Medium starting point with choice of rides

[tracyd3]

How would you approach the two parks with 3 boys (ages 5,9,13). My 13 year old is just getting into rollercoasters. We go to Dorney park/Pennsylvania and last summer was the first time he rode all the coasters there and liked them. How do the coasters compare to a park like Dorney Park? As for my 5 year old and 9 year old they are a little braver but not much. The first trip to Disney we went to MGM first and rode the Tower of Terror first. Big mistake. After that they were afraid to trust us with what the ride would be like. My husband and I didn't know anything about the ride. So now my kids are a little hesitant about what to expect on the rides. I still can't get them on the Haunted Mansion because they can't get passed the opening room to realize that the ride isn't scary. So help me pick some good starting points so I don't scare them right away and ruin the trip. They are the type of kids that once they get warmed up they will go on everything. I just can't jump in right away with a scary ride. I have to ease them in. Do you recommend IOA or US first? They love water rides and they like rock n rollercoaster at MGM and like Star Tours. I still can't get them to go to It's tough to be a bug at Animal Kingdom because they remember it being scary 4 years ago!! What would be a good starting point. I hear that Spiderman is awesome but is it overwhelming for a first ride? I don't want to start in Seuss Landing- just a medium starting point.
I wonder if my husband or I should go on the ride first to see what it is like. Then decide. But that is probably time wasting.


Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Metro West]

Since you have sons, I would definately suggest starting at IOA with Spiderman...they should love it! Plus...they would enjoy seeing the other super heroes at Marvel Island.

At the Studios, I would suggest MIB or maybe The Simpsons...those are both fun and not too scary.

Make sure you check out the ride videos on YouTube so you can see what rides are all about.

 

[Darcy03231]

Since you need to "warm them up" I would start out really easy and do the Studios side first. Shrek and Jimmy Neutron are good, but tame. ET is another pretty tame ride. Simspons is a simulator ride and if you have anyone in your group that suffers from motion sickness this may not be a good choice. I did it last week for the first time and ended up keeping my eyes closed for most of the ride. I would then go over to Men in Black (kind of like a ramped up version of Buzz Lightyear in MK). I would then work my way around the back of the park doing Jaws, Disaster and The Mummy (one of my favorits) and Twister. Don't forget to hit the shows. Beetlejuice Graveyard Review, Horror Make Up Show and Animal Actors are all really good. Terminator is part show part 3-D effects and is also good, but might be a bit scary to start with. Your 5 y.o. will love Fievel's Playground (make sure you bring dry clothes).

The rides at IOA are more intense than the studios side. I would start either in Suess' Landing (kiddie rides) or with Spiderman. Storm Accellorator (sp) is next to Hulk (think teacups). Dudley Do Right is similar to Splash Mountain and Popeye is similar to Kali River Rapids (you will get drenched). Jurassic Park is also a great ride, kinda of like a cross between Dinosaur at AK and Spash Mountain. Prytendon Flyers is good for all ages, as is the Sinbad show and Posiden's Fury. IOA is where the big coasters, Hulk and Dueling Dragons are, as well as Dr. Doom's Fearfall.

Have a great time!

 

[re121258]

I've been to Dorney many times and have ridden all the coasters. So regarding the coasters and your DS(13), if he has ridden the coasters at Dorney he should fine with the coasters at Universal.

Sometimes I think the fabulous theming of the coasters at Universal builds the fear more than the actual ride itself. Walking through the castle for Dragons can get your heart racing and increase your nerves if you are even the tiniest bit unsure about riding. You are immersed in the whole theme, unlike the rides at Dorney which mainly have your standard zig-zag ride queue.

 

[tracyd3]

Thanks for all the great information on the rides. It really helped a lot! I am so excited to go but nervous at the same time just because I always hear people say that Universal/Islands is more for the tweens and up. (and my kids aren't the bravest ride people ever). I didn't know how to approach the situation with the rides. Let them find out for themselves and have them scared to death or ease them into the calmer rides first. Your information was great. Do you find that having a change of clothes is the best way to go or do you dry quickly with the heat down there. I didn't really think about change of clothes. I was just going to dress them in comfortable clothes that would dry quicker than say jeans would.

I am not a big simulator ride person. I barely make it through Star Tours. I almost get sick at the last few minutes of the ride. I would hate to miss Spiderman after hearing how great it is. I would like to try it at least once. Is it longer in time than Star Tours?

 

[Darcy03231]

Thanks for all the great information on the rides. It really helped a lot! I am so excited to go but nervous at the same time just because I always hear people say that Universal/Islands is more for the tweens and up. (and my kids aren't the bravest ride people ever). I didn't know how to approach the situation with the rides. Let them find out for themselves and have them scared to death or ease them into the calmer rides first. Your information was great. Do you find that having a change of clothes is the best way to go or do you dry quickly with the heat down there. I didn't really think about change of clothes. I was just going to dress them in comfortable clothes that would dry quicker than say jeans would.

I am not a big simulator ride person. I barely make it through Star Tours. I almost get sick at the last few minutes of the ride. I would hate to miss Spiderman after hearing how great it is. I would like to try it at least once. Is it longer in time than Star Tours?

The water rides are Popeye, Dudley Do Right and Jurassic Park. Jurassic Park, depending on where sit, depends on whether you hardley get wet or get wet. I found we got splashed more than wet. Dudley Do Right you get wet and Popeye you get soaked. We started with Popeye, went to Dudley and then went to Jurassic Park. DD and I wore a pair of swim shorts and DS work his swim trunks. I brought dry shorts and underthings in my bag and brought a large ziplock. When we done we all changed and I wrung out the wet swim stuff and put it in the ziplock. Our shirt dried up over the rest of the day. I just hate walking around with wet bottoms on.

I have a hard time on some simulator rides but love Spiderman. I do ok with all of it except for the "down" part and I just close my eyes until its over and I'm fine. I've done Jimmy Neutron and had some issues with that one too so now I skip it. I can honestly say I will never do the Simpsons again. You can try it and if it bothers you just close your eyes until its over. It might also help if you take some Dramanine or Bonine (sea sick medication).

Have a great time!

 

[Metro West]

I am not a big simulator ride person. I barely make it through Star Tours. I almost get sick at the last few minutes of the ride. I would hate to miss Spiderman after hearing how great it is. I would like to try it at least once. Is it longer in time than Star Tours?

It's been a long time since I rode Star Tours but I do believe Spiderman is longer and much more fun!

 

[macraven]

have you read thru the universal website?
try looking at the interactive map for the parks.

you can read all about the rides, height restrictions and gain information on the UO rides.

have never been to dorky park before so i can't do a comparison for you.

 

[re121258]

have never been to dorky park before so i can't do a comparison for you.

There are probably a few people around here who would describe it that way.

 

[macraven]

sorry, haven't heard much about that park before.