So, my apologies because last monday there were no 'favourite things' updates, but that is understandable since Monday was Thanksgiving, so happy belated Thanksgiving, everyone!!
That week was also great in general because I went to Whistler Blackcomb on Tuesday, came back Wednesday, visited an university campus on Thursday (meaning no school) and today, Friday, (actually it's Saturday, given the time, but i just got back and wanted to recap before i forgot!!) I went to Fright Nights at PNE Playland!!
It was AMAZING!!
And please note, this is a recap of my experience, so if you plan to go, yes, there are SPOILERS!!
The atmosphere just getting there was great, it was already a naturally foggy night and the bright red signs made everything seem so surreal. I went with a friend, and while i will not disclose her name, I will call her "Mango" because I will refer to her quite a few times.
There was security checks, so our bags had to be inspected, and us as well! It actually seemed even stricter than airport security, IMO.
Anyway, this year, Fright Night 2013, there are 6 haunted houses (including Playland's original) and 12 rides (with Hellavator and Revelation at additional charge)
Mango and i didn't get to go on all the rides nor all the haunted houses, so i'll recap the ones we did end up going to (though not so much the rides since it is always there)
Anyway, going there first, i was a bit apprehensive about getting into a haunted house since i'm actually a really big scaredy cat and i can even get scared just by someone coming up behind me and tapping my shoulder.
So Mango and i went to the Atmosfear first, since it's never been running when i went previously. Also, it was very foggy and so it was freezing up there, and our hair was all wet once we got down!!
Not only was it a naturally foggy night, the smoke machines was also on, meaning that at times, i couldn't see two feet in front of me... which is a bit offputting for me, since i worry about a monster jumping out at us.
Anyway, we went to Hollywood Horrors first, and even though Mango and i were alone, we requested to go with the pair behind us since we were such huge 'fraidy cats. I only remember trailing after them shrieking and squealing, and the live actors didn't frighten me that much until we got to the car area, where someone jumped out with a chainsaw.
However, there was one funny part where one actor with a knife pointed at me, and said, "I like YOU!" in a sinister voice. I was thinking, "Uhmm, okay... No, you don't..."
I don't remember much from Hollywood Horrors in general. It was nice and full of screams and surprises when you're in it, but nothing really gives me a lasting impression.
Shortly after, we went to Fear.
I really liked how when we waited in life there were boards describing different type of phobias, and how it foreshadows what we are going to see once we are in the house itself.
I enjoyed the fact that we had to get into coffins to begin - each person in a separate coffin. Although, i was very apprehensive and i definitely did not want to go into those coffins (though mostly in fear that i will need to fight my way out) so i yelled "Mangooooo! I will never forgive you for thisssss!!" As i was ushered into my coffin and the monster attendant covered the lid over my head.
It really wasn't that bad, though. The coffin was rather spacious (enough for me to turn from lying on my back to on my side, since not only did i have a backpack on, i also feel scared and vulnerable whenever i'm on my back) and as much as it disturbs me to admit it, it was rather comfortable.
After we got in and were closed into complete darkness, they wheeled our coffins to the other side of the wall, where another monster attendant would lift the lid for us and allow us to continue our journey - and the first thing i noticed was that Mango was running off after the two men that we had come in with, since we were too scared to go alone.
I went after her - although despite everything else, i walked, since the first area was brightly lit and the monster was quite friendly.
I DO have arachnophobia so the spider room wasn't that good for me, but the spiders were obviously plastic and fake so even though i dont want it touching me or anything, everything was a-okay there.
the other rooms don't give me a lasting impression... There was a room with lighting that gave the impression of crawling ants.
We also came to a tunnel, and i think it was for the claustraphobia fear, since it was a squeeze to get in (actually quite okay since it was loosely inflated)
Mango was screaming at that point, saying she had no idea where to go ("Forward! Forward!" I had yelled) and she backed into me, bumping me backwards and knocking me into the monster who was waiting, so i demanded she move forward some more.
Eventually that house was done, too. :)
I went on my very first time on Hells Gate!! It was actually... not as scary as i thought it would be :P
Next, we went to Darkness.
It was a very long line but it was interesting how they made the beginning of the line a walk through a graveyard with little storyboards - however, i looked at that "Angel of Death" and my inital thought was, "Well, that isn't cute at all!" since... aren't angels of death (shinigami's) always so adorable in anime?
Anyway, it was an incredibly long line and i had to like, pee, the entire time, so it was a bit of a torture. And since we had gone to different things before then, it was like, late at night, and i was sleepy, so me and Mango sort of wilted to the ground as we followed the line.
Eventually we were fed up and frustrated with the line, and whenever that deep and sinister voice started talking and doings its "Mwahahaha" we were like, "SHUT UP!" and "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN!"
However we did eventually get our turn - this time, we had to go in alone. We walked into a brightly lit room with zombies and gates, and even though it wasn't scary, Mango and i clung to each other, shrieking, saying to wait until the next group came in - and they did, they were a father and four little girls and a little boy.
The little boy walked past us with a 'che!' and we followed him, with the little girls following us.
The boy scared us once, by jumping out and yelling 'boo!'!
Although i do not remember much about this one at all, indeedit was scary!! There are live actors popping out of coffins and everything.
Although sadly, my biggest memory of this place is that we waited an incredibly long time in line but halfway through our turn, the lights came on and we had to walk out with the lights on, meaning that things were definitely not scary anymore -
however, one prop moved, Mango screamed, i screamed, she pulled backwards (with her arms around my neck) and i stumbled, and went sprawling onto my bottom in front of everyone - including the father and his little girls, and two or three security guards that were dispatched to bring everyone outside.
We were rounded up and the security zoomed in on one boy and dismissed the rest of us - and i suppose we will never find out about why the lights came on.............
Our last stop of the day was Asylum, meaning that we missed Car N Evil and the Haunted Mansion. Whilst the haunted mansion doesn't matter as much, since we had gone before during regular season, what is in the Car N Evil will forever be my curiosity. (So if you know, why not comment and tell me? :P)
Anyway, in my opinion, Asylum is probably the scariest one all night. I'm not sure if its because of the heightened senses and frazzled nerves from the evening, but it did seem to be the most horror inducing of all.
i remember being in front of two cute boys, so i wanted to go with them, but eventually they swapped with some girls and those girls were behind us instead.
But, Mango and i went into the house and then we clung to each other till the girls came in and told them to ahead of us.
Then, we followed them.
I can't recall what we saw off the top of my head, but there were plenty of gory props, live actors, flashing lights, moving props, bloody hospital rooms, and so on so forth.
I screamed the most in this one, and one time, we entered a room that contained not one, but two live actors, as well as props hanging from the ceiling, Mango screamed at the top of her lungs, ran into me, so i screamed at the top of my lungs, and went running back, bowling into the two cute boys, who, surprisingly enough, were incredibly calm, hands in pockets type of calm.
Eventually we continued on, Mango shrinking against the wall whimpering, "Please don't hurt me! What did i do? What did i do???"
I remember the rest very vaguely but i remember that we still ran out of Asylum's exit while screaming our heads off, laughing at the same time... a very breathless experience.
Ultiamately, i think this is what i have to say.
The haunted houses all take a long time to get into unless you have a Fast Pass, and if you don't, either you get there early (so maybe one house) or you'll wait in line for 45min plus!!
The houses itself are short and none seemed as good as Playland's original, however, it was full of thrills and scares when you are inside - however for me, while i screamed, jumped, and wailed with the best of them, the fear wore off quickly once we got outside, since while it was scary, it was nothing spectacular nor memorable.
However, i do highly recommend Fright Nights!! It is a truly amazing experience! Mango and i had so much fun!! Yes, the lines are long, and yes, sometimes the houses seem a bit cheesy (Although your nerves will always be on edge before you actualy go in!) but overrall, it truly is worthwhile and a really good investment!!
However i do have a slight wish that Fright Night, in its future years, could adopt a more 'Japanese-style' horror element, maybe a house or two. Because yes, props are wonderful and so are live actors, but sometimes, just being able to explore a dark and creepy place is suspenseful and terrifying enough, without needing to have flashing strobe lights or torn props everywhere.
Still, wonderful, wonderful time, great experience, hightly recommend!! :D
Till next time, then!! <3
~ Re
EDIT - random thought - is it just me or is the voice acting in Fire Emblem Awakening a LOT cuter in the Japanese version... AND sound a lot more natural? >< I can't stop fangirling!! XD (and yup, not related to Fright Night at all... just a thought i wanted to get down without posting a new entry~)
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