So, tonight this haunt lover and her dear friend went to their first house of the year. That distinction goes to Dream Reapers out in Melrose Park, IL. Now, my friend and I, we have been on a mission for years to go to as many haunted houses in one night as we can. This has been going on for about a decade (six is still currently, after years, the number to beat). This was obviously not going to happen tonight as it’s the birth of the Halloween season and only a rare few were open tonight.
We got to Dream Reapers at about 7:15. There was already a small line, but not crowded at all. We were near the entrance almost from the start. In waiting, we heard a bunch of thumping…we find out it’s a virtual coffin ride. You jump into a coffin and then it shakes and makes noise and it even gives off smells of how it would feel being buried. They were offering up rides to random people who were interested. I would have been totally keen on doing it if not for three things: There was a camera in the coffin so everyone was able to watch you go through this event (no one needs to look at me that long in that position, thanks), I was more interested in conquering one of my owns fears, and well, I had to pee and I was unsure of all that jostling. As for the second of the three…for the first time ever I touched a snake. It was a baby albino (I think) python (and by baby, I mean it was like 4 ft long only…only). It was a beautiful creature, but my body was trembling inside. I asked if I could pet it, and I was shocked by the feel of it…the way the muscles of the snake undulated under my fingertips…*shudders* I literally kept feeling that sensation until they let us in the house.
The scenery for the house was done really well. I found myself getting lost in the décor and would accidentally run into the person in front of me…or the occasional monster. It wouldn’t have been too hard to do either, because this house was well stocked with icks and boos and ah aha ha ha aha laughing bumps in the night. Some were in masks, and some were in make up, but all were giving it their all. I enjoyed the theatrics that they were putting on.
DR is the first time I ever went through what I would like to call the birth canal. It’s like a tunnel, but the walls are air filled puffed out nylon. You walk forward all the while the nylon air is resisting and molding itself around every part of your body as you slice on through. It was fun yet a little off putting. I liked. I also liked that they had a number of different locations where the creatures lived and nice dark dark patches where you had to throw your arms out to make sure you didn’t run into anything. To top it off they had the ever fun vertigo spinning tunnel! This thing is always good for a giggle…unless you’ve drunk too much I imagine.
Over all, I thought it was a nicely run operation with a lot of characters, long enough to feel you got your money’s worth, the birth canal and vertigo tunnel, and a couple of fun jumps.
