Lagoon – An Unorthodox Halloween

Disney Part 2

I’ve been wondering how to word this for some time now. I’m still not sure. I’m likely in the minority. Perhaps my mother in law said it best, in regards to Disney’s Halloween setup. “I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I expected more.” When I think Disneyland, it brings to mind all the little touches, the little nuances that set the park apart from more standard parks. All the lights work on the rides, the place is CLEAN, there is no signs of being run down, ever effort is made to make every little thing as perfect as can be. At first glance, it would appear this had carried over to the Halloween celebration. The main gate decked out.

From Vacation 2013

Main street lined with banners and pumpkins.

From Vacation 2013

The center hub all planted in fall colors.

From Vacation 2013

Fantastic carvings denoting the different ‘lands’.

From Vacation 2013

….and then…it just…stops.

From Vacation 2013

Gone are the halloween flavors.

From Vacation 2013

Sure, there are small sections where things are done up. Namely the Haunted Mansion, though technically this is ‘christmas’ decor.

From Vacation 2013

Then, the superb job in 2 very specific sections of Frontier land. The Dia de Los Muertos tribute:

From Vacation 2013

And the dedicated Halloween Carnival.

From Vacation 2013

Though I’m still not sure what a petting zoo has to do with Halloween…

From Vacation 2013

…it was the place to have the most Halloween centric fun.

From Vacation 2013

And then…it’s all just gone again… What was I expecting, what would I change? It’s funny I was stopped by a reporter and asked those very things. I’m still not sure, but I harken back to the local amusement park here does that could be translated easily to Disney. A tower of disney pumpkins?

From Halloween fun 2011

Photo ops?

From September 23, 2012

Simple Ghosts/scarecrows to fill in those blank spaces of grass?

From Halloween fun 2011

Pumpkins up in the trees and bushes?

From Halloween buildup 09

I don’t know, just something felt missing. Disney puts a lot of effort into their “Mickey’s halloween party”, to be sure. But this feels like a sleezy money grab more than anything else after watching the park transformation for this party. The guests with regular tickets get ushered out of the park 3 hours prior to what would be a normal closing time. The guests with the special tickets get allowed in early, but still only get what amounts to a half day at most in the park. Then the day following this party was the only time I’ve seen Disney anything close to resembling dirty as they clearly hadn’t had time to scrape up all the candy from the trick or treat the night before. To top it off. All that wonderful decor on mainstreet…just disappears at night thanks to missing and/or inadequate lighting. What’s the point of carving all those pumpkins if they’re not going to be lit well enough to see?

From Vacation 2013

Gardening time.

Been working dirt a lot lately.

Talia has thuroughly enjoyed her role as “the flower boss” and our little shopping trip together so she could pick out our flowers was quite fun. She’s always thrilled to see them blooming, and getting new ones.

Her “Magic” flowers, that open with the sun and close at night are the favorites, I think.

And, we finally have an official garden.

Renting a sod cutter and clearing out most of the grass there made for a full day with Kyle. Mostly making room for corn and pumpkins, of course. We need to clean out the grass along the fenceline by hand, as I want to keep my raven grass along there, and there were some old bush stumps that need to be dug out, couldn’t just run the sod cutter through there.

All the dirt didn’t stop me from getting the kids out to play, though.

The train was especially fun since the tigers were restless on a rather chilly Saturday morning.

And the Lion was letting them know who was boss. Not often you get to see one ‘talking’.

Of course we had to hit the terror ride as well. Don’t think I’ve ever noticed that figure lurking off to the right cubby here. There’s stuff coming out the door and windows that distract from it. Lots of little treasures like that on this ride.

The best part was that it broke down and lost some power while we were on it. Alec and I stuck in the dark surrounded by skeletons, with nothing but the scary music playing was priceless. If I ever get to build a dark ride, I would include a long pitch black stretch. Nothing scares people more than their own imagination.

Frightmares 2010 reviews.

Frightmares at Lagoon is always a fun time.

We made it out opening night and bring you our reviews of the new attractions for the 2010 season.

New in 2010 is the “Scary and Crow’s maze”. This is for wee ones, not scary, there’s a height limit (over some height can’t enter), and is a companion piece to the Trick or Treat Trail, meant to split traffic between the two. Set up also as a trick or treat.

From 2010 Fun

Talia enters….and first up is the Witch who is “Aaaa scary”…

From 2010 Fun

Talia understands Halloween so well already she is faking scared…it’s rather funny.

From 2010 Fun

Coloring at the scarecrow…

From 2010 Fun

The fairy was easily Talia’s favorite part. Thrilled when she was sprinkled with pixie dust…

Overall Scarey and Crow’s is a very fun Trick or Treat time. However, it ultimately fails miserably in it’s ability to divert traffic from the Trick or Treat lane, and that disparity is in the difference in treats handed out. The likes of spider rings and pictures to color here just can’t compete with cold hard candy.

We were unable to get into the Trick or Treat lane as a result, as traffic was simply insane there.

Also new in 2010 is LOCKDOWN.

This is a “4 spider” rated haunted house ‘too scary for kids’. Themed in a Prison with some demented guards and worse inmates.

This is actually one of the more enjoyable haunts at Lagoon, in my opinion. It actually takes the theme and runs with it in a logical progression from the kitchen, cells, laundry, and on through death row. A few recycled things from Deception last year get tossed in here and there, and don’t fit quite as well as I would like, but it’s always nice to see the top end props as the finale brings.

Alec found this one to be the most disturbing of the night.

From 2010 Fun

Talia actually rather enjoyed it, giving inmates high fives as they screamed and reached from their cells. Too scary….pah….

From 2010 Fun

Returning from last year are 3 haunts.

First is Psycho Dave’s junkyard…however, new this year is a one time through limit. Sure, it got some additions from the now defunct highschool, but I was a little disappointed to see the change. It’s still fun to see all the leftover crap, especially for those of us who remember where they came from.

Next up is Deception. This thing really lacks any kind of theme, and is a jumble of assorted rooms, highlighted by a wax museum of theatrical villains. Kyle found this one to be the most disturbing…which is strange as Talia walked through it on her own fine, not reaching to be held and only occasionally grabbing my leg. “Look daddy, they got BLOOD!” Her seeing my excessive makeup for the lab prior to it melting off seems to have rendered her more immune to the stuff on others.

I was rather disappointed with this one myself, but I’m not a fan of the random crap thrown into a house kind of haunt to begin with, so I’m a bit biased. And, they DID get Kyle jumpy.

Finally comes the long standing Funhouse. Talia’s LEAST favorite among them. She has most definitely developed a fear of clowns.

Mostly showing off effects with the 3d glasses, this is more fun than it really is scary. (unless you hate clowns) The inclusion of a chainsaw is a little odd choice. It also racked up the longest line by a long shot early into the hours of darkness.

All in all, I still say Lagoon is the best bang for your buck for Halloween fun in the local area.

Atmosphere just simply can’t be overstated.

From 2010 Fun

Back to school bash.

The kids got one last chance to have a little fun before heading back to school…So, we hit Lagoon, and I got to play with the point and shoot camera…

From 2010 Buildup

As dusk set in, it reinforced my feelings that Lagoon REALLY only comes to it’s full potential for Frightmares.

These spokes are all supposed to have lights in them….

From 2010 Buildup

More missing lights….

From 2010 Buildup

Everywhere you looked lights were missing/out. This seems rather sad in summer, yet only adds to the creepy atmosphere in October.

Back to the homefront, it’s time to prepare for the Hungry Ghost festival.

While not traditional by any stretch, I put my own spin on the festivities…

From 2010 Buildup

Bittersweet

We made the decision to purchase season passes to Lagoon again this year.

And, this weekend was our first REAL trip out. (I had taken the kids the weekend before, but it was really just to get our passes as it was too cold to really enjoy)

So, what has that got to do with here?

Well, They have gone and changed the Terror Ride.

THE MURAL IS GONE!

Now, some history.

Terroride (as it’s officially called, despite the fact the name on the SIGN for the ride is terror ride) is Lagoon’s oldest haunted attraction. Making it’s first appearance in 1964, THE MURAL was then created on opening. It is even STILL the official picture of the ride on Lagoon’s website.

Since then, it has served as an icon of fear here in Utah. I have personally considered it an example of what one should strive for in creation.

Let’s take a look from left to right in retrospect.

On the left, we have the “dragon”.

From

Look at this thing. 5 toes, on clearly lizard feet, yet 4 fingers on furry hands. A horn on the head, a pig snout. This creature makes absolutely no sense, yet is menacing none the less.

In the background we have a lizard, in the fore an ant. Then comes the…well, just what IS that wielding the club? Is that a gorilla? The missing link?

From Halloween buildup 09

Then we have a spider in the foreground, and a dancing man, I’m assuming to be a voodoo priest in the back. Flanked by a mummy, and flying overhead are some ghostly skeletons who’s heads appear to float attached, yet separate from the bodies at impossible angles.

And, there on the far right, we are treated to a snake…and how in the world is that Octopus living ON LAND, in the middle of what appears to be desert?

From Halloween buildup 09

We will be missing you, oh mighty mural….

In your place has been added an “upgrade”. In the form of a ‘scary’ vulture telling really bad jokes. And, some overhauls inside as well.

2009.

2010:

It’s nice to see the haunted attractions getting some upgrades…but, at the cost of nearly 50 years of history?

Bittersweet.