How I just went to IOA for free!

[Hisgirl]

Well...maybe I have exaggerated juuust a tad. But this is what has happened! DH came down with the FLU this week...just 5 days before we leave for our trip to Orlando. We had planned to go to Universal studios, IOA and WDW.

However, even though he is well now, he isn't back to his full strength so I have been re-strategizing!

We're 53 and 58 and we love WDW. Universal was going to be new but I really needed to cut back the touring. I basically went through the Unofficial guide book marking each ride that sounded interesting...then went to youtube and 'rode' the ride.

I couldn't believe how many rides I said, "No way on earth would I ride that in person!!" then scratched it off. It seemed IOA, I was either getting soaked or tossed around upside down (all virtual of course). The Jurassic park ride looked great and the harry potter castle of course, but all in all I was able to say IOA wasn't our cup of tea and saved a whole day and a lot of money.

That was easy!

So we're scaled back to Universal studios, MK and epcot and some lazy time around AKL. Whew...thank the lord for youtube!

 

[rowan555]

I was jut the opposite - after checking out the ride videos last summer, I could not WAIT to get to IoA. We had a great time at both parks, but we are making a repeat trip in a week because riding the Mummy a dozen times last year just was NOT enough for us, nor was our 10 times in a row on Dragon Challenge - we're convinced we can do better this time! We love being splashed and flipped upside down, though, and neither my daughter nor I can get enough of it! I couldn't get her to go to Disney if I paid her a hundred bucks, lol!

 

[JessicaR]

IOA is one of the most if not THE most immersible theme park i have ever visited. There is so much more than you-tube could every depict.

I hope someday you get to experience it. The theme and atmosphere is extremely well done, like no other.

 

[Hisgirl]

Well, I totally agree it looks like fun....but...my DH is 58 and has had a lot of back and neck injuries. All of the wild coaster rides are out. And we just aren't fans of getting soaked to the skin. (I used to like it back in the day. )

If I were about 20 years younger, yep, we'd be there with bells on!

 

[bumbershoot]

FWIW, DH can't ride the big rides and I don't *like* them (and go on them ONLY for my son, but I have a limit on how much I can be scared out of my mind in a week), and yet we LOVE being in IOA. We only go on the water rides every so often, when it's not too cold and when we're wearing the correct clothes, so that isn't every trip by any means. And yet, again, we love it.

I get that your husband isn't up to snuff...but do think about it for the future. You don't have to be a big and/or wet ride lover to love IOA.

 

[keishashadow]

OP whatever works for you. we're trying to hang with the big dogs as long as possible

 

[ky07]

My first time to universal I did the same thing in looking at the rides on YouTube and such but to me until you experience the rides for yourself you won't know if you like them or not cause at first I thought I would hate the hulk but after riding it I love it and it's a must ride every time we go

 

[RMulieri]

My 10 yr old and my DH dont ride MOST of the thrill rides and still had the best time at iOA.Maybe someday you will give it a try.Youtube truly doesnt do it justice

 

[Hisgirl]

Well, I have to admit I am curious now. If I put an X next to the rides that DH cannot ride due to his neck/back and I X out the ones where I would get all wet, then let me see what is left...oh, and I'll X out the children play areas too. (not that I dislike the play areas...I do..but no grandchildren with us this time) ...this is what we have have left. Considering the cost and time, I think I made the right decision to skip this park. Again, if I were a bit younger it looks like a blast!

Here's the rides I saw on the site:
1. spider man - ride spidey man lots of lights and action
2. Hulk coaster - Coaster X
3. Dr. Doom's Fear fall - Heights screaming tower of terror-like X
4. Storm force acceleration -teacups X 10 X
5. Popeye Bluto Barges - Wet X
6. Dudley Doright Falls - Wet X
7. Jurassic Park River Adventure - action fun ...Wet X
8. Peteranodon Flyers - hanging glider type looks fun
9. Sinbad stunt show
10. Flight of hippogriff - Thunder mountainish coaster
11. Dragon challenge - wild ride coaster X
12. Harry potter Forbidden journey
13. One fish two fish..- Dumbo ride
14. Cat in hat -like peter pan ride
15. Poseiden's fury - show spectacular
16. High in the sky -like the people mover
17. camp jurassic - play area X
18. If I ran the zoo - kids play area X
19. Me ship the olive - kids play area X
20 Oh the stories you'll hear - show

 

[rowan555]

If you're not going with kids, X out the Pteranodon Flyers as well, since you have to have a short person with you to ride.

 

[indimom]

Well, I have to admit I am curious now. If I put an X next to the rides that DH cannot ride due to his neck/back and I X out the ones where I would get all wet, then let me see what is left...oh, and I'll X out the children play areas too. (not that I dislike the play areas...I do..but no grandchildren with us this time) ...this is what we have have left. Considering the cost and time, I think I made the right decision to skip this park. Again, if I were a bit younger it looks like a blast!

Here's the rides I saw on the site:
1. spider man - ride spidey man lots of lights and action
2. Hulk coaster - Coaster X
3. Dr. Doom's Fear fall - Heights screaming tower of terror-like X
4. Storm force acceleration -teacups X 10 X
5. Popeye Bluto Barges - Wet X
6. Dudley Doright Falls - Wet X
7. Jurassic Park River Adventure - action fun ...Wet X
8. Peteranodon Flyers - hanging glider type looks fun
9. Sinbad stunt show
10. Flight of hippogriff - Thunder mountainish coaster
11. Dragon challenge - wild ride coaster X
12. Harry potter Forbidden journey
13. One fish two fish..- Dumbo ride
14. Cat in hat -like peter pan ride
15. Poseiden's fury - show spectacular
16. High in the sky -like the people mover
17. camp jurassic - play area X
18. If I ran the zoo - kids play area X
19. Me ship the olive - kids play area X
20 Oh the stories you'll hear - show

I agree with Rowan about Pteranodon Flyers, without a child, you can knock that off your list also.

Here is what I see missing:

The two street shows in the WWoHP: Frog Choir and Bauexbatoms and Durmstrong (pretty sure I butchered those spellings. lol)
The Wand Selection show at Olivanders
That castle is something else. Even without the ride, it is just worth walking through to see the sorting hat, dark arts classroom and dumbledors office.
The shops are amazing. Three broomsticks and Hogshead just what you expect. The butterbeer is really good and we even enjoyed pumpkin juice.
Moaning Myrtle in the bathroom. Awesome!
I can't begin to guess the amount of time we spent just checking out all the shops and merchandise and window displays in this area.

A Short magic Show near Poseiden's. Yeah, they are trying to get you to buy the magic kit, but the show's still good.
Mythos is worth eating in at least once. Wonderful atmosphere and good food.

The Dr. Suess area is another we enjoyed thoroughly exploring. We only rode cat in the hat on our last trip, but the theming is awesome. We really had fun picking up all the details from our childhood storybooks. There are lots of hidden corners to find when you step off the main walkway and really look around. The characters in this area are really great too!

Meet the X-Men, etc. near the Spiderman/Dr. Doom rides. The spiderman we saw was truly amazing. He really had his role down.

Checking out the area around the water rides. Lots of fun photo ops and comics from our youth. It's also fun to watch others getting soaked on the rides, or to take part in soaking them using water cannons in the kids play area and also on a bridge (I think?).

See a Triceratops up close (when it's open, it's not always)
Explore the Dino play area. This isn't just a play ground, it's a stroll through a jungle. Really cool and private. It's not like the Dinoland play area which is a complete madhouse most of the day. it's shady and winding and was quiet and private both times we visited (Christmas week and July).
The Jurassic Park Visitor Center, see baby dinos born, explore the other exhibits.

You can also meet the Grinch, Cat in the Hat, and Things during a meal. A ton of fun since they are all a little "naughty." We loved this!

Honestly, there may be more that I'm forgetting, but those were the ones which came to mind.

I do understand that it may not have a lot of rides you would enjoy, but this park is just awesome. The theming is out of this world. Maybe you'll get to enjoy it with your grandkids someday when it will fit your trip better!

I love all the Orlando parks, but on our last trip I had to let MK and AK go. Once I weighed and measured our time, budget and interests, those were the two that just didn't fit the bill on that trip. So, I do completely understand your reasoning.

Have a great trip to US/WDW!

 

[keishashadow]

OP if your DH has 'serious' neck/back problems his medical providers have likely given him specific instructions on what to avoid.

Here is a link that might help you:

https://www.universalorlando.com/Images/Riders_Guide_tcm13-26195.pdf

 

[Hisgirl]

Thanks for the awesome tips! DH has some disc issues that prevent him from riding anything too wild (a mama cow head butted him and broke his back). I'll let y'all know what we ended up choosing

 

[bumbershoot]

I always knew cows were evil. And now I definitely know. I grew up next to a farm and hated hated hated cows. Big and scary and every couple years they would knock down our fence and go migrating through our property and street beyond, always in the middle of the night...

I"m not saying for this trip, but in the future. I'm seeing enough on your not-x'ed-out list for a good day or two. Like others have said, the theming is amazing. Just walking through the Port of Entry is fabulous if you're really looking around. Heck, I'll sit for 10 minutes OUTSIDE IOA, just listening to the music they play and looking around. But for the future.



Triceratops was mentioned...I think the most recent reports have said that they are gone gone gone. DS and I were lucky to have walked in to a suddenly-re-opened Triceratops Trail back in 2010; had been closed since one of the big hurricanes and opened for what seemed like that day only, and I haven't read of it being open since then.