In Search Of... IOA strategy... please...

[zakatak]

Hi.

Background: I am an anal planner, 34, dh 34, ds 6, dd 4 and dd 2. We will also have our Aunt and Uncle (age undisclosed to protect the innocent). I plan out our WDW days pretty loosely, but planned none the less. On my itinerary for October, Wednesday and Friday have IOA. That's all!! That is way to scary for me!! Can you help me?

1.) What do we head towards when we first get into the park?
2.) Does FOTL work like the Fastpass?
3.) Does IOA babyswap?
4.) If we have two full days at IOA, can we actually take our time and give the kids fun places to explore instead of rushing to the next rollercoaster? (adults LOVE rollercoasters!)
5.) DS (6) is 48" but a chicken. Should he do the Jurassic Park ride? He hasn't done Dinosaur (would be freaked for life!).

Any other suggestions would be great. I just like to have some plan of attack, morning, lunch, then afternoon...

Thanks!!

Karen

 

[gschmerl]

Get there before the parks open. When we were there in July, they let people in about fifteen minutes before the posted times. The coaster lovers should head for the Hulk- ride it and get an express pass for later (yes, the express pass works like fastpass)--coaster lovers could then head back to Dueling Dragons. For me it's a MUST to ride the front row of each Fire and Ice. It's the only way to get the full effect of these coasters. Early in the morning there's not much of a wait for the front row. Actually, between Hulk and DD, you could use your children's tickets in the express machine to get passes for Spiderman.
My five year old nephew rides Jurassic Park and loves it. There is a BIG drop at the end.
Two days should be plenty for you to do the parks at a relaxing pace. Suess Landing will be fun for your children. The could also play on Me Ship the Olive.
You don't say when in October you are going. If it's the beginning of the month, crowds shouldn't be too bad.

 

[robvia]

There's nothing to be scared about.

You didn't say if you we're staying onsite, but you did mention FOTL. If you stay onsite, that means your hotel key "magic key" is your express pass and you have nothing to worry about.
If not (staying at Disney), then get to the park early before they open at 08:30am. Most people arrive late, at 09:30. They're late because they're dragging kids out of bed, going to breakfast, and just slow. If you're in the park at 09:00am, everything is a walkon. You want to be standing in line at the gate at 08:30am. Trust me, there are hundreds of other people who are there at 08:30am. You need to get moving early. If you're not onsite, then try to be in the parking garage by 08:00am, because it's a 15 minute walk to the gate.

Yes, IOA does baby swap. Check with the ride ops at the entrances of each attraction.

If you have two full days for IOA, yes you can see everything and go on the coasters. You let your Aunts and Uncles watch the kids in the playground while you go ride.

Check out this map.

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/ioamap.html

Look to the lower right corner. That's Suess Landing. There's a playground across from Confiscos Bar and Grill. You set up a meeting time at the bar next to the bathrooms. You go ride the coasters, come back, go to the bar, slam a few, meet up with the kids.
Look at the numbers 13 and 14 on the map. That's also a playground for kids. You could set up a meeting spot near there while you go ride Deuling Dragons. The kids love this playground. Especially the squirt guns. Bring towels in your car and a change of cloths. They'll stay there for hours while you go ride the coasters.

 

[madduck]

just so you know, the last 2 times that i was at ioa dueling dragons did not open til 9:30

 

[BarryHom]

If you're staying onsite, lines shouldn't be a problem with your room key. However, if you really want to ride it, head to Pteranodon Flyers first. You can't use your room key on it. The wait at opening is usually a walk-on. You have enough kids to borrow to ride it. You need to ride it with a kid between 36-56 inches tall.

 

[gschmerl]

I was at IOA in July and Dueling Dragons was rolling by 9:00 every day we were there.