Before we get started we wanted to send out a congratulations to the Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest team. There are far too many to name here but you know who you are. =)
This past Saturday they sold out Fright Fest with about 35,000 guests in the park and they actually had to close parking at 8:15pm as well as extending the hours the event was open. . 
While this sounds like an absolutely crazy night (it was) all indications are that the staff and guests were amazing and everybody had a great time. It's also telling of just how much this event has grown and improved over the past few years. 5 or 6 years ago the event would get busy, but selling out, not really something that would happen. Extending hours? Unheard of. So again, congrats to all involved with Fright Fest. Your hard work is showing and the word is out there. Can't wait to see what you come up for 2016!! 

One of the mazes that really ushered in this new era of Fright Fest was Aftermath. Utilizing the old Action Theater (I actually remember when they had Dolphin and Diving shows here ... and I just aged myself) it quickly became one of our favorite mazes in all of Southern California. 
​
All that we've been told is the maze is leaving. We aren't sure if it's for another maze or something else. Any rumors that are floating around out there are just that ... rumors. It'll be another 10 months until we know anything definitive so it's not worth worrying about right now. (but you are going to anyway aren't you?) ;)

Before we get to the pictures our walk-through of the maze from last months media night. 

Thank you to the PR staff of the park for walking us through the maze for one last look. We hope you enjoy. 

I remember the first time we went through this maze I was worried we were going to fall in the pool. (wonder if it's even still there)

Still one of very few mazes to have fire in it. 

Waiting for the next victim

FIRE!!! 

This was a good scare

Really hope this is saved somehow. Who remembers where this used to be? 

She's coming to get ya ... 

Thanks again to the park for setting up our walk-through. We'll miss Aftermath but can't wait to see what you come up with next. 

We also of course went through the rest of the mazes and scare zones and had another amazing night at Fright Fest. Below some more pictures of the Scare Zones. 

You have 3 nights left of Fright Fest and this is your last chance to see Aftermath. For more info check out the parks website. If you missed our Fright Fest review and update click here. 

Look at all that room for people to walk around!! =)

The Autopia looks great!! 

Texting and Driving ... not just a problem in the USA

Annoyed Cast Members ... also not just a problem in the USA ... =)

Some great on-ride pictures of the Autopia. Click any of the pictures below for a larger version. 

Space Mountain!!! Love the spires on the top. 

Space Mountain is a Roller Coaster Type Ride ... 

The station looks great, but seems a bit smaller to me. Maybe just the lighting? 

Oh, they have Stitch Encounter as well ... 

To Infinity and Beyond!! 
(interesting that it says inspired by Toy Story 2 ... can't remember if the Disneyland version says this)

Looks pretty much identical to the version in Anaheim

Guns falling out of their holsters ... not just a problem in the USA ... =)

We hope you enjoyed this look at the awesome looking Tomorrowland at Hong Kong Disneyland.

About Universal Studios Hollywood:  Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A.SM, includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour; the CityWalkentertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas and the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue. World-class rides and attractions include the renowned, behind-the-scenes Studio Tour featuring the intense “King Kong 360 3-D” attraction and the all-new “Fast & Furious—Supercharged” thrill ride as the Studio Tour’s grand finale.  Other popular rides include the 3D-HD adventure, “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and immersive “Super Silly Fun Land,” the critically-acclaimed mega-attraction, “Transformers™:  The Ride-3D,” “Revenge of the MummySM—The Ride,” “Jurassic Park® —The Ride,” “Springfield,” hometown of America’s favorite TV family, adjacent to the award-winning “The Simpsons RideTM” and the “Nighttime Studio Tour.”

About Warner Bros. Entertainment: Warner Bros. Entertainment is a global leader in all forms of entertainment and their related businesses across all current and emerging media and platforms.  A Time Warner Company, the fully integrated, broad-based studio is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature film, television and home entertainment production and worldwide distribution to DVD, digital distribution, animation, comic books, video games, product and brand licensing, international cinemas and broadcasting.

HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.  Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR.​

The crack Park Journey Team, well, Chris found something quite awesome out in the interwebs today, blueprints of the Star Wars Land DHS expansion plans. 

As you'll see below, the expansion isn't simply going into the existing park as many rumors have had it but actually going into a park expansion. 

So now lets look at the satellite image of the park, it's clear to see where this is going. 

And finally, the blueprints overlaid with the satellite image of the park done by Chris. 

This really does leave a lot of room for future expansion of Star Wars at Disney's Hollywood Studios (or whatever they end up calling it). 

So what do you think? Do you like this idea of not taking all of the existing land in the park and instead expanding the boundaries? 

Be sure to share!!!! 

Another year, another issue at a Halloween Event. 

Last year it was kids complaining about the Auctioneer in The Purge Scare Zone at Universal Studios Hollywood. 

Sadly this year it's gone even beyond that with a post about an actress at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando being physically and mentally abused by patrons of the event. ​

So first of all, what the hell? When would this EVER be acceptable behavior for somebody to have? 

I'm a father to a 19 year old daughter and a 17 year old son. To think that my daughter or son could be working at an event, something they would LOVE doing and be treated this way is unfathomable, disgusting and really get's down to the very core of what you would do to protect your child. 

On the other hand, if I EVER found out my son or daughter had behaved liked this at an event or in their personal life it really get's down to the very core of what you would do to knock some sense into your child. 

Luckily I've never had to deal with either of these issues. But I can't imagine how Sarah's father reacted. Anybody knows that defending your child goes to the very core of what you are as a parent. And sending your daughter to work at a Halloween event isn't something you should ever have to worry about. ​

It's also important to point out, these weren't incidents of people getting scared and instinctively reacting to that. These were incidents of intentional verbal and physical abuse. 

Before we get to the causes we must stress that this is only one incident that took place at one event, and we certainly aren't calling out HHN. Sadly this type of incident isn't unique to that event, sadly similar things happen at EVERY event. But it certainly is something that we can start a dialogue about. 

Alcohol: Sure, alcohol could (and likely did) play a factor in these incidents. It's inevitable when you combine a group mentality along with alcohol things can go wrong. So sure, cutting out the sale of alcohol at these events could be something that is needed. To be fair though, it's not like people couldn't drink at CityWalk or other establishments prior to attending an event. 
We've been known to have a few drinks before going into an event, or at an event. And never once has it turned into "I can do whatever I want now". I guess I'll just never understand going to some kind of event whether it's a Halloween event, concert or sporting event and getting so drunk you don't remember it or start acting belligerent and getting kicked out. Just not in my DNA I guess. 
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Security: First and foremost, Sarah said emphatically that her handlers did everything they could to keep her safe. And this is true of every event. Security and those in charge of the event make sure their talent is safe first and foremost before anything. These events are one big family. I've only worked one event (last Saturday) but I've gone to enough events and know enough people who work these events to know this is the case. And this applies from the major haunts like HHN all the way down to Home Haunts.  The safety of the talent and employees at any event, at any theme park at any place of business should be the #1 priority at ALL TIMES. ALL TIMES!!! ​And this is the case here, no question.
But obviously security can only do so much when they are faced with somebody who is determined to do wrong. 
​
Locals: HHN Orlando is usually $90+ per night to get into the park. That's a lot of $$ for any event but by all accounts it's also worth it. They also offer a resident pass that allows locals to have repeated visits. Again, we don't know if these were locals but we've all seen and heard stories from other parks where those who visit a park on a weekly/daily basis can develop a certain affection for certain individuals at the park. 99.99999% of the time this is harmless, wanting to take a picture with their favorite princess or character. And there's nothing wrong with that. But it's that other 00.0000001% that could be the issue here. 
Also, to be fair, HHN isn't the only park that offers this kind of pass. We have a Knott's Scary Farm pass this year, so once again it's hard to just pinpoint this to one thing. 

So what do you think the answer is? We have a lot of people who work Halloween events who are fans of this site, what would you the experts like to see done to make sure these types of things don't happen? ​

Written by Amanda Condon

Fillmore took on the persona of Hill Valley for the weekend.

The town hall became the clock tower, and the band the Flux Capacitors played at certain times of the day.

Attendants could even get a photograph in front of the clock from the tower.

​There were two Toyota Pick-Up's as well that resembled those from the movie.

There was also a police car from "2015" that served as an actual prop in the 1989 film.

There were several different Deloreans complete with Flux Capacitors.

One of the Deloreans was complete with the times of travel on the dashboard.

Of course, there was the future Delorean from part II.

Attendees could also sit in a very close rendition of the film's car.

Inside the old bank was a display of props from the three films that are set to be auctioned off on Friday the 23rd. Clara's dress from Part III was standing pretty.

The almanac that Biff used to become a millionaire had a backup cover.

The newspapers from Part II were also seen side by side.

There was even the phone book page with Doc Brown's address on it.

A futuristic California license plate and other small props were also up for auction.

A future police baton was set beside Biff's desk photo.

The actual hoverboard from the movie was also present, beside the sports almanac.

In 2015, all people are fired through fax.

The local movie theater was playing Jaws 19: This Time, it's Really Really Personal.

There was a premier of a documentary about the trilogy and they played Part III of the trilogy - the first time the locally owned theater had been opened in over 10 years.

Griff's gang (with George McFly and Marty McFly Jr.) were seen at the event.Obviously someone meddled with time again.

There was also an event where you could ride a Delorean on the train tracks and take a trip on a hoverboard supported by a crane.

Fillmore is a very small town but the event was put together in a spectacular way. They are currently filming parts for a new film for Back to the Future in Fillmore but it has not been confirmed whether it is a documentary or a continuation of the series.