Universal First Timer (4 year old, thrill ride phobic husband & myself, 6m pregnant

[ainemcgrath]

As you can see from the title I need help. Travelling in a few days to Orlando for 2 weeks and have bought the 7 day unlimited passes online.

Basically we will be bringing our daughter a few different days to kid friendly rides, shows and play/climbing areas. Husband isn't big on theme parks (beyond enjoying daughter have a good time) and I'm very pregnant at mo so we will be just doing whatever suits her. We don't plan to spend any full days there as we want to hang out at pool and/or shop most days too.

• Can you recommend a strategy for us?
• Do we need a fast pass for kids friendly rides or is it just for big name rides?
• Do you need to get there at 8.30am with no big coasters on the schedule?
• Which if any park has an indoor play area to get us out of sun?
• Which if any 'wet rides' would 4 yo and pregnant mother be allowed on?
• Which shows are suitable for 4 yo girl?
• USF or IOA first or does it matter?
• Any point in meal deal?

Sorry for all the questions, have been to Orlando over 10 times in 7 years and not been to Universal yet!!! Any help/comments appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Aine

 

[bubba's mom]

Are you staying onsite or offsite?

When are you going?

Did you read here: http://www.allearsnet.com/uni/uni.htm


Just a bit more info is needed to help you out

 

[lorax123]

Oh my... Let's see... We were just down in May and my wife was 3 months pregnant and we brought our 2, nearly 3, year old. Lot's of ground to cover!

Can you recommend a strategy for us?

Get there early! Even kid rides can go up to 45 minutes during the afternoon peak!

Do we need a fast pass for kids friendly rides or is it just for big name rides?

Express Passes are available for purchase, you can't get them for free. Probably not worth it for your family. But during peak hours, don't be suprised if even tame rides have a 40 minute wait.

Do you need to get there at 8.30am with no big coasters on the schedule?

Yes! Your husband and 4 year old may want to consider some of the more thrilling dark rides (usually 40-42+ inches). Definately check the website to let them see if they have any interest.

Which if any park has an indoor play area to get us out of sun?

In the Barney area and a tiny one inside Jimmy Neutron at Studios. And the Discovery Center in JP at IOA.

Which if any 'wet rides' would 4 yo and pregnant mother be allowed on?

Not many! 99% of all rides and attractions at the park are not recomended for pregnant women. Use your judgement tho. 1 fish 2 fish and Jaws can get you fairly wet.

Which shows are suitable for 4 yo girl?

Our daughter enjoyed the Barney show, and Animal Actors this past trip. She hated/liked Terminator... I wonder why?
Many of the shows at Uni feature loud explosions, fire and/or loud music. Most of them don't seem geared towards kids that age, so we usually skip them. But you can always try them and walk out if your daughter just can't sit through it.

USF or IOA first or does it matter?

Depends on the day! I stay on-site, usually, so I kinda go where ever I feel like. Maybe someone local can give you an idea of just how exactly the crowds go through-out the week.

The Sunday AMs I've been to USF have always been really nice, since the park is really empty until lunch time.

Any point in meal deal?

I try not to eat in the cafeterias. So, I avoid the meal deal. I like to sit down, have table service and relax. Being pregnant you might enjoy the break! Get off your feet, sit in the A/C for awhile! If you do want a nice sit down meal, hit the reservation booth, in the park, as soon as you can.

Anyway... being pregnant it's tough. My wife got very frustrated this trip. She missed all her favorite rides. For her, Disney worked out much better. There are a lot of slow moving rides she could enjoy.

The kid rides for you daughter are spectacular at UO though. And she will love the playgrounds. Especially Camp Jurassic. Prepare to spend an hour or more there.

 

[ainemcgrath]

Are you staying onsite or offsite?

When are you going?

Did you read here: http://www.allearsnet.com/uni/uni.htm


Just a bit more info is needed to help you out

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
We're going on Thursday 26 July but don't plan to go to Univ/IOA until at least Monday 30 July as we thought weekdays may be less busy

We are staying off site in Marriott Horizons and then Floridays, both beside Seaworld. Will prob be depending on a mix of bus/IRide and taxi as we not renting a car this visit.

Have just looked up allearsnet.com and can't believe all the rides that I can't go on, some of them seem very harmless, was hoping to enjoy a few with her, love seeing the fear/delight on her face!!!

Thanks for the help,
Aine

 

[ainemcgrath]

Oh my... Let's see... We were just down in May and my wife was 3 months pregnant and we brought our 2, nearly 3, year old. Lot's of ground to cover!

Can you recommend a strategy for us?

Get there early! Even kid rides can go up to 45 minutes during the afternoon peak!

Do we need a fast pass for kids friendly rides or is it just for big name rides?

Express Passes are available for purchase, you can't get them for free. Probably not worth it for your family. But during peak hours, don't be suprised if even tame rides have a 40 minute wait.

Do you need to get there at 8.30am with no big coasters on the schedule?

Yes! Your husband and 4 year old may want to consider some of the more thrilling dark rides (usually 40-42+ inches). Definately check the website to let them see if they have any interest.

Which if any park has an indoor play area to get us out of sun?

In the Barney area and a tiny one inside Jimmy Neutron at Studios. And the Discovery Center in JP at IOA.

Which if any 'wet rides' would 4 yo and pregnant mother be allowed on?

Not many! 99% of all rides and attractions at the park are not recomended for pregnant women. Use your judgement tho. 1 fish 2 fish and Jaws can get you fairly wet.

Which shows are suitable for 4 yo girl?

Our daughter enjoyed the Barney show, and Animal Actors this past trip. She hated/liked Terminator... I wonder why?
Many of the shows at Uni feature loud explosions, fire and/or loud music. Most of them don't seem geared towards kids that age, so we usually skip them. But you can always try them and walk out if your daughter just can't sit through it.

USF or IOA first or does it matter?

Depends on the day! I stay on-site, usually, so I kinda go where ever I feel like. Maybe someone local can give you an idea of just how exactly the crowds go through-out the week.

The Sunday AMs I've been to USF have always been really nice, since the park is really empty until lunch time.

Any point in meal deal?

I try not to eat in the cafeterias. So, I avoid the meal deal. I like to sit down, have table service and relax. Being pregnant you might enjoy the break! Get off your feet, sit in the A/C for awhile! If you do want a nice sit down meal, hit the reservation booth, in the park, as soon as you can.

Anyway... being pregnant it's tough. My wife got very frustrated this trip. She missed all her favorite rides. For her, Disney worked out much better. There are a lot of slow moving rides she could enjoy.

The kid rides for you daughter are spectacular at UO though. And she will love the playgrounds. Especially Camp Jurassic. Prepare to spend an hour or more there.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

All sounds like great advice, thanks for Sunday morning tip, would have thought the opposite!
Aine

 

[lorax123]

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
We're going on Thursday 26 July but don't plan to go to Univ/IOA until at least Monday 30 July as we thought weekdays may be less busy

We are staying off site in Marriott Horizons and then Floridays, both beside Seaworld. Will prob be depending on a mix of bus/IRide and taxi as we not renting a car this visit.

Have just looked up allearsnet.com and can't believe all the rides that I can't go on, some of them seem very harmless, was hoping to enjoy a few with her, love seeing the fear/delight on her face!!!

Thanks for the help,
Aine

July is a very busy month at the parks, so it's best to go early before the gates open.

If you are staying at the MArriott, see if they offer a shuttle service to the parks. The bus/IRide don't go over to Universal. They may have changed the route to include the parks, but if they haven't... You'll be dropped off over a mile from the park entrance. You'll have to walk the rest of the way.

You can take a taxi, that's probably the best bet. Typically hotel shuttle service isn't the greatest. Marriotts could be different... but many hotels use Mears shuttles. Your hotel will be one stop amoung many others. Typically, by the time you get picked up in the AM, you finally get to the parks welll after opening. Last time I relied on it, you get picked up at 9am, and get to your destination, 2 miles later, in 45 minutes. Not fun.

As far as being pregnant... all parks post warning signs for expectant mothers, people with heart conditions, neck/back injuries, etc. They urge them not to ride. Even on the tame rides. It's really a matter of liability. My wifes doctor recommended nothing with a lap bar, or rapid movement or spinning.

At USF she did stationary seating in Shrek, and Jimmy Neutron. Rode ET (very tame), Jaws, Twister (you just stand and watch, the stage does do a drop), and Terminator (the seats do drop too). Plus all the stage shows our DD enjoyed. You may be able to try Earthquake. We just avoid it becuase of the long pre-show. No way our DD would tolerate that. The car does move around and jerk about.

At IOA, she felt she could ride 1 Fish 2 Fish, Carossuessel, and the Suess Trolley (even though it had a lap bar, she was worried about that). She could have done Posiedons Fury, but it's a show with some total darkness, fire/water explosions, and we didn't feel the DD would be able to tolerate it.

DD had a great time, DW was a little cranky not being able to enjoy herself. So, you should enjoy your daughters experience.

Actually Magic Kingdom has a lot of slow moving rides which you could enjoy with your daughter. Do you plan on going there? But that's a whole differnet animal!

 

[ainemcgrath]

Going to give Disney a miss this time, doing Universal, Seaworld and maybe some dinner shows.
Thanks,
Aine