IOA or US with a five year old?

[Yardbird]

We will be in Orlando the second week of September. We usually just do Disney while visiting Orlando. This trip, I'd like to spend a day at either IOA or US. Which, if either park, would be good for a five year old?

Thanks!

 

[Cindy B]

I took my then four (turning 5 the next weeK) year old to both parks.

SHe liked them both, but she is very adventourous.

In USF, she liked 1) Hanna Barbera, 2) Men In Black 3) ET, 4) the play area 4) Wild West Show, 5) Barney 6) Back to the Future. 7) Woody Woodpecker coaster

She wasn't crazy about 1) JAWS --as long as she wasn't on the side she was fine 2) King Kong --she cried the first time, and then the second time just laughed.. 3) T2-- first time she didn't like it, but then went on it and laughed! 4) Make up show--she cried! but as soon as I told it was fake, she did ok, but she didn't want me to volunteer though!

Earthquake and Twister were just ok.. no problems

In IOA, she liked

1) spiderman! 2) Storm Force 3) Dudley (she was tall enough) 4) JPRA (was scared the first time but after that she was fine!) 5) Popeye 6) Camp Jurassic 7) Pterdon Flyers 8) Flying Unicorn 9) All of Suess Landing 10) Sinbad show

She wasn't too crazy about Posiedon the first time, especially the last battle scene at the end.

I hope that is helpful to you. Both parks are really good, but it goes down the how adventourous your kids are. My son loves IOA, so I anticipate us spending more time at IOA than at USF.

 

[Yardbird]

Thanks Cindy, for your very thorough review! This trip, we will only be in Orlando three days, so I think we will give one of these a shot! Now to choose!

 

[daisylove]

Hi there
Just took my DD5 to US in June. We got the FOTL passes and it worked out great. I chose US because there seemed to be more there for her. She liked Jimmy Neutron. Loved meeting spongebob and Shrek and Barney. Missed Shrek show (90 min wait) Loved Barney show and play area, woody woodpecker coaster curious george water park area ( bring bathing suit. mine was there for almost2 hours) Liked MIB until the big alien at the end then she was scared. ET and Earthquake also scared her. Did not even try Mummy or T2.

 

[zaxmom]

I think US. A 5 year old should be able to ride everything there. Shrek and Jimmy Neutron are great for that age. Mine are 6 and 4 and loved MIB and Back to the Future. They liked ET. LOVED Woody Woodpecker. The older one rode the Mummy. They tolerated Twister and liked Earthquake becuase they are on a train. 6 year old refused to do Barney, though I think my 4 year old wanted to and was afraid to admit it. They tolerated Jaws and we skipped Terminator this trip. We have never done the makeup show. The older one probably would have liked that. Take the bathing suit!

Mine also loved IOA for Cat in the Hat and the Unicorn, Jurassic Park, Popeye, Ripsaw Falls, and Spiderman. Most of the others they are not tall enough for. Three of those rides are water rides and you will get wet.

 

[jiggerj]

Thank you so much for this info! We are taking my ds who just turned 5 last week and have been a little nervous as too what he would do. He can be pretty "brave" at times but having never been to IOA I wasn't too sure.

 

[26555]

Any chance you'll be back within a year? I think picking and choosing between both parks works well with young kids and touring half days instead of long days. There are good deals on 2 park annual passes for around $100 or so. You might consider it if you think you'll return within a year. (AAA has 15 month pass for 102 offered, may have to be AAA south member or know someone who is --- CAN buy for friends.) The best part about passes for me was taking away the pressure to get my $50 worth out of the day. It was replaced by, lets leave if we are tired, we'll catch that ride next time. Its harder to let the kids play in the fountains for an hour if you've paid over 50 a ticket for the day.

http://www.aaasouth.com/acs_pages/tis_attraction_rates.asp?id=42605