My daughter has been attending haunts since she was 2 weeks old (October baby) and really enjoys them now as a going on five year old. Thus far she has attended Scary Farm, HHN Orlando, LA’s Haunted Hayride, and the now defunct Sinister Valley multiple years.
Now, your kids are admittedly out of that age range and the 12 and 14 year old would definitely be more of targets.
To be fair, we have friends who are actors in various roles at Disney/Universal/Knott’s, so she has gotten used to the idea of it just being acting.
As well, she doesn’t go into the houses yet, but just plays in the scare zones. She has become something of a known entity around Knott’s in particular and on slower nights, the actors actually use her as a distraction.
Even at HHN, she brings her stuffed dog and when we go multiple nights, the actors recognize her and wave or play.
Honestly, we have had good experiences bringing her to haunts.
I would definitely buy noise canceling headphones, though, as those chainsaws are loud and some of the actors will bring them close (happened at Hayride).
My advice, I guess, is just make sure the kids know it’s pretend, and bring them. Maybe pick a slower night to try to ease them in, as the actors are usually VERY interactive if it’s slow.
If you pick Scary Farm, Gore-ing 20’s is a nice, brightly lit zone that would be a good first step.
Of course, we have a new spring baby that we are bringing for the first time this year, so we will see how he handles things…
Edit: I also feel like this topic might get more responses in a non-Horror Nights specific area. I would have answered this YEARS ago if I had seen it elsewhere, but I personally don’t look much in the General Horror Nights tabs. Then again, I don’t really know where would be better…so yeah…