Two families w/ young kids just back from first ever trip to US/IOA

[strawberryblonde]

We had fun and we are glad we went, low crowds and great weather!

I was concerned about the playland closures I found out about right before the trip. With 4 kids ( 3, 6, 6, 8) we had planned heavily on using the play areas.
For US, I was told that Fievel's playland would be closed starting in Oct. Oct. 1st was a Wed. and they didn't close down Fievel all week (Sept. 28-Oct. 4). A worker I asked there said they keep changing the dates ect. about the closure. Sounds as though they want to make the water slide longer. Anyway, we were thrilled that it was open and the kids played there an hour each time we were at US. The kids did not notice Curious George's playland because I didn't walk them back there, so no tears over it being closed. There is a little indoor playground after Barney's show that the three younger ones loved, the 8 year old put up with it (bless him) so we didn't stay there too long but the 3 year old could have stayed hours.

Over at IOA, the Olive ship was closed but you couldn't see it from the road so no tears. Camp Jurassic was open and the kids played there both days we were at IOA. The three older ones ran all over and it was too hard to keep track of them, nervous parents beware. The 3 year old stayed right with us and played with water from the drinking fountain. Not a good playarea for little ones. There was a playarea in Seuss Landing that I wasn't aware of, If I Ran the Zoo. We stumbled onto it and the kids liked it best of all . We had changes of clothes so we let the kids get soaked. Water everywhere here. (Curious, as I was told they "had" to close Curious George as the water would be bad for my kids' health in the "cold" Oct. weather - sorry, that excuse still rankles me ). Even with the closures, the play areas were not too crowded. The kids had a great time playing in the ones that were open. During high season, I can see how all play areas would be bursting full of kids.

The biggest hit of all though, was the Mystic Fountain. We sat a short distance away to eat our lunch and the kids got to warm up to the idea of the squirting fountain. They eventually were standing up on the ledge and having conversation along with a soaking . They loved when the music would play and the fountain squirted all over. They ran in circles through the water. This was on Sat., our last day. We didn't have our video camera with us . The kids didn't even want to change into dry clothes after, it was hot and they dried right away. We didn't leave until the fountain took a "nap". When we left the park at 5pm the kids remembered and wanted to know if the fountain "buffy" was awake yet. This is the attraction they most want to visit again and miss the most. I won't make fun of Universal for listing it on the attraction guide, it truely was an attraction for our families.

 

[SpideyHulk24]

We were there on Saturday too!!!!!!!! and at the Fountain in the afternoon. I bet you we may have passed each other!!!!

 

[strawberryblonde]

Afternoon for us as well , I wonder if we did pass one another. My DD was wearing a two-piece bathing suit(pink that said princess), DS6 was wearing a Mickey pirate t-shirt and "buffy" asked him what the stain was on his shirt and proceeded to soak him right there . We would have stayed even longer but "buffy" needed a "nap"

 

[damo]

So glad to hear that all went well and that the closures didn't affect you too much. People always laugh when we comment on the talking fountain but it is definitely worth the time to sit and listen. If you've never been to the Curious George area it is possible to get absolutely soaked as huge amount of water are being dumped around everywhere. Take If I ran the zoo and multiply it by 1000 and you've got Curious George. There are humongous buckets of water that come flying down so I can see where little kids might get a lot more wet than they wanted. Anyway, it seems that it worked for you. I hope it worked for those others who were concerned about the closures as well. I think you are the first one with little kids to report back!