Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest 2012 Update

Last month, when we posted the dates for the Magic Mountain Fright Fest 2012, there were scant details available; weeks later, Six Flags has updated their website and issues a press release, telling fans of Halloween in Los Angeles what to expect this October. This year, the annual Fright Fest promises three new mazes, one new show, and one new transformed area.

The new mazes at Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest are: Black Widow, where ravenous arachnids haunt for victims; Black Out, which plunges visitors into a pitch-black labyrinth; and Willoughby’s Resurrected, a revamped version of the perennial Willoughby’s Mansion, with a new interior, featuring unexpected twists and turns that should surprise those who think they know what’s around every corner of the venerable haunted attraction.

The new area is Festival Fanta, near the Apocalypse roller-coaster, where disc jockeys spin tunes to keep grim, grinning ghouls rocking to light an ethereal light display. The new show is Dr. Fright’s Happily Never After, which is described as a “dark and sexy Halloween song and dance review.”

The returning Halloween haunted mazes are The Aftermath, Chupacabra, Cursed, Lecter’s Slaughterhouse, and the Jokester’s Hideout 3D. The Aftermath is the most memorable of the bunch, portraying post-apocalyptic mayhem on the set of the DC Superheroes show. Judged by last year’s presentation, the other mazes are mostly boilerplate. Especially the 3D Jokester maze is a tired rendition of the over-used Killer Klown motif. (It’s a bit sad to see The Bite II is gone for 2012. Though it was far from the best Halloween maze we saw in Los Angeles last year, it had more zing that most of the other Fright Fest attractions.)

If you have never been to the Magic Mountain Halloween Fright Fest in Los Angeles, and wonder how it stacks up next to other theme park Halloween attractions, here is what you need to know: the one big advantage of Six Flags is that you get to enjoy what they like to call “Thrills by Day, Fright by Night.” That is, you do not need a separate admission for the Fright Fest; you can spend the whole day in the park, enjoy roller-coasters by daylight and haunted mazes by moonlight. (Unfortunately, there is an extra charge for a wrist-band to enter the Halloween attractions.) So if you want a full day of frights, fueled first by adrenalin and then by fear, this is the place for you.

However, if you are not a fan of theme park rides, you may find the Halloween attractions lacking. The Aftermath is probably worth the extra wrist-band charge all on its own, and the Willoughby’s maze is always fun. After that, the mazes are competent but not as memorable as other haunted house events in Los Angeles.

Tickets are $44.99 in advance online (you can print at home and skip the line at the box office). Ticket prices at the park are $64.99 for adults. Children under 48-inches are $39.99, and children under 2 get in free.

The additional fee for the Halloween haunted attractions is $10 in advance, $13 at the park for non-pass-holders. An Express Maze Pass costs $25  in advance, $30 at the park for non-pass-holders.

This year’s Fright Fest runs on weekends in October: 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 and 26-28.

Six Flags Magic Mountain is located at 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.

Read the complete press release below:

VALENCIA, Calif. — September 11, 2012 — Six Flags Magic Mountain transforms from a “theme park” to a haunted “scream park” for the 20th season of Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS®, Southern California’s most thrilling Halloween experience. This season marks one of the biggest and scariest Fright Fest events in the Park’s history with three new mazes, one new show, one new transformed area and extended park hours Fridays through Sundays in October.

Six Flags Magic Mountain offers 12 days of terrifying haunted mazes, roaming zombies and spooky shows. If that’s not enough, Six Flags Magic Mountain will add a “twisted” element to some of their monster coasters by turning off the lights, leaving riders to face their fears literally in the dark. And, the Fright Fest exclusive that coaster fanatics wait for all year … the transformation of one of the largest, most celebrated coasters in the world, Colossus BACKWARDS! Beginning October 5 and running for four frightfully fun weekends, Fright Fest leaves no tombstone unturned to bring guests the ultimate sensory overload for every range of fear. For the little monsters, a Trick or Treat Trail and Halloween Crafts round out the activities.

Featuring a completely new interior, along with new terrifying twists and turns, Willoughby’s Resurrected is a reincarnation of the Willoughby family’s beloved haunted mansion that will include more hair-raising horror around each nightmarish-turn and down long harrowing hallways. Shrouded in the dark shadows of the nearby Willoughby’s mansion sits another new maze, Black Widow, ground zero for an ever-growing blood-thirsty army of spiders that hunt and haunt at night. Plus, nearby construction has cut the power in the area plunging the new BlackOut maze into total darkness where the panic of pounding hearts will be the only guide through the winding labyrinth.

Back for a second year, one of the largest and most popular mazes in Southern California is The Aftermath, where brave souls enter a post apocalyptic city inhabited by nomad warriors who rule with bone-crushing iron fists and the dead stalk the living. Also returning are Chupacabra, where guests come face to face with this elusive blood-thirsty creature as it terrorizes the local Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival; Cursed, featuring roaming gypsies and werewolves who hunt for fresh blood; Lecter’s Slaughterhouse , a family-run business specializing in tasty human treats; and Jokester’s Hideout 3D, an all black-light hideout where sideshow clowns run amuck.

A new area, Festival Fanta, located next to Apocalypse, features spirited DJ’s, rockin’ ghouls and a light display guaranteed to add a bit of fright to your night.

Spooktacular shows include hypnotist Suzy Haner, who puts park guests in compromising scenarios in her hilarious stage show located in Golden Bear Theater; the new Dr. Fright’s Happily Never After, a dark and sexy Halloween song and dance review; Off With Your Head, where Ghoul Rock has gone pop with a musical spectacular sure to entertain; and be sure to dust off your thriller moves and join in the fun as the popular DJ Demonic and gRAVE return for another year in DC UNIVERSE.

Now in its second season, the popular Fright Feast With The Willoughby’s moves to a new location, on top of the hill, next to the new Willoughby’s Resurrected maze. The dinner and show themed attraction features a new menu and new show, guaranteed to entertain the whole family.

Fright Fest hours:
October 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 – 10:30 a.m. to midnight
October 7, 14, 21, 28 – 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For more information on Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest, visit our exclusive website at http://frightfest.sixflags.com/magicmountain

Six Flags Magic Mountain 2013 Thrill Passes are now on sale at the lowest prices of the year and provide unlimited visits for the rest of the 2012 season (including Fright Fest) and all of 2013. For a limited time, with the purchase of four or more Thrill Passes, guests will receive a free upgrade to Gold Thrill Passes which include with every pass, free season parking and a free Hurricane Harbor Season Pass. Plus free tickets for friends and more! Offer expires January 6, 2013.

Six Flags Magic Mountain is located at 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, north of Los Angeles off Interstate 5 at the Magic Mountain Parkway exit. The Park is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October for Fright Fest. For information call (661) 255-4111 or visit us at www.sixflags.com/magicmountain for operating days and hours.

SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN FRIGHT FEST – 2012

HAUNTED MAZES:

 NEW! WILLOUGHBY’S RESURRECTED
New horror awaits you at the Granddaddy of all Six Flags Magic Mountain mazes … now the beloved family has resurrected and renovated their eerie home with more hair-raising terror around each nightmarish turn and dreadful screams down the long harrowing hallways. NEW! BLACK WIDOW
Tangled in a web of terror, even the dead struggle to survive the Black Widow’s nest. In the shadow of Willoughby’s mansion, it is permanently shrouded in darkness and the infestation has grown and is now ground zero for an ever-growing spider army that hunts at night.

 NEW! BLACKOUT
Unexpectedly, the construction of an advanced transportation system has veiled the world into darkness. Now your mind must find your way as you wind around with no lights to guide you. Scream if you must and hold on to those you think you can trust.

 THE AFTERMATH
Enter a post apocalyptic city where nomad warriors rule with bone-crushing iron fists and the dead stalk the living.

 CHUPACABRA
Come face to face with this elusive blood-thirsty creature as it terrorizes a local Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival.

 CURSED
There is always a full moon over this cursed land where gypsies roam and werewolves hunt for blood.

 LECTER’S SLAUGHTERHOUSE
Step on these deadly docks and enter the world of the celebrity butcher taking wretched revenge on the bowels of society.

 JOKESTER’S HIDEOUT 3D
Sneak through an all black-light hideout and catch a 3D peek of the funny projects on which the Jokester and his crew are working. But watch your back…sideshow clowns run amuck!

SCARE ZONES

 GYPSY HOLLOW
Evil gypsies and werewolves own this territory and blood is their bounty.

 THE WASTELANDS
Barbarian humanoids rule this land and dare you to enter The Aftermath.

 NIGHTMARES – A TWISTED FANTASY
This evil nightmare has never been so edgy as your favorite bedtime stories take on a new and twisted tale.

 HILLBILLY MASSACRE
A family of demonic, backwoods folk have been hunting for new exotic skins, human skin is most preferred.

 CITY UNDER SIEGE
The insane and unruly run rampant in the streets of DC UNIVERSE. Prepare to feel really uncomfortable with these comic-like characters running amuck.

 EXILE HILL
Banished from mortality, this hillside taunts creatures haunting the grounds as caretakers of the Willoughby estate.

THRILLS BY NIGHT

 NEW! FESTIVAL FANTA
Dance to the rhythm of the night with spirited DJ’s, rockin’ ghouls and a light display guaranteed to add a bit of fright to your night.

 X2: AREA 19
Get launched on a high-speed, heart-pounding journey through an abandoned facility taken over by aliens.

 COLOSSUS—BACKWARDS! (A Fright Fest Exclusive)
Experience one of the largest, most celebrated coasters in the world – BACKWARDS! That’s right, back by popular demand. Travel nearly one mile on this dual track wooden coaster all while sitting completely backwards!

 SPINNING THUMPER BUMPERS
Pulsating sounds rock the craziest bumper cars into a totally new and extreme driving experience.

 TERROR TRACKS – RIDES IN THE DARK!
Face your fears with the lights off! Your favorite thrills in the dark on Apocalypse, Tatsu, Viper, THE RIDDLER’s Revenge, BATMAN The Ride and Goliath. Something so “twisted” would only happen during Fright Fest.

 MEET RIP MORGUE
Document your Six Flags Fright Fest memories with a photo of our Willoughby’s chauffer, RIP, and his “wheels.”

SHOWS

 NEW! DR. FRIGHT’S HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
A dark and sexy Halloween song and dance review.

 OFF WITH YOUR HEAD
A Pop/Glam Rock musical spectacular with the music of Bon Jovi, Rihanna, Michael Jackson and more.

 HIGH SIERRA HYPNOTIST
This amusing show stars the members of the audience. Guests who are chosen to be put “under hypnosis” will perform hysterical exploits never to be imitated “under consciousness.”

 gRAVE
Dance, trance, resurrection! This is the gRAVE everyone is dying for.

DEMONIC DINING:

 FRIGHT FEAST WITH THE WILLOUGHBY’S
Enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet in the company of creepy creatures from the NEW Willoughby’s Resurrected maze.

ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS:

WITCH HAZEL’S PUMPKIN PATCH CRAFTS
Crafted especially for our younger guests to stretch their imaginations.

A LOONEY TUNES TRICK OR TREAT ADVENTURE
Kids (under 48”) and parents walk with Looney Tunes friends through Bugs Bunny World where they will find tantalizing treats along the way.

LOONEY TUNES CHARACTERS
Grab your camera and meet your favorite Looney Tunes characters in their Halloween costumes.