DH just decided that, since we'll be in FL visiting WDW, we need to go to IOA for one day to see WWOHP. I'm all for it, but I'm worried as I have little time to research that part of our trip. Our best day to do IOA is likely our first full day in FL, January 6th, but I can't find park hours on the web site. It takes me to a calendar that looks like it should show hours, but nothing shows up and the dates aren't clickable?!
For those of you who have been, what areas of IOA should we make a point to see with a 6 and 8yo? The 6yo is too short to take advantage of much - she's probably about 43" tall, so that will limit her activities quite a bit.
What things in WWOHP should we be sure to see? Any suggestions for the order of things? I'm assuming WWOHP first, from what I've read on other threads, and arrive first thing the park opens to "outsiders", but anything else we should keep in mind?
TIA for any help you can provide!
Fortunately, January 6th should be reasonably quiet, as it's past the Christmas rush!
The park hours listed for Islands of Adventure are 9am to 7pm. (
http://www.universalorlando.com/Resort_Information)/theme_park_hours.aspx)
I think there's lots your 6yo can do - just cutting and pasting from the site...
* Jurassic Park River Adventure® - Must be at least 42"
* Pteranodon Flyers® - Please note that Pteranodon Flyers® is designed for children 36 to 56 inches tall. A child meeting this requirement must accompany guests over 56 inches tall
(This is actually awesome, because families with older kids simply can't ride the Pteranodon Flyers. We kept staring up into the sky saying, "Man, I wish we could ride that!" So you can tell your daughter that this makes her extra-important.)
* Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges® - Must be at least 42"
(Mind - it might be too cold for this one. It's like Kali River Rapids, only a LOT wetter.)
* The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man® - Must be at least 40"
* The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! - Must be 34"
* Flight of the Hippogriff - Must be 36"
Plus, there's no height restrictions on the Cat in the Hat ride, and the Zoo in Seuss Landing may also amuse her. There's shows as well, such as the Triceratops Encounter, Ollivander's shop, the Poseidon Adventure and the Eighth Voyage of Sinbad. You can watch a dinosaur hatch in the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, or combine your DNA virtually with a dinosaur. Oh, and your entire family should check out the playground in Jurassic Park - it's great fun, even for adults (my teens were romping all over it last week).
All in all, there's actually very little a 43'' kid can't do. All of Islands of Adventure should appeal, and since the park's laid out in a big circle, it's easy to just keep walking until you arrive at somewhere you'd like to stop for awhile.
As for when to arrive at WWOHP, it really depends. Sometimes it's actually much quieter closer to the end of the day, than in the morning. Personally, if I was arranging this trip, I'd try arriving early, take a peek at Ollivander's line to see how long it is (if it's more than two turns of the queue deep, it's probably not worth it), then decide whether or not to stay or come back in the evening.
If we're coming back in the evening, I'd schedule a nap/break at the hotel for after lunch.
WWOHP order (for us)...
1. Ollivanders (unless the line is long, then leave it for evening or not at all)
2. Forbidden Journey (even when the line is long it moves quite steadily thanks to a constantly loading ride - the only bad part is getting through the greenhouse)
While your older kid is riding Forbidden Journey, you can take advantage of the child swap and watch Harry Potter movies with your younger child. Just walking through the castle is a pleasure!
3. Then The Flight of the Hippogriff (it's a little longer than Goofy's Barnstormer, but not nearly as intense as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad). Everyone in your family can ride.
4. And finally the Dragon Challenge - if any of your party is up to it (you or your husband, maybe?). Even if you don't ride, you may find the queue interesting. You walk past the car they flew in and get to see the triwizard cup, among other things.
5. After which, stopping in at the Three Broomsticks for a bite to eat and a sip of Butterbeer is very nice. The Hogs Head Pub sells Butterbeer, and there's usually less of a line there than at the carts outside.
You can leave your shopping until just before the park is closing. They won't throw you out of the shops right away, but they also won't let new people in. That will give you between 15 minutes to half an hour of nearly empty shop to explore. The only risk you run is that they sometimes sell out of Cauldron Cakes - so if you have your heart set on one of those, you may have to go earlier in the day.
Oh, and if you get a chance, try to stop into the bathrooms and listen for Moaning Myrtle.
But everything else will be so much fun, so that will more than make up for it if I can't ride! Here's hoping it's not too busy.
