There's a *big* market for "spooky" but not "gory" and it's lovely to see places starting to fill all the levels of the Halloween market.
For example, I'm really hoping "Boney Island" in Los Angeles comes back; it's one the comedic side of spooky, but still is great for all ages and perfect for the season.
My kids (11 and 13) surprised me last year. We took them to Universal Halloween Horror Nights anticipating just walking around to enjoy the atmosphere and scare zones, as I'd never force them to go through a haunt. However, they wound up doing all 10 houses and LOVED it! I'm a big horror fan, so they've always grown up loving Halloween and scary movies (though I'm definitely selective on what they get to watch). Since we couldn't make HHN a second year in the row, we're hitting Busch Gardens Williamsburg Howl-o-Scream this weekend, and they're super excited for it.
I think it's great that parks have non-scary options for those who just want to experience the fun side of Halloween. My kids grew up participating in kid-friendly Halloween events, and it fostered a real love for the holiday that they now get to experience in new ways as they get older.
As far as the gore question, I'm definitely an adult who enjoys "spooky" over "gory." While I love haunts, I enjoy walking around in the fog eating Halloween treats just as much.
Your parenting is to be commended! I've witnessed some crazy, disheartening incidents through the years of parents attempting to coerce their kids to ride coasters and other thrill rides. Really, it's just as bad when folks use peer pressure to shame unwilling adults to try something against their better judgment. That your kids had agency to discover haunts on their own is great.
I get your objection to gory, and I'm not a big slasher movie fan, but I do enjoy an occasional blood-soaked fiend or two having a go at a hapless victim’s writhing intestine in a haunt!
There's a *big* market for "spooky" but not "gory" and it's lovely to see places starting to fill all the levels of the Halloween market.
For example, I'm really hoping "Boney Island" in Los Angeles comes back; it's one the comedic side of spooky, but still is great for all ages and perfect for the season.
I really, really, like the infusion of comedy into haunts. I loved the Penn and Teller house a few years back at HHN Orlando.
My kids (11 and 13) surprised me last year. We took them to Universal Halloween Horror Nights anticipating just walking around to enjoy the atmosphere and scare zones, as I'd never force them to go through a haunt. However, they wound up doing all 10 houses and LOVED it! I'm a big horror fan, so they've always grown up loving Halloween and scary movies (though I'm definitely selective on what they get to watch). Since we couldn't make HHN a second year in the row, we're hitting Busch Gardens Williamsburg Howl-o-Scream this weekend, and they're super excited for it.
I think it's great that parks have non-scary options for those who just want to experience the fun side of Halloween. My kids grew up participating in kid-friendly Halloween events, and it fostered a real love for the holiday that they now get to experience in new ways as they get older.
As far as the gore question, I'm definitely an adult who enjoys "spooky" over "gory." While I love haunts, I enjoy walking around in the fog eating Halloween treats just as much.
Your parenting is to be commended! I've witnessed some crazy, disheartening incidents through the years of parents attempting to coerce their kids to ride coasters and other thrill rides. Really, it's just as bad when folks use peer pressure to shame unwilling adults to try something against their better judgment. That your kids had agency to discover haunts on their own is great.
I get your objection to gory, and I'm not a big slasher movie fan, but I do enjoy an occasional blood-soaked fiend or two having a go at a hapless victim’s writhing intestine in a haunt!