Universal? Conform me!

[vcgirl925]

We have gone to disney for a week, every year, for the last ... oh 11 years. This year we have some family obligations in Fl. this year and are thinking of using our time share for a week in Orlando. We wanted to go to Universal Studios, IOA, and Seaworld. Excluding Disney this year. What we love about Disney is #1, it's a true family park, we can all go on most of the rides together. #2, the rides we can't do all together we do the child swap. #3 we do FP and rarely wait more than 10 - 15min for an attraction.

I have a 6 year old boy who is roughly 44" tall and his whole life is super hereos. Then i have a little girl who's 4 and not even 40" yet. She's also the girliest girl you'll ever meet. Then there is my husband and I, both 33 years old and we love ALL rides from the wild and crazy to the tame family ones.

Here are my questions:

1. What rides can we all do as a family?

2. Is there much at all for my four year old girly girl?

3. Does Universal offer child swap?

4. Is there a FP or just the ticket you have to pay extra for to get to go through another line?

5. How are crowds the last week of April, early May.

6. Are two days enough time to get the gist of universal/IOA?

7. Are there any GREAT restaurants within the parks?

8. Any cool things to do with my son and superheroes? A training academy, show, meals?

Thanks for all your help, i have NO clue about Universal but i can tell you where every last thing is in DW. My husband and i went to universal and IOA about 10 years ago and weren't jazzed about it then, after a 4 day stint at DW. We did love spiderman though.

 

[mark2311]

We have gone to disney for a week, every year, for the last ... oh 11 years. This year we have some family obligations in Fl. this year and are thinking of using our time share for a week in Orlando. We wanted to go to Universal Studios, IOA, and Seaworld. Excluding Disney this year. What we love about Disney is #1, it's a true family park, we can all go on most of the rides together. #2, the rides we can't do all together we do the child swap. #3 we do FP and rarely wait more than 10 - 15min for an attraction.

I have a 6 year old boy who is roughly 44" tall and his whole life is super hereos. Then i have a little girl who's 4 and not even 40" yet. She's also the girliest girl you'll ever meet. Then there is my husband and I, both 33 years old and we love ALL rides from the wild and crazy to the tame family ones.

Here are my questions:

1. What rides can we all do as a family?

2. Is there much at all for my four year old girly girl?

3. Does Universal offer child swap?

4. Is there a FP or just the ticket you have to pay extra for to get to go through another line?

5. How are crowds the last week of April, early May.

6. Are two days enough time to get the gist of universal/IOA?

7. Are there any GREAT restaurants within the parks?

8. Any cool things to do with my son and superheroes? A training academy, show, meals?

Thanks for all your help, i have NO clue about Universal but i can tell you where every last thing is in DW. My husband and i went to universal and IOA about 10 years ago and weren't jazzed about it then, after a 4 day stint at DW. We did love spiderman though.

1. Apart from the biggest roller-coasters I think almost everything else apart from Dr Doom should be ok for you.

2. Not sure about girly things at the parks, never needed to look out for that sort of thing.

3. Yeah child swap is available at those rides which might be out of height range.

4. No fast-pass equivalent. There is Express Plus which is only available as a pay ticket or by staying on-site

5. Not sure, never been then

6. 2 days would enough but you might want more if you enjoy it

7. Mythos in IOA is great and Finnegans seems to get good reviews for US

8. There used to be a Spiderman character breakfast and the Marvel superheroes make appearances throughout the day.

I'm sure you'll get more thorough answers than mine but I hope that helps in some way

 

[Tink9295]

I too have been a die hard Disney only fan until last year. We had been in the past, 2 times, but only for one day each time. Last year we bought the 7 day passes. I won one through the superbowl sweepstakes and bought 3 more. For $300.00 we had 7 day admissions for the 4 of us. A much cheaper price compared to Disney. We had a couple of days left on our Disney passes and waterpark entrances. We used the 7 day pass for about 4 of the days and it was plenty of time to see everything. My kids are teens; it may take you more time. But it was a nice change from Disney.

We bought those passes again for this year for 2 reasons. The rates are increasing and will be tiered like Disney tickets and because of H. Potter opening.

I think it's a great park for visit. Probably won't go every year. It's doesn't have the Disney Magic, but it does have some great attractions. There are rides and attractions for all ages.

Give it a shot. You won't be disappointed. We weren't.

 

[Purseval]

The Dr. Seuss area has theming to match any child's attraction in WDW. The Spiderman ride is for all ages and is the best ride in all of Orlando. The Popeye/Bluto Bilge Rat barges are like the Kali River Rapids on steroids, and Dudley Doright ripsaw Falls has real splashes, not the fake ones like Splash Mountain. Both of your kids are small enough to go on the Pteradon Flyers. The comics section of IOA has all of these fountains and water features that the kids will have a ball in. I would spend at least 1 full day in each park since you've never been there before. Once you do you may find yourself spending far less time and money at WDW, especially as the kids get older because the thrill rides at Universal positively destroy anything at WDW.

 

[vcgirl925]

The Dr. Seuss area has theming to match any child's attraction in WDW. The Spiderman ride is for all ages and is the best ride in all of Orlando. The Popeye/Bluto Bilge Rat barges are like the Kali River Rapids on steroids, and Dudley Doright ripsaw Falls has real splashes, not the fake ones like Splash Mountain. Both of your kids are small enough to go on the Pteradon Flyers. The comics section of IOA has all of these fountains and water features that the kids will have a ball in. I would spend at least 1 full day in each park since you've never been there before. Once you do you may find yourself spending far less time and money at WDW, especially as the kids get older because the thrill rides at Universal positively destroy anything at WDW.

Thanks! My husband and i went to universal/IOA probably ten years ago. We LOVED spiderman! We are willing to go into universal with an open mind. We understand it's a different park.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I have a 6 year old boy who is roughly 44" tall and his whole life is super hereos. Then i have a little girl who's 4 and not even 40" yet. She's also the girliest girl you'll ever meet. Then there is my husband and I, both 33 years old and we love ALL rides from the wild and crazy to the tame family ones.

Here are my questions:

1. What rides can we all do as a family?

If your daughter reaches 40" by the time of your trip, then you can do ALL of the following as a family: Storm Force, Spider-Man, P-Flyers, Flying Hippogriff (if it's open), everything in Seuss Landing, Jimmy Neutron, all the shows in USF, Jaws, Simpsons, Woody's Coaster, ET, Disaster.

2. Is there much at all for my four year old girly girl?

She might like meeting Betty Boop, Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, Princess Fiona & Shrek, the Madagascar characters, etc.

3. Does Universal offer child swap?

Yes. Just ask at each attraction entrance. Unless told otherwise, everyone will go through the line and then split at the top. Whoever waits first gets to ride without having to wait in line after the swap. Your son can ride again (if applicable).

4. Is there a FP or just the ticket you have to pay extra for to get to go through another line?

Express Plus is available; you must buy a pass for each person. It's only good 1x per ride, is date specific and can be park specific. Staying at an onsite hotel gets you UNLIMITED Express access and can be more cost effective.

5. How are crowds the last week of April, early May.

Usually moderate. The park hours are listed as 9-6/7, which is very manageable. Wait times should be under 30 mins, except for P-Flyers, Rockit, and anything Harry Potter (if open)

6. Are two days enough time to get the gist of universal/IOA?

Yes. One day per park is a good way to see nearly everything once.

7. Are there any GREAT restaurants within the parks?

USF: Lombard's (seafood) & Finnegans (Irish-American) for table service. Counter service: Boulengarie(sandwiches & pastries), Schwab's Pharmacy (ice cream & milkshakes), Louie's (pizza & pasta), Richter's (burgers)

IOA: Mythos (table service). Counter Service: Thunder Falls (great chicken), Blondie's (sandwiches), Cafe 4 (pizza, pasta), Burger Digs (burgers)

8. Any cool things to do with my son and superheroes? A training academy, show, meals?

There is a daily "meet Spider-Man" area. Plus there is a motorcade of superheroes that comes out about 5x per day.

 

[pixeegrl]

Here's a couple of Super Hero Shots for your son. Sorry didn't get good ones of the "motorcade"

There is also a Curious George water play area in Studios and Feivels Playground which is a huge play structure area both near ET I believe. IOA has a huge play area in the Jurrassic Park section. Your daughter may also love to see Dora and Scooby both of which are found in Studios.