Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream - Williamsburg

[pantherlj]

We are thinking of a trip to Great Wolf Lodge mid October and I discovered that BG is open in October on the weekends. I was excited until I realized it's Howl-O-Scream. That sounds busy and expensive to me

Anyone been to Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream? Would it be really busy mid October? Are all the regular rides open then too?

Would love any input

 

[Janet Hill]

The prices are the same as regular admission. We go every year. Yes it gets very crowded in the evenings, but during the day not so much. We generally go early, ride everything and then do a couple of the special "Howl O Scream" events and get out of the park.

All of the rides are open for most of the day, but some do close early to prepare for the evening activities. The decorations are very good and it is well worth it.

There's no trick or treating and no costumes are allowed - not even for the little kids. The no costume rule is enforced.

 

[autumnsmommy]

Most water rides are closed at that point, Escape from Pompei is turned into a haunted house.

 

[kirstenb1]

Howl o Scream usually opens in mid September. WE go the first weekend it's open, and it's not busy at all. As you can guess, the closer it gets to Halloween, the busier.

 

[tripletots]

We are first time annual passholders (not the funcard). Is there an extra charge to get in to Howl-O-Scream?

 

[leslie826]

I agree with PPs. Go early in the day and ride all the rides with minimal wait times. Get in line for the big Haunted House (behind Festhaus) 30 minutes before it opens in the evening. It won't be quite dark yet, but it sure beats waiting for hours! We love it there that time of year. The only thing you will miss are the few water rides...and the heat!!

 

[kirstenb1]

We are first time annual passholders (not the funcard). Is there an extra charge to get in to Howl-O-Scream?

no extra charge

 

[mischief32]

We try and go every year. Just me and my husband do this as a day trip since my daughter is too young and would be scared. We also try and go early in the day and enjoy the ride and the scares at night. They say it will be even scarier this year. It does get busier at night but eveything is do able. The maze they do send large crowds in at one time so things do move along... We also try and go at the end of September on a Friday because crowds are smaller. We tried to go one year on a Saturday and nver made it in because the park closed due to capacity.....

 

[VAfamily1998]

We are semi-local (about 2.5 horus away) and went to Howl O Scream on a Friday in Mid October last year. It wasn't crowded at all! My kids were REALLY scared of some of the costumed employees that will "jump out" and scare people as they walk along the paths, though. They've asked to not go back this year, they were that scared! The costumed employees "jumping out" was only later in the day, though---I want to say it started about an hour before dark?

 

[pantherlj]

For those with kids, thanks for mentioning how scary it was for them. How old were they? What age would your recommend for the scary stuff?

We really want to go somewhere just to ride rides and I loved BG as a kid.
Maybe we could do GWL in Charlotte and Carowinds that Saturday instead.

Love the theming of BG though!

 

[VAfamily1998]

For those with kids, thanks for mentioning how scary it was for them. How old were they? What age would your recommend for the scary stuff?

We really want to go somewhere just to ride rides and I loved BG as a kid.
Maybe we could do GWL in Charlotte and Carowinds that Saturday instead.

Love the theming of BG though!

My kids were 9, 7, 5, and 3 years old at the time (all boys)...but truth be told, I got a little scared too--and I was 34!