Many,many questions

[Poohlovr]

We are going on a cruise in Oct and decided to go a couple of days early and visit WDW. Yesterday, we thought maybe US/IOA instead of WDW, since we've been to WDW so many times and my g-kids (ages 13 & 16) have never been to US/IOA.

So, the questions begin...

1.We have a choice of Thur, Oct 2 and Fri, Oct 3 OR Fri, Oct 3 and Sat, Oct 4 (ship sails on Sun). Obviously, we save a night's hotel if we go Fri & Sat, but are the parks so crowded on an early Oct. Sat that it will make a difference in how much the kids can see/do?

2.Based on historical crowds, will we need to purchase the FOTL pass or is this something I should just wait and decide when we get there?

3.My DH and I really don't ride coasters (although I do all of the rides at WDW, but big coasters; big drops? No way. DH has some inner ear issues that keep him off of rides like Rockin Roller Coaster at WDW, but he's OK with things like BTMRR. The questions is --- is it even worth it for 2 wimps like us to go to US/IOA or would we be better off dropping the boys at the park, then planning a leisurely day of pool side. shopping and lunch for us?

Which leads us to question 4--

4. Is it even a good idea to let the boys be on their own at the parks (they are 13 and 16) or should I do as I do at WDW and stay with them every step of the way? (They go to the local Six Flags all of the time alone, but I know this is a whole different thing. They each have a cell phone.)

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[wdwgypsy]

My wife does not do any coasters for medical reasons but still has a wonderful time at US and IOA.

The shows and rides are numerous so I would vote go unless of course you want the day away from the kids

I don't think it would be bad to sent a 16 and 13 year old alone to the park. You know the maturity level of your children better than anyone else.

I would recommend the 7 day 2park pass for 79 plus tax and use it as much as you want. I think 3 days is a good length for US/IOA. So I would vote for Thu Fri and Sat.

Don't forget about HHN crowds that weekend!http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/index.html

We did a once in a life time mega vacation a few years ago with WDW first week Cruise Second week and US/IOA last week. Needed a vacation to recover from my vacation

 

[Metro West]

We are going on a cruise in Oct and decided to go a couple of days early and visit WDW. Yesterday, we thought maybe US/IOA instead of WDW, since we've been to WDW so many times and my g-kids (ages 13 & 16) have never been to US/IOA.

So, the questions begin...

1.We have a choice of Thur, Oct 2 and Fri, Oct 3 OR Fri, Oct 3 and Sat, Oct 4 (ship sails on Sun). Obviously, we save a night's hotel if we go Fri & Sat, but are the parks so crowded on an early Oct. Sat that it will make a difference in how much the kids can see/do?

2.Based on historical crowds, will we need to purchase the FOTL pass or is this something I should just wait and decide when we get there?

3.My DH and I really don't ride coasters (although I do all of the rides at WDW, but big coasters; big drops? No way. DH has some inner ear issues that keep him off of rides like Rockin Roller Coaster at WDW, but he's OK with things like BTMRR. The questions is --- is it even worth it for 2 wimps like us to go to US/IOA or would we be better off dropping the boys at the park, then planning a leisurely day of pool side. shopping and lunch for us?

Which leads us to question 4--

4. Is it even a good idea to let the boys be on their own at the parks (they are 13 and 16) or should I do as I do at WDW and stay with them every step of the way? (They go to the local Six Flags all of the time alone, but I know this is a whole different thing. They each have a cell phone.)

Thanks so much for your help.

Here are my responses:

1.) I think I would do Thursday and Friday 10/2 and 10/3...the parks should be less crowded during the day than on weekends.

2.) Crowds that time of year are not bad but that weekend will be the second weekend of HHN (which your sons might like) so the crowds will build in the afternoons.

3.)There are plenty of things to do that would be fine for you. You would probably like Seuss Landing and maybe even Spiderman at IOA. At the Studios, you could do just about everything.

4.)I think you would enjoy IOA but as long as they stayed together, they should be fine alone.

 

[Darcy03231]

Your teens will love US/IOA (mine did). We let them go off in the parks as long as they stayed in the one we were in. Everyone has cell phones and it worked out fine. I'm not a thrill ride person at all and can't do roller coasters either (I have an inner ear issue too). The only things I didn't ride were Hulk, Dr. Doom's Fearfall, and Dueling Dragons. I did everything else at least once. I also have issues with simulator rides and just closed my eyes on the down part of Spiderman and was fine and rode in the stationary seats for Jimmy Neutron. Make sure you see the Hollywood Horror Makeup Show at US. Its one of the best shows I've seen in any amusement park.

 

[klacey1]

4. Is it even a good idea to let the boys be on their own at the parks (they are 13 and 16) or should I do as I do at WDW and stay with them every step of the way? (They go to the local Six Flags all of the time alone, but I know this is a whole different thing. They each have a cell phone.)


To answer your questions:
1) For the sake of saving money, I'd do Fri-Sat. The parks won't be too crowded. Like others have been saying, the Halloween Horror Nights are during that week-- but I stress, ONLY if your sons/you are VERY into horror movies should you attend that. It is definitely scary! (But so fun!)
2) I would definitely wait on the FOTL pass. It's not a super busy time and it would be a waste of money. However, if for whatever reason, crowds defy tradition, you can buy it at the parks.
3) I wouldn't miss out on US/IOA-- even if you don't like "thrill" rides, there's lots of simulator rides that are fun, as well as shows, fun shopping, and other stuff.
4) If you decide to skip out (which I don't reccomend!), a 13 yr old and 16 yr old seem perfectly okay to be on their own-- as long as they keep their cells on and stay together. But, like others have said-- if you can trust them to keep safe and not make stupid decisions, they should be completely fine!

 

[DocOck]

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised that Universal has many misconceptions by Dis only people that have never been. #1 Its NOT really a "big thrill ride" type park. It is a "theme" park like Disney, with about 75% or more of the rides being either slow, themed rides, shows etc., there are only a handful of pure "thrill" rides, which IMO are the 2 coasters at IOA (Hulk and Dueling Dragons) and the FearFall drop ride, and MAYBE you could classify the Mummy at the main Universal park as a thrill ride, but IMO its much more of a great theme ride, that just happens to get fast at the end.

To me the best rides at Universal are Spiderman (3-D slow car ride), Jurassic Park (boat ride), the Mummy, MIB which IMO are not really thrill rides at all.

Also, I'd pick Thursday and Friday as well, Saturday in October is liable to be crowded.

 

[SideshowBob]

Hello my friend!

Some sage advice already listed here, methinks... SSB does think that you might enjoy quite a bit.

 

[Poohlovr]

Thanks for all the advice!

I'm still trying to decide WDW vs US/IOA......

Hi, Bob, ol' friend. Tell me what to do..........

 

[mareed]

As you can see from my signature, we're big Disney fans. We tried Universal for the first time lat month over Spring Break. We enjoyed it enough that I came home and purchased another set of the 7 day passes to put away and use again in the future! We spent 4 days total between the 2 parks, and had FOTL access for the middle 2 days by paying for 1 night at a Universal resort. The first and last day we arrived before park opening and were able to do things for the first few hours before lines got long. We still didn't get to do a few things we wanted to, but we tend to take our time I think and do our favorites multiple times and generally spend more time in parks than most others do.

I say give Universal a try. I think the only real thrill rides you'd be skipping would be Hulk, Dueling Dragons, Dr. Doom's Fearfall and Mummy. I definitely put Mummy in the thrill ride category! I loved it though!

 

[Metro West]

As you can see from my signature, we're big Disney fans. We tried Universal for the first time lat month over Spring Break. We enjoyed it enough that I came home and purchased another set of the 7 day passes to put away and use again in the future! We spent 4 days total between the 2 parks, and had FOTL access for the middle 2 days by paying for 1 night at a Universal resort. The first and last day we arrived before park opening and were able to do things for the first few hours before lines got long. We still didn't get to do a few things we wanted to, but we tend to take our time I think and do our favorites multiple times and generally spend more time in parks than most others do.

I say give Universal a try. I think the only real thrill rides you'd be skipping would be Hulk, Dueling Dragons, Dr. Doom's Fearfall and Mummy. I definitely put Mummy in the thrill ride category! I loved it though!

You are good people!