Should we do US and IOA

[jockey]

We will not be riding the big coasters such as the hulk as I will be 5 months pregnant so is it worthwhile going to US/IOA? We have not been here since 2003 and will be bringing DS (2), will there be lots for him to do?

We already have Disney AP's and have 2 visits planned for SW will we be overdoing it tring to visit these 2 parks also? TIA

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

We prefer IOA/US to Disney

Up until our last trip, my DH would not even consider going on the big rides, but loved everything else in both Universal parks.

There will be plenty of characters which your DS will probably recognise - and then there's wonderful Seuss Landings.

At the end of the day, it will depend on whether you think you will ALL get something out of it.

 

[Jakey Rowling]

In my opinion IOA and US are better for older children and those even older kids who are after the adrenalin rush.

I'm not too sure that at 5 months pregnant, you and a two year old would get much value from the universal parks to be honest.

We've always found that two days in a row at the parks requires the next day off to recharge the batteries so I would be wary of over doing it.

There's always next time

 

[Graeme]

We've never missed IOA in all our visits, but even I would tend to agree with Jakey. The only thing I can see your DS enjoying is Seuss Landing. He wont be big enough for anything else.
Gives you a good excuse to come back a few years down the line!

 

[disneyholic family]

We also feel that Universal/IoA are better for older children.
And given that you won't ride much due to pregnancy, i would skip them this time around.

Better to just do Disney slowly - take your time and enjoy the atmosphere as much as the rides.

Both my kids were at WDW as 2 year olds and loved it. I must have ridden the TTA about 4 thousand times between the two of them. For some reason, they really liked that one when they were 2 (and still do today at 22 and 20).

 

[Twilight Terror]

I think I would agree with everyone else. Plus, if you skip it this year, you have an excuse to go back again (not that anyone needs more excuses!) because you missed it this trip!

We're not actually doing US/IOA this year - we're staying onsite with no car, so we're just solely doing Disney without having to worry about the hassle of transport back and forth. We're waiting for next year when Aquatica is open, and will focus more on off-site parks next year - well that's our excuse for planning another trip next year

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi - i've been spending alot of time on the Universal boards and have come to the conclusion that there will be alot of good play areas for DS4 - so we are going to go US and IOA next year - but then I was also hoping to do a couple of new rides (like Mummy and Shrek) that i haven't done before - but by then I will no longer be pregnant - so I guess only really you know what you want out of your holiday - whatever you decide will be great I'm sure!!

 

[tony64]

I'd say skip them and save them until the kids are old enough to enjoy them, better of arranging a dis meet at DD and having a lazy dinner at RFC.

Congratulations by the way, can't wait to meet you all.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Like Annie we prefer US/IOA to Disney with the possible exception of Magic Kingdom.

As for whether there is anything for a 2 year old, I think there is plenty for kid's at both US/IOA but a personal opinion would be a child so young will obviously enjoy all the parks once he is a little older, including Disney. Again probably MK has more to offer but Suess Landing would be just as appealing as anywhere else and Universal Studios has the likes of Barney and Curious George playground.

I think your child will appreciate ALL the parks as he gets a little older but that applies to Disney as well as US/IOA.

 

[jockey]

I'd say skip them and save them until the kids are old enough to enjoy them, better of arranging a dis meet at DD and having a lazy dinner at RFC.

Congratulations by the way, can't wait to meet you all.

Tony really looking forward to meeting you all at the meet to!

 

[jockey]

Thanks guys for all the replies. DS really likes Barney so that would be really good for him!

I am just afraid of overdoing it as I will be pregnant. DH is hoping this trip will be more realxing than previous trips. Normally I am up blowing my whistle at 6.30am and running him round the parks cramming as much in as possible. He normally needs a week to recover when we get home.

I was thinking of buying the tickets advertised on these boards only $85 for 7 days, what a bargin!

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi Jill,

If you weren't expecting (congratulations by the way!) I would say go for it, as my DDs loved the Universal parks far more than I would have expected. There were loads of things for them to do.

However, as you already have Disney APs and SW ticketsand will want to take things at a more elaxed pace, I would probably leave it this time, and look forward to it on your next trip If when you get to Orlando you get bored you could always buy tickets on the gate to US then

 

[disneyholic family]

Hi Jill,

If you weren't expecting (congratulations by the way!) I would say go for it, as my DDs loved the Universal parks far more than I would have expected. There were loads of things for them to do.

However, as you already have Disney APs and SW ticketsand will want to take things at a more elaxed pace, I would probably leave it this time, and look forward to it on your next trip If when you get to Orlando you get bored you could always buy tickets on the gate to US then

i agree...
i've been at the parks both times i was pregnant, and we definitely took it easier on those trips....

 

[jockey]

Hi Jill,

If you weren't expecting (congratulations by the way!) I would say go for it, as my DDs loved the Universal parks far more than I would have expected. There were loads of things for them to do.

However, as you already have Disney APs and SW ticketsand will want to take things at a more elaxed pace, I would probably leave it this time, and look forward to it on your next trip If when you get to Orlando you get bored you could always buy tickets on the gate to US then

Thanks a lot I think you are right we can always buy tickets at the gate! I also need to find time for shopping too so hopefully wont get too bored

 

[PoppyAnna]

We had flextickets back in May, we made it to US and Seaworld but DD4 got tonsilitus and we didn't make IOA.

Our two daughters (19mo and 4) liked Fievals playgroud, curious george's playground, Shrek and Jimmy Neutron's. We also took the eldest on Jaws, Earthquake, MIB. We all went on Twister (truly awful).

I was disappointed with US, I thought it was tacky compared to the days we had spent at Disney.
DH was very disappointed we didnt get to IOA, he's a real thril ride nut.
When I think of how much money we wasted with the flextickets
If we do a second trip this year I've said to DH, I'll drop him off and he can have his day at IOA and I'll take the girls elsewhere, I just don't think there is enough for them there to pay for all 4 of us to go in.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We had flextickets back in May, we made it to US and Seaworld but DD4 got tonsilitus and we didn't make IOA.

Our two daughters (19mo and 4) liked Fievals playgroud, curious george's playground, Shrek and Jimmy Neutron's. We also took the eldest on Jaws, Earthquake, MIB. We all went on Twister (truly awful).

I was disappointed with US, I thought it was tacky compared to the days we had spent at Disney.
DH was very disappointed we didnt get to IOA, he's a real thril ride nut.
When I think of how much money we wasted with the flextickets
If we do a second trip this year I've said to DH, I'll drop him off and he can have his day at IOA and I'll take the girls elsewhere, I just don't think there is enough for them there to pay for all 4 of us to go in.

Sorry you didn't enjoy - I actually like Twister although the pre-show is far too long.

It what way did you find Universal 'tacky' ? have to say I disagree.
Some of the best rides are at US and the theming at IOA is superb - maybe a shame you didn't get to see that park.
Guess we all have different tastes and opinions, would be boring if we didn't.

I am sure if the likes of Shrek were at one of the Disney parks it would get more 'rave reviews'.

 

[PoppyAnna]

I have been to IOA before and do know the park and I still feel that there isn't much there for a 2 and 4 year old girl who hasn't had much exposure to Dr Suess!
At US, we thought Shrek, MIB and Jimmy Neutron were fantastic. It was a very quiet day when we were there and I felt that US underestimated their wait times, on at least five occasions we get into the "holding room" of an big attraction the doors are left open for ages to get the maximum capacity to "run" the ride, sometimes this was up to twenty minutes, in all a huge time waster.
I found the area around Amityvile very tacky and on a few occasions a hard sell, I felt the staff were very much "in our face" trying to get us to try these "fairground" attractions and earlier in the day staff had been trying to sell us refill cups quite aggresively near Twister.
I also found the CS food choice and quality disappointing.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Like I say it's all about opinions and we can only comment on our own observations and experiences. The only problems I have had with CM's were at Disney where on more than one occasion our son who is autistic and cannot speak was insulted and laughed at - needless to say they didn't laugh for long.

I don't like the fairground aspect either, but there is plenty at Universal for young children, less so at IOA - although having ridden 'Cat In The Hat' often 3 or 4 times in a row maybe Joshua gets something out of it at least and he doesn't know anything about Dr Suess either!
Although all that spinning would be too much for a very young child, and adults like me also!

I think there are aspects of many parks that we all have different feelings on, TomorrowLand at MK is looking very dated now for example I feel.

US/IOA are are just a few minutes walking distance apart so if someone wanted to just check both out for a few hours this could easily be done.

Sorry Jockey not trying to move away from your question. As I say earlier I think it's difficult for a child as young as 2 to get too much out of any of the parks, but as US/IOA always have special offers on their passes it maybe a good idea just to check them out for a day, nohing to lose if you do I feel.