RE: Howl-O-Scream 2011
Ok...I am not going to sit and read all the pages regarding the age limit discussion. So here is my two cents if it has been said before send it to the Department of Redundancy Department... First off let me say I have only been to HOS a handful of times since it opened, once in '01 and twice last year, so how the park runs things during the event is not well known by me.
As a parent of young children would I intentionally bring them to the part during HOS? No. Last year my family was in the park walking toward the exit from Oktoberfest into New France etc. when HOS started, we were going to leave earlier but the kids said they wanted to see what was going to be scary so we took the long way around at a quick pace. The atmosphere scared them (as we knew it would) and as it was designed to do. However, let me commend the scare actors that were working that night, from what I could tell they made a conscious effort to avoid all children. Whether that is training or common sense (or both) I don't know. But I greatly appreciated it.
The second time we went, my wife & I went alone intentionally for HOS. We could enjoy it more without running interference. Plus it was nice to be just the two of us. We were in the line for Catacombs at the very back of RPT, there was a lady behind us with a "tween"age son and a daughter that had to be no older that 7. The poor girl was scared as heck and the mother was doing nothing. One of the scare actors was walking around in a mummy type cammo costume and when he got to her and notice how scared she was he bent down and out of character told her that he was just an ordinary person in a costume and gave her a high five. I couldn't have been happier at the training it appears the employees receive. Needless to say mom of the year behind us didn't get out of line and we had to deal with a whimpering, crying child behind us the whole way through.
Now, my wife & I don't scare easily. Me more so than her b/c as I walk I am constantly scanning ahead and around me, trying not to run into anyone and find the path through the crowds. Since Catacombs was really the only scare zone we went through I can only base my experience on this one zone. I did not like the layout of the maze. The corners where the actors were hiding were "cleverly" disguised by people in white security shirts posted a few feet before you got there. While I realize they are a necessary evil because there are far too many stupid people in this world and they do tend to congregate at things like this, it would be nice if security could be a little more concealed. Plus there were also (not so) hidden hallways for the employees to walk through and you could clearly see where someone was hiding.
I seem to remember in '01, before the zones opened, the park would "shut down" for a hour to allow things to be set up and for parents of small children to leave. I'm not sure if that still happens but I didn't notice it. If it doesn't, I would recommend it start back. In fact I saw people entering the park specifically for HOS with kids in strollers and carriers.
All that to say this:
-HOS for 18+? Sure, I think it highly unlikely and financially impossible, but it is a great idea. Not looking for a live operating room or a slaughterhouse brothel, but for the actors to really be able to try to scare you without all of the limitations would be nice. (it's a shame you can't scan for stupidity)
-A scare zone 18+? Absolutely, but how can you successfully police the age limit? Some people traveling together and the ones who didn't drive left I.D. at home or not have one at all.
-If the park is unable to do 18+ I would suggest a policy of "no one under the age of (12?)"
-It all comes down to responsible parenting. If you can't feed them, don't breed them. If your young child is freaking out, leave. Or better yet, leave them at home/family member/babysitter and come alone. You should know your child's limits and it is not the park or their employees faults if YOUR child can't handle it. It ruins the experience for everyone else if there is someone crying behind them and the actors have to reign the actions in to keep from scaring someone who is not yet mature enough to handle it.
OK, I am getting off the soapbox. My wife said my 2 cents turned into $1.50, but oh well. If there is anyone else still reading this, thank you for your time.
ScoutN said:
Let's get this thread back to where it needs to be. A little off trail was golden for a bit. It has become a bit monotonous at this point. Opinions are going to vary from poster to poster. That will lead to nothing but a battle of egos.
Sorry, I was typing my book when you posted this.
