Quick thoughts after night 1 at my favorite place on earth-
Widows and Eight Fingers Nine both seemed to be having lighting / technical delays the first hour, along with remembering that guests can be more annoying here than at HHN Orlando, I was worried the night wouldn't turn around.
But thankfully I was wrong.
Normally the new haunts never take the top spot for me the first year- and that's still the case this year. I think I agree Widows > Eight Fingers Nine, but my one big qualm with Widows is repurposing a major scene from a previous haunt. It works, but it also just feels so weird, and not in a "clever callback" way. Overall though, 2 solid haunts with plenty of "oh wow" moments in each, even after multiple good runs. I'd still say since 2017 the only "meh-or-worse" haunts have been Room 13, Bloodlines, Pumpkin Eater, and Red Barn.
And speaking of Room 13, this one had the most potential for improvement, but it seemed to be nearly untouched from last year, sadly. Which is also my only real complaint this year, is that it doesn't seem that any returning haunts got any new scenes. Dark Entities and Depths stuff added around Chambers doesn't really count, and the quality-of-life changes aren't that significant lol.
What I will say, though, is Grimoire has finally grown on me- no, not because it has a Nightingales: Blood Prey section- but I just have an absolute blast every time and the cast is so so so much fun, I really wish everyone could experience that one at it's peak. Towards the end of the night, 3 of the "random Grimoire demon" actors decided to share a boohoole for a triple-scare right before the final cabin, and that type of improv and special interaction is what sets Knott's above HHN (both coasts).
But it was even better in Cinema Slasher- it's like all 25ish Slasher's were playing a game of tag during my final runs- multiples in each scene intentionally toying with guests, I had one that was 20 feet in front of me turn around and sprint right towards me. These actors were nuts. I honestly cannot remember the last time I yeeted out of a haunt because I was genuinely scared, and even with only one actor in the finale the amount of *potential* scares from all the dummies just sent me into a panic. Bravo.
I need to sleep considering today was also our travel day haha, but it's another great year at KSF. Would I have been happier if each haunt got a little something new? Of course- but when you've got scareactors as good as this bunch, it's easy to forgive.
I've still got 2 more nights next week to accomplish everything else, and hopefully more haunt runs as good as these. If I could get an Insidious run at HHN Orlando with the cast from Knott's, lord those would be my last moments alive on earth.