Do you do Universal too?

[MissSixty]

This may belong on another board, but I want to hear it from the Disney people. Planning a 7 day/6 night vac with 3.5 year old son. Staying on site at WDW. Considering one day at Universal....
Do you think 3.5 year old son would enjoy that or would you recommend just staying in WDW? Also, I do not plan on renting a car. Is it easy to obtain cab to and from Universal back to WDW resort? Thanks!

 

[mainewmn]

My boys wore a bit older when they first went to Universal but we done Universal every year since our first trip to Orlando. We always rent a car as we like the freedom of coming and going without being dependent on anyone ales.

 

[Rudegrle]

If you want to do Universal then I would suggest just Universal Studios and not IOA due to your son's age. There are more rides at Studios that would be age appropriate for him, lots of really big coasters at IOA. Getting a cab from Disney to Universal could be spendy. We always do a day or 2 at Universal, but we have no kids and always rent a car.

 

[Bride2Be0705]

My family usually does a day at Universal when we are there... I believe the first time my DB went he was 9 mos. old, then again at 2 and 3, maybe even 4. He loved it once he was old enough to get into it, because they had a Barney show... and the Nickolodeon studio.

I believe it's pretty easy to get a cab, just call and they'll probably meet you in front of your hotel. Good luck!

 

[Ziva]

We love Universal, great place! With a little one I say check out the Universal Studios themepark, more for little ones.

 

[cleo]

Definitely give USF a try. IoA does have a fair bit for the tots to do, but most of the real 'rides' won't be quite so appropriate for a preschooler. You'll spend a lot of time split up while one parent rides and the other watches the child. Much less so at USF.

 

[Laurabearz]

Here is the offical height requirement list for both US and IOA

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS®

Revenge Of The MummySM- Must be at least 48".

Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast™- Must be at least 40”. Persons under 40” must experience this attraction from an adjacent stationary location.

Back To The Future The Ride® - Must be at least 40” ; 40” to 48” must be accompanied by an adult.

MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack™ - Must be at least 42” ; 42” to 48” must be accompanied by an adult.

Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster® - Must be at least 36” ; 36-48” must be accompanied by an adult


UNIVERSAL’S ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE®

Jurassic Park River Adventure® - Must be at least 42” ; 42” to 48” must be accompanied by an adult.

Pteranodon Flyers® - Must be at least 36” ; 36” to 56” must be accompanied by an adult. Guests over 56” must be accompanied by a guest meeting this requirement.

Dueling Dragons® - Must be at least 54”.

Flying Unicorn® - Must be at least 36” ; 36” to 48” must be accompanied by an adult.

The Cat in the Hat™ - Under 48” must be accompanied by an adult.

Caro-Seuss-el™ - Under 48” must be accompanied by an adult.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish™ - Under 48” must be accompanied by an adult.

Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls® - Must be at least 44” ; 44” to 48” must be accompanied by an adult.

Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges® - Must be at least 42” ; 42” to 48” must be accompanied by an adult.

Incredible Hulk Coaster® - Must be at least 54”.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man® - Must be at least 40” ; 40” to 48” must be accompanied by an adult.

Doctor Doom’s Fearfall® - Must be at least 52”.

Storm Force Accelatron® - Under 48” must be accompanied by an adult.

 

[MissSixty]

thanks for the info, my son is 35" now, doubt he will make that 40" mark in 4 months!

 

[KimR]

I wouldn't discount IOA. The two parks are close enough that, IMO, it is well worth your while to jump over for a quick visit to IOA so he can enjoy the Dr. Suess area. My preschooler loves One Fish Two Fish, Cat in the Hat, and the Carosuessel as did my older DDs when they were that age. He'll probably be big enough to ride the Flying Unicorn (a kiddie coaster) as well. Also, the atmosphere of IOA is just wonderful.

Another nice thing is that the crowds in the Suess area are very small even during busy times of the year so if you little one really enjoys one particular ride he can ride it over and over and over (well, maybe not such a nice thing depending upon your point of view!

 

[nhpooh]

You might want to wait a few years till he is taller. Plus getting a cab sounds like it would be alot of money from WDW. We do go but always rent a car when we are down there. We also go every other time we are down there.

 

[coffeeandfags]

My personal opinion would be to leave it til he is a bit older, and go for Seaworld instead.
My DD, 14 loves US and IOA, but DD,10 can take it or leave it. When she was younger it was a bit of a pain coz she couldnt get on all the rides.

BTW, Mears run a shuttle service between WDW and US/Seaworld @ $14 return per person (over 3). Just use the freephone in the WDW resort lobby to book.

 

[umbluegray]

We have a 5DD. She's not into thrill rides at all. She loves the princesses. She loves to play dress-up as either Cinderella, Ariel, Belle or Snow White.

I've heard that Universal is more thrill-ride oriented. Because of that we don't include it in our plans. We may add it when she gets older and starts to like thrill rides, though.

We usually do either a day at Sea World or a day at Busch Gardens.

Primarily, we love the Magic! And you just can't find that anywhere else.

 

[back2disney]

Univ/IOA is the best kept secret. Get a rental car and go - the tickets are half as much as disney and those 2 parks by themselves are on par with the 4 Disney parks.
I was very surprised how "new" and "fresh" the attractions are there(except Back 2 the Future-too nauseating)
My 3 year old loved IOA, especially Seussland which is like fantasyland on steroids and the Flying Unicorn which is the best starter coaster/ride for any child. They are also building what looks to be a monorail/people mover ride too. The thrill rides at both parks are also better than the weaker space mtn/thunder mtn rides at disney. Most of there rides at Univ/IOA are like the one "new/fresh" dinosaur ride at AK - very well themed and immersive

Competition is good, so I hope disney will renovate to keep up..

 

[Kapp]

I believe your son would have a better time spending the time at WDW. US and IoA are great but I really see them for older kids especially when you factor in the cost, height requirements, etc. When he hits 6-7, go for it!
Have a great time.

 

[Ginamarie]

IMHO, I would wait until your son is older before going to Universal/IOA. DH and I went during our last vacation, and I wasn't all that impressed. The park is geared towards older children/teenagers, but there are very few things to do with a younger child (under 40"). Also, a cab is very easy to get, but will cost you $40 or so in each direction! (We had a rental car, but some friends did the taxi thing on our December 2004 vacation). For me, it's not worth the expense unless you have older kids who are really going to enjoy the rides/coasters.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

My 2 cents, even though I am not a "Disney person"

I think that your son will have plenty to do at both US and IOA. However, I doubt that he will have a memory of whether or not he went there at age three and a half. I say that not to be rude, but I think that whichever set of parks you decide on, there will be fun things for him to do--enough to fill out the day, anyway. So, since he'll have fun either way and not really remember it, I would make the decision based on what you would like to do. If you want to go to UO--by all means, give it a try.

 

[hockeygirl]

My 4 year old nephew and 3 year old niece absolutely loved Universal Studios, they are both just 40 inches, so that got to go on a lot of things. We just went in December, but they are still asking if we can go back to the "other Disney" when we go back. There is alot more to do at Universal than Islands of Adventure. I say go for it if you can get there!!

 

[dreamscometrue47]

The tickets are half of Disney prices?? Where did you find tickets for around $30.00 for Universal?? We were thinking on spending 2 days at Universal on our next family trip and the only ticket prices I have found are around $65/day.....

 

[BYC]

The tickets are half of Disney prices?? Where did you find tickets for around $30.00 for Universal?? We were thinking on spending 2 days at Universal on our next family trip and the only ticket prices I have found are around $65/day.....

Universal is having a great promotion right now...especially if you have kids 3-9. You can buy 2 days, plus 3 free days for 99 dollars, PLUS, each kid in that age group is free! You can't beat that! We are going for 3 days.