[Haunts] Kings Dominion's VIP Meal Experience and More Return for Halloween Haunt 2015!

We're just a few weeks away from the start of Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion, and this year they've got a few new things coming to the park as well as a bunch of stuff that's returning. Myself and Carrie haven't been to the event for a few years now, but we hope that our previous experience still holds true for this year's line up.

This year's Halloween Haunt features nine mazes, six scare zones, and a handful of shows. It's a ton of things they're offering. Sometimes, when events get this big, you worry about scarcity of actors, but in the past we didn't see that being much of a problem here. If anything, some areas actually had too many! 

First thing's first, let's get to one of the more interesting things coming back to this year's Halloween Haunt. No, it's not a maze or a scare zone, it's just scary good food. Once again Executive Chef Paul Maloney is getting ready to serve up a killer feast with another round of VIP Meal experiences.

While we haven't yet experienced the one at Kings Dominion, we have had the honor to do that at Dorney Park. If they're anywhere close to similar? It's a no brainer, you have to do this.

One thing I have noticed that's different is that this one is not inside of a haunt and offers up a rotating menu that changes each night. That's some pretty cool stuff right there. And the price, at just $34.99 a person is an awesome deal for food that's of this caliber.

Offered up on Saturday and Sunday evenings at 5pm during the month of October, you really should try for this one if you can get in. It's one of those things that will definitely leave an impression and really starts the night off in an awesome way.

Okay, enough of that business. As much as I love crazy and new food experiences, we're here for the haunts, right? So, let's get down to what's coming in the way of mazes, scare zones and shows for this year's Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion!

Kicking things off at the front gates, right at 7pm, will be the Overlord's Scaremony. This nightly calling of the monstrous hordes is the official start to the insanity and should be a bit of fun to catch in action.

But first, a look at this year's event trailer!


So, just where will the monsters, crazies, and other creatures be lurking? Well, let's take a look at the mazes coming to this year's event.

Ah, the club life. So much energy, beauty and wait...this isn't about that, nope. Things have gone wrong here as the vampires take things over and turn the place upside down. Always kinda dug this one personally, it's a fun concept.

Yeah, the Cedar Fair favorite, CornStalkers is back once again. I really don't think this one is going anywhere any time soon but that's okay, it's always a fun one.

Ah yes, The Doll Factory, didn't see this coming three years ago and still am in love with the concept of it. Here's to hoping that this year's incarnation is even better than it has been in the past!

Something smells rotten in this old prison and the riot going on? Yeah, that's just not sounding good. Prison themes are often fun and Lockdown sounds like it has the right pieces.

The insane, the deranged, and the torturous treatments that have only made them worse. Oh yes, things in this mental facility have gone horribly wrong and the doctors are definitely off the reservation.

There's the first set of mazes coming to this year's event. As with some of the other Cedar Fair parks, Skeleton Key rooms will be found. However, from the above list, only Maze of Madness has one up for grabs. Sad that, would've loved to have seen The Doll Factory get something interesting...always another time, right?

Let's continue along the journey and get to the next set of mazes for this year...

No vacancy, sure there is. All those people who just went in? They're not coming out so plenty of room once they get rid of the bodies! Hotel themes are amusing and who wouldn't stay at a place called Darkside Manor?

Yep, another Halloween Haunt staple, but a good fresh cut of meat is always a good thing. Even more so when you're a bit peckish from hitting everything else at the park...just try not to end up on the menu.

This one is new to me as it wasn't at the park during our last visit. Going to be interesting to see just what it's all about...love the idea of a road of carnage though!

Zombies, high school...wait, wasn't that already a thing? I'm pretty sure that took up a good bit of the '90s for me. Guess it's time to visit the old gang again to see just how bad off they've gotten. That is the point of reunions, right?

Nothing really earth shattering with the themes there. I am really curious to see just what Tollway of Terror has in store for things and I haven't gotten the chance to see Zombie High School at any of the events yet, so that should be amusing at the very least. That said, another Skeleton Key can be found from this set with Slaughter House featuring whatever weirdness you'll have to go through.

That rounds out the mazes for this year, now to move onto the scare zones. These are always a thing that makes me hesitate, but I'm kind of hoping that things go off like they have at other Halloween Haunt events in the past.

Clowns, side show acts and more. I remember something like this from 2012 and it was done pretty well. Plenty of scares all over, so I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out to see if the quality has stayed up.

Interesting, this one's a popular theme, but when done right? Pretty fun and out in the open for a scare zone could make things pretty interesting when you start playing with the environment more.

Steampunk themed? I'm gonna assume such, not sure how I see this one being that scary but I'll keep an open mind on it for now. Definitely some weird stuff pops to mind, so that's good.

The undead, can't have an event without them roaming around their cemetery city now can we? Zombies are a hit all over, no doubt.

Curses, hexes and all manner of other bizarre incantations. Sounds like my idea of a good Saturday night. Love these themes and while indoors sometimes does them a bit more justice, outside can work well too depending on their location.

More vampires...that's the one thing I hate about...wait wrong movie. Anyway, these critters seem way too happy to have you around. Stick around for dinner, maybe a snack?

Alright, scare zones out of the way. The interesting thing here isn't so much the themes, as we've seen them a bit before but the fact that few of these have Skeleton Key experiences along with them. I'm not sure how those are going to work exactly, but it should be interesting. You'll find them in Cleaver Brothers, Feary Tales, and Necropolis.

This is a new trend with those rooms, and really curious to see just how they'll workout being out in the open or how they've incorporated the closed off spaces they typically require.

Another interesting and likely terrifying thing that you'll run into out and about in the park is what's being called, simply, The Mob.

From the sounds of it, there's a group of something roaming around the park and ready to pounce on those least suspecting. This brings up the thought of Slash Mobs at Howl-O-Scream Tampa and the infamous Chainsaw Gang at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando. Won't lie, these things can be very hit or miss but given that there's already a full stable of scare zones, this extra push seems like it could be something really fun to have around.

Alright, now that all of that is out of the way, let's get to the final set of things for this year, the shows!

Wouldn't quite be right not having Blood Drums around, another Cedar Fair staple, and since not everyone travels like we do, it's a pretty good show at the other parks. So, if ya have the time and like some noise, check it out..

This one is a bit unique, not exactly a show, not a haunt either, it's more of a 3D ride kinda simulator thing. It's a different kind of offering and Kings Dominion is the only park that I know of doing it.

Ah yes, undead acrobatics again! Still haven't seen this show, maybe this year will be the first time. Who knows as it's too early to tell just yet, but kinda hoping to catch it at least once!

This is another unique event to Kings Dominion. While Knott's Scary Farm has a mazed based around the same theme, this one's promising to be one very, very twisted show.

And finally, what's a Halloween event without a bar/club area, right? Yeah, these are getting pretty popular all over and The Annex is something I'm seeing make an appearance at other parks too. Good times though, always good to have a bit of liquid courage. Just don't be that person, okay?

So there ya have it. All the mazes, scare zones, shows and pretty much everything else coming to this year's event. It's a lot and I'm really amazed at just how much is going on each night. As I've said before, it's a dangerous line to walk but it should be interesting to see how they've managed to balance things out so nothing seems too empty or overcrowded.

This year's Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (except Sept 27th) from September 25th through October 31st. It'll be open Friday and Saturday night until Midnight with mazes and other things starting at 7pm. Sundays the park closes at 10pm, so keep that in mind as you make your plans.

Tickets for this one are a little confusing, so here's the breakdown of how they work:

$39.00 - Friday Nights from 7pm-Midnight
$39.00 - Saturday & Sunday Nights from 4pm-Midnight
$55.00 - All Day & Night on Saturdays
$39.00 - All Day & Night on Sundays (Park Closes at 10pm)

Fright Lane costs vary a little bit too, so here's how they work as well:

$40.00 - Friday and Sundays
$50.00 - Saturdays
$67.00 - Fright Lane+Admission Combo Friday and Sundays
$95.00 - Fright Lane+Admission Combo Saturdays

With how busy it can get, it may not be a bad idea to take advantage of the Fright Lane stuff if you're not going to the park for the full day. Not to mention, Fright Lane passes do include access to the Skeleton Key rooms and it's the only way you'll see them. So, there is a bit more value than just getting to the front of the line there.

And there ya have it. Everything there is to know pretty much about this year's Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion. If you've made it this far, thanks for coming along for the journey and be sure to head over to the official website to get tickets, maze and scare zone back stories and a whole lot more.

Also, keep an eye out as we'll be visiting the park as part of this year's Haunt Tour on September 26th! We'll be doing live updates on Google+, Twitter, Instagram and tons of other places so be sure to follow us to see what we think of things as they happen, and of course stick around for the review after!