A queue that continues to grow even though the Maizières-lès-Metz amusement park only officially opens its doors in 30 minutes… And already in the background, the music that will remind you makes it clear that you are going to have a bad time. That’s good, that’s why today’s visitors are there. No doubt, we are arriving at the most prosperous period for the Walygator amusement park, those where the monsters wake up and on which the Aspro-Ocio group – at its head since 2016 – is banking heavily. Here, it has a name: Walloween.
After a complicated year in 2023 due to inclement weather, the 2024 season presents itself under better auspices. “We are at more than 250,000 entries and there is still a week to go [la fermeture du parc étant prévue pour le 3 novembre] so we should normally have a good season by reaching 270,000 entries”confided Romain Seigneuret, the operations director of the Walygator Grand Est site to The WeekTuesday October 29. He then took stock of a successful summer and a period dedicated to Halloween which was just as successful. “The first week of vacation was very good and we already have the same number of entries as all of Halloween last year, the one that arrives will only be a bonus. » And what a week! Because the one on October 31 is always the one that attracts the most people. “On this day alone, we are expecting more than 10,000 people. » There have been years when there were even more visitors. In 2014/2015, October 31 could reach more than 20,000 people but the situation and the prices of subscriptions were not the same then. Set at 60 euros at the time, the all-unlimited subscription is now 120 euros per year. “Today, the price is more adapted to that displayed by our colleagues. »
A haunted factory
But let's come back to Walloween because this year, there's something new. Let's talk budget. The budget allocated to the event is 120,000 euros, or 20,000 euros additional compared to 2023. “The effort is greater and carried differently”specifies Romain Seigneuret. So last year's decoration was maintained – 25,000 bales of straw and 23 tonnes of pumpkins among others – with a few new scenes. The emphasis was therefore placed on entertainment with actors who wander around the park and patiently wait for visitors to enter, sometimes sparking laughter, screams and even tears. But especially with the entry into play of a new terrifying attraction: the Factory. It completes the Walloween offering which already includes a haunted house and an asylum. The Factory is intended to be a nod to this steelmaking territory except that in the story of Walygator, the workers remained locked up there and became monsters. The objective for visitors is therefore to succeed in extricating themselves from this hell. An attraction which is already very successful, like that encountered by Terror in the Asylum which has existed since 2019. “We have more than 10% of our customers who have visited a haunted house during the week”slips the operations director. Please note that for these specific activities, you must pay 4 euros per person in addition to your park entrance ticket.
“The enthusiasm of the teams during this Halloween period is incredible. »
Romain Seigneuret, manager of the Walygator Grand Est site.
Nocturnal events, shows, the burning of the haunted house, fireworks, a new waly dance liven up the period. All imagined and organized by Walygator employees, which has 25 permanent and 120 seasonal workers. “ The enthusiasm of the teams during this Halloween period is incredible. » A determining element also in the success of the park. Because for three years, it has shown positive results, despite a more complicated year in terms of entries in 2023. “In 2024, we will post between 8 to 10% more turnover compared to 2023 and an Ebitda [résultat d’exploitation] close to two million euros »specifies Romain Seigneuret, detailing that 65% comes from entries, 25% from catering and 10% from in-store purchases and derived products. A result which can be explained by “the group effect and good control of expenses”. This bodes well for the future because Walygator Grand Est is working on a new attraction for 2026/2027.
