KINGS ISLAND: Halloween Haunt Thoughts
Saw the shows, walked the park, have some thoughts . . .
I love Kings Island. I love a well-executed theme. I’m not super keen on being scared, but I do like the immersive nature of Halloween Haunt, which opened last night.
The first night of Haunt is my favorite. There’s an energy in the park that is palpable; the scare actors and employees are just as excited as the guests. And it’s usually not overly crowded - at least not at first. Fridays tend to be better nights to attend, in my opinion, because high school football games and Homecomings dilute the masses enough to make the experience more enjoyable. Saturdays are so busy that it’s hard to move around, especially in the dark.
We began our evening in the Festhaus with “Monster Rock.” This classic rock show featuring a live band and singers dressed in costumes inspired by classic horror tropes is a staple of Haunt these days. It’s loud, but the band (led by Jeff Smith) sounds great. And all of the vocalists are stunningly talented. Jared (a spooky pirate) sings soulfully, with a smoothness that’s unparalleled. Dustin (a mummy) has one of the richest baritone voices you’ll ever hear. Caleb (a zombie rocker) sounds great and is an equally talented dancer. Olivia (a vampire - or maybe Spiderwoman?) has an impressive presence and nails some very difficult pop songs with finesse. Sydney (a witch) gets to do so much more than she did in the 70s show this summer, belting her face off - and I’m a huge fan of her overall vibe.
The two swings, Daveed (a ghoul, with naturally long, gorgeous hair) can sing anything with ease. Plus, his stage presence is just plain cool. Finally, Haylee (a witch) is so talented that it honestly sometimes makes me mad. How can one person sing that well and make it look that easy? Her “Crazy For You” rendition is world-class, for instance, but so is the casual way she riffs on “Let’s Get Crazy” and other songs. It’s . . .well . . it’s crazy how good she is.
After this, we walked past “You’re Too Old to Trick or Treat,” a comedy game show, and saw Scott, Molly, and Dylan being far funnier than the audience seemed to appreciate. After that, I grabbed a Freestyle drink (Peach Sprite, specifically), and we walked past “Terror Rising” before we queued up for “Nytewalkers.”
"I probably need to give “Terror Rising” another shot, but like the symphony, it’s hard for me to enjoy live music without vocals. “Nytewalkers” featured a lot of everything - apart from live singing. The acrobatics were great, the trampoline performers were energetic, and the dancers were top-notch. The highlight for me was the balancing act on the “tightrope-style” device. He flew higher than I’ve ever seen and landed some complicated tricks. They billed the show as having a “storyline,” but that’s a pretty loose description of what is primarily a visual spectacle. I’d compare it to some high-octane, acrobatic ballet.
The park has more lights in the more remote areas, which I suspect will make the transition to Winterfest easier by design. I was thrilled to see that the Eiffel Tower was open; I can’t remember ever going up during Haunt, and the views of the various themed areas were incredible. While it will probably be way too cold during Winterfest, I’d love the opportunity to see the park from that vantage point then, too.
I had a few breadsticks (fresh out of the oven) at LaRosa’s and caught one more showing of Monster Rock before heading home for the night. I will be back next weekend, weather permitting.
Overall, while they have toned down the aspects that made “Haunt” a premiere scare destination, the focus on being inclusive to families is probably a smart financial move despite what people on social media might say. I am not a fan of the new bag policy; the size bag they are allowing into the park is no bigger than my wallet - and the reason you don’t see many photos in this blog is because I couldn’t carry in my camera bag. But I suppose if it makes us safer, it’s worth it. The increased presence of security is comforting - though I don’t love the “exit only” feature of the Festhaus - mostly because I don’t understand it. It doesn’t stop people from walking in front of the stage during the show, and I don’t see any real purpose. Maybe it’s to control the flow of food lines?
My recommendations: Go on a Friday night, but leave your bag home. Prioritize “Monster Rock” and see the other shows if you have time. If you’re a maze person, I’d recommend hitting “Hotel St. Michelle” first, as it’s brand new and, therefore, the most crowded. Some friends said that “Madame Fatale’s” was pretty good this year, too. I can’t wait to try some of the food options when I go up on a Saturday or Sunday, and perhaps I’ll tell you about that here in a future post.