Never been to IoA - is it fun for a five year old?

[queenofhartz]

Hi everyone! Let me start by admitting that I have never been to Universal Studios. DH, DS (5), both sets of grandparents, and I will be visiting Disneyworld in October. DS is a bit small for his age (38 inches tall), so we were thinking about skipping HS since there are not many rides that he can go on. We were considering a day at IoA instead. I saw the Seuss park online and thought he might have fun.

DS does not like dark rides/shows or super loud stuff like fireworks. He loves rides that are slow and easy. For instance, he loves riding on carousels and those little cars at the mall that you put 50 cents into. I know it sounds a little babyish, and while we push him a little to try the "faster" stuff, he just doesn't enjoy it yet. He's four now and will be five when we go. But, basically, he's not into the "unpredictable" yet.

So, is there a lot for him to enjoy at IoA? If we decide to go to IoA, can you see this park in one day?

Thanks!

 

[nytimez]

Hi everyone! Let me start by admitting that I have never been to Universal Studios. DH, DS (5), both sets of grandparents, and I will be visiting Disneyworld in October. DS is a bit small for his age (38 inches tall), so we were thinking about skipping HS since there are not many rides that he can go on. We were considering a day at IoA instead. I saw the Seuss park online and thought he might have fun.

DS does not like dark rides/shows or super loud stuff like fireworks. He loves rides that are slow and easy. For instance, he loves riding on carousels and those little cars at the mall that you put 50 cents into. I know it sounds a little babyish, and while we push him a little to try the "faster" stuff, he just doesn't enjoy it yet. He's four now and will be five when we go. But, basically, he's not into the "unpredictable" yet.

So, is there a lot for him to enjoy at IoA? If we decide to go to IoA, can you see this park in one day?

Thanks!

My daughter loved it at 4 and 5.

BUT... there's not really a ton to do at that age. Suess Landing is fantastic, and lots of little ones love the Flyers in Jurassic Park (if he's OK with heights).

There are also some nice play areas.

But overall, kids that age will have to enjoy doing some of the same things again and again, because there's simply not a lot of things for them to do.

 

[mesaboy2]

My daughter loved it at 4 and 5.

BUT... there's not really a ton to do at that age. Suess Landing is fantastic, and lots of little ones love the Flyers in Jurassic Park (if he's OK with heights).

There are also some nice play areas.

But overall, kids that age will have to enjoy doing some of the same things again and again, because there's simply not a lot of things for them to do.

I agree. My DD6 loved all of Seuss (4 rides), Acceletron (think teacups), Flight of the Hippogriff (think Goofy's Barnstormer), Me Ship the Olive (think a tricked-out Donald's Boat), and all the play areas. Beyond those, I'm not sure there's much else he would like....

 

[queenofhartz]

Thanks for the first hand opinions! I guess this is kind of the deal at most theme parks. There isn't a lot for him to do at Epcot or HS at Disney either. Maybe we'll try IoA just cuz we've never been before. If he wants to leave after 1/2 day, it's no big deal. We usually end up with a mid day nap anyways.

 

[nytimez]

Thanks for the first hand opinions! I guess this is kind of the deal at most theme parks. There isn't a lot for him to do at Epcot or HS at Disney either. Maybe we'll try IoA just cuz we've never been before. If he wants to leave after 1/2 day, it's no big deal. We usually end up with a mid day nap anyways.

If I may make a suggestion...

There are some great play areas. You can ride the children's rides together as a group, then the adults can take turns watching the little one in the various play areas while everyone else hits the "big people" rides.

This won't work if your style is "everyone together, at all times." But it's an option... because kids can spend quite some time in some of those areas.

There's "If I Ran the Zoo" in Suess Landing... a talking fountain outside the HP entrance (kids are fascinated by it), a Jurassic Park outdoors play area that kids can literally spend ages in... and an indoor Jurassic Park exploration area that kids enjoy.

There are other things here and there that may occupy a small child. None of these are real rides or attractions, but they will help him to pass the time and not notice that gramps is the only one watching him.

 

[2tink4u]

My suggestion is skip Universal and take him to one of the water parks with a great kids area. He will love this! All my nieces and nephews and my son loved the water parks before the big rides at the theme parks. Also, Seaworld has a great kids section with very young rides, shows and animals. Sounds like these are more his speed.
There certainly is plenty of options Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are both great there is also Seaworlds Aquatica.

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for the first hand opinions! I guess this is kind of the deal at most theme parks. There isn't a lot for him to do at Epcot or HS at Disney either. Maybe we'll try IoA just cuz we've never been before. If he wants to leave after 1/2 day, it's no big deal. We usually end up with a mid day nap anyways.

Make sure he tries Camp Jurassic and Me Ship the Olive. Those two play areas will keep him occupied for hours.

 

[nhrenee]

I agree. My DD6 loved all of Seuss (4 rides), Acceletron (think teacups), Flight of the Hippogriff (think Goofy's Barnstormer), Me Ship the Olive (think a tricked-out Donald's Boat), and all the play areas. Beyond those, I'm not sure there's much else he would like....

Don't forget the characters. There's story telling in Seuss land and Spiderman, etc in Marvel. On Thurs and Sunday there is a spiderman breakfast at Confisco's also. The Sinbad Stunt show has a few loud bangs if I remember correctly, but mostly it's goofy sword fighting type of stuff. There is a stunt man that catches fire though, if that might bother him.

 

[lilpooh108]

I think you can spend about 2-3 hours in Seuss' Landing, and that's about it. There isn't much to do with a 5 year old at IOA if he's not into bigger kid rides...just my 2 cents.

 

[queenofhartz]

Thanks so much for the opinions and suggestions! I hadn't considered the water park idea because I thought they were more for bigger kids. So, I'm suprised to hear that little ones have fun too! I honestly haven't been to a water park since I was 14, so it's been....ahem...a long time. I'm sure they've changed a lot. We might consider this idea to try it out.

Also, nytimez - no, we do not have to stay together. My mom and DH's mom do not like big rides (my mom doesn't even like theme parks - she just goes to spend time with her grandson). So, I know they would be just as happy on a playground with him for an hour or so while DH, the granddads, and I go ride the rides.

Sounds like the playgrounds at IoA are worth some time if we decide to go. I think we're either going to do a waterpark or IoA since we've never tried either of these.

Do any of the children's rides at IoA have crazy lines (like Dumbo at MK?)? In otherwords, if we go to IoA, should we get in line for certain children's rides first?

 

[ducky_love]

Quick math - from your ticker you're going in September? If so then nothing should be crowded!!

 

[queenofhartz]

Quick math - from your ticker you're going in September? If so then nothing should be crowded!!

You are super close - we'll be there October 2-7. If we went to IoA, we would go on Thursday, October 6.

So, it sounds like things don't really get crowded at IoA in the fall?

 

[purple hippo]

Don't forget the characters. There's story telling in Seuss land and Spiderman, etc in Marvel. On Thurs and Sunday there is a spiderman breakfast at Confisco's also. The Sinbad Stunt show has a few loud bangs if I remember correctly, but mostly it's goofy sword fighting type of stuff. There is a stunt man that catches fire though, if that might bother him.

How do I find out more about the storytelling? I haven't since this listed anywhere else and I think the kids would enjoy it. Is it just a story being read or is there a little show that goes along with it? I've never seen the Sinbad show so maybe we will check that out. I know we enjoyed the Beetlejuice show we saw years ago...and of course Bill and Ted but I think that is only at HHN. What other shows are worth watching?

 

[FrancieNolan]

My own kids ( 6 & 8) are thrill seeking types but we have to pull them away from the play areas at the USO & IOA. October should be great weather wise.

If there are adults in your party that like to ride I don't think entertaining your son for the day at IOA would be a problem.