Staying at Disney but want to do a day at IOA

[Susie22]

We're going to Disney World Spet 29-Oct. 8 during free dining, but I really want to see WWOHP. I'd kind of like to see the rest of IOA and HS because I've never been, but I'm not sure my family will like them. My kids range in age from 13-newborn, and while I'm sure my 13 year old and maybe 11 year old might like some of the rides, I'm not sure my eight year olds and 2 year old would find much to do.

I'm trying to decide if I should either just hop over to IOA and do one day there on a Tuesday or so and not stay at the resort or get express passes

or

Spend the last day or two of my vacation at a Universal on-site property and get FOTL privileges and early entry.

The second option would be far more expensive since the room is more, and we wouldn't have free dining. I'm also not sure how much the parks will appeal to my family. But if the early entry to WWOHP and FOTL will make a huge difference it would probably still be worth it to me. I wouldn't think a random Tuesday in early October would be very crowded, but it is during the halloween parties, which I understand can bring in a lot of people. I'm also pretty spoiled since we use ridemax at Disney and seldom wait more than 10 minutes for a ride.

So should I just hop over for the day, or stay at the resort for the FOTL and early entry perks?

 

[macraven]

We're going to Disney World Spet 29-Oct. 8 during free dining, but I really want to see WWOHP. I'd kind of like to see the rest of IOA and HS because I've never been, but I'm not sure my family will like them. My kids range in age from 13-newborn, and while I'm sure my 13 year old and maybe 11 year old might like some of the rides, I'm not sure my eight year olds and 2 year old would find much to do.

I'm trying to decide if I should either just hop over to IOA and do one day there on a Tuesday or so and not stay at the resort or get express passes

or

Spend the last day or two of my vacation at a Universal on-site property and get FOTL privileges and early entry.

The second option would be far more expensive since the room is more, and we wouldn't have free dining. I'm also not sure how much the parks will appeal to my family. But if the early entry to WWOHP and FOTL will make a huge difference it would probably still be worth it to me. I wouldn't think a random Tuesday in early October would be very crowded, but it is during the halloween parties, which I understand can bring in a lot of people. I'm also pretty spoiled since we use ridemax at Disney and seldom wait more than 10 minutes for a ride.

So should I just hop over for the day, or stay at the resort for the FOTL and early entry perks?

if you stayed on site, you would have to get 2 rooms as 5 per room is the limit.
the exception would be to get a suite at pbh as some of them are for 6.

if you stay onsite during the week, M-Th, rates are cheaper.
the smsm is in effect now for your time period for cheaper rates on the rooms.

looking at the calendar, your last 2 days of the vacation would be sunday and monday.

columbus day will be busy in the parks.
if you were on site, the express lines would save you from line waits.

studios closes at 5 on sunday and 6 on that monday.
ioa closes at 7 both nights.

if you did day trips, a cab might be cheaper for you.
i think the vans / cabs would be the same price or close to it.

the mears shuttle would be $19 pp rt, $16 for kids.
2 adults, 4 kids would come to $102 + gratuity for the day.

after rereading your post, how many kids do you have?
you list the 13-11 y/o but then say your 8 year olds (do you have two 8y/o?) a 2 y/o and little one. maybe that is a typo on the 8..

if you check out the uo website, you will many things the younger kids can do.
the 8 & 2 y/o will find many things to keep them entertained.

you could use the child swap program for the rides.

or, have you thought of doing a solo day at uo?
have the daddy take over the kids that day?

 

[andyman8]

Personally, with all the days you have in Orlando, I would plan TWO days at UOR and the others at Walt Disney World. Usually I recommend people to stay onsite at Universal, but I would stay at Disney the whole time because of free dining. On October 3, I would do breakfast at Disney, then go to Universal Studios Florida, have lunch in the park, and dinner at CityWalk. The second day I would have breakfast at the IOA character breakfast (all your kids will love it; it is only offered on Thursdays and Sundays and ADRs can be made on open opentable.com) and see WWoHP and the rest of IOA. I would eat lunch in IOA, but dinner at Disney. I would also purchase express passes for both days, so you can maximize your time.

As for attractions your little ones enjoy, both parks are full of them. At IOA you will find Seuss Landing (Cat in the Hat, Caro-Seuss-El, High in the Sky Trolly Ride, and One Fish Two Fish). There is also the Eighth Voyage of Sinbad show, Jurassic Park Discovery Center, Pteradon Flyers (I didn't spell that right), Popeye and Bluto's, and Storm Force. Your little one's won't be able to do HP&FJ (the headliner at WWoHP) or Dragon Challenge, but can do the Flight of the Hippogriff and the Wand Shop (Olivander's).

At Universal Studios, you will find tons of attractions for kids. There is Despicable Me (opening summer 2012), Twister, Shrek 4D, Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue, Disaster, Men in Black, Simpsons Ride, E.T. Adventure, Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster, Curious George Comes to Town, Fievel's Playland, A Day in the Park with Barney, and Animal Actors.

If you do not want to wait more than ten minutes, as stated earlier, get the Express Passes for they should be pretty cheap those days.

Just a little suggestion, you (or your spouse) and your older children (if one of you has the guts!) could attend HHN while your younger kids and the other adult stay back at Disney or go to MNSSHP. This is getting expensive, but you can get a better value for your UOR tickets if you purchase them with HHN.

Hope this helps!

 

[macraven]

the character breakfast on those days andy mentioned are not etched in stone.

right now it is only offered one day a week.
it can change depending on popularity.

you would have to call to find out what days the breakfast will be for your vacation.

your kids are too young for hhn at this point.
it is not recommended for 13 y/o.

 

[Metro West]

I wouldn't think a random Tuesday in early October would be very crowded, but it is during the halloween parties, which I understand can bring in a lot of people. I'm also pretty spoiled since we use ridemax at Disney and seldom wait more than 10 minutes for a ride.

HHN is not staged on Tuesdays unless it's Halloween day so if you're going that Tuesday, HHN will not be an issue at all.