IoA best day

[Becca61]

We just returned home from US last night. Our second day at IoA was the best, because the pressure to "do it all" was off, and we were just there to hit our favorites again. We got to the park at 9. Right past the Port of Entry, our family split up. Our 2 older daughters went left with instructions to meet us at Greeen Eggs and Ham Restaurant in 2 hours. My husband and I picked up coffee and Cinnabons and went right, taking our 5 year old over to "If I ran the Zoo". We sat at the tables to the right side of Green Eggs and Ham, with a perfect view of the little water play area at the "Zoo". We had dressed our 5 year old in her swimsuit, so while she entertained herself running through the water, we read the newspaper and enjoyed our breakfast. She would make "pitstops" back at the table for a few bites then go back into the "Zoo". There was no-one else at teh Zoo, and the restaurant wasn't even open, so it seememd we had the place to ourselves. It was a peaceful, calm interlude, much welcomed after 2 funfilled yet hectic days. Okay, but here was the bonus that we didn't plan for, it was just "magical". Sitting there at the right side of Green Eggs and Ham, we discovered that this was the pathway that all of the Suess characters use to come out into the park. So each one walked right past our table and walked up to our daughter and interacted with her either on their way out or back in. (we stayed there for 2 hours, so we had plenty of interaction) It was the neatest thing and I thought I'd share it with ya'll in the hopes you can do it too!

 

[theycallmewinnie]

Thanks, a great tip!

 

[letfuller]

Sounds fun for your little one. We are leaving ours with GG this time, but will definately check the park out for them. Is IOA doable in one day?

 

[Becca61]

If you have FOTL pass, then I would say yes, you could do IoA in one day. This past week was not crowded, but it may be worse as the month goes on. I would say without FOTL you could still do it in one day, it just wouldn't be as easy, or enjoyable. With FOTL this past week, we got to the park around 9ish, toured until 2 or 3, then went back to the hotel for a swim , then back to the park for the last 2 hours or so. We rode everything as many times as we wanted. We just hopped back on till we got tired of it. I sat through Cat in the Hat (not to be missed, by the way) 5 times, as did each of the other "grown-ups" in our party. Our 5 year old thinks her older sisters are grown ups!
Another great area for our 5 year old to be entertained while one parent took the older kids was the Curious George Goes to Town area. Also a water play area, our DD played happily there for hours. Pack a swimsuit!
And another tip (I keep thinking of them) is the Barney show. After the show, you are let out into Barney's playhouse, neighborhood whatever. Barney is there to meet and greet, and lots of stuff to climb on. Great spot to head for in a rainstorm. If you go into the Barney gift shop, you run right into the play area. You do not have to go to the show. We saw the show once, but played there many times. Another nice thing about it is that while the show is going on, the play area is deserted. Then it gets really crowded when the show lets out and everybody franticaly lines up in this long line for Barney. Don't do it. Hang out and play for a few minutes. The crowd will go away, Barney will still be there and there won't be a line. For us, we weren't in a hurry to go anywhere else, so hanging out and "burning" time was fine. When I had DD duty, we just did whatever took her fancy.
Hope this helps!