If you’ve never been to a haunted house before, walking through the gates of Woods of Terror for the first time can be exciting, intimidating, and maybe just a little terrifying. You might have no idea what to expect. You might already be wondering if you’re going to scream. You might even have a friend telling you, “It’s not that bad.”
Don’t listen to that friend.
The good news is that you don’t have to be a lifelong horror fan to enjoy Woods of Terror. You don’t have to know every horror movie ever made, and you definitely don’t have to consider yourself brave. In fact, some of our favorite guests are the ones experiencing a haunted attraction for the very first time.
Your first haunted house experience is something you’ll probably remember for a long time.
There’s nothing quite like walking into an attraction when you have absolutely no idea what is coming. You don’t know where the scares are, you don’t know which characters you’re going to encounter, and you don’t know what is waiting around the next corner. That uncertainty is a huge part of the fun.
And yes, you’re probably going to scream.
That’s okay.
You’re supposed to.
A haunted attraction isn’t a test of how fearless you are. You don’t get a trophy for walking through without reacting. The whole point is to let yourself get caught up in the experience. Laugh when something scares you. Grab your friend’s arm. Jump when something moves. Scream as loud as you want.
Then laugh about it afterward.
One of the best things about visiting Woods of Terror for the first time is experiencing it with other people. Bring friends or family members who will make the night fun for you. There is something hilarious about watching everyone react differently to the exact same scare. The person who claims they aren’t scared might scream louder than everyone else, while the person who was nervous about coming might end up loving every second of it.
Don’t worry about knowing what you’re doing. Just follow the experience and enjoy yourself.
Before entering the attractions, take some time to enjoy the rest of the night. Take pictures, check out the atmosphere, grab something to eat, and hang out with your group. Part of going to a haunted attraction is the anticipation leading up to the moment you actually enter.
Once you’re inside, let yourself get immersed in it.
Don’t spend the entire time trying to figure out how the scares work. Don’t worry about predicting every character. And definitely don’t assume that because you saw something happen to the group ahead of you, you’ll get the exact same experience.
Live actors make every group different.
They can see how you’re reacting. They can interact with you. They can change their approach depending on your group. That’s one of the things that makes a live haunted attraction so different from watching a horror movie.
And if you love it?
Well, congratulations.
You’ve probably just created a new Halloween tradition.
The first visit is always special because everything is new. But once you’ve been through Woods of Terror, you may find yourself wanting to come back to see what you’ve missed, bring friends who haven’t experienced it yet, or see what’s changed from one season to the next.
That’s how it happens.
One visit turns into another, and suddenly you’re the person convincing someone else to come with you.
So if you’ve never experienced a haunted house before and you’re wondering whether Woods of Terror is a good place to start, here’s our advice:
Come with an open mind. Bring people you trust. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Give yourself time to enjoy the entire experience. And don’t worry about whether you’re brave enough.
You are.
You just might discover that being scared is a lot more fun than you thought.
Welcome to Woods of Terror.
Your first scream is waiting.
Bigger. Better. The Best.
