First trip to Universal -- please help

[ms.ojo]

Cast of char: myself, dh, DS6 (48" loves spooky things and coasters like Space Mtn, Big Thunder Mtn. Also loves Star Tours. Didn't like the plunge w/ Splash Mtn...and not at all interested in trying Tower of Terror (again the idea of dropping) DD3 (36" also enjoys spooky things. Fav Disney ride so far is Peter Pan or Buzz lightyear. Looking forward to trying a small coaster this trip! Bummed she still can't do Stitch.)

So....here are my questions re: Universal attractions:

Back to the Future: Described as an extremely intense simulator ride. What makes it more intense than say Star Tours? Any height restriction? Is there a stationary option available for dd?

Earthquake: 2 preshows should be fine for all of us. The children are interested in this. If we explain it's all safe, special effects, etc. and they do well w/ Catastrophe Canyon at Disney, do you think they can do the ride portion of Earthquake??? Is it very loud? If so, for how long?

Play Area in US and IOA. Are there any play areas (or portions there-of) where kids can run around and NOT get wet???? We're going in Dec and who knows how cool/warm it will be.

NY Street Shows: Blues Brothers and Street Breakz. Worth seeing?

Jaws: Although both kids enjoy learning about sharks my gut tells me this ride will be too intense. Is it terrifying? They saw the model for the Jaws shark this summer at a fair and thought it was very cool. Of course it wasn't chasing them in a boat!

Jimmy Neutron: One guide did mention this had a stationary option available for <40" but the other made no mention. Is this still an option?

Woody Woodpecker and Flying Unicorn Coasters: From the write-ups I'm guessing Woody's is similar to Goofy's Barnstormer and Flying Unicorn is a little bigger. True? Will dd be able to do both?

Men in Black: Heard it's like Buzz....but then also "too intense for many young children". DD3 loves Buzz but there's no way she'd meet this 42" height req't. Will ds6 enjoy??

Twister: Didn't see any height restrictions. Is this deafening? For how long? Again, a subject matter they're interested in but I just don't know......

Horror make-up show: on the one hand, it's billed as not too gruesome and kids do well w/ it. Another says it's strictly PG-13. Comments?

Spiderman: Do they have a stationary option for <40"??? My DD LOVES spidey. This will be a killer if she can't go. If she continues to grow a bit...and wears chunky sandals that day....do you think it would be ok?

Pteranodon Flyers: I read in one place it is only 1person/seat. Along w/ the long wait...I'm not sure I want DD flying alone. kwim??

1 Fish 2 Fish: If you follow the instructions of the song can you stay dry???

Mystical Fountain: What happens when you make a wish??

Christmas specials: we'll be there for the Macy's parade and Whoville w/ the grinch. Which park hosts the parade? Is it in the afternoon? Certain viewing areas more adventageous??? Anything else?

Thanks in advance for your help! I should mention we'll be staying at HRH so will have FOTL access! I'm so excited. Does this mean we can just tour around the park and not worry about running to certain attractions first thing??? I appreciate your patience w/ all my questions. I have spent a fair amt of time on the board, and reading links/guidebooks, this was my distilled list of questions!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

1 Fish 2 Fish: If you follow the instructions of the song can you stay dry???


No, you will still get wet.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Mystical Fountain: What happens when you make a wish??

It will come true.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Spiderman: Do they have a stationary option for <40"??? My DD LOVES spidey. This will be a killer if she can't go. If she continues to grow a bit...and wears chunky sandals that day....do you think it would be ok?

No, they do not have a stationary position. It is a ride. Buy chunky sandals before you leave and measure her so that way you will know if she is tall enough so you won't be disappointed when you get there if she isn't.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Jimmy Neutron: One guide did mention this had a stationary option available for <40" but the other made no mention. Is this still an option?

Yes, it is in a theator and there are stationary seats in the front.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Back to the Future: Described as an extremely intense simulator ride. What makes it more intense than say Star Tours? Any height restriction? Is there a stationary option available for dd?

It can make you sick if you get motion sickness sometimes. I get extremely sick when I ride this.
It is similiar to Star tours, but it jerks you around more.
There is a 40" height restriction.
It is a ride and there is no stationary option.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Woody Woodpecker and Flying Unicorn Coasters: From the write-ups I'm guessing Woody's is similar to Goofy's Barnstormer and Flying Unicorn is a little bigger. True? Will dd be able to do both?

They are both small coasters that have a 36" height requirement. Unicorn is more intense but my daughter has been riding it since she was 3 and loves it.

 

[Motherfletcher]

1 Fish 2 Fish: If you follow the instructions of the song can you stay dry???


No, you will still get wet.

I can't remember getting wet on this ride. There is an opportunity to wet being sprayed by a water gun like stream but you really never see anyone getting off this ride "wet".

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I can't remember getting wet on this ride. There is an opportunity to wet being sprayed by a water gun like stream but you really never see anyone getting off this ride "wet".

You haven't rode with my son then!

 

[Motherfletcher]

No, but if my son could get us wet he would have. We fight for the controls all of the time. He's 17 and we look pretty bad riding this. I usually put my hands in the air mimicKing Hulk riders.

 

['Canes Fan]

our daughter purposely disobeys the song to nail us.

 

['Canes Fan]

Back to the Future: Described as an extremely intense simulator ride. What makes it more intense than say Star Tours? Any height restriction? Is there a stationary option available for dd?

It can make you sick if you get motion sickness sometimes. I get extremely sick when I ride this.
It is similiar to Star tours, but it jerks you around more.
There is a 40" height restriction.
It is a ride and there is no stationary option.

it's like star tours, but projected onto an IMAX screen. it's more immersive. and the back row is worse than the front for motion sickness.

 

['Canes Fan]

I should mention we'll be staying at HRH so will have FOTL access! I'm so excited. Does this mean we can just tour around the park and not worry about running to certain attractions first thing???

absolutely.

 

['Canes Fan]

Pteranodon Flyers: I read in one place it is only 1person/seat. Along w/ the long wait...I'm not sure I want DD flying alone. kwim??

unless you get there early, it's a 45-60 minute wait, and FOTL isn't recognized. it's a tandem. 1 person per seat, two people per pteranodon.

 

['Canes Fan]

Twister: Didn't see any height restrictions. Is this deafening? For how long? Again, a subject matter they're interested in but I just don't know......

it's very intense for kids that age. they do a good job recreating a F5 tornado about 20 feet away from you, complete with the rain deluge. it's very loud, and a lot of special effects (fire).

 

[Motherfletcher]

[QUOTE='Canes Fan]unless you get there early, it's a 45-60 minute wait, and FOTL isn't recognized. it's a tandem. 1 person per seat, two people per pteranodon.[/QUOTE]
That is one ride that you need to go to first since they don't recognize hotel express. DD3 might get scared on this. DW50+ is scared to death of this ride.

 

[ms.ojo]

[QUOTE='Canes Fan]it's very intense for kids that age. they do a good job recreating a F5 tornado about 20 feet away from you, complete with the rain deluge. it's very loud, and a lot of special effects (fire).[/QUOTE]
Hmmm, sounds very intense. maybe I will try it first and see. Possibly ds...but I think we'll have dd skip this. I'm concerned not only on the scare factor...but simply on the noise factor. She only has hearing in 1 ear and we need to be careful of extremely loud sounds. Can't watch fireworks from too close a vantage point. This doesn't sound like a good fit for her.

Thank you all for the good answers so far. I really appreciate it! Sounds like we'll have to watch the 1 fish 2 fish a bit and see if you can stay dry since there is a mix of opinions on that. At Star Tours dd wasn't tall enough for the simulator ride so they put us in a "pod" that was stationary. I was hoping that would be the case for Spiderman, Back to the Future and Jimmy Neutron....or that they wouldn't have height restrictions and she could actually be in the simulator. Anyone else want to weigh in on this??

Anyone have any input on Earthquake, Jaws, Men In Black or the Horror make up show?? Thanks again

 

[ms.ojo]

anyone else???

 

[pixiepower1971]

For some reason Jaws tends to scare kids...this is both my daughters least favorite ride in both parks. They are 7 and 9. I have seen many kids get a little freaked out on this one!

The Makeup show is hilarious! We love it! Most of it will go over your kids heads...a few mild words are used. It is PG-13 but your 6 year old will be fine, IMO. Your little one I am not sure on. Some things may scare her a little.

MIB is awesome. It is like Buzz in thatyou have a gun and you shot. You don't control the spin and it is a much darker and louder ride. Your son will prob. ride it over and over!

Earthquake can be pretty intense on your little one...your son should be fine.

As for 1 fisf- in the winter they turn the water off..rest of the year you get wet, not soaked.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

If you are worried about getting wet by riding One Fish, Two Fish in December, you may not have to worry. If it is cold outside (cold by Florida standards, of course) they will not have the water on.