confused on touring

[MinniMama]

I have read a few things and I am still unsure of the big things to see in IOA and US I have a 3, 9, 12 and they do some coasters and not too scary stuff so what are the amjor highlights of each park and the best order to see them I have heard doing shrek, neutron, mib, et at us is best, we will want to see barney and suess too but what other majors should we see? not sure kids will want to do jaws or twister or earthquake may be too scary so for all you us addicts please convert me! thanks!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Your 3 y/o will probably not be tall enough yet for some of the bigger rides, but definitely do Spider-Man. That is the #1 attraction in IOA. It's not scary, so they will love it.

For the coaster lovers, hit Flying Unicorn and Woodys' Nuthouse Coaster. I say that because those are the only coasters your 3 y/o will be able to do. Definitely hit Hulk and Dragons when you're in IOA. Sure, they may look scary, but they are immensely fun.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My 3 youngest kids were the exact ages of your 3 kids when we were at Universal last spring break. My 3yo (Jake) was 40" (barely) so could do some bigger rides, but not others. He is now 42" tall and when I bring him soon (Jake and I go next month to WDW and Universal and the whole family goes to Universal in April) he will be able to do even more. How tall is your 3yo?

In Universal the only thing we could not all do together was Men in Black. Jaws is not scary and even my 3yo who got scared in some other rides and shows liked this. I don't remember Jake being scared in Earthquake or Twister, but he was in Neutron (go figure...he thought that he was really underwater--lol). Shrek was not open yet.

In IoA he of course was not big enough for the big coasters and Dr Doom. He did do Spiderman several times. I can't say that he liked it because he felt that he was really falling, but he did ok. We did Pteranadon Flyers and he was ok on that (I was a bit scared, though, but I have a fear of heights, even though it also gives me a thrill, if that makes any sense). My 9yo LOVED PF and my older kids also liked it, but there is no express so it needs to be done very early in the day before the lines starts to build up. There is a maximum height restriction usually, but first thing in the morning they let everyone go on it in our group (my sister and BIL were with us along with my 15yo daughter).

Jake did not really care for the kiddy coasters since he's not much of a coaster kid, but my other kids would have at his age (for a 4th child Jake is really not the most daring thing, but that's ok--he's cute and I'll keep him).

My 9yo went on and liked everything that Jake did, and also liked Dr Doom, Ripsaw Falls, Jurassic Park, etc and loved the round Barge ride. The only thing he didn't do were the big coasters (Hulk and Dueliing Dragons. My older kids liked Hulk, but Dueling Dragons was their favorite coaster. We went on that so many times.

Do your older kids like big coasters? I don't know if I'll ever be able to get my now 10 yo on any coaster that goes upside down, but his older brother has gone on them as soon as he was tall enough. It just depends on the child.

My general rule is to bring them on anything that they are tall enough for once. They don't have to do it again (unless it's Spiderman ), but they can't know if they like it unless they give it a try. Having said that I still can't get my 10yo on the upside down coasters. I'll try in a year to get him on Rock N Roller Coaster at MGM.


If you have any other questions just ask.

T&B

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

If you bring your little one on Jaws I would make sure he is in the center of the long bench seat and definately not in the seat furthest from the dock as you embark. I do not think anyone will have a problem being too scared on Twister. Basically you stand behind the action as if you are watching a movie. I took my son on Earthquake when he was 7 and he was apprehensive at first but after I told him to look at the people who rode before us, that they all got off and were just fine, he kept repeating to himself "we're all going to get off...we're all going to get off...we're all going to get off..." We still say this from time to time and smile at each other when we are on a scarey ride. I am sure we will be screaming this when we ride the Mummy this summer.

 

[damo]

It is so difficult to judge for other's kids. My advice is to let the older kids go on a ride and have them judge for the little ones. They probably know their tolerance levels very well.

Start with things like Cat in the Hat, and ET and Jimmy Neutron, Shrek, Spiderman, Scary Monster Make-up Show, Pteranadon Flyers, Storm Force Acceletron and all the play areas (there are many). Then you can move up to the more adventurous things.