hi and help please

[brandi~momof3]

we are going to FL April 1-8 and we have decided to go to IOA for 1 day. I have 3 kids, DS (8), DS (5), and DD (2). My dh and I love coasters, which is why we chose IOA. My parents are going to, so we will have plenty of people to "babysit" while we ride, lol. Anyway I have a few questions for you experts!
1. Is there enough to do at IOA for my 2 year old or will she be bored out of her mind? Same for my 5 year old really as he is only 43 inches tall.
2. What are the strollers like? Same as Disney? Do they rent doubles?
3. How long will it take us to do IOA if we arrive at opening? Just an estimate. I know this is one of the busiest times of year.
4. Which rides are must dos? We are thinking Spiderman, Hulk, Jurassic, def., anything else?
5. Do they have a child swap rider option like Disney? For rides like Spiderman that everyone in my group but my daughter will want to ride or will we have to wait in line twice?
Thanks for your help, in advance.
and any other tips would be appreciated

 

[damo]

1. Lots to do at IOA. A few rides and some great playgrounds with water.
3. Are you staying onsite? If not, get to the gates before opening so you can walk on the major rides. Otherwise expect waits of about an hour per ride.
4. Add Dueling Dragons, Men in Black, Dr. Doom, Bilge Barge Ride and Dudley Do Rite.
5. Yes there is child swap.

Check out the site www.universalorlando.com for some tips.

 

[brandi~momof3]

thank you!

 

[macraven]

if you are staying off site, be at the parking garage before 8 am
be at the ticket turnstile by 8:15.
people are usually let in way before 9 if the line for entrance is long.


since you love coasters, hit hulk, doom, spiderman first.
go towards the back of the park for dueling dragons.

there are some rides the littles will enjoy. ptendon flyers is a sky lift type of ride that last maybe 90 seconds.

there are a couple of shows, poseidon and sinbad adventures your family could to together.

seussland will be a hit for everyone in your group.

eat lunch and dinner at off times.
lunch at 11 would be great. you wil not have long lines or problems for seating space if you eat opposite of the crowds.

my kids are too big for strollers so i can't help you there but have seen them in the parks.

 

[robvia]

Agree with above about arriving the parking garage at 07:45am. April 1st thru the 14th is Spring Break. The park will be packed and they'll probably open at 08:30am.
The 2 year old and 5 year old will zonk out after a few hours.

What you might want to do, is arrive early, take a lap around the park, stay until about 1pm, then leave. Eat lunch outside at McDonalds, go back to your hotel room, rest, then you and the spouse come back to the park from 4pm until 10pm letting the parents baby sit. The 2 and 5 year old will stay in the room watching cartoons or swimming in the hotel pool. The 8 year old may want to go back to the park with you if they like the coasters.

If you stay the entire day, then set up meeting times where the parents watch the kids in the playgrounds, while you go ride the coasters. Cell phones work good for this, even if you pay long distance charges.