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Nov 14, 2009
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Williamsburg, VA
While the “Scare is Everywhere” at this year's Howl-O-Scream after 6pm, and the probability of avoiding all “scares” throughtout the event, there are some tips that parents with small children can use to navigate the park with their children to avoid the most active scare spots.

In general, sticking to the shows, Forest of Fun, and Land of the Dragons are always safe spots for kids. Also, maximizing use of the train and skyride to navagate around the park will help you avoid many of the scarier areas. The following will give some details about each specific area of the park:

Area: England
Safest Course: stay to the far right generally, you can shortcut through the shops and around the back of the candy shop by the lockers and eating area out to the main path toward Scotland
Type of Scare-actor: Faceless Victorian mourners, giant Birdman
Volume of Scare-actor: heavy
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: Sesame street movie in Globe Theater

Area: Scotland
Safest Course: stay to the middle of the path, the scareactors are well disguised in the brush alond the edges
Type of Scare-actor: Gilley suited “marsh” monsters
Volume of Scare-actor: moderate
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: Highland Stables, Lil' Clydes, train

Area: Ireland
Safest Course: stay to the left toward the shops
Type of Scare-actor: Goblins
Volume of Scare-actor: light
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: Europe in the Air, Monster Stomp, Jack is Back

Area: Wild Reserve
Safest Course: stay to the right, take the path around Lorikeet glen to bypass the main path, dark, but monster-free
Type of Scare-actor: Spiders
Volume of Scare-actor: moderate
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: none

Area: France
Safest Course: far left toward the skyride, behind the shops, around the back of Griffon Gifts, stay to the left by monster trucks, toward the back of the snack shop toward the dining area
Type of Scare-actor: Rats, skeltons
Volume of Scare-actor: Heavy
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: skyride

Area: New France
Safest Course: continuing from France, stay to the left through the dining area of New France directly toward the bridge to Alpengeist (if you have a stroller, you will have to lift it down a couple of steps)
Type of Scare-actor: werewolves, butchers w/chainsaws
Volume of Scare-actor: Very Heavy
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: train (cannot avoid scare-actore to get to train)

Area: Germany/Rhinefeld
Safest Course: go through Alpengeist snack shop, stay in middle of path/lighted areas throughtout Rhinefeld
Type of Scare-actor: Vampires/sliders
Volume of Scare-actor: moderate
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: Land of the Dragons (closes at 8)/ Carousel, skyride

Area: Germany Oktoberfest
Safest Course: middle of the path
Type of Scare-actor: Possibly none
Volume of Scare-actor: very light
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: Darkastle, games, arcade, Frankenrock, bumper cars, airplanes, swings, Katapult

Area: Italy
Safest Course: middle of the path
Type of Scare-actor: witches
Volume of Scare-actor: moderate to heavy
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: gliders, balloons, battering ram, da vinci's cradle, flying machine

Area: Festa Italia
Safest Course: middle of the path
Type of Scare-actor: Possibly none
Volume of Scare-actor: very light
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: Elephant Run, tea cups, Tradewinds, arcade, games

Area: Pompeii area
Safest Course: along the rail closest to the Pompeii ride itself
Type of Scare-actor: mummies
Volume of Scare-actor: light to moderate
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: none

Area: Forest of Fun
Safest Course: middle of the path in and out
Type of Scare-actor: none
Volume of Scare-actor: none
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: skyride, all rides, Count show

Hopefully, these tips will come in handy to help you enjoy the park with your kids after dark. However, they WILL probably get scared at some point. It is nearly unavoidable. Have fun!
 
RE: Parent's Guide to Howl-O-Scream

Shafor said:
Area: Italy
Safest Course: middle of the path
Type of Scare-actor: witches
Volume of Scare-actor: moderate to heavy
Kid Friendly rides/attractions: gliders, balloons, battering ram, da vinci's cradle, flying machine

There is a chainsaw butcher roaming the bridge and a small section of land on both the Italian and German side.
There are also 2-3 ghillie suits in the Italy gardens.
 
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