Better for kids? MGM or UNiversal Studios

[6_Time_Momma]

My kids will be 11, 9, 6, 5, and 2. Which is better (has more things to do) for these ages?

 

[DisneyMom92]

Universal/IOA is more of a thrill park...MGM has more for the entire family. The 11 and 9, possibly the 6 and 5, will have lots to do at the Universal parks (depending on height), but the 2 yo will have very little to do. It might not matter to you, however, because the 2 year old will probably have fun just watching people, but it leaves you with staying with the little one.

At MGM, everyone can do almost everything and at the places where they can't, there are plenty of things to keep you busy while the taller ones in your party do the ride. There are few height restriction rides, I can only think of Rock N Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror and Star Tours.

On a personal note, we didn't have much luck with Universal/IOA with a 4 and 7 yo, especially at IOA. There wasn't much for them to do because of height and what they could do had such long lines that the kids didn't want to wait. We did Seussville at IOA in a few hours and wandered the park doing little until we left. Universal was a little better, but not much. The kids enjoyed it, but not anything like a Disney park. I know others have other opinions. This is just our experience for what it's worth.

Hope this helps.

 

[Spinning]

We absolutely love IOA and Unniversal! our kids were just barely 3 and 5 on our last trip! We found tons to do. Plus I always find this park less crowded than Disney. So we hit all the hot spots in both parks on one day. I get confussed what is in what park. We have only gone twice. BUt they have Coroious George are which is great for all ages, (WATER!) Tons of fun and they get soaked! Then of course there is Barney, Woody wood pecker I think that is in Unniversal. Then you have a unicorn roller coaster which my 3 year old could ride, it is a height thing. Plus Jurasic park. The older kids can go on some of the big rides and then you can take them to see a dino! My DD really thought it was real! ET is great too! Go over and check out their board. You will get tons of info.! But we love it and now plan to plan on one day there each time we go, maybe too! Oh got to love Men in black! The 2 year old can't go but it is great! They also have the baby swap thing.

 

[Pluto]

We did LOA last summer and the teenagers, there was a large group of us, loved it, but we found their was not much to do with the smaller one. Too little for the big rollercoasters but too big for Dr. Suess. I would check and see if their is more to offer them at Universal. MGM has alot to do as a group. They could not ride TOT, Rock'nroller coaster, and Star Tours but they loved they loved Beauty and the Beast show, Muppet 3-D(which was more kid friendly than Spiderman at LOA), Hunchback of Notre Dame, Honey I shrunk the kids playground, etc. Hope this helps, have a great time where ever you end up!

 

[Patio]

My kids loved US. THey have Nick studios, hanna-barbera ride, Woody woodpecker coaster, Curious George, Barney. These are all things my dd, 11, and ds, 6, really enjoyed.

 

[my4sons]

DH and I went to US and IOA (alone!) in February. I can't tell you about MGM cuz it's been 11 years since we were there.

However, we were glad we didn't have the kids because we felt there wouldn't have been much for them to do at IOA. We have 4 boys (10,8,6,4), and we felt that even Spiderman would have been a little intense for them. They would have liked the water raft ride, and possibly the flume ride, the Dr. Suess ride and MAYBE Jurassic Park (might have been a little scared of it--especially the younger 2). We would have felt disappointed if we had had to pay for them at IOA.

At US, there would have been more for them, and we are debating going there or MGM next February. They would have been able to do just about everything at US, but Terminator would have been too intense/scary. I think they would have enjoyed just about everything else, though.

My kids, except the 6 year old, are not into rollercoasters -- yours might be (although you'd need to consider height restrictions).

 

[sha_lyn]

As much as I love MGM I think US/ IOa both have more for kids. It would be hard to pick between the 2. My 3 1/2 DD enjoyed seusslanding more than the kids stuff in US. DS loved the thrill rides at IOA but also had a blast watching STL at US. I say get the kids in on the decision. Get both videos and a couple of good guide books and let them tell you which they are interested in.

 

[mainey-mouse]

Didn't do either, but if I did one it would have been MGM - initially. Kids are 4 and 7 and I heard all this stuff about how Universal wasn't great for kids. MGM was on our agenda in "we'll do it if we have time" fashion.

Then, when in Florida, someone gave us some Universal passes with days they couldn't use. So I looked it up in my "Disney for Dummies" book, and saw the book said Universal was BETTER for kids than MGM because of all the Nick Jr stuff. Hmmm. Didn't matter because we didn't have time to use the Universal passes or go to MGM.

But I did take a look at the Universal info pamphlets and it certainly seems like there is alot there for little kids - even Barney! What could possibly be better for a 2 yr old? My 4 year old got ahold of the pamphlet, and specifically asked to go there too. Maybe next time.

 

[jamsmom]

My son and I did both Universal and IOA last summer. SOn turned 10 while we were there and since he is short for his age, then he couldn't ride several of the rides he wanted to. So, we prefer MGM because he was able to do everything. Also, we just like the Disney Magic.

 

[BevS97]

I have a very very timid 3 year old, and we went to all 3 parks.

IOA - we did the caroseussel first - this was great. Then we did Cat in the Hat - she was terrified - it gets very dark, spins quickly and flashes a strobe light, not what I was expecting.
She wouldn't do 1 fish 2 fish because after cat in the hat she was terrified of everything.
My dh & I did babyswap on Spiderman, and while I loved it, I wouldn't take a nervous child near it.
Me Ship Me Olive was great - she loved that.
Jurassic Park - this was not great - even the kids play area roared and was scary.
Circus McGurcus - this is in Suess Landing, and is a character meal which was excellent.
There is also a very wet play area in Suess Landing which was a big hit.


Universal - we did Barney for about 2 hours, which was superb.
we also took my dd onto HannaBarbara, and this really shook her up, she was in the stationary seats, and I had to bring her out as she was so upset.
We did babyswap on a few things, and they were super, they have a lovely a/c room to wait in, and it was very well organised.
We also say the Blues Brothers which she enjoyed, and we enjoyed the ambience of the place, we saw quite a few characters around and about. I think we preferred this park to IOA, even though I hadn't expected that.

MGM - We started with Muppets 3-D, and I really wasn't sure if she would like it, but she really enjoyed it. She also enjoyed Bear in the Big Blue house, didn't complain in Backstage Pass, and loved Who wants to be a Millionaire (we have watched it loads on the tv so she was very familiar with it.)
We also went to the Honey I shrunk the kids playground which was good. We had lunch in the 50's prime time, and I think it all went over her head.

sorry this is a bit long, but I thought it might help. Especially be wary of that Cat in the Hat ride, it is not an innocent kiddy ride. It took 2 trips around 'Its a small world' to get her confident enough to do anything after that.

Bev