If there was anything I can say about the first day of Midsummer Scream is that there’s just not enough time to experience everything I wanted to. It’s all so good and there’s just so much happening at the same time.I found myself having to choose carefully what I wanted to see. I’ll do my best to run down some of the highlights and will post in more detail about what I found at the event soon.
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Presentation
I was very saddened to learn that Disneyland was re-theming the Tower of Terror last year. It took some adjustment, but I do actually like the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride, and at the same time, I miss the old Hollywood Tower Hotel badly. It was such a treat to get to see the original Imagineers that brought this unique ride to life talk about how it was created. My favorite part was the funny story Mark Silverman (the uncanny Rod Serling impersonator, heard on the ride) told about getting into an actual hotel elevator with some strangers and start into his lines behind their backs as the elevator doors close- “You are stepping onto an elevator and into another dimension.”
Knott’s Scary Farm Presentation
Knott’s had a lot to say about their new mazes but the most shocking announcement came from the Mistress of the Dark, herself. Everyone in the crowd was elated to watch Cassandra Petterson (A.K.A Elvira) walk out on stage and tell us all about her upcoming show, only to then tell us that it will be her last one at Knott’s Scary Farm!I was happy to hear that they will include 13 mazes this year at Knott’s Scary Farm and an all new type of haunt that will include flashlights that “mysteriously” stop working as you try to find your way out through the darkness. They announced that they were changing the way the Fright Lane Passes will now allow front-of-the-line passage to all the rides at Knott’s, as well.
Hall of Shadows
I wasn’t able to go through too many of the many mini-haunts setup at the event but was impressed with what I did see. At the entrance were some really great cemetery scenes that set the mood very well. I was especially impressed with a grave that appeared to have somebody in the ground, shifting the earth around trying to escape- a very convincing animatronic effect.
The Gorelesque Peep Show was captivating. It wasn’t a whole lot of scare, but it certainly set an interesting mood. I found myself really getting caught up in the mystery of the characters they presented. In a full sized haunt, this would be a fantastic way to set things up for the rest of the maze.There were some great scares inside of the metal mini-maze made by Unhallowed Productions. I also enjoyed a surprisingly good scare out of an escape room preview from Dead Zone 805.
Exhibitors
There was so much to see on the exhibitor floor. I was really blown away by the replica props made by New Rule FX. They had everything from stage glass bottles to cast iron skillets that you would swear were real until you touched them. It was great to see AtmosFX in action as well as some other electronic effects vendors. It was also great to finally meet Kaci, the Homicidal Homemaker, who also happens to live in the same town I work in.
And on to day two…
