Honesty is always the best policy and love listening to your reviews. The fact you have to pay an uncharge is what will always put us off doing any of the mazes when you can't guarantee the experience!
Was there on Saturday and Sunday and thought it was absolutely brilliant. First time at the park and loved riding the rollercoasters in the dark. Especially Thirteen. We done the compound and terror in the attic maze and thought they were an absolute waste of money. The kids loved them though. I thought the operation of the rides was superb, really fast.
Not often I comment on towers vids as it’s a special place for me from childhood. So disappointing to see how far it’s fallen as a park. Not visited this year at all for the first time in a long time. Scare fest last year was average at best but this looks shocking! Appreciate the honest review!
I think everything depends on what each individual wants out of Scarefest to be honest. We went with the kids yesterday and had a great time, but they're only 4 and 6 and it was their first Scarefest. What I miss from Scarefest are what some visitors may miss... the theming. I miss the skeletons on rapids, oblivion etc, I miss the scarecrows dotted about everywhere and I miss having 2 or 3 scarezones to walk through rather than just Burial Grounds. AT really do need to up their game next year but unfortunately I cant see it happening. It's gutting when its my local park that I've been visiting since I was 4 (35 now!) and seeing the magic just disappear over the years 😢
The issue is it has gone from having intense scare mazes to most of them being family friendly, says it all when kids are going through Terror of the Towers and not getting scared at all 🤦🏻♂️ There’s simply nothing to suggest it’s Scarefest away from Towers Street.
Love the honesty guys 👏 We managed to get some decent run throughs in the 3 Mazes we did but even then it's a mid level event, 3/10 at the most. Compound is a brilliant maze when stacked up against the rest of Towers offerings but is strictly a mid level maze when compared across the Independant scare events and certainly no where near as brilliant or intense as made out online. The whole place just lacks any atmosphere once you pass Towers street. Extend the theming across the entire park. Get wandering actors on all of the major pathways. Use compound as the starting point for 3-4 brand new mazes next year and they might be able to save the event. I'm going to take a random guess that none of that will happen and we'll have pretty much the same event next year. 👍🏻
Sadly, it’ll be almost the same next year with either The Attic or Mineville removed, but realistically they should both be axed. Merlin are in a position to improve and refresh this event every year, but somehow it gets worse every time.
I’m afraid I have to agree with you, Scott. I was there yesterday and aside from a good run on Compound, an early evening ride on Reborn was my highlight of the day
Biggest issue with scarefest is it ends after towers street you’re right! What happened to the days of the hooded figures walking around the dark forest and that, how hard really would it be to get those costumes back out nd have a couple walking around with some fake fog
Always appreciate your honesty! Thank you! It's super sad, I'm from Devon and I've given up travelling up to towers as it has been so disappointing my last few visits, bad ride availability, bad food and overpriced, I am concerned if Universal goes ahead for the future of towers 😢
Was there Monday and agreed with everything you said, shame really as this park started us doing Halloween events, think I'll save my money next year if they bring back 3 of the 4 mazes!
Marks reaction was brilliant, he was the last out of the five of us out of the maze and we were thinking maybe he had a better run through because of this. That reaction was a surprise to us but you can hear us all laughing in the background 😂
Honestly, the 10/10s are still going. Even this evening ive seen some “compound is the best scaremaze in the country” reviews from people. I mentioned this on facebook, but i’m genuinely starting to worry the creators program is pushing people to not be completely truthful about their experiences, which is a real shame. Im sure thats not what towers want, but I think some people are a bit to eager to please in the first instance. Atleast I know where to duck in to stay warm and dry during scarefest 😂 cheers fellas!!
I'm going with my kids on Sunday, simply for rides in the dark. I'm not wasting my hard earned on these mazes anymore. Great vlog & mix of very similar opinions. 😆 👍
Genuinely the standard is so low. Good vlog and appreciated the honest reviews. I gave up on AT and Thorpe’s scare season a while ago, especially when the farm parks do such a good job of it these days.
Well done for such an honest review. Saved me a lot of money risking it. I'm done with Towers too, reviews of everything have been poor for yet another year. If Merlin don't want to put any money into anything anymore then I'm certainly not spending top whack to go. Awful, awful company. Such a shame too as the new manager seems so enthusiastic and "on it" but her hands have clearly been tied already
I’ve refrained from commenting on this video until I went for myself. I went yesterday (Saturday) and stay over at the hotel like we usually do for Scarefest. We did all mazes and always do them as soon as they open and we always get lucky with the amount of actors and the small groups that go through. This year was no different. Amazing run throughs and loads of actors. Apart from Daz games. That as everyone knows is utter utter dog shit. We purposely waiting until the dark for compound. We waited 45 minutes and the atmosphere was amazing and our run through was amazing. Packed full of actors and got so many jump scares. Couldn’t have been happier with it. Certainly hit and miss based off reviews. However park operations were like nothing I’ve ever seen before. We managed 3 rides all day and one of those was curse so technically only 2 rides. Everything was either down or running on low capacity. 1 train service on nemisis resulted in 2.5-3 hour ques. It got to a point where 2 hour ques were the short ones. Ride availability was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I’ve always stuck up for towers but yesterday left me lost for words. We had fast track for nemesis and they closed the ride early and turned everyone away, including fast track. We were given a refund, free entry for the next day (today) and fast track for nemesis for today. So we entered the park this morning feeling positive only to be told nemisis was to be closed all day. We were then offered fast track to any other ride so we chose Wikerman. So we walked to Wikerman and shock horror it was closed. After that we gave up and left the park after being in it just 45 minutes. Throw on top of it all £12.50 hot dogs and £20 burgers I’ve all but given up with towers. As a long time season pass holder and regular visitor I genuinely am lost for words to see what the park has become yesterday/today. I feel so sorry for families who have spent a fortune expecting an amazing day. We spoke to so many people/families back in the hotel who only managed 1 rider all day. We got lucky with 3. I won’t be renewing my season pass next year and that makes me sad. But things need to change at towers, and they need to change desperately. The park is turning into/has become an embarrassment and I’ve given up defending them.
This season started with so much promise but the ride availability situation got worse as the year has gone on, and Scarefest feels like a big let down
Great vid guys as always. Is it just me being foolish thinking AT and BPB would up games this year with universal coming in a few years. But reliability at both parks and lack of investment at BPB is so disappointing.
Haven’t been up yet, but my worries began early as it was clear to see budget cuts were biting hard. Fireworks should be a banker, but this event and the Christmas line up look to be massive anticlimaxes to what was spouted on social media as THE turning point for Towers. They haven’t quite got the wheel round yet…
I agree on the last bit. The mazes are awful now. I think they should just scrap the mazes, use the money from the staff and maze set up and open the park 10-10 (ofc making it fair for staff) Or just more night ride days in general. Its not even that the mazes are bad, they are just ran awfully
Glad you boys tell it how it is. I went yesterday and it was my worst experience at Scarefest by a mile, and I too have done these mazes before. (Except Compound of course, which in my opinion was extremely overhyped. Definitely feels short). Daz Panic is embarassing and should never be opened again. So, so disappointed. Hoping Thorpe will be better tomorrow... 🤞
Have you lads done Thorpe Park? I’ve done scare fest three times now as it’s only 40mins away for me. Is it worth traveling to Thorpe park and staying down there to do Fright Nights?
Finally, a proper review on Towers Non Scarefest - when you have been to the likes of Tulleys several other uk events and see the amount of effort abroad and then come to this, it really is a joke the difference you get - sure different budgets etc - you're not going to tell me Towers haven't got the budget to some other events in the UK - absolute rubbish You would have thought with Universal hopefully on the way, and the promises about the event going to be better - they would have gone for it So many people online - the park is going in the right direction - are they? Budget cuts - bad decisions - rides always down around the park - fake reviews - 😅
What a terrible Scarefest that looks now. I remember the days when you felt immersed in the event wherever you was in the park, and now it just looks like a jumble of nothing. I’m glad I haven’t gone the last few years.
We were discussing just that when walking through the haunted hollow, they are missing a massive trick down there now, too light and even one or two actors down there would massively improve it
I've always been a gatekeeper of Scarefest because when done well they have the best quality of set design & I'd hate for them to go down a quantity over quality route but I am not visiting this year & there is a good reason for that. Hopefully this years budget was blown on the 2 new set ups & next year will have more money for Darkest Depth's replacement
So glad that 'your experience guide' isn't part of the YES brigade who are afraid of pulling up Merlin for not investing in the uk parks and just giving fluffy reviews. top marks!
Fab video again thinking of going this weekend but just for the rides in the dark only got back into rollercoasters this year after 15 years done Blackpool 4 times Alton towers 2 times and Thorpe park 2 times this year think Blackpool is my fav place and after my last visit there the Big one is my fav ride there sounds strange to say but I get bored on Icon
In regard to the Merlin parks, we'll only be doing Fright Nights this year and Scarefest will be swerved. Compound doesn't appeal to me, probably in the minority but I think the whole Phalanx/Nemesis story is well over done now. However, I've not done the maze, so it might be decent. I just think the theme is getting diluted if that makes sense.
I wonder what was so different about Friday, why did it get 10 /10 reviews🤔 My opinion fwiw, Altonville, still my fave, maybe because ive had run throughs with very few others and have had the almost undivided attention of the family. Daz, get in the bin, you give me symbols to search for? Fine, gtf out of my way! Attic, it is what it is, seeing the actors before they see you is never good. Compound, ive done it quite a few times now and genuinely enjoy it. Is it scary, meh. Is it anywhere near as good as Sub? Nope, but.... Since Covid Towers have been very hands off and at least ths year they have got a maze where they push and shove you, it's at least a start. Very amusing review there boys, a great watch☺
Guys your honesty is why i watch use guys outstanding how poor does it look it is as if they just wanted your money mark feed back was amazing plus won't be getting any of my money any time soon
People have been talking about the decline of scarefest for years now and Towers don't seem to care. This year I have seen several TH-cam comments saying how they won't bother going to the park anymore
Bunch of honest moaning buggers ✊🏼✊🏼. I’d rather they than you say it’s great paying a small fortune for it to actually be shite . We haven’t been tempted since 2022 . As for that Daz pants , what the hell . That maze alone puts me off . Won’t be rushing back for scare fest any time soon . Thanks for keeping it real chaps 🧱👍🏽
I went there today too and i agree , the scarefest felt empty and forced , the scare attractions had a lack of actors and the actors lacked any sort of acting , absolutely appawling for the amount of money they put in
I think Friday the mazes were probably a bit better than Sunday, but not by much lol. Attic definitely had quite a few actors but lacked jump scares- the problem is that you can quite easily tell where the actors are by openings in the walls so it ruins the element of surprise. Altonville was the same but only had like 5/6 actors in the entire maze, and the acting was fairly poor. Also is it just me or does it give the impression of an underground lair rather than a mine? You would expect a lot more ducking down with low beams and machinery dotted around. Daz good concept imo but terrible theming/ narrative ruin the attraction. Had a good run through of compound; lots of actors, a few jump scares and a tense atmosphere. Although after I did talk to a guy who had a rather disappointing run- so it’s a shame that the maze can be so hit or miss. Burial Grounds: good acting and costumes - but not scary! It’s so underwhelming how there’s no roaming actors or more zones around the park- scarefest used to feel electric but now it just feels beige and lacking character. Unfortunately the whole thing seems geared to a younger audience and while I understand that Towers is a family-oriented park- it’s just become so skewed in one direction. Riding on the curse and walking through the queue at night was the best thing for sure- certainly the most atmospheric! Although the shows are brilliant- but not everyone wants to watch shows at scare events!
Stalefest. Watching this has made my mind up to not bother this year and to be honest I wont be renewing our passes until there are serious improvements. The park has been a joke this year. They think they can rest on their laurels after doing a great job with Nemesis. I've been going since the late 1980's and I'm gutted to be honest with what the bean counters have done to the place. Broken promises and false dawns. Enough is enough.
It’s not good to see how much of a nosedive we have seen in the last few months. Things that aren’t general knowledge at a Merlin level are concerning too (but I’ve said too much)
I’ve avoided Scarefest for years. I last enjoyed it back in 2018/2019. Mine Tours, original version of The Attic, Project 42, The Welcoming. The only real dud of that batch was Sub-Species. After COVID I heard nothing but the bad kind of horror stories about the scare attractions. Especially Daz Games and that weird Audio only thing they’ve got going on. It’s a shame because the UK has a LOT of great scare attractions that Towers just can’t compete with. Tulleys, Scare City, even the year round Pasaje Del Terror over in Blackpool. Why would anyone spend almost £80 to do Scarefest+Mazes when you could do Shocktober Fest for a fraction of the price?
Are you doing journey to hell? That horror nights opening they put in has me curious! If they’ve thrown fog and audio all over then it’s definitely peaking my interest!
Theme parks are disgraceful. I picked up the cubes on a game here, and it was heavy as fuck. No way it was being knocked over with a light bean bag by a child. I told the woman at the stall that she should feel ashamed for scamming children out of their pocket money.
I would not go again.. until there is external proof of improvement. Skip a year. If the entire lot of channels that are agreeing about the issues did this, maybe they would take notice. Stop all the content and coverage of the event. I dont find you moaning at all. You are giving a review about your experience. If you look at the cost of the event for a member of the non pass holder community, why would they spend the money for a lack luster experience when they can put the price of admittanc into traveling to a better event elsewhere! With the prospect of universal opening in the UK, it seems that towers has to either up their game to keep the interest of the long time attendees or they should scrap the event like you said.
Love Altonville Mine Tours and Compound there great themed but not scary similar to Halloween Horror Nights not scary in the slightest. I do hope Scarefest can improve another new Scare Maze is coming next year but it needs a to be split between family and thrill
I sometimes think I must go to scarefest in the future, but then I remember how terrible it looks. I don't get the hype about it, tulleys and stuff look much better. Great vlog though
Hi Scott … I’m just fresh back from Orlando so will comment on Horror Nights & Howl o scram on your other videos BUT … it looks like AT could take a leaf out of their UK counterparts 😂🎃🔪 10/10 thought you were building up to a great event … or not 😂 Omg … worst ever scare fest ever / keep that place as a conference centre 😂🤦🏻♂️ Same old same old mine tours and attic … I know mine tours is a decent maze, but come on how old is it now ?? The USA parks have fresh things every year and I know the uk parks aren’t on the same scale but this is just lazy isn’t it. No investment but prices hiked. I costed up AT with scarefest and some ride fast passes to make the trip worthwhile and for me & a mate it was over £300 !! … after your review you have saved me that so thanks for all you guys taking that bullet I will swerve it thanks 👍🏻
Guessing you caught the hurricane too then although thankfully around central Florida it was relatively unaffected wasn’t it. It did mean I only caught horror nights on one evening which is why I considered ‘for a short period’ going to AT but thankfully Scott & the gang have convinced me otherwise 🎃🤣
Scarefest is a 2 sided coin its great if you went with kids or a family plenty of shows and the 2 family attractions are decent however the thrilling side of scarefest lets it down i suppose compound is a right step for them , i heard from the tour they did in the gardens and towers they dont want mazes inside so that potentially removes 3 mazes with mine tours attic and daz games with a brand new one in the darkest depths area hopefully wasnt ready for this year , i think we are spoiled now because when scarefest was great early day's nobody heard of places like the howl or tulleys etc and they raised the bar and expectations which is why places like scarefest are bad now , also nice to see stephen had no idea how to came back to life after seeing what happened to him at farmegeddon 😂
For me they’ve got it all wrong, between 9am and 4pm it needs to be a family friendly event, then from 4pm/5pm to park close ramped up to an adult scare event with scare zones and more intense scare mazes. The balance seems all wrong. Turns out Stephen was lapping VelociCoaster and not turned into a rag 😆
Never apologise for being honest…it’s not classed as moaning either. It your experience on the day. Sorry you had a rubbish time. If AT want positive comments and reviews, they should give something for people to be positive about!
The problem you have is the sheer amount of different ages attending Scarefest. If you make it too scary, parents will complain that their children get scared whilst walking around the park if you introduce to many scarezones and then on top of that, security will need to be increased in the scare zones as although it's a scarezone, specific people act like idiots in the scarezones and harass the actors. in regards to more decorations well i remember seeing a group of kids thinking its socially acceptable to damage the decorations and nobody questioned it so if i was AT id be thinking why should i bother decorating the whole park if some idiotic kids are going to damage the theming.
At least you don’t use a wheelchair or have mobility needs - all what’s accessible is panic and trick o treat town - Amigos - too tight and narrow difficult to navigate a very small Wheelchair 🤷♀️ Attic and mines - clearly not accessible. However signs is not clear that not accessible and guests turn up paying for tickets thinking they are accessible 🤷♀️ Compound - access to the maze itself if very difficult I’ve been told by many people it’s too tight and narrow and would be impossible with a wheelchair - I have been told wheelchairs has a specific route - where as “able bodied” has differnt options different routes etc BG - I thought last year accessibility was bad it’s more in accessible this year :( - inclines , poor flooring that’s a trip hazard , pitch black in wickerman section so how can you push a wheelchair in pitch black 🤷♀️😂 the fabric that’s hanging down how can you push a wheelchair through whilst navigating the themeing 🤦🏻♀️ Very poor from towers if I’m honest :(
Compound really didnt impress me - sadly it was the two old mazes - Attic & AMT that were the best - yes they are the same, but at least they look good and, in fairness, I got 2 good run throughs. But yes - Daz Games and Compound can do one.
you’ll probably get some blowback for this video too but this is why you’re my favourite theme park vloggers; you cut the chaff, you tell it like it is and honesty is the forefront of your reviews. thank you, and keep it up scott and co!
If you thought The mazes were bad I’m glad you dident bother with amigos in the afterlife, it’s a very boring UV Paint Graffiti fun house, the story and scenes don’t make sense, certainly not scary and is very much child oriented I wouldent bother unless you have a kid, I thought Compiund was much better than you described but things like Daz games is just rubbish, the attic and altonvile are no fun when the groups are too big and when the prices are so excoriate you have much higher expectations for each maze, the only thing scary this year is the prices hahahahahaha
Very poor show from Towers this year judging by the honest reviews. I think Stephen had the better day out by just going on the rides and avoiding the Scarefest nonsense, very wise. Time to bin it and throw away the key. 🎃🚮
@@yourexperienceguide Thanks Scott, no worries. Sometimes TH-cam just goes haywire and comments disappear in to the Twilight Zone. I always find that if a channel (not just yours) has a lot of activity, it throws up some Gremlins.
Call a spade a spade brits love getting ripped off by half arsed trash . F these parks stop going stop paying for this trash and guess what they will soon realise they need to actually give you value for money
10/10 reactions online 😂😂 what an intro 😂😂 👏 love this
Everything we saw on Friday suggested we’d be visiting a 10 out of 10 event 😭
@@yourexperienceguide Oh absolutely, thought Hex was going to send me to Hogwarts by sounds of those reviews
@@LiftHillsandThrills😂 this is a great line.
@@LiftHillsandThrillsLeast you got on it lol
@@yourexperienceguide and what a barrel of disco fever laughs that was
B&M Bargains The Scaremaze... this vlog was too funny. Great work guys.
Thank you ☺️
And it’s vlogs like this why I love watching videos on your channel! HONEST REVIEWS. Top job guys, a funny and informative review.
Thank you 🙏
Love the honesty. Not done a scarefest for years, it was the best when the mazes were outside the park with just terror of the towers in park.
Funnily enough been reading about the early versions of Scarefest tonight
@@yourexperienceguide was that 1998
@@visionist7 2007
Honesty is always the best policy and love listening to your reviews. The fact you have to pay an uncharge is what will always put us off doing any of the mazes when you can't guarantee the experience!
Thank you 🙏
Glad there’s someone saying what many of us behind the cameras are really thinking about ScareFest, appreciate this video a tonne mate.
We’ll always be honest, we’d obviously preferred to have been saying it was great but that’d be misleading everyone who watches 😢
"It's warm" - experience guide 2024 😂😂
Finding the positives 😉
Was there on Saturday and Sunday and thought it was absolutely brilliant. First time at the park and loved riding the rollercoasters in the dark. Especially Thirteen. We done the compound and terror in the attic maze and thought they were an absolute waste of money. The kids loved them though. I thought the operation of the rides was superb, really fast.
Th13teen in the dark is an excellent coaster experience 👌🏼
Appreciate the honest vlog mate. I really thought this year it would take a u turn as it was slightly better last year. Such a shame!
Same, fully expected it to be levels above last year
Not often I comment on towers vids as it’s a special place for me from childhood. So disappointing to see how far it’s fallen as a park. Not visited this year at all for the first time in a long time. Scare fest last year was average at best but this looks shocking! Appreciate the honest review!
Thank you, it’s sad to see
I don’t understand why Merlin haven’t made Nemesis an upcharge experience yet… I mean they’ve done everything else possible to butcher this park 😂
Surely that’ll never happen 🥲
Marks reviews are so spot on, you could tell in His body language that He was so disappointed, thanks for the video Scott and Happy Halloween
He was very disappointed after looking forward to visiting, we shouldn’t have assumed all of the 10/10 reviews were right
As always your honesty is what makes this channel so enjoyable to watch.
Thank you 🙏
I think everything depends on what each individual wants out of Scarefest to be honest. We went with the kids yesterday and had a great time, but they're only 4 and 6 and it was their first Scarefest.
What I miss from Scarefest are what some visitors may miss... the theming. I miss the skeletons on rapids, oblivion etc, I miss the scarecrows dotted about everywhere and I miss having 2 or 3 scarezones to walk through rather than just Burial Grounds.
AT really do need to up their game next year but unfortunately I cant see it happening. It's gutting when its my local park that I've been visiting since I was 4 (35 now!) and seeing the magic just disappear over the years 😢
The issue is it has gone from having intense scare mazes to most of them being family friendly, says it all when kids are going through Terror of the Towers and not getting scared at all 🤦🏻♂️
There’s simply nothing to suggest it’s Scarefest away from Towers Street.
Love the honesty guys 👏 We managed to get some decent run throughs in the 3 Mazes we did but even then it's a mid level event, 3/10 at the most.
Compound is a brilliant maze when stacked up against the rest of Towers offerings but is strictly a mid level maze when compared across the Independant scare events and certainly no where near as brilliant or intense as made out online.
The whole place just lacks any atmosphere once you pass Towers street.
Extend the theming across the entire park. Get wandering actors on all of the major pathways. Use compound as the starting point for 3-4 brand new mazes next year and they might be able to save the event.
I'm going to take a random guess that none of that will happen and we'll have pretty much the same event next year. 👍🏻
Sadly, it’ll be almost the same next year with either The Attic or Mineville removed, but realistically they should both be axed.
Merlin are in a position to improve and refresh this event every year, but somehow it gets worse every time.
I’m afraid I have to agree with you, Scott. I was there yesterday and aside from a good run on Compound, an early evening ride on Reborn was my highlight of the day
Massive shame 😳
Biggest issue with scarefest is it ends after towers street you’re right!
What happened to the days of the hooded figures walking around the dark forest and that, how hard really would it be to get those costumes back out nd have a couple walking around with some fake fog
Agreed, even losing things like Haunted Hollow Live have had a negative impact
@@yourexperienceguide literally a spooky part of the park to work with for Halloween and they just don’t 🤦 not attending this year, again…
Always appreciate your honesty! Thank you! It's super sad, I'm from Devon and I've given up travelling up to towers as it has been so disappointing my last few visits, bad ride availability, bad food and overpriced, I am concerned if Universal goes ahead for the future of towers 😢
It’s a long way for you to travel!
@yourexperienceguide sadly its just not worth the journey anymore, shame, towers always used to be my favourite, go- too park, it's just so so sad 😞
@@katiewaller3154Yeah, hopefully they can fix this event but it seems so unlikely
Was there Monday and agreed with everything you said, shame really as this park started us doing Halloween events, think I'll save my money next year if they bring back 3 of the 4 mazes!
It’s a real shame, big changes needed
the issue is the current creative and stage management, needs a change of upper management
It’d be good to see some new creative influence for Scarefest
@@ConeSC99 heard this has been an issue for a while. A lot of good staff have quit in the past because of it.
The clip of Mark walking out of compound had me 😂😂
Shame it wasn’t a good experience.
Great vlog though, are you chancing Journey to Hell this year?
Marks reaction was brilliant, he was the last out of the five of us out of the maze and we were thinking maybe he had a better run through because of this. That reaction was a surprise to us but you can hear us all laughing in the background 😂
@@sambillyard6541 it was hilarious. The laughs in the background made it even better😂
Filmed it thinking he’d come out really excited about it, woops 🤦🏻♂️
@@yourexperienceguide I’m so glad you filmed it though 😆
@@theme_parkmad😅
Completely agree that towers need to consider having a day time family event and a separate evening event aimed at adults.
It’s probably for the best
I like the buriel grounds it a starter for me great vlog guys
It’s alright
Honestly, the 10/10s are still going. Even this evening ive seen some “compound is the best scaremaze in the country” reviews from people. I mentioned this on facebook, but i’m genuinely starting to worry the creators program is pushing people to not be completely truthful about their experiences, which is a real shame. Im sure thats not what towers want, but I think some people are a bit to eager to please in the first instance.
Atleast I know where to duck in to stay warm and dry during scarefest 😂 cheers fellas!!
Can only assume anyone saying anything at Scarefest is the best haven’t done any other events 😆
I'm going with my kids on Sunday, simply for rides in the dark. I'm not wasting my hard earned on these mazes anymore. Great vlog & mix of very similar opinions. 😆 👍
Thank you, the rides after dark will be great
Genuinely the standard is so low. Good vlog and appreciated the honest reviews.
I gave up on AT and Thorpe’s scare season a while ago, especially when the farm parks do such a good job of it these days.
Loved Fright Nights as always but this was poor
Well done for such an honest review.
Saved me a lot of money risking it.
I'm done with Towers too, reviews of everything have been poor for yet another year.
If Merlin don't want to put any money into anything anymore then I'm certainly not spending top whack to go. Awful, awful company.
Such a shame too as the new manager seems so enthusiastic and "on it" but her hands have clearly been tied already
Thank you Andy, we’ll always be honest about our experiences. We’ve had some quality days at Towers this year, but Sunday was appalling.
I loved this scarefest.
Worst so far imo - Scott
21:39 it’s warm 😂😂😂
Gotta take the positives 😆
Never known a maze where we could stop like that and discuss how nice and warm it was, the only positive we found
Great video, thank you
Thank you 🙏
I’m only going to scarefest to go on the coasters in the dark
Good plan
And that's exactly what I'll be doing when I return in a weeks time with the family.
but what is the time of closure because those last few hours you will have to get fast pass no other option with the queues
So glad I chose to do extreme scream instead , it was fantastic ❤
It’s always a good event at Xtreme Scream Park
I’ve refrained from commenting on this video until I went for myself. I went yesterday (Saturday) and stay over at the hotel like we usually do for Scarefest.
We did all mazes and always do them as soon as they open and we always get lucky with the amount of actors and the small groups that go through. This year was no different. Amazing run throughs and loads of actors. Apart from Daz games. That as everyone knows is utter utter dog shit. We purposely waiting until the dark for compound. We waited 45 minutes and the atmosphere was amazing and our run through was amazing. Packed full of actors and got so many jump scares. Couldn’t have been happier with it. Certainly hit and miss based off reviews.
However park operations were like nothing I’ve ever seen before. We managed 3 rides all day and one of those was curse so technically only 2 rides. Everything was either down or running on low capacity. 1 train service on nemisis resulted in 2.5-3 hour ques. It got to a point where 2 hour ques were the short ones. Ride availability was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I’ve always stuck up for towers but yesterday left me lost for words.
We had fast track for nemesis and they closed the ride early and turned everyone away, including fast track. We were given a refund, free entry for the next day (today) and fast track for nemesis for today.
So we entered the park this morning feeling positive only to be told nemisis was to be closed all day. We were then offered fast track to any other ride so we chose Wikerman. So we walked to Wikerman and shock horror it was closed. After that we gave up and left the park after being in it just 45 minutes.
Throw on top of it all £12.50 hot dogs and £20 burgers I’ve all but given up with towers. As a long time season pass holder and regular visitor I genuinely am lost for words to see what the park has become yesterday/today. I feel so sorry for families who have spent a fortune expecting an amazing day. We spoke to so many people/families back in the hotel who only managed 1 rider all day. We got lucky with 3.
I won’t be renewing my season pass next year and that makes me sad. But things need to change at towers, and they need to change desperately. The park is turning into/has become an embarrassment and I’ve given up defending them.
This season started with so much promise but the ride availability situation got worse as the year has gone on, and Scarefest feels like a big let down
Great vid guys as always. Is it just me being foolish thinking AT and BPB would up games this year with universal coming in a few years. But reliability at both parks and lack of investment at BPB is so disappointing.
Haven’t been up yet, but my worries began early as it was clear to see budget cuts were biting hard. Fireworks should be a banker, but this event and the Christmas line up look to be massive anticlimaxes to what was spouted on social media as THE turning point for Towers. They haven’t quite got the wheel round yet…
It’s a real shame, started the season full of high hopes and positivity but it’s sadly dropped off month by month
@@yourexperienceguide yep. I really don’t know what to expect for 2025.
@@Coastsandcoasters Not too sure, not too confident about it
Just a note to say that burial grounds impressed me a good scare zone
It was pretty good
I agree on the last bit. The mazes are awful now. I think they should just scrap the mazes, use the money from the staff and maze set up and open the park 10-10 (ofc making it fair for staff) Or just more night ride days in general. Its not even that the mazes are bad, they are just ran awfully
Alton After Dark was a good event in March
Glad you boys tell it how it is. I went yesterday and it was my worst experience at Scarefest by a mile, and I too have done these mazes before. (Except Compound of course, which in my opinion was extremely overhyped. Definitely feels short). Daz Panic is embarassing and should never be opened again. So, so disappointed. Hoping Thorpe will be better tomorrow... 🤞
How did it go at Fright Nights? 🤞🏼
@@yourexperienceguide MUCH better, had such a blast! 🤩
Have you lads done Thorpe Park? I’ve done scare fest three times now as it’s only 40mins away for me. Is it worth traveling to Thorpe park and staying down there to do Fright Nights?
There’s a Fright Nights vlog on our channel 😄
Finally, a proper review on Towers Non Scarefest - when you have been to the likes of Tulleys several other uk events and see the amount of effort abroad and then come to this, it really is a joke the difference you get - sure different budgets etc - you're not going to tell me Towers haven't got the budget to some other events in the UK - absolute rubbish
You would have thought with Universal hopefully on the way, and the promises about the event going to be better - they would have gone for it
So many people online - the park is going in the right direction - are they? Budget cuts - bad decisions - rides always down around the park - fake reviews - 😅
Thank you 🙏
It just feels so far from what made Scarefest great back in the day.
What a terrible Scarefest that looks now. I remember the days when you felt immersed in the event wherever you was in the park, and now it just looks like a jumble of nothing. I’m glad I haven’t gone the last few years.
We were discussing just that when walking through the haunted hollow, they are missing a massive trick down there now, too light and even one or two actors down there would massively improve it
It’s a real shame how it has fallen so far off
I've always been a gatekeeper of Scarefest because when done well they have the best quality of set design & I'd hate for them to go down a quantity over quality route but I am not visiting this year & there is a good reason for that. Hopefully this years budget was blown on the 2 new set ups & next year will have more money for Darkest Depth's replacement
Quality over quantity works better (Thorpe 2018 v Thorpe 2019 prime example), but they’ve really got to improve on it all next year 🤔
Love a honest review you did try to put a positive spin but can't Ty for the review
Hopefully things improve 🤞🏼
So glad that 'your experience guide' isn't part of the YES brigade who are afraid of pulling up Merlin for not investing in the uk parks and just giving fluffy reviews.
top marks!
Thank you, there’s no point lying and saying it’s the best event when it’s clearly not
A very honest review of what we experienced on Sunday, actors tried their best but mazes and batching not good enough on a quiet day
Batching wasn’t great, and the less said about The Attic the better 🚮
Fab video again thinking of going this weekend but just for the rides in the dark only got back into rollercoasters this year after 15 years done Blackpool 4 times Alton towers 2 times and Thorpe park 2 times this year think Blackpool is my fav place and after my last visit there the Big one is my fav ride there sounds strange to say but I get bored on Icon
The rides in the dark are always a lot of fun 😄
In regard to the Merlin parks, we'll only be doing Fright Nights this year and Scarefest will be swerved. Compound doesn't appeal to me, probably in the minority but I think the whole Phalanx/Nemesis story is well over done now. However, I've not done the maze, so it might be decent. I just think the theme is getting diluted if that makes sense.
The story could be used a lot better
I wonder what was so different about Friday, why did it get 10 /10 reviews🤔
My opinion fwiw, Altonville, still my fave, maybe because ive had run throughs with very few others and have had the almost undivided attention of the family. Daz, get in the bin, you give me symbols to search for? Fine, gtf out of my way! Attic, it is what it is, seeing the actors before they see you is never good. Compound, ive done it quite a few times now and genuinely enjoy it. Is it scary, meh. Is it anywhere near as good as Sub? Nope, but.... Since Covid Towers have been very hands off and at least ths year they have got a maze where they push and shove you, it's at least a start. Very amusing review there boys, a great watch☺
Makes you wonder 👀
Daz Games really needs binning now.
Genuinely very concerning for the future of UK theme parks, obviously if Universal UK goes ahead…. do any of the parks here have a chance?
Towers will survive but hopefully Universal is provide the competitive edge to make the industry better
I thought it was a poor event compared to Thorpe Park Fright Nights.
Likewise
Just got back.from HHN Orlando and I know its different budgets etc, but I have no desire to visit Scarefest this year!
It’s just mad that somewhere like Alton Towers is well behind the farm parks that are run by family owned businesses with limited budgets
Totally agree ....went 13.10.24...left feeling so disappointed! Absolutely a waste of time and money. Scarefest has lost its way
Guys your honesty is why i watch use guys outstanding how poor does it look it is as if they just wanted your money mark feed back was amazing plus won't be getting any of my money any time soon
We’ll always be honest, thank you
People have been talking about the decline of scarefest for years now and Towers don't seem to care. This year I have seen several TH-cam comments saying how they won't bother going to the park anymore
We’ll definitely visit again, but Scarefest has been a disappointment for a few years now
Bunch of honest moaning buggers
✊🏼✊🏼.
I’d rather they than you say it’s great paying a small fortune for it to actually be shite .
We haven’t been tempted since 2022 . As for that Daz pants , what the hell . That maze alone puts me off .
Won’t be rushing back for scare fest any time soon .
Thanks for keeping it real chaps 🧱👍🏽
@@SteveAndAlexBuild Hate the thought of wrongfully reviewing an event and people paying off the back of it, only to be let down
I went there today too and i agree , the scarefest felt empty and forced , the scare attractions had a lack of actors and the actors lacked any sort of acting , absolutely appawling for the amount of money they put in
It was a poor show
I think Friday the mazes were probably a bit better than Sunday, but not by much lol. Attic definitely had quite a few actors but lacked jump scares- the problem is that you can quite easily tell where the actors are by openings in the walls so it ruins the element of surprise. Altonville was the same but only had like 5/6 actors in the entire maze, and the acting was fairly poor. Also is it just me or does it give the impression of an underground lair rather than a mine? You would expect a lot more ducking down with low beams and machinery dotted around. Daz good concept imo but terrible theming/ narrative ruin the attraction. Had a good run through of compound; lots of actors, a few jump scares and a tense atmosphere. Although after I did talk to a guy who had a rather disappointing run- so it’s a shame that the maze can be so hit or miss. Burial Grounds: good acting and costumes - but not scary! It’s so underwhelming how there’s no roaming actors or more zones around the park- scarefest used to feel electric but now it just feels beige and lacking character. Unfortunately the whole thing seems geared to a younger audience and while I understand that Towers is a family-oriented park- it’s just become so skewed in one direction. Riding on the curse and walking through the queue at night was the best thing for sure- certainly the most atmospheric! Although the shows are brilliant- but not everyone wants to watch shows at scare events!
Attic was a real frustration because none of the actors attempted to hide, and kept using the dreaded “get out” line 😨
11:07 🤣🤣🤣🤣
👀
Stalefest. Watching this has made my mind up to not bother this year and to be honest I wont be renewing our passes until there are serious improvements. The park has been a joke this year. They think they can rest on their laurels after doing a great job with Nemesis. I've been going since the late 1980's and I'm gutted to be honest with what the bean counters have done to the place. Broken promises and false dawns. Enough is enough.
It all started so well but things have taken a wrong turn over the past few weeks/months
It’s not good to see how much of a nosedive we have seen in the last few months. Things that aren’t general knowledge at a Merlin level are concerning too (but I’ve said too much)
@yourexperienceguide couldn't agree more mate. I was so excited for this season with all the noises that were being made.
I’ve avoided Scarefest for years. I last enjoyed it back in 2018/2019. Mine Tours, original version of The Attic, Project 42, The Welcoming. The only real dud of that batch was Sub-Species. After COVID I heard nothing but the bad kind of horror stories about the scare attractions. Especially Daz Games and that weird Audio only thing they’ve got going on. It’s a shame because the UK has a LOT of great scare attractions that Towers just can’t compete with. Tulleys, Scare City, even the year round Pasaje Del Terror over in Blackpool. Why would anyone spend almost £80 to do Scarefest+Mazes when you could do Shocktober Fest for a fraction of the price?
It’s sad, had a look on ScareTour tonight and looked back on old Scarefest lineups. It’s fallen off a long way sadly
Ooof, sounds like the mazes are not worth it. Glad I have not done the event in years. Tbh, it all needs a rebrand from Scarefest
It’s certainly “not Scarefest” anymore or as we all knew it
Shame it was so bad this year again. Universal is going to be such a massive wake up call for the Merlin parks and PBR.
Horror Nights in the UK, with UK grade scares will be elite
Great and honest review guys can only review your experience of the event, going off your review, I'll save my money
Thank you, it’d be wrong for us to say it’s great when it’s not
Yeah, definitely, you can only base it from your experience of it, and it's refreshing to see, not a typical towers fan fest
Must of missed u! Didnt do the mazes but the rides were great and ops were brilliant
Good job about the ride availability, a pleasant change 😃
We doing Doncaster fear factory at the weekend that's getting good reviews
Two of our friends went up there for press night and enjoyed it
@@yourexperienceguide it's our first visit definitely looking forward to it
@@briandunlop9262 we really enjoyed it, great mazes, quality roaming actors and a brilliant setting
It’s more like scam fest than scarefest, the only thing scary about Alton Towers is the fact it’s constantly going down hill.
It’s a real disappointment
Are you doing journey to hell? That horror nights opening they put in has me curious! If they’ve thrown fog and audio all over then it’s definitely peaking my interest!
Yeah 🥲 See how it goes!
Are you planing on visiting fantasy island for fear island this year?
Not this year Jake, have you been?
@@yourexperienceguide I'm going.
It's amazing.
Alton Towers really needs revamping
A lot of investment is needed
Theme parks are disgraceful. I picked up the cubes on a game here, and it was heavy as fuck. No way it was being knocked over with a light bean bag by a child. I told the woman at the stall that she should feel ashamed for scamming children out of their pocket money.
I would not go again.. until there is external proof of improvement. Skip a year. If the entire lot of channels that are agreeing about the issues did this, maybe they would take notice. Stop all the content and coverage of the event.
I dont find you moaning at all. You are giving a review about your experience. If you look at the cost of the event for a member of the non pass holder community, why would they spend the money for a lack luster experience when they can put the price of admittanc into traveling to a better event elsewhere! With the prospect of universal opening in the UK, it seems that towers has to either up their game to keep the interest of the long time attendees or they should scrap the event like you said.
For the money it costs a non pass holder, they’d be better off going to an independent event
Well i dont mind if its bad im only going for the night rides 😅
Good plan
Love Altonville Mine Tours and Compound there great themed but not scary similar to Halloween Horror Nights not scary in the slightest.
I do hope Scarefest can improve another new Scare Maze is coming next year but it needs a to be split between family and thrill
HHN isn’t scary, but they change every maze and scare zone every year. Unrealistic to expect Alton Towers to do that, but some change would be good.
5:35 started to a great start 😂😂😂😂
It was going so well 😂
I think scarefest was brilliant this year. The worst one was probably 2022
I’ve always said the independent places do it 100 times better in my opinion
Definitely
“10 out of 10 event” 😂
👀
We were there Sat and Sun and had good days both times. Either youre being VERY unlucky or VERY unfair.
Or very honest about a lacklustre showing on Sunday
I sometimes think I must go to scarefest in the future, but then I remember how terrible it looks. I don't get the hype about it, tulleys and stuff look much better. Great vlog though
The farm parks are doing a much better job
@yourexperienceguide Fear island at fantasy island ingoldmells is amazing though. Also fright nights looks decent.
Hi Scott … I’m just fresh back from Orlando so will comment on Horror Nights & Howl o scram on your other videos BUT … it looks like AT could take a leaf out of their UK counterparts 😂🎃🔪
10/10 thought you were building up to a great event … or not 😂
Omg … worst ever scare fest ever / keep that place as a conference centre 😂🤦🏻♂️
Same old same old mine tours and attic … I know mine tours is a decent maze, but come on how old is it now ?? The USA parks have fresh things every year and I know the uk parks aren’t on the same scale but this is just lazy isn’t it. No investment but prices hiked. I costed up AT with scarefest and some ride fast passes to make the trip worthwhile and for me & a mate it was over £300 !! … after your review you have saved me that so thanks for all you guys taking that bullet I will swerve it thanks 👍🏻
Hey Glenn, hope you had a great time.
Consider investing that money into a visit to Tulleys Shock, The Howl or Hallowscream York 🎃
Just got back from HHN Orlando and, as a merlin passholder, have no desire to visit scarefest this year .
Guessing you caught the hurricane too then although thankfully around central Florida it was relatively unaffected wasn’t it. It did mean I only caught horror nights on one evening which is why I considered ‘for a short period’ going to AT but thankfully Scott & the gang have convinced me otherwise 🎃🤣
scary is only how bad it is ….. i will give this a pass in 2025. i had high hopes…. what a shame
It’s very disappointing
Scarefest is a 2 sided coin its great if you went with kids or a family plenty of shows and the 2 family attractions are decent however the thrilling side of scarefest lets it down i suppose compound is a right step for them , i heard from the tour they did in the gardens and towers they dont want mazes inside so that potentially removes 3 mazes with mine tours attic and daz games with a brand new one in the darkest depths area hopefully wasnt ready for this year , i think we are spoiled now because when scarefest was great early day's nobody heard of places like the howl or tulleys etc and they raised the bar and expectations which is why places like scarefest are bad now , also nice to see stephen had no idea how to came back to life after seeing what happened to him at farmegeddon 😂
For me they’ve got it all wrong, between 9am and 4pm it needs to be a family friendly event, then from 4pm/5pm to park close ramped up to an adult scare event with scare zones and more intense scare mazes. The balance seems all wrong.
Turns out Stephen was lapping VelociCoaster and not turned into a rag 😆
Never apologise for being honest…it’s not classed as moaning either. It your experience on the day. Sorry you had a rubbish time. If AT want positive comments and reviews, they should give something for people to be positive about!
Thank you 🙏
The problem you have is the sheer amount of different ages attending Scarefest. If you make it too scary, parents will complain that their children get scared whilst walking around the park if you introduce to many scarezones and then on top of that, security will need to be increased in the scare zones as although it's a scarezone, specific people act like idiots in the scarezones and harass the actors. in regards to more decorations well i remember seeing a group of kids thinking its socially acceptable to damage the decorations and nobody questioned it so if i was AT id be thinking why should i bother decorating the whole park if some idiotic kids are going to damage the theming.
It’s a “problem” other parks and events seem to handle better
@@yourexperienceguide totally agree
Oh marks there! 😂😂
I mean Attraction Source / Towers Times couldn’t justify an event here and are going to Thorpe Fright Nights instead.
That was for other reasons but it’s probably not for us to say 🤐
They’ll be experiencing the better event
At least you don’t use a wheelchair or have mobility needs - all what’s accessible is panic and trick o treat town -
Amigos - too tight and narrow difficult to navigate a very small
Wheelchair 🤷♀️
Attic and mines - clearly not accessible. However signs is not clear that not accessible and guests turn up paying for tickets thinking they are accessible 🤷♀️
Compound - access to the maze itself if very difficult I’ve been told by many people it’s too tight and narrow and would be impossible with a wheelchair - I have been told wheelchairs has a specific route - where as “able bodied” has differnt options different routes etc
BG - I thought last year accessibility was bad it’s more in accessible this year :( - inclines , poor flooring that’s a trip hazard , pitch black in wickerman section so how can you push a wheelchair in pitch black 🤷♀️😂 the fabric that’s hanging down how can you push a wheelchair through whilst navigating the themeing 🤦🏻♀️
Very poor from towers if I’m honest :(
Not in a position to comment here, but thank you for sharing your experiences 🙁
hopefully we get universal and we get HHN
We can hope
Compound really didnt impress me - sadly it was the two old mazes - Attic & AMT that were the best - yes they are the same, but at least they look good and, in fairness, I got 2 good run throughs. But yes - Daz Games and Compound can do one.
I still think its superior to last year as The Invitation is gons thankfully but the lack of anything in Darkest Depths is disappointing
There’s been no improvement
@@joecandish3923 I actually rank the invitation much higher than Daz Games!
Funniest video yet 😂
👀
you’ll probably get some blowback for this video too but this is why you’re my favourite theme park vloggers; you cut the chaff, you tell it like it is and honesty is the forefront of your reviews. thank you, and keep it up scott and co!
Happy to take the criticism knowing that we’ve been honest and not given a false account of the day 😇 Thank you
No doubt there will be criticism but this year and last nothing has been said that isn’t a true opinion of what we experienced
If you thought The mazes were bad I’m glad you dident bother with amigos in the afterlife, it’s a very boring UV Paint Graffiti fun house, the story and scenes don’t make sense, certainly not scary and is very much child oriented I wouldent bother unless you have a kid, I thought Compiund was much better than you described but things like Daz games is just rubbish, the attic and altonvile are no fun when the groups are too big and when the prices are so excoriate you have much higher expectations for each maze, the only thing scary this year is the prices hahahahahaha
Not sure why they don’t do it as a family event 9-4 and then an adult scare event 5-10
Did Steven break Hex? Spotted you guys on Sunday near Spinball
@@CoasterJames probably 😆
yet more youtubers not happy with towers. when merlin going to start to listen to people who come to their parks
Honestly, we’ve enjoyed visiting this year but Scarefest was disappointing
Thanks for saving me £27.50 - i hope it improves next year
Really hope so
I am not going in any mazes this year only burial grounds
At least that’s free
@@yourexperienceguide I am not paying £12 just for an individual maze
Had the complete opposite thoughts and feelings on the Saturday at leaat, curious how it's so different for you guys
It’s just not a good event
Very poor show from Towers this year judging by the honest reviews. I think Stephen had the better day out by just going on the rides and avoiding the Scarefest nonsense, very wise. Time to bin it and throw away the key. 🎃🚮
I definitely replied to this but TH-cam is not showing it, basically my other comment agreed with you 😂
@@yourexperienceguide Thanks Scott, no worries. Sometimes TH-cam just goes haywire and comments disappear in to the Twilight Zone. I always find that if a channel (not just yours) has a lot of activity, it throws up some Gremlins.
Call a spade a spade brits love getting ripped off by half arsed trash . F these parks stop going stop paying for this trash and guess what they will soon realise they need to actually give you value for money
Certainly won’t be doing those mazes again