Screamscape Featured Article...

[Erosarrow05]

I have always been a big fan of Screamscape, I find it to be the most credible site on the internet and it is by far my favorite website to get amusement related news and informational tidbits from without having to scavenger the internet fan sites.

(I often think people who post news stories from around the internet get the information from screamscape and just cite the original website as opposed to saying 'i saw it on screamscape', but thats another topic)

In addition, I have always enjoyed the featured articles that pop up from time to time from the webmaster, and the latest one is no exception. When to take the little ones to a Halloween event seems to be a growing question as the haunt circuits seem to become increasingly popular. Its nothing groundbreaking as far as technique for having the younger members of the family test the halloween waters, but more just his experience. In my personal opinion, articles like these would be a great asset to have not only on KICentral.com, but on all fan sties. I'd love to see articles from 'contributing authors' in the 'features' section as opposed to the regular reminder to upgrade your season pass. Posting it in the forums just leads to quibble among users and unfortunately more often than not you find yourself debating, for example, when to take a child to Halloween Haunt, with someone who equates age wise, as a child. I suppose thats the blessing of internet anonymity though.

In any event, I thought I'd offer up my two cents as there isn't much else to do at The James around 5:30 in the morning... And of course, here is the link to the screamscape story:

http://www.screamscape.com/features/html/w...s_to_haunts.htm

[FriedOreoGirl]

I have always been a big fan of Screamscape, I find it to be the most credible site on the internet and it is by far my favorite website to get amusement related news and informational tidbits from without having to scavenger the internet fan sites.

(I often think people who post news stories from around the internet get the information from screamscape and just cite the original website as opposed to saying 'i saw it on screamscape', but thats another topic)

In addition, I have always enjoyed the featured articles that pop up from time to time from the webmaster, and the latest one is no exception. When to take the little ones to a Halloween event seems to be a growing question as the haunt circuits seem to become increasingly popular. Its nothing groundbreaking as far as technique for having the younger members of the family test the halloween waters, but more just his experience. In my personal opinion, articles like these would be a great asset to have not only on KICentral.com, but on all fan sties. I'd love to see articles from 'contributing authors' in the 'features' section as opposed to the regular reminder to upgrade your season pass. Posting it in the forums just leads to quibble among users and unfortunately more often than not you find yourself debating, for example, when to take a child to Halloween Haunt, with someone who equates age wise, as a child. I suppose thats the blessing of internet anonymity though.

In any event, I thought I'd offer up my two cents as there isn't much else to do at The James around 5:30 in the morning... And of course, here is the link to the screamscape story:

http://www.screamscape.com/features/html/w...s_to_haunts.htm

that is a great article and a brave boy. i wasnt that brave at that age. i saw a 4 yr old goin thru a haunt last weekend. i thought it was crazy but i guess everyone's different.

[Erosarrow05]

I certainly was not that brave when I was that young, I doubt I am today for that matter!

[TylerRider]

It seems like the younger kids are less afraid.

[Dvo]

I have always been a big fan of Screamscape, I find it to be the most credible site on the internet

:lol:

Not a bad article though. I can't remember even going to haunted houses as a child. I remember we had a small one in our grade school that I always went through. I guess I've never really been afraid of them.

[Browntggrr]

Screamscape will use information/ rumors gained from other sites and use them as their own.

I can't tell you the numerous times that a information piece or rumor has been posted here, and then show up on Screamscape a short time later, with only "Screamscape sources" mentioned.

It got so bad years ago, sites were posting completely false information just to see if Screamscape would pick up on it. Back in 2005/ 2006 when rumors were running rampant about CP's new coaster for 2007, Screamscape posted that the ride would be a Screaming Squirrel, then posted the ever popular Aqua Trax rumor, until a CP employee was able to get a hold (steal) of the actual Maverick information and then posted that. Incidentally, after Maverick's information was posted, the previous rumored ride posts disappeared giving a false impression to readers.

Even the now famous "Magnum is sinking" rumor made Screamscape for a period of time until it was realized that it was purely a joke.

My understanding is that things have improved at Screamscape, but IMO, that site is a useful as Wiki.

[XGatorHead 8904]

Great article, thanks for posting it Erosarrow!

I found myself thinking about this very question a lot last weekend. When I pop out to do my scare in Slaughter House, it's very difficult to see who I'm popping out at, with the combination of the fog and the strobe light in the room. There were a few times when I've popped out, only to realize that there was a small child there. Most children that have been coming through seem to handle it very well, but every once in awhile there will be one clinging to their parent, and this is when I feel bad for popping out at that time. Thankfully this has happened to me only twice this year so far.

But as the weekend went on, I started thinking about when I would let GatorGirl go to a Haunt event. Like the author's son, GatorGirl is very fearless when it comes to rides. I think this may be a good sign when it comes to Haunts. I started thinking about when my parents started taking me to haunted houses, and when they started letting me watch horror movies. Granted, since she's only 4 (5 next month), I still have a few years before I'll let GatorGirl do either, but as the years go by I'll assess when I think is the right time. My projection right now is probably when she's 8 years old she may be able to handle it. Who knows, it could be earlier, could be later. We'll see. It all depends on the individual child.

When we went to CP's Halloweekends a few weeks ago, Mrs. Gator and I thought it might be fun to take GatorGirl up there next year. We found they have a ton of stuff for the kids. This would be a good way to get her used to the idea. And I loved the author's suggestion of sitting in a scare zone and watching others get scared. I frankly never though of this, but what a great idea to acclimate them.

Also, I think the fact that I work Haunt that helps too. GatorGirl knows I dress up and scare people at KI on the weekend. She happened to see a picture of me last year in my costume and makeup. This year she has a better understanding of what I do (although she doesn't know all the details, of course).

Funny story... The night that we were in costume and makeup during rehearsal week this year, Mrs. Gator let GatorGirl stay up until I got home because GatorGirl wanted to see my makeup. I didn't know about this, so when I got home I came in the house and heard a Disney movie playing. I quickly peaked my head around the corner into the living room, and there was GatorGirl, sitting on the couch, looking at me and smiling. I peaked my head around again, same thing. Finally, she says to me, "You know Daddy, I'm not scared of your makeup." Mrs. Gator said to her, "You know it's just makeup, right?" GatorGirl said "Yeah", I said "Okay..." and stepped around the corner. I let her touch the makeup, which she thought was cool, especially the latex flesh wound. I told her the latex was fun to peel off. She asked if she could pull it off, but I told her no (good thing too, because the girl who had done my makeup had gotten the edge of it into my sideburns... OUCH!). But she watched me peel off the latex and wash off the fake blood. I hadn't expected to let her see me like that this early, but Mrs. Gator thought it would be okay since she had already seen pictures. And GatorGirl was completely fine with it. She thinks it's cool that I work there doing that.

[maverick2007]

This is a very good article and I believe that this is an article many should read. Although I, myself, don't like any of the Haunts I have seen this many times on rides. Many a time have I been getting on a coaster to see a little kid sitting behind me crying at the top of their lungs with their parent telling them they should ride and the ride op giving the kid a choice. I say let the kid choose if they do an attraction - Haunt or ride.