I don't necessarily think the quality has gone down significantly, I just believe it's become too formulaic.
Been going since 2010, haven't missed a year, but yeah, this is my lament -- there used to be an edge to the event back then that's really hard to describe to anyone who didn't go those years, especially if all they know is the post-COVID years. I swear, it used to be like the whole park felt like a scare zone, fog everywhere, and just had an overall bite that the event doesn't capture anymore. The edge that I fell in love with has been sanded off.
That said, I still love the event fundamentally, even when some years are weaker than others, and -- as always -- my gripes are rarely with the quality of the houses but the operational factors so many of us have brought up the past few years (the Express line madness, etc., and other things Spookies pointed out) Me being bummed is more a result of my nostalgia for an era of the event that can't come back now that the event is more mainstream (and successful) than it was back then and packed to the gills, even if I understand the necessity of it having to have become what it is now to survive.
Yeah... it makes me feel bad for being excited.
I hate that you had to write this. No one should feel bad for being excited. It sucks reading through this thread through the months only to see people express their hope for a certain IP to come to the park or being optimistic about a speculated/announced IP only for them to get crap for it as if they're
wrong just because someone/others aren't fans of that IP (see: the
Terrifier debate). And it feels like that's happening more and more in every arena... Love a movie you just saw? Go on Reddit, for instance, to find out why it's the absolute
worst movie ever made and why you should be ashamed for enjoying it!
I've been pulling back on engaging with threads where it's page after page of pessimism and bickering lately, but just seeing this comment really bummed me out that you're probably not alone in feeling this way, and that others might not even want to share their enthusiasm at risk of being shot down...