RE: Howl-O-Scream 2011
Shafor said:
Now you're going to get chastised by people on this board about how you're ruining everyone's time around you by "depriving" them of getting scared because the scareactors were being friendly to your kids. (No, I'm not joking).
BTW, I've never had any big issues with my kids either. My son (9) is much more frightened than my daughter (5). But he's hot and cold. And we basically just navigate around the scare zones the best we can. You really can "avoid" most of HOS while you're there, if you're familiar enough with the park. Oh and they LOVE the shows.
For the most part, I think there is a huge perception that people bring kids and then complain they got scared. Obviously you're going to get a handful of that stuff, but good grief, can you imagine to goofball complaints they deal with on a regular basis throughout the season. Just part of doing business.
They can fuss all they want to, it's not depriving anybody of anything. If this was HHN, again different story, already debated topic. Let 'em at me.
We are there twice a weekend, every weekend with them in tow, so maybe its just them used to it, I don't know. And I totally agree, there are ways around the scares. Except for that giant spider last year. That freaked my son out, but only because of the sound of the air pump being so loud. My kids also really enjoy the shows, except for the skeletons in MSR, which I find hilarious because every other kid in the world is loving it. Again, maybe my kids are just weird.
I actually worked at GS in the park (or Relations now, I guess) and it is true, you will hear everything. After one shift, you have enough to fill a book. Those people go through it, and it was one of my toughest interviews I have ever been on in my life, but they trained us well, and it really does take a certain type of person to keep on smiling.
Swiftman said:
RocketChk said:
Those who don't have kids, do you think less of the parents who bring their kids?
Not if the kids are enjoying it and not messing it up for anyone else. My gripe comes when parents pull their kids through a house or scarezone that the kid obviously doesn't want to be in. I've walked behind and in front of multiple parents who literally drag their 4 or 5 year olds through the houses by the arm and tell the staff: "Don't scare him, he's 4". It ruins the experience for everyone.
I agree here, because I have told my son every year that the second he feels like he wants to go home, we're out. I would never take my kids into a house, until I knew they could handle it, and I'm about 10 years away from that. This where I think the park needs to step in and put their foot down and enforce a strict, no person under 13 allowed at all in a house. In a house, no scareactor should have to modify their role. In the scarezones, I think it's all up to the scareactor. There have been times when a group of teenage girls have been around my stroller and the scaractor said 'f-it, I'm going for it,' and I've got no hard feelings.
Then again, one time I was behind a family in a house, mom, dad and two pre-teen kids and they had a great time. Very respectful through the whole house, screams and laughs all the way. After we excited the house they all laughed and seemed like they had a great time. Here's where I think it should be up to the parent.
DaTrueBGWFan said:
Swiftman said:
RocketChk said:
Those who don't have kids, do you think less of the parents who bring their kids?
Not if the kids are enjoying it and not messing it up for anyone else. My gripe comes when parents pull their kids through a house or scarezone that the kid obviously doesn't want to be in. I've walked behind and in front of multiple parents who literally drag their 4 or 5 year olds through the houses by the arm and tell the staff: "Don't scare him, he's 4". It ruins the experience for everyone.
I can understand how that can ruin an experience, but what about the people who don't have someone to watch their kid and don't have many opportunities to have activities like HoS? I mean, hopefully they won't complain to guest services, but still, it can get a little frustrating for parents...
Sorry for the double post, you guys are quick. This is, as a parent, another very good question and I wanted to bring it up. What
if you don't have anybody to watch your kids? Should I have to miss out on one of my favorite things in the world because I'm a parent? Not at all, but if it came down to it, my husband and I would have to split up and go into the houses separately until they become of age to be by themselves at home while mom and dad have all the fun, or they are able to handle going into the mazes.
