Overwhelmed where to start 5yr & 8yr old in party

[Bella2000]

I have not been to Universal since the 90s. I had heard IoA was not for younger kids is this true? We are DVC and go to WDW often so I wanted to look at a trip at Universal and stay at a Universal Hotel. I've been searching this forum and I feel completely out of my element since I know nothing. I've been looking at the AP and the special deals but if the trip is a bust was the AP worth it. I am a Loews member - unfortunately not too many stays.

I'm pretty methodical but I can't seem to get my arms around where to start. I'll have a 5yr old and 8 yr old - both are tall. The 5 yr old for example loves the coasters (thunder, splash, goofy), Test Track but hates dark rides (Peter Pan). The 8 yr old's fav's are Tower of Terror, Test Track and Space Mountain. Since it will be just the three of us I'm wondering whether there will be less options at certain parks due to height restrictions which would disappoint the 8 yr old.

Thank in advance for insight. I'm also wondering whether I should just wait until they are older.The FOTL option makes Universal very appealing.

 

[goofy!]

We were there last week with 3 eight year olds and 2 ten year olds. They loved both parks. Two of the eight year olds were too short for the 3 big coasters and one - a very petite young lady - was just under the line for Dr. Doom. The other 8 year old (tall for his age) could ride everything.

In IOA - they LOVED Dr. Doom, Spiderman, Ripsaw falls, Popeye, Jurassic Park, Unicorn, everything in Suessland and especially playing in Camp Jurassic. Storm Force Accelatron (teacups) was "boring" as they put it. Believe me, there is plenty to do for young kids in IOA.

We started the week in Universal. My DN10 was a bit timid - never having been to a large amusement park before. Her first ride was Woody (a very small kiddie coaster.) When she got off - she said it was a bit fast for her and was going to watch for awhile. By the end of our 10 day stay, Woody was "lame", Dr. Doom was tops and she was shooting 300,000's in MIB. Woody was all of a sudden too slow, but Mummy was just right. Now she can't wait to grow another inch to try Hulk and Dueling Dragons.

So, if your kids are already having fun on Space Mountain and such, they will have a blast at both parks! It took my DN less than 3 days to go from timid to a newly appointed Universalaholic!

 

[Bella2000]

Thank you for your insight.

 

[gopherit]

I'm bumping this up for more response!

Bella2000, we are in VERY similar boats! I totally understand how you feel -- we're DVC also, and until very recently, we had our DVC kids thinking WDW was all there was in Orlando (darn those stinkin' billboards and their ability to READ!) THe kids want to try US, but I am filled with trepidation...

(1) I know SQUAT DIDDLY about it.

(2) I'm not sure what they will get out of it.

Next August (our slated ETA for Orlando), our kids will be 11,10 and 6. The 11 yr old will NOT ride anything "mountain (Space, Splash, or BTRR) ... but LOVES Mission: Space. Go figure. The 10 yr old LOVES all things fast and wacky -- favorite rides are ToT, M:S, and RnRC. THe 6 yr old would ride anything she could -- but is vertically challenged and gets pretty upset when she's "denied" as a result, lol. We were looking at getting one of the Universal hotels for 3 nights, but I don't even know where to begin! I mean, is 3 nights enough? how many days does a family like ours need to see whatever can be seen? We would also love to do Sea World -- I thought about doing 2 days at US, then 1 day at SW, then we would move over to WDW. But is that too much time, not enough? AUGGHHHH!!!!

Somebody help us poor Universally challenged Disney folks!

 

[tclowe]

Bella2000, don't wait! Your kids will have a great time. We went with our 5 year old son and 16 month old daughter. They sort of preferred Universal over Disney. My son loved Jimmy Neutron, Shrek 3-D, Men in Black (where they shoot aliens) and Spiderman 3-D. Awesome graphics that your 8 year old will appreciate. When we went in May, there were less people in the Universal parks so it was more leisure and less frantic. But plenty to do. We had annual passes and stayed off-site. We went for 2 1/2 days and enjoyed the two parks and eating at Jimmy Buffet's restaurant. Come December, we are staying on-site so we can go on MIB at least 5 times (according to my son).

 

[mbb]

........(1) I know SQUAT DIDDLY about it.........
Somebody help us poor Universally challenged Disney folks!

So right there with you!!

Is there a Tour Guide Mike for US/IOA?
'Cause if there is, sign me up and call me Spidey...

We're going to UO the first week in February/06, DH, me, our kids - who will be turning 8 Feb21, and my parents..

Aside from a lovely lunch at Mythos - I don't even know where to start..

Teach me, oh wise ones!!

 

[spatenfloot]

There is plenty for young kids to do at both US and IoA.

Best bets in US:
Woody's nutcoaster
Curious George play area
Jimmy Neutron ride (go early and get fast pass for later)
MIB (similar to Buzz but a bit more intense)
Animal Planet show
Barney's playland (for the littlest kids)

IoA:
Anything in Seussland (go early because it gets crowded)
Flying Unicorn
Sinbad show
Dudley falls
Bluto's barge ride
Spiderman
Storm's accelatron (teacups, usually no wait)

Other rides such as the adult coasters would depend on how tall and brave your child is. Hulk is fun though.

 

[phamton]

I would suggest you look at these two articles and decide if there are some things there that your kids would like:

Kids at Universal

Kids at Islands of Adventure

 

[robvia]

There's plenty for the kids to enjoy, at all ages and thrill levels.

The thing is, most people are so brainwashed into staying at Disney, they never even think to leave and drive up to IOA/USF for a day or two. That's why I suggest everyone rent a car. Yes, there is gas money, parking, and it may be more expensive than the free magic carpet ride from Disney, but the convience factor pays off when you can go anywhere.

If someone is from the UK or is scared to rent a car, I can understand that. There are limo services we recommend often like Happy Limo, Florida Tours, and if all else fails, Mears (which is the Disney favorite).

It's very easy to drive up to USF/IOA for a visit and you'll see everything if you arrive early. So even if you are staying on Disney property, it's still worth it to buy tickets, hire a limo service, and drive up early arriving at 8am. Do that and you have the entire park to yourself for a couple hours. Then you can go back to your Disney hotel and continue your trip. I know some people like to sleep in and go slow, but if you arrive the IOA/USF gate early, you'll see a lot in a few hours.

 

[Bella2000]

I would suggest you look at these two articles and decide if there are some things there that your kids would like:

Kids at Universal

Kids at Islands of Adventure

thank you for the articles and thank you everyone for the feedback!

 

[Bella2000]

Yes, there is gas money, parking, and it may be more expensive than the free magic carpet ride from Disney, but the convience factor pays off when you can go anywhere.

robvia this made me laugh. We typically do rent a car however I was thinking of taking the "free magic carpet ride" aka DME.

 

[Bella2000]

I called today and added two days in August for our trip. We are going to stay at the HRH. I'm still reading everything. I've almost gotten over being a novice at this park. Hey robvia we are also renting a car

 

[tclowe]

Also enjoyed Robvia comment. We are taking the "magic carpet" to our Disney Hotel for 6 days then renting a car from the Dolphin Hotel to drive to Universal for 3 days and for our ride to the airport. Cheaper this way and we get the best of both theme parks.

 

[mbb]

.....the free magic carpet ride from Disney, but the convience factor pays off when you can go anywhere.......

LOLing!!!

It's very easy to drive up to USF/IOA for a visit and you'll see everything if you arrive early. .......and drive up early arriving at 8am. Do that and you have the entire park to yourself for a couple hours. ....... if you arrive the IOA/USF gate early, you'll see a lot in a few hours.

That's what we're planning to do...question for you though - and anyone else, feel free to chime in - will 7 days be too much?

We're not commandos, and roller coasters aren't in our game plan at all.. Jimmy Neutron, MIB, maybe Spiderman, and Suess Landing, and whatever "show" type attractions.. are about it for us ( I think) Would we be better off just planning for a couple of days at US/IOA, and then increase our ticket days at WDW?

Thanks for the links, phamton

 

[robvia]

Seven days is not too long for slower people. I've read messages where people enjoy the hotel, relax by the pool, take their time at dinner, and so on.

If you run out of things to do, you can always visit Sea World of Florida (SWF), and since you are not worried about arriving early, you could take the shuttle from the hotel. I'd probably make a trip over to SWF on the 3rd or 4th morning, and possible go back one more time.

If you want to drive 1.5 hours (75 miles), there's Busch Gardens Tampa (BGT). SWF has a shuttle that goes back and forth, but I don't know how it works.

There's also Wet N Wild (WnW). For this park, I would advise arriving early because the lines for the slides get long in the afternoon.

For a dinner show, there's Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, which has great food.

If you rent the car, going between all these attractions is easy. Otherwise, you'll have to check out the shuttle and hire a limo for Dixie. There's a lot to see, just takes a little bit of driving between the attractions.