So Pleasurewood Hills is repeating the Halloween event from last year. It seemed to be reasonably well received last year but are there other things they could do with the attractions they already have?
My first thought is with the Fairytale Fantasy. At the best of times this ride is pretty weird, so why not play on that!? In my head is a spooky soundtrack of slowed-down nursery rhymes (like in the movies), the place is already pretty dark but a few more mood lights would make it a little scarier. Replace a couple of the displays with a more macabre version of the fairytale in question, a few sound effect scares and you have a pretty spooky attraction!
Could this work with modest investment? What would you do instead? To me, Pleasurewood Hills needs to really try and compete with the events at the bigger parks or not bother trying. They seem to be too content with being an 'also-ran' rather than a leader in anything. The viral videos are a step in the right direction but we need more!
It seems odd to me that they spend so much time and money getting the park ready for Halloween, a mere 7 days at the end of the season. When i worked there Peter Hadden brought in so many Pumpkins he couldn't give them away on the final days....
While its slightly different now with this whole Stitch thing, and fireworks (are they happening this year????) i still think its alot of effort for one week when during the main season there doesn't seem to be the urge to make such an effort.
On the flip side, the Frigh****er event at LWV is reported to be the most popular couple of days at the park, so if PWH made more of an effort, as suggested, they could be onto a winner!
I think its being a bit greedy to be honest. We were spoilt with last years Halloween event which was very, very good (I've heard), lets just be glad they're repeating it and not going back to what it used to be.
i agree with martyn there i agree they should keep this theme up as it makes money and links every year together getting people to come back again and again.
I think its being a bit greedy to be honest. We were spoilt with last years Halloween event which was very, very good (I've heard), lets just be glad they're repeating it and not going back to what it used to be.
I'm not sure I agree Martyn. Surely Pleasurewood needs to go one step further this year and improve upon the previous event. I don't know the gate figures for last Halloween, but the fact that they are hyping the Halloween event again this year must mean it worked with some degree of success last time.
If they get it right again this year there could be scope to extend it over a couple of weeks next year perhaps? Late opening? Rides in the dark? Using the nature trail as a haunted walk through? There are so many opportunities that they could look into, but it all needs to be really good to get the punters out in the dreary October weather.
The park is owned by a large company now which has lots of experience in the leisure industry, so I feel it is more justified now than ever before to expect the park to step up and begin to operate at a level closer to some of the bigger parks.
I can see where you're coming from Matt, but I would rather they put as much concentration into the park as possible, making it better all year round, not just for the Halloween season.
But ultimately, how we actually know there is nothing different happening this year?
Halloween season is a big time for Theme Parks and it's great that PWH are taking it more seriously of recent. I would like to see some scare mazes or live attractions added this year - something they could advertise as "new". Walkthroughs are immensely popular and kids love being scared so something of that nature would be awesome.
