Here's my ranking
1.After Hours-After Hours was the most active and seemed to have more space to work with. Themeing was good and frights came from all directions.
2.Hunted. This was an excellent exterior theme and though while walikng through I couldn't tell whether we supposed to be inside our outside, I got it. "A killer covers his tracks by burning a hunting lodge down...". I agree ther could have been more scares, but the themeing was very good.
3.Freaked. This missed for me because it could have been major frights. Where there could have been something and you started to tense up, it let you down. Expected to see the "Jack in the Box" guy from their "Howl-O-Scream" ads more prominantly. Also, loved the cool rotating tunnel room. Cool effect. Reminded me of Poseidon's Fury at IOA but without the water.
4.Mortuary. For personal reasons I couldn't get into this one. It hit too close to home. We just had a death in the family so some of the "Frights" were just in bad taste to me right now. Nothing too tasteless, it's just me, right now.
5.3rd Dimentia. This was cool. You are given 3-d glasses as you walk in and the queue for Akbar has Flourescent glow-in-the-dark paint everywhere. It takes getting used to but in the end you start to feel like you have tunnel vision and there and the frights are just way too tame. Probably on purpose.
6.Deathly Departed. This was really a let down. Too small. It was just like walking through a maze. Didn't get the story either.
Missed the shows altogether. Although I heard a good portion of "Fiends" while waiting for Beer.
The Scare zones were good. The map does not show where they are located so here's my guess what's what by explanation and what I saw. Others can help with naming. Going Counter-clockwise around the park.
1. Just past the exit to the Gorillas going to the Train station is a Scarezone. I remember seeing a Scarecrow and another area a picnic table with an unfortunate diner. Good scares.
2. Just past Rhino Rally going to Timbuktu. There are these Maidens(maybe Widows) that are really freaky. They have a cool effect that makes there faces glow. Some are real some are not. And they kind of just move or hover. It was not too scary but really neat a creepy.
3. By the Tigers on the Skyride side. Looked like a bunch of crazed rednecks. Kind of scary.
4. Bridge to Dragonland from Shreikra. This was pretty cool. There were scareactors in motorcycle helmets jumping out everywhere.
5. What used to be Fairytale land by Dragon land. This was neat as there were scareactors on stilts that were unexpected. Oops, spoiler.
One other was a talking skeleton ove by the bathrooms by Vivi. Though it look like a Pre-recorded track. I hope that it could on other nights be like the Talking Fountain in front of Sinbad at IOA.
Beware of several areas of Jumping Bushes. Unfortunately the staff/security that the have posted nearby gives them away.
Positives-
-The size of Busch easily could handle more guests than any other theme park
-The house are very organized and handle people through them well. Several even had delayed entry where they let in twenty or so people and then held off the next group until the area was clear. Never once did we bog down inside the houses.
-Themeing. Wow! Was this really Busch Gardens? The Houses all looked excellent.
-Staff. All were courteous and helpful. Except for the beer lady who wouldn't give me free refills. What's up with that?
-Scareactors. Very well done. Good job to all.
-Security was everywhere. Good to have in many a dark place at BGT
-The $.99 Lanyard for my Yard of Beer. What a Life/Beer Saver. Hands free enjoyment of my favorite souvenier from Howl-o-scream
Disappointments(All VERY Minor)-
-DJ areas were not very active. No one was into these areas at all.
-Houses were too small. Not in overall size, but each seemed like walking through a tight maze. I wanted at least a couple of big show rooms where you could see some story.
-Houses all relied too much on smacking the walls to scare you.
-No Fans in Queue areas. It was hot last night.
-Not enough scare zones. Maybe since the park IS so big they could do more scarezones. Sometimes you just seemed to walk and walk and walk... It was time enough however to space out the Beer consumption(Remember the Lanyard)
-Yard of Beer Container had no Howl-o-scream themeing at all
-Scarezones are not on the map. Look, it's not a surprise when you come to these areas(signage, security, etc.) so why not list them on the map.
-Lights were on at Sheikra. Although I didn't ride it I watched it and there were lights on the tracks. It would be cooler in complete darkness.
-Hospitality House was Closed!!! "Where's my 2 Free Beers!!!"
-Not enough to complain about. Howl-o-scream was a great event and though I had minor gripes, it was a great time. It can and will get better in the years to come(Hopefully)
Any Questions?
