Eastern State Penitentiary

[PrincessKsMom]

Can anyone share their personal experiences with this haunted tour? I'm really a chicken at heart, don't like scary movies, etc., but my daughter is a huge fan of all things scary and would love to go and we just got invited to go with a friend and the friend's mom. Not sure if I'm up to it. I love Ghost Hunters, Paranormal State, etc., but don't like Exorcist, etc.

 

[npmommie]

I saw it on Travel Channel, and its looks extremely scary.
I wouldn't go

 

[WDWBarb]

Can anyone share their personal experiences with this haunted tour? I'm really a chicken at heart, don't like scary movies, etc., but my daughter is a huge fan of all things scary and would love to go and we just got invited to go with a friend and the friend's mom. Not sure if I'm up to it. I love Ghost Hunters, Paranormal State, etc., but don't like Exorcist, etc.

I've never been to Eastern State but would LOVE to go. I've done the Waverly Hills overnight tour a couple of times and I think it's never as scary as it seems on TV. I even fell asleep alone in the 4th floor hallway! Just remember that it's DARKER than when you watch Ghost Hunters, etc., because they are using night vision on their cameras. Just be prepared with your flashlight!!

I say GO!! You'll have a great time.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I actually think I'd feel better if it was a haunted, searching for ghosts tour than the idea that it's a haunted house with people jumping out of the dark to scare me. I know, makes not sense.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I've heard about that one, it's supposed to be scary but as long as you are with a group you'll probably be fine with it. On You Tube you can find parts of an episode of "Ghost Adventures" on the place, this was my google search: eastern state penitentiary ghost adventures. I think you are brave and a great Mom to be willing to do this so your daughter can do this with her friend. I would force myself to do this stuff for one of my kids but am grateful I don't have to. The most I'm asked to so far is the haunted stuff at Dorney Park which is fantastic because you can do the haunted stuff or just stick with the rides. It's a great compromise for us because my DD11 isn't into scary so much and my DS12 prefers Dad's company for hanging out.

My husband and DS12 are heading up to Ulster NY this weekend for the Headless Horseman but even the website scares the crud out of me so I'm staying home.

 

[WDWBarb]

I actually think I'd feel better if it was a haunted, searching for ghosts tour than the idea that it's a haunted house with people jumping out of the dark to scare me. I know, makes not sense.

I'm the SAME way! I won't step foot in a "Haunted House" with humans in masks with chainsaws, fake blood, etc! But I'm all about spending the night in a place where ghosts are said to roam!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I've heard about that one, it's supposed to be scary but as long as you are with a group you'll probably be fine with it. I think you are brave and a great Mom to be willing to do this so your daughter can do this with her friend. I would force myself to do this stuff for one of my kids but am grateful I don't have to. The most I'm asked to so far is the haunted stuff at Dorney Park because my DD11 isn't into scary so much and my DS12 prefers Dad's company for hanging out.

My husband and DS12 are heading up to Ulster NY this weekend for the Headless Horseman but even the website scares the crud out of me so I'm staying home.

Thanks for the vote of confidence and the ego massage. Went to Great Adventure this weekend and thought that would be a good indicator. Unfortunately, by the time we got to the Demented Forest it was closed. So the only thing they had was people dressed up walking the park, but no one actually jumping at you and yelling. There are certain things I won't do for DD -- super coasters. The furthest I'll go is Tower of Terror. This weekend she did all the coasters at GA and I was so glad she had a friend to do them with. Biggest coaster I've been on recently (about 10 years ago) was Steel Force in Dorney and I honestly thought I'd die.

 

[mster425]

I went two years ago. It is pretty scary. The actors are NOT allowed to touch you but they come awfully close!

If you go I would go in a group and not be first or last. It is pitch black in there for a lot of the time. What helped me was thinking of the actors as theater junkies who are doing this for fun (they are)

There were 3 of us- one person loved it, I was glad I went but needed to take a few years off, and the third person would not go again. She I think was pregnant and didn't know it yet so that could have contributed to her reaction- pulse racing the whole time, totally freaked out.

 

[krcit]

I went to Eastern State Pen but not the haunted tour, just a regular one and even that was a bit creepy, lol. I bet it would be a lot of fun though

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I went two years ago. It is pretty scary. The actors are NOT allowed to touch you but they come awfully close!

If you go I would go in a group and not be first or last. It is pitch black in there for a lot of the time. What helped me was thinking of the actors as theater junkies who are doing this for fun (they are)

There were 3 of us- one person loved it, I was glad I went but needed to take a few years off, and the third person would not go again. She I think was pregnant and didn't know it yet so that could have contributed to her reaction- pulse racing the whole time, totally freaked out.

Wow, thanks for the first person POV. There will be 4 of us -- two who are dying to go (DD and her friend's mom) and two who would rather wait in the car (me and DD's friend). Is it very long? I guess no flashlights allowed? I'm kind of afraid of falling down and getting hurt too. If I panic, I might just start running and slam myself into a wall or fall down some stairs.

 

[ryanshana]

I went.....geez before my son was born....at least 5 years ago. It is scary. The actors aren't allowed to touch you but I swear some got soooo close. I agree w/ pp try not to be the first or last person in your group.

They do have ghost tours and such doing the day that was much cooler and less give me a heart attack but still freaky than the night event.

 

[Nennie]

I did it and loved it! I like being scared though...and you will be scared. Actors will jump out at you, chase you, etc. No flashlights allowed (it would ruin the special effects anyway).

If you are a fraidy cat, and still want to try it, I would recommend being in the middle of your group. You tend to walk single filed, and the first person and the last person in your group will get scared the most!!

Have fun!!!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I went to Eastern State Pen but not the haunted tour, just a regular one and even that was a bit creepy, lol. I bet it would be a lot of fun though

I think I'd do much better at this.

I went.....geez before my son was born....at least 5 years ago. It is scary. The actors aren't allowed to touch you but I swear some got soooo close. I agree w/ pp try not to be the first or last person in your group.

They do have ghost tours and such doing the day that was much cooler and less give me a heart attack but still freaky than the night event.

I've never been in a haunted house, other than when I was a kid. I'm afraid my first reaction might be to run or swing at someone. Last thing I need is to spend the night in jail. Talk about truly haunting.

Years and years ago there used to be the Brigantine Castle at the Jersey Shore where they did a big haunted house. My aunt (all 5 foot of her) freaked out and decked a guy working in the house. Knocked him out cold. When the guy finally got up a few seconds later he stood about 6 foot and found it quite funny -- thankfully for her.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Sorry to be a pest, but are there any chicken exits?

 

[WDWBarb]

Oh! You're doing the "Haunted House!" Ok, no - that is NOT my cup of tea! They also have an after-hours "ghost" tour and I thought that's what you were talking about.

But it could be fun ..

 

[Belle0101]

Interesting! And I learned something new!!

I thought it was just a place that was supposed to be haunted. I didn't know it was like a haunted house with actors too.

I saw a show Saturday night that featured haunted houses across the U.S. and the one place, I forget the name of it, said they purposely target the people in the middle of the group. It's their opinion that that is where the most scared people of the group are.

Either way, I don't like being chased but to go into alleged haunted places, like "Ghost Hunters", I think would be interesting.

Have fun!!!!

 

[Pooh67_68]

If your dd and her friends mother really wants to do it, but you and the friend don't, why not just switch daughters for the night? Let them do the haunted house and you and the other girl do something togehter.

I only ever did 1 haunted house (for my sister) I was in the middle and some fool (worker) was going to touch me, until my sister sternly warned aginst it.

 

[mster425]

I am almost positive there were chicken exits. If you get really freaked you can talk to a cast member and they should be able to help you, also.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I am almost positive there were chicken exits. If you get really freaked you can talk to a cast member and they should be able to help you, also.

Just what I wanted to hear.

 

[walkerag]

I went there a couple of years ago with my aunt and it was so much fun! We didn't do the haunted house thing (it was in May) but we did one of the weekend convention things with the Ghost Hunters and got to investigate the place with the Ghost Hunters Jay and Grant are super nice by the way

I say do it. The place is eerie. My aunt and I didn't have any personal experiences there but we toured with a girl who claimed she did.