Kids, Universal, and other questions

[a_sailor's_wife]

Hi All!

A little backstory... We've been to Disney as a family of 3 every year for at 4 years. We're now a family of 4. Our youngest DS will be 8 months for our next trip the November 24-December 1. Our oldest DS will be 7.

We've never been to Universal as a family, and I think that DS7 would love all the superheroes. However, he is not a big coaster or thrill ride fan at all. Which means many times DH and I don't ride those rides either so that we can get in the things we all like to do as a family.

With that in mind, do you think that we can squeeze all the rides he would enjoy in 1 day from both parks? I think I counted about 15 rides that he'd like. Thinking on this it seems like way too much, and I do not want to overwhelm any of us. I want us to enjoy it. If we do 2 days should we do them at the beginning of our trip, in the middle, or at the end? We have a lot we do want to squeeze in from Disney, and we'll be staying at Disney with a rental car for about 2-3 days.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

TIA!

 

[GeorgiaPeach74]

Tia,

First off, I would love to welcome you to Universal. You're going to have a great time. What I would recommend is to do a 2-Day Base Ticket. That would allow you to do one park per day, so you don't feel like you're being rushed. In addition, the 2-Day Base Ticket can be used any 2 days within a 14 day calendar window. It's cheaper than the 1-Day Park-to-Park Ticket by a few dollars. If you do the 1-Day Park-to-Park Ticket, I would look into the option of an express pass to minimize your wait in the lines. If you don't do the 1-Day Park-to-Park with Express, than I would do the 2-Day Base. If you do the 2-Day Base Ticket, you can do one day in the beginning, relax, enjoy Disney for a few days if you want, then Universal toward the end. You can also do the 2-Days together if you want. I'm trying to find the most economical option for you. I would do the 2-Day Base Ticket that way you're not feeling rushed, saving a little money and would be able to enjoy both theme parks, with one park per day access. And in addition, you'll still have a few days to enjoy Disney. Now, when it comes time to buy Tickets, I would recommend buying them as early as possible as prices are subject to change and would buy them online or calling Universal directly. If you buy a multi-day park or base ticket at the gate, you will pay $20 per person more.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to write them and I or any of the members on this board will be more than happy to assist you.

I hope you have a great first experience with Universal and enjoy the rest of your day

~Ashley~

 

[Alabama Minnie]

I would check the height of your DS7 before planning to see what rides he can do. I am not sure what the restriction is on Spiderman (it is fantastic, our favorite).
IMO there is not alot that younger children can do. It is ALOT different than Disney IMO. We saved Universal/IOA until our children were older. Then we did the 2 day Universal/IOA and added Seaworld or Bush Gardens to that visit.

 

[kittyninja]

I think GeorgiaPeach hit the nail on the head. I would also like to add that when going to Islands of Adventure if your group is not interested in Harry Potter hardly at all then hit the rest of the park as early as possible while everyone else is still rushing to the Wizarding World. This will greatly reduce your wait times on other rides in the park. Then if you want to experience the WW go after about 3 or 4. I think even without HP knowledge your 7 y/o will enjoy Flight of the Hippogriff and of course the candy store!! Hope you have a great trip!!

 

[helenb]

Other than WWoHP, the first ride I would go to at IOA is Pteranadon Flyers. It's actually a very nice, very cute ride, but even 15 people in front of you can add up to a looooong wait.

Are you staying onsite at a Universal Studios Hotel? If so, you receive unlimited Express Pass and also early entry to Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

 

[bumbershoot]

I want to first make sure you know that Universal's child swap is MUCH more family friendly than Disney's. Everyone goes into the line *together*, only swapping out right before the boarding area. There's only a minimal amount of time that the family is apart, unlike at Disney where the non-riders wait outside of the ride entirely.

Check out height requirements, that's for sure!

We only have the one, and on our first Universal trip DS wouldn't even go on Forbidden Journey (I was the only one who went on that on our first trip). He liked Flight of the Hippogriff and the Woody Woodpecker coaster, but he wasn't tall enough for OR interested in anything else that was BIG. Well he did like Spiderman, actually.

I'm a chicken, and DH can't yet fit on the big rides, so that first trip was ALL lower-paced rides, and it was tremendously awesome anyway!

We spent 4 days there, and it wasn't enough, even while skipping the big rides. We're big re-riders, though. For a family that only hits rides once and is happy with that, you can do it with less time, but we LOVE going back again and again, day after day continuing to have more fun on the same rides.


They also have fun play areas that my son (now 8) still likes, even though he'll also ride Forbidden Journey now, and he and I experienced Rip Ride Rockit on our last trip. And he LOVES torturing DH by seeing the Barney show, LOL.

 

[JessicaR]

I want to first make sure you know that Universal's child swap is MUCH more family friendly than Disney's. Everyone goes into the line *together*, only swapping out right before the boarding area. There's only a minimal amount of time that the family is apart, unlike at Disney where the non-riders wait outside of the ride entirely.

Check out height requirements, that's for sure!

We only have the one, and on our first Universal trip DS wouldn't even go on Forbidden Journey (I was the only one who went on that on our first trip). He liked Flight of the Hippogriff and the Woody Woodpecker coaster, but he wasn't tall enough for OR interested in anything else that was BIG. Well he did like Spiderman, actually.

I'm a chicken, and DH can't yet fit on the big rides, so that first trip was ALL lower-paced rides, and it was tremendously awesome anyway!

We spent 4 days there, and it wasn't enough, even while skipping the big rides. We're big re-riders, though. For a family that only hits rides once and is happy with that, you can do it with less time, but we LOVE going back again and again, day after day continuing to have more fun on the same rides.


They also have fun play areas that my son (now 8) still likes, even though he'll also ride Forbidden Journey now, and he and I experienced Rip Ride Rockit on our last trip. And he LOVES torturing DH by seeing the Barney show, LOL.

Off topic!
Just curious - you don't like the big rides and you rode RRR - so what did ya think? I ask because I love the big rides and didn't really like RRR very much. My kids make me ride. I hate how much my head gets banged around.
Oh and every once in a great while I have to see the barney show too.

 

[Goofy&Sleepy]

We just returned w/DD7 & DD 10 (joined by nieces 7 & 5 1 day). Spent 1 full day & 2 1/2 days at US/IOA. DD7 LOVED FJ (rode 3 x) and has seen parts of HP movies but knew enough to enjoy & wasn't frightened by dementors. DD7 is not a coaster fan so we only rode Woody Woodpecker. She liked the Jurassic Park flying ride but it only has 3 "swings" so is VERY slow. Spent time w/all 4 girls mainly at HP & visiting kids areas. There are lots of water play/play areas...would highly recommend wearing swim gear or quick dry. Girls all loved ET & the Seuss area but loved the Curious george area (ball thing in back --past the water area is really fun). Tried to avoid those areas next day w/just 2 girls & they enjoyed Shrek, Spidey (LOVED it), Terminator, Simpsons,Horror Show (surprisingly funny), They didn't care for twister/Disaster/MIB (DH did that single rider 2x--boy might like more). We travel to WDW 2x/yr since girls were 3 /4 months old & I have to say there is NOT as much to do as US/IOA w/baby "ride" wise. Things "shake"/move around fast (Simpsons,Spidy, MIB, even Seuss ride spins) couldn't even ride ET w/little one but there are plenty of shady spots in play areas.