Universal Horror Nights - who has brought children before?

[mommyinmd]

I know there is controversy over this- whether or not to bring kids. We live very close to 6 flags and have been season pass holders for years. They have halloween happenings each year which we go to, so the kids are very used to seeing people dressed up. In fact, they compete in the halloween costume contest each year to try for season passes. There is a haunted house, haunted train, trick or treats,hayride etc. There is an optional pay extra attraction which I have never brought them to since it is supposed to be very intense. I am trying to decide whether Universal Horror Nights might be ok for them while we are there in Oct. Just wondering if anyone has brought their kids and how it was for them. Also, if one of us has a regular annual pass there and the others have power passes, can we buy the discounted tickets for all by having just the one regular AP?
Thanks

 

[Peterd]

If I remember right, you can get up to six admission discounts with each AP. As for the kids, We have 5 (6-20) and the first year we went it was pretty intense for two of the younger ones. The next year, a CM told the kids if you want them to go away, hold up one of the coins (you get from the parade) to the monster, and he'll go away. They loved this. The last few years, the kids were able to ride on the floats in the parade. They have special roped off areas for "little" kids to get the beads and coins from the parade without the fear of being trampled. This year, we're going in Nov., and will miss HHN. I'm trying to convince my wife for a quick weekend trip in Oct. Our fav. part was walking through Amity through a big fog, and meeting up with the different gouls. I heard this year it's going to be in IOA, I can imagine walking through Jurasic Park during the night. I think the kids will have a great time. Enjoy!

 

[kazzie]

mommyinmd,

How old are your kids?

 

[mommyinmd]

They are 6,9, and 11.

 

[RUN]

mommyinmd, I think it would be a bad idea to take your kids to HHN. Wait until they are older and can enjoy it. Walking through a Universal Park during HHN is more intense than going through one of the tame Six Flags haunted houses. Not just you, but people in general; I feel that many people get very excited about taking their kids to Disney or Universal when they are much to young. In this case your kids are over that too young age for just visting the parks, but now they are at the stage they are too young for something like HHN. Believe me, you won't be having fun when your little kids are crying and balling after someone walks up behind them and scrapes a trashcan across the concrete in pure white fog with 0 visibility. Thats another thing, you yourselves will more than likely be too worried about where your kids are to have any fun. HHN is by far the easiest even to get separated from your party, and with 3 small kids would you want to be walking through pitch black alleys and fog filled paths with people running by on all sides of you?

 

[UKDEB]

I think it depends on your kids. We took ours in 1998 when they were 13 and 11 and they loved it. I'm sure they would have loved it at any age and there were plenty of <i>much</i> younger kids there who were not fazed at all.

We quickly learned <i>not</i> to run away from the chainsaw wielding zombies! There's no fun in it for them if you're totally non-plussed, but run away screaming and they'll come after you all the more!

I wouldn't let them go into the mazes - dh is still traumatised to this day!

The carnival floats are great fun for everyone - strings of beads in their thousands (so everyone gets some) are thrown to the crowd and everyone walks around covered in the things.

 

[skiwee1]

I'm taking my 14 y/o to it. I know he will be fine but I don't think I would have taken him at age 11.

 

[kazzie]

Hi,

We went for the first time last year when our 'kids' were 11,14 and 16.I took my youngest before I would have liked to but thought it would be our 16 year olds last trip with us and I wanted him to experience HHN (actually he is coming again this October although this IS the last time!!)

My 14 and 16 year olds absolutely loved it,they thought it was the best thing of the whole vacation.My 11 year old was fairly scared though BUT he is a quite nervous child.

I wouldn't even think about taking the younger children and would advise you against taking even your 11 year old.

Have you thought about MNSSHP (Mickey's not so scary Halloween party) Halloween event at the Magic Kingdom?I'm sure this would be much more fun for you all

 

[Paris]

As you can see, everyone's mileage will vary here. UKDeb's 11 year old had a great time so she has no problem recommending an 11 year-old to go while Kazzie had a spooked 11-year-old child so that camp says no.

It all depends on your children. If walk-through haunted houses are nothing new for them, and you're wise enough to shield them from the reality that these are your garden variety houses only amped up to a certain degree, the mazes might be doable. But you also have to keep in mind that they have plenty of characters wreaking havoc out in the open. This is an event that blankets the park. It's not a Six Flags costume contest where there is order and familiarity.

One other important factor is that this takes place late into the night. Are your children good night owls -- or can they nap on command earlier in the day to make sure they are awake and alert? The last thing you want is to be dragging a few kids through a dark and foggy path only to have to react to a little mayhem round the bend.

In short, my answer is that there is no right answer to the age issue. I worked at a fairly popular haunted house in South Florida and I saw grown-ups wet themselves or respond in complete terror while young children could absorb it all unfazed. If you're into spook events, there will be few better than this. If you're not -- or if even one child is not -- you will not be in for much of a night.

Rick

 

[kazzie]

Rick,

I think what you've said is so true.

It made me really LOL when I read you've seen adults actually wet themselves...it doesn't surprise me!

My most embarrassing moment moment of my life happened at HHN last year. My legs gave way with fear,TWICE! Once in a maze and once on a haunted street. But the worst thing was I was laughing so much I couldn't get up

Maybe that is a good reason not to take kids/teens.....mine were so embarrased by good 'ol me!

 

[maverick61]

Its really dependent on you and your kids - but I must say my wife and I have brought our daughter with us all 3 times we have been to HHN - and she loved it.

The first time she was 3 years old, 5 on the second trip and 7 years old two years ago.

WHen she was 3 - she wasn't fazed at all - actually laughing at the people trying to scare her.

When she was 5 - she did get scared early on, but one of the Park folks gave her a coin (as mentioned above - the kind they throw in the parade) to hold up whenever she wanted to scare someone away. With that - she had all the power she needed and had a great time chasing the scare actors away. Then she warmed up to them and actually danced with a couple pretty freaky looking things on stilts during the parade.

When she was 7 - she didn't need any coin - yea, she was spooked a few times when some creature walked up behind her without her knowing it, but laughed about it shortly thereafter.

So I wouldn't have a problem at all saying to take your kids (shoot I am trying to convince my wife to fly down this year).

 

[RhondaS]

Are these coins available only for the younger children, or will their special powers work for "kids" of all ages?