Only one day ....UNIV. or IOA?? Kids aged 11, 8 & 4 (SEE POLL)

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I just won a skyauction for CPGrand Villas. We will be there for one week. We have never been to UNIV. so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity because this was not a scheduled trip.

So....THIS is my dilema. We would only be going to UNIV for one day (we plan another day at a water park).

Which park is better for our family?? UNIV. or IOA??

Our kids do well on some thrill rides.....for ex., they all love Thundermountain RR, the two oldest have ridden Splash Mountain (my youngest would be tall enough for Splash now, and would probably LOVE it), the oldest rode Space Mountain but was a little scared when she did it. That was all two years ago.

Which one would you pick?

 

[Planogirl]

I would pick Universal if it were me. IOA is a beautiful park but the attractions are a bit intense and Universal has some new stuff that the kids are bound to enjoy. Last year my 10 year and I visited both and while he liked IOA, he REALLY liked Universal. He particularly loved MIB, Terminator 3D and Back to the Future and now can't wait to try Shrek and The Mummy.

Have fun whichever one you pick!

 

[h20jag]

I say whet their appetites with Studios this trip.
Nice combo of things for the family there with the addition of Mummy Ride. They can see IOA from outside and give you feedback for future trips.
Since you're a 4 minute walk from Hard Rock Hotel while at Studios, might want to venture a peek at what's happening there too.

 

[sha_lyn]

hard choice. IOA has Seuss Landing which is amazing and would be perfect for your 4 yr old. It also has all the water rides (which all but the 4 would easily make the height for), Jurrasic Park play area. It also has a very nice kids coaster, the Flying unicorn. Spiderman is great and depending on height even your 4 yr old coudl do it. For my 6 DD I would say she enjoys IOA more than US when she when she was 3 and 4 yrs old.

US OTOH has added Jimmy Nuetron and Shrek which would be good for all 3. The Mummy is amazing and both your older ones might like it. The scare factor is more in the effect and not the intensity of the coaster. MIB is a lot of fun, as is BTTF. ET is fun too.


If you had asked before the addition of Shrek, Jimmy Nutron and Mummy I would say IOA without hesitation. Now it is much harder to pick just one.
IMHO I'd skip the water park and do both US and IOA

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

this IS hard, isn't it?? But what a great problem, huh??

If you would have told me I'd be doing this in 45 days, well.......I just can't believe this at all.

I was looking at their website, and I was wondering if IOA would be better also.

We measured my son......46 inches (I know, big boy!). So, what do you all think?

I think my DS would really love spider-man.

Uggghhhhh! This is going to be hard.

 

[Patch'sD]

I don't know when you are going, if during the slower season why not get a two park one day ticket and enjoy both. Hit the majors and you'll be hooked. Spiderman, Cat in the Hat, Storm Force, Flyining Unicorn, One Fish, Two Fish, Carozuessel, Jimmy Neutron, Shrek Mummy, MIB, Back to the Future, Woody Woodpecker Kidzone, Terminator 3D, and much more. Have Fun and Enjoy.

 

[sha_lyn]

Well I think I would base on the following

The 4 yr old... Would he like Spiderman, Seuss Landing and Jurassic Park(IOA) over Barney, Shrek, Jimmy Nutron and ET(US)?

the older 2
Men In Black and Mummy (US)
vs Spiderman and the coasters (IOA)


What water park are you thinking of going to? IMHO I think you could do 1/2 day at a water park (if your mind/hearts are really set on a water park) and an additional 1/2 day at one of the universal parks.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

With the special they have going on at Univ., it would only be $50 more for 2 days than 1 day Univ/1 day Waterpark.

But, I think my kids really want the water park.

I don't think any of them would be interested in Mummy. What kind of ride is that? Does it take after the movie(which I have not seen)??

They LOVE Shrek, but would also love Suess and Spider-Man.

 

[sha_lyn]

There are some "spoilers" below on Mummy and Spiderman. You probably want to read them to make your decision, but I thought I would warn you anyway. The only bad thing about planning a trip with kids is you are over prepared for some of the rides and miss some of the thrill factor because of it. I remember sitting through Alien Encounter thing "this is it" but I had read detailed descriptions so I would know if DS would be ok on it.
At least DH doesn't read the details. He was really blown away with Mummy because he had no idea what to expect. I loved it but I think it would have been more thrilling if I had been surprised. With my niece I have to prepare her for stuff, so when we travel together we always sit next to each other so I can whisper to her when something shocking is coming up. I highly recommend doing Spider man or Mummy without the kids first (well except for maybe the oldest).While my DD loved Spider man even when she was 4, it was almost too much for niece who was almost 9.





Mummy is very cool but intense. It is based on the movies and the Curse of Imhoptep (spelling).
It is a coaster, but not like any other coaster out there.
you go slowly through some areas and stop for the "show". Then there are 2 very fast parts that are in the dark with some cool special effects. There are bugs (on a screen) and some fire etc. There is one are where you travel backward. Like I said it is very intense, but most of it is psychological. Spider man is in some ways just as intense. I guess it really depends on what one is afraid of. I hate heights so the simulated fall on Spider man is worse to me that the fire and bugs in Mummy. I know I am not falling but I can not stop holding on and flinching at the landing.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Thank you for all of the info. You're a sweetie!

If I had to make a decision now, I'd probably lean towards IOA.

Oh, decisions, decisions...........

 

[sha_lyn]

IOA to me is the better designed/themed park so it really gave me the best first impression. If you like to be surrounded by theming/atmosphere then IOA would be perfect. I was surprised to find how much we enjoyed US this trip. The new attractions are so well done that they had a big "redo" factor for us. We actually did Shrek and Jimmy Neutron 3 times and Mummy 4 times. Usually we hit 2 or 3 things, then do Men In Black 6 or 7 times.

 

[disneyfreakk]

My vote is for IOA!! this is the better park by far!!!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by Mom of Sleepy, Bashful and BabyDoc
Thank you for all of the info. You're a sweetie!

If I had to make a decision now, I'd probably lean towards IOA.

Oh, decisions, decisions...........

Your DS4 is 46"? Wow! That is really tall for 4. It also means he'll be able to do all the rides in IOA, except for Hulk, Dueling Dragons, and Doctor Doom. At USF he'd be able to go on everything except Mummy.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Yeah, He is a big guy. Now, he will be 5 around Thanksgiving, so he is only 4 months shy of that. That probably makes a difference.

I'm 5'3'' and my DH is 5'8''. I have asked the doctor where this child came from.... He was 9lb-4 oz when he was born and has been in the 95th percentile ever since! And he's not overweight in the slightest.

But when he starts to talk, then you know he is 4. "Mommy, can we go to Disney Woold".

Any other votes...............I need help, people!

 

[HM]

When I went to US and IOA last year, I walked around with my kids in mind as I did the various attractions (I was with my sister) and concluded that my kids would really prefer the Studios if they had to make a choice. There was so much more that was family and kid friendly in that park. IOA had fewer offerings for the non-thrill ride seeker or someone who wouldn't want to end up soaked on a bunch of rides.
While I really liked both parks (and IOA is more visually pleasing), my vote for a first-time one day park would be US.

-HM

 

[vjeri]

Face it, you just have to stay an extra day!!!!!!

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Do you think this is my secret plan to convince DH........

You know, maybe I should post a poll. I'll go do that. sometimes people have an opinion but don't want to post to a thread.......excuse me, please...............

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Update: We will be doing the Dr. Suess/Spiderman Character Breakfast that morning. (Thur. Sept. 9)

On the phone, they said we could have a 2 hour pass when we do the breakfast, so we don't have to pay to get into IOA. We might want to do Universal.

Has anyone ever done that??

I still don't know what to do. It has to be only one day. My family would absolutely love the spiderman ride, including the 4yold. But Universal looks good, too.

Any opinions??

 

[TINK61]

It's a tough call, for myself I think IOA is a better themed park, but I really like the Universal attractions better overall, but IOA has some not to be missed attactions as well. I'd have to find a way to do both. Maybe not spend an entire day, but map out the attractions you think you're children would most enjoy and sort of attempt to fit them all in - in one day. . . . . or . . . you could convince everyone to stay an extra day, maybe?