HHN Age appropriate

[Motherfletcher]

The complaint thread was hijacked so I'll start one for the hijackers.
My daughter (14) is tough as nails can not do HHN. I went on an RIP Tour the last night of HHN and a college girl of about 19 quit after the first house. I attend HHN 5 nights this year and witnessed scareactors target the weak if it was kids or girls or one got me one night when I was looking for a dry bench after the rain. I saw a little girl (maybe 11) plead with her parents not to be forced into going into a house. I would be in favor of the 13 year old age limit.

 

[Notatourist]

Motherfletcher,

Sadly, that seems to be impossible to enforce. As for the college girl-War Eagle...

 

[Jason71]

11? I saw kids in strollers even! One night, went thru Elm Street behind a couple with three kids--oldest couldn't have been over 8, youngest was still a toddler (in fairness, the baby was too young to know to be scared--he grabbed Freddy Krueger's hat--but the other two were literally shaking). The couple's reasoning: "we're on vacation, we couldn't get a babysitter."

I'm far from a nanny-state type, but I wouldn't mind seeing a few DCF agents out by the metal detectors to just ask parents, "what are you thinking?" It really does border on mental abuse in some cases.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Some people have complained about HHN not having a children's price. The justification of "THIS IS NOT A CHILDREN'S EVENT" seems to fly over their heads.

 

[Metallicat]

Since its a PG-13 event, why not 13?
I also think they should refuse entry to anyone under 13, and for any kid who looks to be around 13, make them show ID. is that being a little harsh on the guests? maybe, but if they can't get into an R rated movie or a strip club, they shouldn't be allowed in HHN's either.

I guess I'm just desensitized to the scariness of it all, but people should know before they go in there that is all FAKE. nobody is really going to kill you.

 

[Metallicat]

Motherfletcher,

Sadly, that seems to be impossible to enforce. As for the college girl-War Eagle...

just gotta say, ROLL TIDE!

now back to the thread...

 

[inkkognito]

I'm all for an age limit too. It would be nice if people could judge for themselves, but sadly common sense has gone out of the window with many of them. It reminds me of a long-ago haunted house in the Chicago area (DH and I always visited every house we could find each Oct.). There was man, woman, little boy and little girl. For some reason, mom and boy were allowed to stay out but dad brought in the little girl even tho' she was freaking out and obviously terrified. They send you in in small groups, so it was DH, me, dad, and daughter. That poor kid clung to MY leg for most of the house...I felt so sorry for her! And even sorrier that she would choose a stranger over dad...goodness only knows what a miserable life that kid probably had. I patted her head and comforted her as best as I could, but finally dad noticed what was going on and laid into her for bothering me. I tried to explain that it was no bother at all, but he grabbed her and kept hold of her for the rest of the house. That memory has always stuck with me...I wish I could have kidnapped that poor little girl. When I see parents dragging terrified kids through HHN, I think back to that day and cringe.

 

[ktglads]

Maybe a no-stroller poilcy should be put into effect? Make up some safety thing about the darkness and ban them. That might make some of the parents think twice about bringing toddlers into the parks during this event if they have to carry them

 

[AlexandNessa]

Yes, DYFS agents would be a good touch, stationed at the metal detectors.

I would like to ban strollers AND THOSE DANG HARNESSES that people put their wee ones in. Are you kidding me?

It would be nice to enforce an age limit, but how many 13 year olds have ID?

I honestly don't know how Universal could do a better job of advertising that it's a PG-13 event and that it may be too intense for young children. Any parent who doesn't know this has not done their homework.

They should continue to NOT offer children's prices for the event.

They should NOT allow children under the age of 2 free admission to the event (not sure what the policy is currently).

HHN is perfect the way that it is.

I think MANY would be upset if Universal suddenly decided to kowtow to parents who have made the poor decision to bring their young'ins to the event and demand HHN be Disney-fied.

 

[Motherfletcher]

It would be nice to enforce an age limit, but how many 13 year olds have ID?

.

How many would have fake I.d.'s
I remember taking my daughter to MK about 3 days after she turned 3 (I think that's when the price changes). I coached her over and over not to say 3 but 2. When she got to the gate she said I'm 3 when not even asked.

 

[AlexandNessa]

How many would have fake I.d.'s
I remember taking my daughter to MK about 3 days after she turned 3 (I think that's when the price changes). I coached her over and over not to say 3 but 2. When she got to the gate she said I'm 3 when not even asked.

Oh, I double dog dare you to post this on the Community Board or the Theme Park Board. Tell them that was about 10 years ago, and your daughter grew up just fine, despite your setting a very "poor example."

 

[Motherfletcher]

I think her probation officer might rat me out.

 

[4greatboys]

I dont like people taking young kids that are scared but Im not sure what age I would want to be the cut off. It really depends on the kid. If one of my younger ones wants to go at 10 or 12 and I know they would not be scared I wouldnt mind taking them. One of my older sons was around 13 his first visit to HHN and he wasnt really scared of anything. He did get a couple of good scares in the houses but then again thats the fun of it.

Its just sad that the parents of the scared kids cant make the right decision and not take kids to the event that shouldnt be there.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Motherfletcher,

Sadly, that seems to be impossible to enforce. As for the college girl-War Eagle...

I want to hi-jack my counter hi-jacking thread to ask if you are ready to go ballooning at the "real" Macy's parade?

 

[JulieWent]

While I think it's silly to drag kids who are afraid to HHN, I'm not sure a 13 age limit is necessary. DS is now 12 and went to HHN last year. It was one of his all time favorite trips anywhere. He laughed and screamed with laughter until I thought he was going to fall down. He begged me to take him back this year, but I said no. (It's a long drive for a weekend.) We are tentatively thinking about next year, but you see my point. He WAS ready and willing at 11 -- and just barely 11. He knew exactly what to expect, and he got the whole scareactor thing without any problem. He has friends who would be scared out of their minds, and there is no way I'd consider taking any of them. But parents need to be able to use good judgment and know their children.

Julie

By the way, to continue the college hijack: Add to that War Eagle!

 

[ChisJo]

No matter if there is an age limit or not, you have to know that there will be parents who will object to it...."I'm paying good money for these tickets....why can't my 10 yo come?" Whenever there is any kind of suggestion that there be an age restriction on anything theme park based, there is ALWAYS a parents complaining that their kids are mature enough to handle it, or that they really want to go (take for instance, when PI was adults only...then went to all ages...now back to adults only). The one thing I really like about USO is that they are one of the only theme parks to really enforce the age restrictions...but would they actually be able to for this event?? I can hear the outrage now: "My kids an exception to the rule", or "they went last year". USO can put all the signs up posting it's only recommended for 13+, but there are always those parents who think better.

 

[JulieWent]

ChisJo said: I can hear the outrage now: "My kids an exception to the rule", or "they went last year". USO can put all the signs up posting it's only recommended for 13+, but there are always those parents who think better.

I don't know why everyone gets so bent out of shape about pre-teens who are having a good time going to this event. It's not like UO is going to let an all-adult crowd turn the parks into a swinging-singles event one way or the other. I can tell you that during my trip to HHN, the pre-teens that I saw were having at least as much fun as the adults, and I seriously didn't see hordes of folly-ridden parents dragging their toddlers about the place. A few, yes, but let's face facts, guys. There are a few stupid people everywhere. Let's not write off all the parents out there as overbearing nitwits. Many -- if not most -- of us have a pretty good sense of our children's levels of tolerance, and, it would seem, a better than average sense of humor.

Julie

 

[ChisJo]

ChisJo said: I can hear the outrage now: "My kids an exception to the rule", or "they went last year". USO can put all the signs up posting it's only recommended for 13+, but there are always those parents who think better.

I don't know why everyone gets so bent out of shape about pre-teens who are having a good time going to this event. It's not like UO is going to let an all-adult crowd turn the parks into a swinging-singles event one way or the other. I can tell you that during my trip to HHN, the pre-teens that I saw were having at least as much fun as the adults, and I seriously didn't see hordes of folly-ridden parents dragging their toddlers about the place. A few, yes, but let's face facts, guys. There are a few stupid people everywhere. Let's not write off all the parents out there as overbearing nitwits. Many -- if not most -- of us have a pretty good sense of our children's levels of tolerance, and, it would seem, a better than average sense of humor.

Julie

I will never dispute the fact that there are great parents out there....I am talking about the select few that have no foresight about what the event entails or thinks that it won't bother their children. I know there are MANY pre-teens out there who could probably handle it, but there is a reason why Universal makes this a recommended age of 13+, and I don't think it is a terrible thing for Universal to make it a 13+ only event. In all honesty, why would anyone want to subject their CHILDREN to that? I know when I was a child, my parents certainly didn't allow me to watch anything like that, and the thought of taking me to anything like that before the age of 13 would have been absolutely forbidden. What has happened to our society that they now believe that ALL events should include children? I know I had to wait for many things...to drive, to vote, to drink alcohol, etc. And it certainly didn't kill me to wait...in fact, it made looking forward to many of those exciting. All I'm saying, is there will be always be parents (and not all) who think that their children have to be included, despite what the consequences may be, and I truly believe that this event is not for children and isn't meant to be.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Some kids can take it. Some adults can't.
Just my observations:
There is a running ratio at HHN. The more one screams and runs, the more the chain saw guys will follow. I have not any scareactor in anywhere do anything I would consider aggressive.
The few unexpected things I have seen since attending HHN include
scareactors doing what I consider stepping out of character to reassure an obvious below 13 year old guest. (I probably only noticed because I happened to be standing by them.) I thought that was very touching and guest oriented.
Agree, USO should continue not to sell children's tickets. You would think that alone would give people a clue. People often only see what they want and justify the rest.
I still say USO could charge the same price as HHN and have an age oriented "party" (for lack of a better word). They could offer various activities, such as trick or treating, "haunted" hayrides, behind the scenes tours, haunted mansion/house Harry Potter themed, or open whatever park they are not using for adults. Even have where the kids could tour behind the houses, safely out of the way, and watch the adults get scared!
LOTS they could do, still make a buck, along with promoting themselves and Harry Potter World.
From what I notice those who scream like a girl the worse are young adult males. I have had and seen people in front of them shoved, pushed aside and rammed into because they run ahead, screaming all the way, and don't care who or what are in their way to get out.

 

[yaytezIOA]

I made a run to HHN the last Friday night it was open. Now I've a story to go along with this.......I was told that if you do Halloweeny things after Halloween, its bad luck. I went to HHN Friday night, Saturday Morning, my wifes van burst into flame inexplicably....coincidence? Yeah...

So anyway, my son was kind of bored and had seen countless HHN vids. I thought he was able to handle it, having been two other times this year. The houses were good, but not so intense that it was going to seriously screw kids up. I ask him if he wants to go, and after some hemming and hawwing he says yes.
We get to the front gates and he freezes. He's going into a panic, trying to pull me back to the car. I sit him down and explain, its just Universal, we've been here a million times, we're just going to check it out. If he doesnt want to do a house, we dont have to...I wanted to see the shows anyway.
BTW, he's 10. We hit the AP area, and wait for nmoes. We go in, he's screaming, he's clamoring to me, he's terrified. We get out "THAT WAS FREAKIN AWESOME DAD!" Wanna go in the next one? "Is it the same as that?" No its a different house, but its going to be scary. "HECK YES". We do all the houses, and the house he didnt want to do again was the Thing. Dont blame him there.
Point is an age limit is not practical. Every kid is different. Universal sees this and lets face it, they're going to make more money with no age limit than they would with an age limit. What side would you go on? Now my daughter on the other hand, she was asking to go to HHN every time we went.....but when it came down to a local haunt...did it once, and that was enough.
Its like the Mickey parties they have at MK.....do they limit the age that gets a ticket? Its geared towards families and children, but I bet they dont limit it to just that....bad business practice.
Want proof of that, read this article.