Universal, Islands, Legoland or SeaWorld?

[cheryterese]

We will have 10 day WDW tickets for our next trip but we also want to try out one other park. The kids will be 8, 6 and 5. Would you recommend Universal, Islands, Legoland or SeaWord? Thanks!

 

[Lemonademouth]

It depends on the kids, if they love animals I'd go with sea world. They also have quite a few rides that are fun. If they are more into rides, my friend who works at legoland says her 4 year old Bruce is able to do everything they have to offer.

 

[WDSearcher]

For those ages, I'd recommend either Legoland or SeaWorld. Past that, it depends on the genders and interests of your kids. Boys tend to enjoy Legoland more than girls do, since much of it seems geared towards them. But I know lots of little girls who love Legos too, so that's up to your kids.

SeaWorld is great if your kids are really into dolphins and turtles and things like that. There's also a Sesame Street show there, if they still enjoy those characters, as well as rides and shows and such.

Either one is a winner for that age group. I'd leave Universal and IOA until they get a bit older.

 

[ghtx]

Legoland (I've only been to CA, not FL) is great for young kids. If you ever want to go, you should go now, since by the time the kids are 10 or 12 they'll be too old.

 

[cheryterese]

It depends on the kids, if they love animals I'd go with sea world. They also have quite a few rides that are fun. If they are more into rides, my friend who works at legoland says her 4 year old Bruce is able to do everything they have to offer.

My 7 year old is obsessed with Legos and loves animals and rides. My 5 and 4 year olds would want to do rides most.

 

[cavepig]

Depends on what the kids like. We just did Sea World and enjoyed the Shamu show and Dolphin show. We skipped the kiddy area as my niece and nephew are 9 & 11. The 2 big coasters have a 54" height so my nephew could't ride (he is short), so the only ride he did was Atlantis ( which had a height too but can't remember. The animal exhibits were okay, kind of like a zoo. It's not a large park either, which is nice.

Islands of Adventure we did as well and if you like Harry Potter I would go just for that in itself, it is really cool. Lots of rides in this park have heigh requirements, but they do have Seuss Area if you are into that. The Marvel area is okay, Spiderman ride was really great. Hulk is 54" and Dr. Doom is 52" ( which I thought was lame compared to Tower). Jurassic Park area is neat and the main ride fun. You get more rides at Islands of Adventure than Sea World.

Can't comment on Universal or Legoland.

 

[DOOM1001]

For kids that age,I would leave Universal and Islands of Adventure until they get older.Between Sea World and Legoland Sea World is the greater park for sure,Legoland is a very nice park and if your kids like Legos I would definitely choose it but Sea World is one of the best parks in the area.I would suggest the parks in this order.

1.Sea World
2.Legoland
3.Universal Studios
4.Islands of Adventure

 

[lucyem]

At those ages I would go with Legoland and Sea World. My boys were 10 & 6 last trip and we did both in addition to WDW. My boys are big Lego fans and very nervous about rides. They did just about every ride at Legoland. Like someone mentioned Legoland is really geared towards that age group.

Seaworld we skipped the really big rides. My kids loved the shows and it was a more laid back kind of day.

Because my kids are not into the big rides yet we are just not willing to go to Universal yet. Too much money to spend to watch DH go on rides while the kids and I watch.

 

[DisneyDetective]

I would suggest maybe Seaworld or Legoland as the 2 Universal parks are more for teens and up age wise.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

My 7 year old granddaughter is really wanting to visit Sea World. So, that would be our pick.

 

[Eclpz314]

Besides the big coasters, Seaworld has a neat area geared to kids with smaller well-themed rides, plus a huge climbing rope/tunnel playground they can do too. Turtle Trek 3D is also a neat new attraction where you can view rescue aquariums while waiting in line. If they like animal shows, there are several cute ones besides the Shamu one. Oh, and there's also the enclosed viewing tower that you can ride up and enjoy the view as it rotates.

 

[Magpie]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the parks.

Islands of Adventure has a whole land themed around Dr. Seuss with several rides, all of which the entire family can go on, and a Seuss-themed interactive playground. There's a Jurassic Park themed land with a dinosaur discovery centre and a playground that's really quite amazing (caves, tunnels, slides, tree houses, etc...), and a "pteranodon flyers" ride that they won't even allow you on unless you're accompanied by a young child. And every day in the Marvel themed land the superheroes come out and do meet-and-greets with the kids. When we were there they had all the X-men, Captain America, and Spiderman.

And, of course, there's the Wizarding World.

Yes, there are some rides that your kids will be too short for, just like at Disney, but there's still plenty for young children to enjoy.

 

[RMulieri]

I am a HUGE Universal/IOA fan, but I would save those till all your kids are slightly older.MY DD loved it at age 8, but not all kids do.I vote for Seaworld

 

[Herbie]

Sea World is great and it is close. Many times you can get a free or cheap second day.

 

[got2sammies]

Also keep in mind travel time... Legoland is about an hr drive from Disney.. We went in August and it was cute but geared towards younger children.. We got bogo coupons from McDonald's so they may have something similar

 

[guava]

As Florida residents we've been lucky enough to hit all the major parks over the last 15 months. For what its worth, my 5 1/2 year old son's top 5 parks are as follows:

1. Universal Studios
2. Epcot
3. Magic Kingdom
4. Legoland
5. Disney Hollywood Studios

He's a HUGE Despicable Me fan so between the character breakfast with Gru and a Minion, the new ride, and the parade, Universal was a clear winner. He also loved the Curious George area there. I was surprised at all the things they had for smaller kids so I wouldn't rule it out.

 

[Cyrano]

Moving to the Universal board

 

[damo]

Hmmm. Really hard to judge without knowing what the kids are into. If they are huge superheroes, dinosaurs, Dr. Seuss fans or Shrek, Despicable Me, Barney, Simpsons, Curious George fans...then go for IOA/ USF. If they love animals, then go for SeaWorld. I can't comment on Legoland.

 

[cheryterese]

Thanks for all of the helpful replies! Based on what everyone has said, I think Legoland or Sea World would be our best bets. The kids all love animals (we can easily spend 3 days at Animal Kingdom!) and legos are a current obsession. We do not have any super hero fans here and we haven't introduced Harry Potter yet. We try to get to WDW every 2 - 3 years so will be back for Universal and Islands when they are older for sure.

 

[Chelley00]

We just got back from 14 days in Orlando on Sunday and did all of the above

My 7 year old DS said his favorite park this trip was Legoland. DD10 said hers was Seaworld. This was the first time we had been to either place. We all had great times at all the WDW parks and both US/IOA, but those were there picks for their best this trip.