HHN - how young is too young??

[jlfabbri]

Hey guys - I absolutely ADORE Halloween and have never been to IOA or US for HHN.

We have a little girl, 3 1/2 - who LOVES Halloween as much as I do...but from what I've read about HHN, it's just too intense for someone her age...my question is this - is everything at the parks scary?? Or could we go to the parks during HHN and just avoid the super scary stuff??

Remember, I've never been to US during HHN - so I don't even know what the place looks like during this time of year (decorations etc...)

Thanks for an tips and advice...

Jen

 

[Metro West]

Hey guys - I absolutely ADORE Halloween and have never been to IOA or US for HHN.

We have a little girl, 3 1/2 - who LOVES Halloween as much as I do...but from what I've read about HHN, it's just too intense for someone her age...my question is this - is everything at the parks scary?? Or could we go to the parks during HHN and just avoid the super scary stuff??

Remember, I've never been to US during HHN - so I don't even know what the place looks like during this time of year (decorations etc...)

Thanks for an tips and advice...

Jen

HHN has a creepy atmosphere from the time you step into the park and is no place for a child under the age of 13...IMO. Every year I see little kids being dragged around by their parents and it really makes me mad! Liking Halloween and seeing blood and guts are completely different and seeing most of the stuff at HHN is not something a child needs to see...so please...do not bring your child to HHN. There are scarezones throughout the park and scareactors will try to scare you at just about every turn. You don't see a lot of the blood/guts except in the houses...which you could avoid if you wanted. But...HHN is not cheap so for the money, I would see everything I could.

 

[inkkognito]

I'm thinking 3 1/2 is too young, and I say this as a person who was a Halloween lover from a very, very young age and who was dragged to every horror movie possible by my mom from the time I was a toddler. Even though I could handle movies, I freaked out when taken to a wax museum chamber of horrors...at that age, I think having chainsaw wielding maniacs and others running around "live" would be a bit much. I'm figuring when she's five she might be okay with it because that's old enough to understand logic/explanations that it's all pretend as wild monsters are getting up in your face.

 

[lauren5406]

It is a good thing you asked because I would hate for you to accidentally traumatize a child like that. Some others have said 13 but I have told my brother he isn't allowed to join us until he is 16, he is 10 and begging to go. The only way to avoid the scariest parts is to just not go, they do a fantastic job of completely immersing you in HORROR.

 

[patster734]

I've heard the Universal will be bringing back their Unmasking the Horror Tour this year. That could be a possible solution if it does become available. This tour occurs during the day and doesn't use scare actors. You see some of the decorations with the lights on so its not as intense as going through at night.

 

[ccgirl]

Personally, I think that is WAY TOO YOUNG. I have been to that before and it scared me like nothing else!! There were "Freddie Krueger" type guys with chain saws chasing people and all that stuff. It was more "scary" than cute and funny like MNSSHP. That's just my opinion though. Honestly, I probably wouldn't take my kids until they were about 12 or so.

 

[jlfabbri]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question about HHN....I figured it was going to be WAY too scary for her - and now I'm thinking it's way too scary for me too!!

Sounds like we better stick to MNSSHP.

Maybe if I get the courage up - her dad and I can go while she stays at the resort with grandma...

Thanks again for the great advice,
Jen

 

[the Dark Marauder]

One thing nobody mentioned was the cost. A ticket for a 3 y/o costs as much as a ticket for a 16 y/o costs as much as a ticket for a 40 y/o, etc. If anything, go to Universal during the day. There may be *some* props out, but there will be no scary people or scary things. That all happens at night.

HHN = great fun for those who can handle the gore/scares/amount of booze/sex/etc. You and your hubby will probably have a great time, and yes, the scareactors will find you.

 

[inkkognito]

Dark Marauder brings up a good point about the booze and sex. I know from being a fright fan myself from an early age that some very young kids can handle it. However, I forgot about the staggering drunks (yes, really...you will run into them frequently) who cause disturbances in line, touch the scareactors, etc. Also, if you accidentally took her to the Rocky Horror Picture show, her ears would be burning from the audience participation F-bombs. All of that can be much scarier for a little one than the actual horror.

 

[RACEFAN9]

Took my 10 year old daughter last year,she was scared at first but after i sat down and told her it's all fake and just for fun she was o.k. Only problem i had was old mother hubbard asked my little girl if she wanted her to teach her sex education.I almost punched her,my husband told her off.
Some of the things the street people say can be crude.

 

[Coach81]

Don't think I'd bring my 7 year old to HHN much less a three year old.. just mho.

 

[jama]

BIG mistake! We took our kids at age 12(DD) and 13(DS) ...it was way too much for them...we ended up having to leave and we didn't even go through any haunted houses!
note...we thought it would be fine because we had gone to Busch Gardens Halloween events and they liked those the year before...
but Universal's is definitely for the older crowd..not kids1

 

[LOLA2]

My hubby and I have gone for the past 7 years and this past year we went two nights. The first night we had kids nite come to our room and watch DS 7 and DD hung 13 out in room. We went to do the houses. The next night we took DD (son went to camp lil rock) for all the scare zones and shows. She had a great time.We took my daughter 13 last year but did no houses just the shows and scarezones. This year we only have 1 night to do HHN so I asked my DD and she said she wants to do houses, she was just worried someone will toch her and I told her they are not allowed so she feels she is good to go. while I would never to think of taking a child under 12 I think once they are 13-14 and they like scary movies good idea to go one year and have them try scarzones. If too much for them then you know their answer. If they liked it offer to take them next year full blown everything. But never force.
I would never spend the amount of money on HHN and take a child I am not sure would like it, only doing because we have the frequeunt fear and will be able to do sunday and Thursday.

 

[donaldduck352]

I have witness adults that cant handle it.
Last year there was A women in front of us with her hubby/boyfriend that totally lost it.At the end of the house she was so traumitized I'm sure they left.Kinda felt bad for her she didnt know what she was getting into.HHN is very intense.

 

[schumigirl]

Just my 2 pennies worth.

We went for the first time in 2007 and had never heard of HHN and decided to go on the spur of the moment. Our son was 13 at the time.

We can honestly say it was the best night we had in all of our trip. But, my son is very grown up in lots of ways and doesn`t get scared of things the way a lot of kids do. He had a blast and laughed his socks off most of the night.

We went back last year and it was even better. It was the one thing he asked if we go could go to when we knew we were coming back to Orlando end of sept.

But, I would never entertain taking anyone younger than he was at the time. We saw some kids in buggies last year and I couldn`t believe it that anyone would consider taking such young kids to this knowing what it was.

This is my DH`s fav pic of HHN last year, says it was nice to see me speechless for a change

 

[Metro West]

Oh Carole...that's hilarious!

 

[maggieb9975]

hhn has a creepy atmosphere from the time you step into the park and is no place for a child under the age of 13...imo. Every year i see little kids being dragged around by their parents and it really makes me mad! Liking halloween and seeing blood and guts are completely different and seeing most of the stuff at hhn is not something a child needs to see...so please...do not bring your child to hhn. There are scarezones throughout the park and scareactors will try to scare you at just about every turn. You don't see a lot of the blood/guts except in the houses...which you could avoid if you wanted. But...hhn is not cheap so for the money, i would see everything i could.

i agree 110%!!!!!

 

[yaytezIOA]

Not only is it too scary for kids, but its too sexual for kids too. Here are over 100 pics I took last year.
Gives you an idea of not only the houses and zones, but also the shows.
And, I did take my then 7 yr old to the event last year....at the insistence of my ex.It wasn't pretty. My then ten yr old loved it, but not her. Read my account of it here.
Bottom line is wait. OHOH!!! I FORGOT! If you want Halloween fun for kids, go to Sea World! They have the Shamu Spooktacular every weekend in October, and it's free to participate, and you can dress up, though its not required. It's really an awesome time and not scary at all...and a great alternative to mickey.

 

[schumigirl]

Oh Carole...that's hilarious!

I genuinely thought there was nothing there, just a special effect but Tom and Kyle had seen him move and said to me to just stand!!! Like the good girl I am, I did as I was told

I wouldn`t mind but I had already been caught out 20 mins before by one of those pumpkin head people, I thought that was an ornament too!

So going to miss it this year.

 

[T-rox]

ive done the hhn rip tour several years in a row. 3 1/2 way too young imo. gore and guts everywhere. I personally dont get scared, but there is fog in lots of places ( scare zones) dead peeps and demons walking amoung the crowds. the rat lady. 3 1/2 year old may accidentally be traumitized. also the throngs of people, that late at night with that much imbibing, arent the kindest to little ones. i get ushered in and out with the rip tour, but i wouldnt be caught dead ( no pun intended) fighting for myself in those crowds