Any tips or anything I should know when in parks with 2 small kids...

[bjakmom]

Fantasia - I have taken many trips to Fla alone with my kids (DH not fond of heat, crowds and noise - needless to say WDW and USF are not his idea of fun - but the kids and I love it!) - we have always had great fun and through the years the minor meltdowns (oh yes, there have been a few!) have long been forgotten and only the magic memories remain!
-Two of my favorite "noisy" restaurants are HRCafe and Margaritaville - the kids blend right in !

 

[rbuzzotta]

Fantasia, I am glad I read this thread!! We leave Thursday for US/IOA. I don't know much about US/IOA and found this thread. My oldest DD is in a cheerleading competition at IOA on both Sat. and Sun and DH will be taking my other DD's (turning 5 next week and 7) all around while I am with DD #1!! I will have to give him some of these ideas!!

Hope your trip is enjoyable and I will give any pointer when I get back. Take is slow and enjoy every moment!

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thanks NCRedding for welcoming me back. The kids and I are doing much better...but of course...I still have that moment where sometimes I get emotional. Thanks for thinking of us. Thanks for the tips. Back to the Future is out...I don't like Body Wars.

Thanks Elaine. That is a great idea. I have that book One fish, Two Fish...but I don't think they were listening to me when I was reading that book. Gotta look for that book around the house and re-read it to them...hopefully this time they will listen. They have the Green Eggs and Ham. That's a lot great tips. I'm thinking of the Club level...but I don't know if I want to spend more money. We're going to extend our stay for two more days instead of spending the money on the Club. But we will see...if I can save some money for the Club before we head out...then maybe...just maybe I can swing it for the Club for 7 nights.

bjakmom...Thanks...we will go to the HRCafe and try Margritaville. Blending in with the crowds is always good.

rbuzzotta...Thanks...I'm sure it is going to be an exciting trip. Never done Universal and to top it...never been alone on a trip with the kids. Plz do let me know how it goes. Let me know what rides they enjoyed. And plz let me know which rides that is too bumpy or twirly (we don't do rollercoaster only the baby drops and no big drops). Can't wait to read your trip report. Have a great time...have fun!!

 

[joloco]

definately do p flyers first, and don't miss "the msytic fountain" in the Lost Continent. The fountain interacts with you and my 5 & 7 year old could have talked to him for an hour! Not a ride, but lots of fun.

 

[erinch]

the jurassic park cave area in IOA is really fun for small ones--and very easy to lose them. I would make sure you practice what to do if one gets "lost." My 5yo DD got turned around in a cave and very calmly found a CM who helped her--we had role played it ahead of time.

The other thing I would recommend is being leisurely and letting them take time to enjoy the interactive fountains and all the little secret "kid moments."

The 5yoDD had an awesome time at the little Rocker's club--and we really needed some "non kid" time.

My DD could have spent the whole day in Curious George;s.

On ET you give your name and ET tells you personally to come back. It's easy to miss, so make sure your kids are listening.

 

[rbuzzotta]

We just returned and have a great time.

Some suggestions:

If possible, go to the mini Mardi Gras parade with the little ones. We waited for 1:15 hrs. and got a seat up front. My girls only caught 3 beads each (actually DH and I caught them). The people on the floats don't look straight down at the little ones. They throw the beads out into the crowds. So, those that got there last caught all the beads. We ended up buying them some.

FOTL was the BEST!! We never waited in line at all!! Well worth staying on the property!!

The parks aren't as big as WDW so I felt we did it all just about.

We had lots of pool time, even though it was freezing and raining one day!!

Have a great time!!!!!!!!!

 

[joloco]

when / where is mini mardis gras parade? Is it new?

 

[BarryHom]

I haven't heard of a mini Mardi Gras parade. Sometimes a small group will come out. One year in the afternoon, the Ghostbusters and the Blues Brothers drove around and tossed out beads.

There is an area called the Little Jester's area exclusively for kids. It's an area out of the way for the kids to get beads and not fight it out with adults.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by Barry Hom
I haven't heard of a mini Mardi Gras parade. Sometimes a small group will come out. One year in the afternoon, the Ghostbusters and the Blues Brothers drove around and tossed out beads.

Then you need to get out more, Barry! There's a "Mardicade" with characters at 2p and 4p (check the map insert as times may change) in the area around The Yard. This is where characters will throw beads.

 

[Figment22]

I posted lots of info about this in another thread but I can't find it now. The afternoon Mardicade which starts at 2 & 4 p.m. is a small parade with about 2-3 small floats (nothing like the big MardiGras floats from the evening parade) which house many of the typical Universal characters like the Flinstones, Scooby Doo,
Popeye and Olive Oyl, etc. The parade comes out of the backlot
in between the Horror MakeUp Show and Cafe LaBamba and winds it way around the Studios in a big circle. Many people don't
even know about it so the crowds tend to be small and spontaneous. My DS's actually followed the parade around and
got hundreds of beads. They are not the same quality as the beads that are thrown at the evening parade; they're the clear
colored variety but my kids were much more thrilled by being able
to catch LOTS of them that they didn't care. The nighttime beads are the shinier, metallic type. It's mostly younger kids that go to the afternoon parade so they're able to catch many more beads. (Watch out for the stray spring breakers!!) My DS13 &
DS9 loved the Mardicade so much that after having collected bags full of beads on Friday afteroon they actually made us leave IOA on Saturday after lunch so they could go back to USF for the Mardicade and get even more beads. Go figure!