Questions about a Wish child visiting US/IOA

[casper_jj11]

So I've started thinking about our day at US/IOA. We've never been before and I have no idea what to expect. I've heard the park is wonderful for wish kids but what exactly does that mean? Is front of the line available for all rides or just some? Anyone have any idea if it will be easier to tour the Harry Potter land... I've heard that the express pass that people can buy won't be able to be used on HP rides? DH and I are huge fans but this is DD's trip and I don't plan to spend half a day in that area since the kids won't have any idea what they're seeing.

I also need some help deciding rides to do. We're only planning on spending one day there. We'll be there at rope drop but we won't stay late, probably only until 4ish if we can do what we want by then. We won't ahve time to do it all so I need to limit. There's DS7, DD4 (wish child) and DS2.

DS2 will enjoy all the rides he is allowed to ride. And DD and DS7 will still like the kiddie type rides as well. DH and DS7 love coasters so I need to fit a few in (Expedition Everest and Rock n Roller Coaster are favs at Disney). That said, I don't want to do too many things that DD can't do (ie: don't want her spending the day waiting for her dad and big brother... while we split up at WDW, I'm less likely to do it here since none of us have been before). DD is over 40in so she can do many of the rides at US I think, but its our first day in Florida so I'm not sure if its a good idea to put her on the crazy rides...at WDW she's looking forward to Barnstormer and Splash most of all. Which rides would be fairly tame for her but more exciting than the little kiddie rides?

Overall, what rides/shows do you think we should do and will they all fit in to a one day plan with the special pass that we'll receive. With that pass, do I need to plan to still arrive at some rides earlier than others or will the pass make that unnecessary. Should we start at US or IOA?

I'd love all the input I can get. I'm an overplanner (usually TGM) and feel a little lost planning US/IOA.

Thanks!

 

[John316]

Hello!

First off just wanted to say I hope your trip goes wonderfully no matter what you decide to do.

If your concerened about height requirements, I would recommend starting off with Universal Studios first. While not as "exciting" as Islands of Adventure it has more rides I feel that can accomedate the whole family.

Heres a link of the rides that have height requirements in both parks

http://www.universalorlando.com/Resort_Information/height_requirements.aspx#

For Islands of Aventure DD is tall enough to do Spiderman, arguably one of the best theme park attractions in the world. Its a simulator 3d ride, but its on a track (hard to explain). Also Pteranodon Flyers is a good ride for the little ones.


If none of your children are "in" to Harry Potter, it might be best just to either tour it or walk on through depending on crowds. I don't know when your going but it might be manic with people.

That said express is availible on most rides in both parks and is a great thing to have depending on crowds.

Let me know if you have any questions!

God Bless,

John316

 

[Lfee12]

Hi,

I think your daughter would love Seuss Landing at IOA, for Popey and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges she has to be 42 in. and for Dudley Do-Right 44 in. both are really great rides, but you will get soaked on them. Spiderman is amazing. I would go to IOA first and later to US. You can find a fantastic trip report from a wish-kids mom here: (I'm not allowed to post links yet, so search for "gingerbread boy" and you will find the tread. The IOA/US report beginns on post 141)

Have a great time
Sandra

 

[casper_jj11]

Thank you! I spent ages on the Universal website looking at rides and height requirements. DD is probably about 44in or taller right now so there are many rides she can technically do but she scares pretty easily... thunder, etc.

I was thinking of skipping rides that are similar to some disney ones like the flume ride and the one like kali... does this make sense or are they truly that different? (We're going in mid August)

Also, I was wondering about teh following rides and their scare factor. DD is tall enough but I don't want a ride that's too intense for her:

Men in Black (like Buzz right?)
Simpsons
Jurassic Park River Adventure (are the dinosaurs scary?)

Thanks!

 

[damo]

The dinosaurs are pretty scary. Men in Black and Simpsons aren't scary though. However, the aliens are much more lifelike than in Buzz.

 

[Claire-Bear]

If you want to judge some of the rides, I'd recommend searching for them in Youtube as many people do record first-person perspectives.

E.g. for jurassic park: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6uM1sOPpcY

 

[phamton]

When you arrive at Universal or Islands of Adventure, stop by Guest Services and they will give you a special pass for your family. It should work park wide even in Harry Potter.

 

[tippANDbb]

Are you talking about the make a wish foundation?

 

[Buckeye Princess]

We went there on my sister's wish trip in 2005. At all attractions as soon as they saw her button they took her to the front of the line. They also told us many times not to wait until someone noticed, but to point it out right away. Often they asked her if she wanted to ride a second time. We hit pretty much every attraction in both parks in one day including sitting down for lunch. They also stopped her to ask if she wanted her face painted and this was free. She also got to do one of the rock climbing things that is usually extra for free as well. She wanted to play a game and went over with her money but again was told no charge. Finally they gave her a free ride photo at every ride. Not sure if they still do this.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Thank you! I spent ages on the Universal website looking at rides and height requirements. DD is probably about 44in or taller right now so there are many rides she can technically do but she scares pretty easily... thunder, etc.

I was thinking of skipping rides that are similar to some disney ones like the flume ride and the one like kali... does this make sense or are they truly that different? (We're going in mid August)

Also, I was wondering about teh following rides and their scare factor. DD is tall enough but I don't want a ride that's too intense for her:

Men in Black (like Buzz right?)
Simpsons
Jurassic Park River Adventure (are the dinosaurs scary?)

Thanks!

The rides are truly different. Splash Mountain and Ripsaw Falls are only similar in that they are log flumes. Everything about Ripsaw, including how wet you get (soaked) is different. And there are three drops...

Popeye & Blutos is different from Kali as there is a more solid story, and you get wetter than Kali, but still have a blast.

MIB is like Buzz in that you shoot aliens. MIB has some spinning, but *YOU* have the gun and can aim and shoot at anything.

Simpsons Ride is not scary at all, it just shakes you around a bit.

Jurassic Park is the "scariest" ride, as the dinos are trying to eat you! But it's still not as scary as Dinosaur in AK.

 

[casper_jj11]

Are you talking about the make a wish foundation?

Kind of. Its the same type of trip but my daughter's trip was granted through the Children's Wish Foundation.

We went there on my sister's wish trip in 2005. At all attractions as soon as they saw her button they took her to the front of the line. They also told us many times not to wait until someone noticed, but to point it out right away. Often they asked her if she wanted to ride a second time. We hit pretty much every attraction in both parks in one day including sitting down for lunch. They also stopped her to ask if she wanted her face painted and this was free. She also got to do one of the rock climbing things that is usually extra for free as well. She wanted to play a game and went over with her money but again was told no charge. Finally they gave her a free ride photo at every ride. Not sure if they still do this.

Thank you so much for the insight. Its nice to know that we really can fit almost everything in. My goal is to not do the scary things first becuase she may not do other things later if that's the case. That's why I'm so concerned about the order we do things in more so than the lines. I didn't realize they had face painters there. Even if there is a charge, I think we'll do that. She'd love it!

The rides are truly different. Splash Mountain and Ripsaw Falls are only similar in that they are log flumes. Everything about Ripsaw, including how wet you get (soaked) is different. And there are three drops...

Popeye & Blutos is different from Kali as there is a more solid story, and you get wetter than Kali, but still have a blast.

MIB is like Buzz in that you shoot aliens. MIB has some spinning, but *YOU* have the gun and can aim and shoot at anything.

Simpsons Ride is not scary at all, it just shakes you around a bit.

Jurassic Park is the "scariest" ride, as the dinos are trying to eat you! But it's still not as scary as Dinosaur in AK.

DD did Splash a year and a half ago and she's looking forward to it this year but I'm not sure about something that gets her more wet... still think we'll avoid the flume rides. That said, Kali is my fav ride at WDW so we may try to fit in Popeye and Bluto... may be nice to get wet in the August heat. MIB and Simpsons we'll do but we'll need to skip Jurassic Park. DS7 likes Dinosaur so he'll enjoy it but she'd be scared to death so we'll find something else to do while DS7 and DH do that.

Thanks so much everyone! I've done kind of a plan so I may post it later for feedback if that's ok.

 

[tippANDbb]

Kind of. Its the same type of trip but my daughter's trip was granted through the Children's Wish Foundation.



Thank you so much for the insight. Its nice to know that we really can fit almost everything in. My goal is to not do the scary things first becuase she may not do other things later if that's the case. That's why I'm so concerned about the order we do things in more so than the lines. I didn't realize they had face painters there. Even if there is a charge, I think we'll do that. She'd love it!



DD did Splash a year and a half ago and she's looking forward to it this year but I'm not sure about something that gets her more wet... still think we'll avoid the flume rides. That said, Kali is my fav ride at WDW so we may try to fit in Popeye and Bluto... may be nice to get wet in the August heat. MIB and Simpsons we'll do but we'll need to skip Jurassic Park. DS7 likes Dinosaur so he'll enjoy it but she'd be scared to death so we'll find something else to do while DS7 and DH do that.

Thanks so much everyone! I've done kind of a plan so I may post it later for feedback if that's ok.

Oh ok. I don't know too much about that, but I was a wish kid through the make a wish foundation but have a great trip!

 

[SnowWitch]

Casper my DD was 4 on our trip last year. She is tall enough to do almost anything with the exception of the large coasters. She liked Men In Black after the first ride. The Simpsons scared the *crap* out of her!!! Jurassic Park she managed but did not enjoy all that much. The dino's, she liked after she realized they would not eat her, but the flume drop at the end almost gave her a preschool MI.

 

[casper_jj11]

Thank you for the info! Good to know MIB is pretty safe. What was it about the Simpsons that scared your little one?