bit disappointed with the Skeleton Key room on this one, I felt the old one was better in a few ways.

Not being chopped up, or worse, we took quick break and then we were off again to the Age of Darkness scare zone.

This is one very strange place to wander into, quite possibly the best scare zone the park has. Trapped in time, the undead from the medieval era are back and they're praying upon anyone that crosses into their domain.

All manner of torture device is being rolled out in here, and if you're unlucky, you just might be the next victim. Sadly, we didn't see any sword fights this year, but everyone else was having a blast with things, no doubt there at all. Tons going on plus effectiveness, what's not to like?

Now, for 2015, this had a Skeleton Key room. I know, kind of weird, and we were all wondering how it would work but we quickly found our way to it. After that, we were then were led behind the gallows. The next few moments were very morbid and really on another level of things than we'd seen from Dorney in the past. I'll be honest, I didn't really know what was in store, and didn't see what we had to get through coming at all. Again, no spoilers! You'll have to experience this one for yourself as it's probably one of the most screwed up things they've done. Kudos to them for that!

Past Age of Darkness, and in the shadow of Steel Force, we came across another all new attraction for 2015, Trick or Treat.

Everyone loves candy, right? Sure ya do, so come inside and have some. Yeah, we've all seen where that's gone in the past and you can bet the witches that inhabit this house are up to no good.

Without much of a wait, into the Skeleton Key room we went, and after helping with a little project that needed to be taken care of, then let into the main part of the house.

Wow, just wow. If the Skeleton Key room didn't tip us off to the lengths they went to on this one, this area definitely did.

Everything from the pumpkins on the staircase, to the costuming and everything else...we knew we weren't in Kansas anymore. Each room we walked through, there were little things happening and details all over that just added up. From children cowering in fear, to the mutated trick or treaters that didn't fare so well in the past and were helping the witches themselves.

It was just overload around every corner and there was a ton of really interesting scares all over the place. Take your eyes off things to get lost in the details or see just what went past in the corner? They pounce. It was an awesome experience on every level.

The finale of this one is something to behold as well. Just so much going on in that room that it's a bit much to take in almost. Overall, we all loved this one to death...and maybe a bit beyond that. Really have to hand it to the team here on this one, it's that good. The only complaint we had, we wanted it to be longer!

Just two more stops on the Nightmare Fuel Express! 

After escaping the witches of Trick or Treat, it was onto the zombies of Grave Walkers and a trip through Graymatter Cemetery. 

Not too much has changed here, the beginning is still a weird open layout of a graveyard, complete with ongoing funeral, and tons of the undead just lurking in the darkness. No matter what path you take, you'll run into something you'll regret for sure.

The one thing that has changed, where the Skeleton Key room is for this. Now located in a new spot.

Having made our way to it, we found that it's not changed up at all. Pretty much the same as last year's, but the motley crew that you run into inside of it is a little different and a little more on things. It's still a fun one and when you combine it with the one from Age of Darkness? It makes you wonder just a bit what they're thinking.

Anyway, once through, you're into the bowls of the mausoleum, and get down to the heart of the matter where the bodies are kept. Word of warning, they don't have good hygiene...then again, they are zombies. Once back out into the night air, you'll find the only way out through a maze of coffins and caskets (where they got so many, I'll never know) and hopefully you'll make it to the end in one piece...and not bitten, or something else horrible.

Though we were a little disappointed that not much had changed with the Skeleton Key room here, we still enjoyed it. That said, I didn't overly like seeing a "rat maze" before it, really broke the atmosphere up and even caused some confusion for non Skeleton Key folks behind us. Overall though, it's still one of our favorites as it's such a unique spin on things all around.

That left just one more stop, Asylum.

What can you even say? Tucked way in the back of the park, you can see the signage from a good distance and you just know that it's going to be horrifying lunacy waiting for you.

From the moment you get inside, you realize that things aren't going well and the guards? They're likely patients as well. Where the actual guards and staff are? You probably don't want to know, or you'll end up like them at some point...if you don't go insane first.

It's such a delightfully twisted wonderland within these walls, and everyone was just on it. There's no way around that at all. I mean, who doesn't love a good insane asylum gone bad, right? Sure, it's been done a lot but to do it well takes some talent and this crew was on it.

Sadly, there wasn't a Skeleton Key room in here this year. Which, if I'm honest, was a disappointing as last year's was one of our favorites. Hopefully in the future they figure something out that can top the old one though and it'll come back.

Rounding things out

At this point in time, we took a break near Asylum and just kind of relaxed for a while. We were tired, and figured that we'd watch the world go by for a bit. Soon after, we figured that heading back through Age of Darkness and CarnEvil was a good idea as we had been pretty rushed before.

On the CarnEvil front, things were a little shaky by the time we came through again. It was still kind of early, but the actors just weren't on it fully. That was a little disappointing, but again it was only the second night of operation.

However, one in particular was having an amazing time with "Jack". We couldn't help but stop and watch her play with her giant evil toy. It was way too much fun to watch and really put a point on things for the night for the three of us I think.

We also took this opportunity to check out Cut Throat Island a bit more on our way out.

It was passed earlier to get to CornStalkers, but the thing with this one is that you don't really pass through it anymore, just kind of skirt around the edge. There's no reason to go directly into it anymore really and that's kind of a shame. Sure, Desolation kind of helps there, but it ends up being a dead zone in reality and off on it's own, well, island.

Maybe in the future they can knock this one up a few notches to make it something that people really want to go through, and/or be something they're forced through with some creative fencing. I'm not sure how that'd work but it should be looked into.

The detail in this one is really great, and the pirates roaming about definitely should get more love than they do currently. Being pirates at heart around here, we definitely enjoy a bit of the weird and craziness that they bring to the table, even if they aren't overly scary.

The final verdict?

Well, once again Dorney Park has put on a great show with this year's Halloween Haunt. From the utterly amazing Mansion House Meal experience to the costuming and the new levels of interaction in the scare zones, it's one helluva show.

That said, there's a few things that seemed a little off. The Skeleton Key rooms being mostly at the start of houses, was interesting but lost some of their unpredictable and spontaneous terror that they once held. It's not as suspenseful. Also, the challenges that were presented really weren't that great outside of a few, those being; Trick or Treat, Age of Darkness, and Grave Walkers.

The issue with Pirates of the Cove, and the huge vacant spot around Stinger and Possessed also left a bit of a down note in our minds on the scare zone department. Hopefully next year they can add something or change things up to fill those voids. 

We also noticed that there's a bit of an issue with "character discipline" as there were many actors that just weren't caring to learn their lines, or on their phones while walking back from breaks and things like that. Yes, they're just teenagers a lot of the time, but they should be in character when out in public view. Maybe that's my HHN monster talking, but it should be something every event this size does.

Some of them did really stand out, however, and we salute you for your dedication and chase for the most scares wherever and whenever you could get them. You're what makes these events possible, so keep doing it!

In the end, Halloween Haunt has still set the bar very high for the rest of this year's season on a ton of different levels for the rest of the big theme park attractions we're hitting. And I really do still think that it's worthy of making the trip out to experience it first hand. They'll no doubt be adding new things, tweaking the issues, and bringing on the scare even harder as the year goes on too!

Get on over to the official Dorney Park Halloween Haunt website to find out hours, get tickets, and a ton more info about this year's event. And, be sure to stay tuned as we ramp up Haunt Tour 2015 even more, haunt season is full go!