Scare actors work primarily to scare and entertain guests. However, many guests do not adhere to basic rules and social cues, so here’s a rundown of how not to act at Halloween Horror Nights.
- Do not touch the performers
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I’m going to say it again: Do. Not. Touch. The. Performers. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any malicious intentions; it’s disrespectful and uncomfortable to be touched by strangers. This is not a hands-on exhibit. The performers honor the rule that they are not allowed to touch you so you should show respect for them as well. This is especially important for stilt walkers.
- Do not mistreat the set
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Believe it or not, all of the sets are very expensive. A lot of work has gone into bringing them to life so it’s best not for you to touch anything. In the Ghostbusters house there used to be ectoplasm in one of the last scenes, but by the end of the second week it was almost completely picked off. Not only are you destroying something, but you’re taking away a cool element of the house!
- Stay in the conga line
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This is a big one. Do not step out of the line, please and thank you. Many guests think they’re being funny by sitting on the couches and chairs in the Us house, but in reality, it’s more irritating than anything. At least once every night I see someone step out of the queue, sit in a chair, realize their group has left the room and run past other guests to go find them. It’s even worse when you step out of the line to try to go into a performer’s space. I stand in a very tight hallway and several times per night some teenage boy will shove his girlfriend into the small space to try to taunt and scare her. That’s a huge no-no. It makes me feel scared as well because I’m essentially trapped until they move. Not to mention this often backs up the line which will increase the wait for the house. It’s all kinds of bad, so just don’t do any of these things.
- Watch your alcohol consumption
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Universal offers a variety of special Halloween Horror Nights alcoholic beverages which is super cool. However, it stops being cool when people get inappropriately drunk. I understand drinking with friends and getting tipsy may enhance the experience, but there’s a certain point where you need to draw the line. Having drunk guests fall all over the sets, performers and others in the line is unpleasant for everyone.
Please remember that scare actors are people with feelings just like you. We work hard to entertain our guests, so we appreciate it when you treat us with kindness.
Images: Created by author