Kids and HHN

[inkkognito]

The stellar parents were out last night. Saw mom, dad, son and daughter and the poor daughter was absolutely, utterly freaking out. Apparently they had made it through the line to the entrance of one of the soundstage houses and she flipped. It wasn't that minor "I'm just kinda scared" crying but full throttle "I'm terrified and need to get out here" freaking. They were trying to pressure her to go in...uh, duh! If she's scared just by looking in the door, how is she going to react when she's in the darkness with scareactors jumping out at her? And if they have to stop and remove her, it spoils things for everyone else around their family.

Why do people have to try to force their kids? I know they paid the money, but maybe they should have used a little common sense. And if their child is freaking out, a good parent just "eats" the money and doesn't try to guilt or force the kid into going along. Heck, I was immune to almost any kind of scary stuff from toddler age on due to my family's penchant for Halloween, horror movies, etc. but even I had a meltdown once. They took me to the Chamber of Horrors at the Old Town wax museum, and for some reason I had a total meltdown. Granted, I was maybe only 4 but I still don't know why it scared me since I generally loved scary stuff. Thankfully my family just removed me and didn't try to force me through...I guarantee there was nothing they could have said to calm me down.

I saw a couple people with babies in strollers heading to the soundstage houses too. I can only hope they were going to do child swap.

 

[Jason71]

I totally agree, see this every year. But while it doesn't excuse bad parenting, Universal shares some of the blame for not imposing and enforcing an actual age restriction on the event.

 

[lachica]

Universal shares some of the blame for not imposing and enforcing an actual age restriction on the event.

How can the park restrict the age of the child, considering I know some kids that can cope with the scare factor better then some adults. As far as the shows thats is up to the parent's discretion.

 

[donaldduck352]

How can the park restrict the age of the child, considering I know some kids that can cope with the scare factor better then some adults. As far as the shows thats is up to the parent's discretion.

Me personaly donn't think any kid under 13 should attend.IMO

I wated till mine was 14 to bring them and some of the things we saw were still questionable for a 14yo.....

 

[hack2112]

My first year was HHN XIV and I had just turned 12. We only did 4 houses and the B&T show, but it got me hooked and this is my 5th HHN to date. So age usually doesn't matter, but under 10 is a little pushing it.

 

[inkkognito]

It's a fine line...I know that both my brother and I would have loved HHN even at a young age, but that doesn't hold true for everyone. Parents need to know their kids well enough to have an idea of they would react, no matter what their age is. I've seen some relatively young kids go through the houses and have a blast. The poor little girl I saw freaking out was maybe around 10 or so. I can't imagine that the parents had no clue that it might scare her...if not, they sure don't know their kid very well.

 

[Subi WRX]

How much clearer can "WARNING! THIS EVENT MAY BE TOO INTENSE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN" be? That admonishment is all over the place.

If your kid is scared or disturbing others, remove them from the situation. It's not that hard. Losing money due to a child's meltdown is just part of parenthood.

 

[Metro West]

How much clearer can "WARNING! THIS EVENT MAY BE TOO INTENSE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN" be? That admonishment is all over the place.

If your kid is scared or disturbing others, remove them from the situation. It's not that hard. Losing money due to a child's meltdown is just part of parenthood.

I agree...Universal has done everything they can do to let people know it's not for kids. Other than restricting certain ages, I don't know what else they can possibly do. It's up to the parents.

 

[hack2112]

In my parents' defense, I was the one who wanted to go.

 

[imwithgoofy]

I agree, it's up to the parents to know their child(ren) and make the decision, can they handle it, is it appropriate.

Be the parent...it is not fun to scare the **** out of your child. It also affects the other people around you. It kinda spoils your own fun, temporarily.

We did not see too many younger children. Mostly young teenage girls, running and screaming...

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I agree...Universal has done everything they can do to let people know it's not for kids. Other than restricting certain ages, I don't know what else they can possibly do. It's up to the parents.

They don't sell children's tickets. That's a huge indicator, aside from the obvious warnings. Some kids can handle the scary & gory stuff, others, notsomuch. I explained to a few children (under age 12) what the house was about and they got really excited and had a great time.

 

[Phil from PA]

How can the park restrict the age of the child, considering I know some kids that can cope with the scare factor better then some adults. As far as the shows thats is up to the parent's discretion.

In the same way they can prevent children under 17 from getting into a NC-17 movie. I would imagine it is more profitable for US to allow parents to use there discretion and just deal with the problems on a case by case basis when they arise.

Do you think US refunds money to families who leave if it is too intense.

Phil from Pa

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

I am 15 and I am not going as I get scared easily. I would cry in line most likely. I can handle the movies and stuff but in real life .. no.

 

[4greatboys]

We were there 10/3 and 10/4 and saw quite a few kids, little kids. I saw a couple with 2 babies and a 2-3 year old. Some others were definately under 10.

I don't understand why they do that to their kids. My 8 yr old loves scary stuff like me but there is no way he is going now. Maybe in 2-3 years but I will just have to see then.

 

[DeblovesPoohbear]

My husband and I did HHN, but it was in 2002, we loved it but we went
alone, it was our trip away from the kiddies

Now, my kids are only 5 and 8 and I will not even think about taking them til they are both old enough to handle it. I do NOT want them sleeping in my
bed for the next year

 

[DeblovesPoohbear]

On another note, I think these parents do not do enough research.

They probably think it's the same as any Six Flags Halloween Festivities
which is really for any age
I really don't think they realize how intense HHN is
JMO

 

[Melanie230]

I am with ya on this one. We were there for HHN Oct 2 and opted out of going because we KNEW it would scare our children too much. We could have gotten FREE HHN tickets but knew better than to take a 6 and 9 yr old

 

[BigTiggerGuy]

I went on October 2nd and couldn't believe what I saw. We were waiting in Finnegan's and there was a family in there....looked like mom and dad, an uncle(or older friend) and two little girls about 4 and 6. My one friend kept saying, "They can't be here for HHN with those kids. No way." Sadly, I disagreed and was right.
They left Finnegans ahead of us and we didn't see them again until we exited Creatures(the first house open after Stay and Scream). The two girls were outside the exit sobbing hysterically while mom tried to tell them the people in the house "didn't mean to scare them.....they were just playing." The dad and uncle/friend just kept walking and went to get a beer. Almost everyone walking past verbally expressed sympathy for the two girls but their parents just didn't get it. I didn't see them again until later in the night when the two girls were standing outside of Reflections of Fear-------ALONE! I looked around but didn't see the parents anywhere. Someone in our group went up to them and they said their parents would be right back. We stood off to the side while we waited for one of our friends to use the bathroom so we could also keep an eye on the girls. Sure enough, about 5 minutes later, Mom, Dad and Uncle/Friend came walking out of Reflections of Fear. Before we could even say something they scooped up the girls and headed around the corner. I never did see them again that night but I hope the girls were okay.

If anyone was coming or going from Creatures around 6:30pm on October 2nd you had to have seen them. The one kid was sobbing! Very sad.....

 

[4greatboys]

I went on October 2nd and couldn't believe what I saw. We were waiting in Finnegan's and there was a family in there....looked like mom and dad, an uncle(or older friend) and two little girls about 4 and 6. My one friend kept saying, "They can't be here for HHN with those kids. No way." Sadly, I disagreed and was right.
They left Finnegans ahead of us and we didn't see them again until we exited Creatures(the first house open after Stay and Scream). The two girls were outside the exit sobbing hysterically while mom tried to tell them the people in the house "didn't mean to scare them.....they were just playing." The dad and uncle/friend just kept walking and went to get a beer. Almost everyone walking past verbally expressed sympathy for the two girls but their parents just didn't get it. I didn't see them again until later in the night when the two girls were standing outside of Reflections of Fear-------ALONE! I looked around but didn't see the parents anywhere. Someone in our group went up to them and they said their parents would be right back. We stood off to the side while we waited for one of our friends to use the bathroom so we could also keep an eye on the girls. Sure enough, about 5 minutes later, Mom, Dad and Uncle/Friend came walking out of Reflections of Fear. Before we could even say something they scooped up the girls and headed around the corner. I never did see them again that night but I hope the girls were okay.

If anyone was coming or going from Creatures around 6:30pm on October 2nd you had to have seen them. The one kid was sobbing! Very sad.....

Wow. I just cannot believe some parents. It's bad enough to take the kids in the first place but to just leave them alone while ALL the adults went through the house at the same time is sickening. Poor kids.

 

[inkkognito]

Sounds to me like the Orange County dept. of family services needed to come out and pick up the "abandoned" kids...definite child abuse.