Dave Moseley

The weather was more forgiving yesterday so I was in a much better mood to take pics...

The rain finally let up enough to take a couple of pics tonight:

So I posted my thoughts on EP night as a rambling post on Facebook, so the order may be a little all over the place, but basically my thoughts were very similar to Chris'. Firstly, I was super-pissed that security informed me while we were waiting for entry that my camera bag was too big to take into the event. Anyone that's seen my bag knows it's reasonable for the stuff I carry, and it's small enough for the ride lockers etc. The outside-staff security stood their ground when I challenged about coming into the park during the day and doing stay-and-scream, and seemed set on being as rude and unreasonable as possible. "You're not coming in here with that," was the phrase of the night. This continued for about 5 mins before they offered, "You want me to get Universal over here to tell you you can't come in?" I said yes please and was met by a Richard from UO security, who took 1 second to look the bag up and down and say "Yeah, that's fine." Problem solved, but a sour start to the event for sure and another bad sign that communication is severly lacking. The event opened later than we were told, and we ran to get to the front of the Alice Cooper house. We stood there for what felt like 20 minutes because the queue lines weren't finished. It took a couple hours into the event before all the houses' wait time signs were working. Everyone seemed really unprepared to open the park up to guests. The crowds... oh God... the CROWDS... I saw several factors that contributed to this, but if the EP is any indication of the crowds during the event, this year's going to be the biggest clusterf*** I can remember since '07 with the New Line big 3. Also, it's disappointing that employees and drunk assholes who punch and try and scare the scareactors aren't mutually exclusive... Due to crowds I only saw two houses and one show, so I have yet to see Bill and Ted still... They'd locked out the queue for the 10:30 show when we got there at 9:45, and had a standby queue growing for the 11:45 show... f*** that noise. 20 Penny Circus has potential, but at the showing I saw the guest interaction needed a little tightening up. I'm putting that down to a similar thing I've heard about Bill and Ted previews, that the employees who attend these things just aren't as into the shows as the fans/general public are. The tricks are cool and I love the make-up, I know I can get some great photos of 20 Penny Circus. And the final trick is awesome! Speaking of, Tara (Prisoners) did awesome on her sets, bouncing from guest to guest like a sexy orange pinball. And James (Zombies) was having great scares for his first time on the streets. Andrew (Traditionals) really got into his role as well. I was recognized by a lot of people on the streets this year but I was trying to enjoy the event as a guest so apologies if you wanted a photo, I will be looking to do that this weekend. The whole street experience is a great concept, and at times it works really well. But it is a hassle not ever knowing where my friends are on set, since they roam in different areas every time. Also means there's no "7" like last year, ie: that scarezone where you can just sit and watch your favorite actors do their job all night if you want to. Of course, staying in one spot you'll see everything come to YOU, so swings and roundabouts really. The traffic on the streets was unmanageable. The construction at Amity and, more importantly, Soundstage 44 means that the entire park has just one route, which is used by everyone... no more cutting across to San Fran from Mel's, or walking to Central Park via Shrek Alley to avoid Hollywood. Not only is it so busy, now everything is so FAR. To the point where, with the lines the way they were for everything, I found myself questioning every decision to move to a new area because of the sheer effort involved to get anywhere. On peak nights, it's going to get UGLY out there, and it desperately needs rethinking and where possible opening up to alleviate the bottlenecks. Alice Cooper house was okay, better the second time as we could see more stuff. Felt like the music could be louder considering it's based on his songs; I had to strain to hear what each one was at times, when really I should be almost deafened like at a rock concert. House Of Horrors was a surprise, the build-up of it being a Dead Exposure house had my expectations set low, however I feel it really worked. The costumes were a bit patchy at times but the set design was cool, it actually gave the house the look of a graphic novel like Sin City rather than a 1920's horror film. I liked how we had to duck down at one point, a possible test of guest reaction to an extreme house next year? Overall I loved the costumes I saw, and the photographer in me is going to have a great time seeing everything at the event. And I've heard great things about the rest of the houses, and Bill and Ted this year. However, if the event is as crowded (on streets and in house queues) as last night, and nothing is done to open up more space (I understand rides were not open but Jaws is gone and that was a massive crowd-eater, so the effect will still be felt with other attractions open), it's going to leave me feeling really disappointed with the event this year. And I feel bad for anyone who's only going one night, especially a Saturday - you have NO chance.

What's the ruling on photos taken during the Unmasking The Horror tours? They don't contain actors, and the areas aren't restricted to the guests at that time.

This is me on the right: I'm hitting Opening Weekend with my friend Hannah and fellow members Roberto and TheAlmightyRaine, plus whoever we end up bumping into through the night and I'll be back mid-October for the final half of the run. Easy way to spot me is I will always be rocking the Jack Bauer bag from 24 to carry my camera

The VIP/RIP tours during the night don't get you backstage, per say. It gets you front-of-the-line access to each house (once?) and priority seating at a showing of B&T, but you don't get to see any behind-the-scenes stuff. For the houses I dunno HOW you cut the line, whether you're led into a different door or whatever... but it sounds like if you want to get some alone time in the houses, with some lights on to really examine the detail put into the event, you'd want to go for the Behind The Screams tours. They last 2/3 hours and take place during the day before HHN. A group of 6 would cost $330 plus tax (assuming there's tours with 6 spaces left), so even with express passes it'd still be cheaper than doing the RIP tour. JUst depends on whether you can attend the parks during the afternoon as well as evening.

Alas, all of those dates fall right between my two visits (except the 29th, which I am attending with 5 friends, 4 of whom are newbies so I'll be playing tour guide). If it's successful though and other is organised for another night before Halloween, I'll definitely attend.

This could be fun, I'm going there so many times this year I think I need a 'different' kind of night to break up the usual. I'm over for the first four nights (23/24/29/30) and I fly back, but then I'm returning for practically every non-Saturday from 19th October until the end. So if one happens around the 6th I won't be there, but if it's a hit and they happen again I can catch the last one or two. (Thing is I'm hitting the first four nights with a good just-friend of the female persuasion, however I dunno how receptive she'd be to the idea of a singles night, not really her thing of course, you never know...)

Okay so as well as my now-annual three-week trip over for the end of the event, I've managed to score some time away for the first two weekends this year it's my first time attending the opening of the event, and I know they used to do big opening ceremonies like with Freddy/Jason/Leatherface... do they still do these? And I know in recent years they've had events at the front of the park gates before letting everyone in. My question is, where should I be opening night? Should I RSVP to the Annual Passholder event for the first evening, or will I miss any opening ceremony that happens outside? Or should I queue with the rest of the guests? I'm attending sooo many times this year that getting early access to the houses isn't a priority for me, but the idea of hanging out with some friends and die-hard fans for the first hour before anyone else is cool too! Just looking for opinions on what you've preferred in the past. Thanks in advance!

Ah Hell, wish I'd checked this contest sooner... I saw it was only from the 1st to the 7th, and I only landed back in the UK on the 9th, so I had no intention of entering

"Closer to the Edge" by 30 Seconds To Mars.

There wasn't a huge amount of improvisation this year... mostly it was fun for the atmosphere of it being Mike's last show. After the dance number, Dick Head ordered everyone to sit down so they could give Mike a trophy, a small booth mounted on a base. He was clearly very emotional, and everyone loved it. I'm on my phone so I'll leave it to someone else to recap the changes... but I wish they'd brought back "I'm On A Ship"

Just got into town yesterday and it's great to be back I'm hitting up the event tonight once it gets dark. As I'm alone I will be making an effort to take some photos, see the shows and maybe the VIP lounge, but I do want to knock out some of the soundstage houses before the tour on Sunday. My photo's in my profile, and to stand out I think I'll be wearing a white shirt with a QR barcode on it (yes, that oughta keep those pesky ladies away!)

In my experience, neither. It's been there the last two years, and I'm still asked for ID at every bar.

I think it's pretty clearly mentioned that the express pass is good for one trip ONLY through each house. You should be happy you managed to skip the lines twice 7 out of 8 times, instead of being rightly turned away at the other ONE. Most people would have had the same experience with staff at all 8 houses.

"For the weekend"? I can't imagine going over there for less than two weeks! Halloween has never seemed like a hugely busy night to me (a TM made the point once that people throw their own parties that night), and I believe the park is open until 2? So you have at LEAST 2 and 1/2 hours to go back and hit some houses a second time.