Universal vs IOA for small kid

[RachelEllen]

Hi!

Our family, me, dh, dss (12), and dd (3) take a 3 day yearly trip. We go to Magic Kingdom, dss's choice (has been IOL twice, due to addition of Harry Potter) and parents' choice. (Someday, Magic Kingdom day will hopefully turn into dd's choice, but for now I am her proxy selector and I think I get it right!) This year, Dss has asked if we could go to Universal and IOA which I'm totally game for. (Since I warned him he's in for Epcot as soon as dd is off naps!)

Anyhow, I have to skip one morning at the parks due to my work conference schedule. I'll most likely keep DD out as well, so she can have a mellow day.

We've always thought IOA of adventure was a nice park with a small child. Dr Seuss land has the mini coaster and fun area. And, the child swap facilites are just stellar. However, I've been to IOA two years running, and if I have to skip, I'd be really into going to Universal for the first time.

Is there stuff for a 3yo at Universal? Is the swap system as good? (I love how the whole family can wait in line together....sorry, Disney is first in my heart together, but in the one area, IOA has them beat!) Any other considersations if you had to choose?

 

[nytimez]

Hi!

Our family, me, dh, dss (12), and dd (3) take a 3 day yearly trip. We go to Magic Kingdom, dss's choice (has been IOL twice, due to addition of Harry Potter) and parents' choice. (Someday, Magic Kingdom day will hopefully turn into dd's choice, but for now I am her proxy selector and I think I get it right!) This year, Dss has asked if we could go to Universal and IOA which I'm totally game for. (Since I warned him he's in for Epcot as soon as dd is off naps!)

Anyhow, I have to skip one morning at the parks due to my work conference schedule. I'll most likely keep DD out as well, so she can have a mellow day.

We've always thought IOA of adventure was a nice park with a small child. Dr Seuss land has the mini coaster and fun area. And, the child swap facilites are just stellar. However, I've been to IOA two years running, and if I have to skip, I'd be really into going to Universal for the first time.

Is there stuff for a 3yo at Universal? Is the swap system as good? (I love how the whole family can wait in line together....sorry, Disney is first in my heart together, but in the one area, IOA has them beat!) Any other considersations if you had to choose?

There is stuff for 3yo at Universal but not a whole lot to be honest. The biggest attractions all have height requirements, and many of them are quite high.

Seuss Landing is great, but not every little kid will want to spend more than a couple hours there (if that). There are play areas throughout both parks and I believe the rider-swap is similar to Disney (I haven't used it myself) but be prepared for a lot of swapping and maybe taking turns watching the 3yo at Seuss Landing or the play areas...

 

[RachelEllen]

There is stuff for 3yo at Universal but not a whole lot to be honest. The biggest attractions all have height requirements, and many of them are quite high.

Seuss Landing is great, but not every little kid will want to spend more than a couple hours there (if that). There are play areas throughout both parks and I believe the rider-swap is similar to Disney (I haven't used it myself) but be prepared for a lot of swapping and maybe taking turns watching the 3yo at Seuss Landing or the play areas...

Sorry, I think I was unclear.
We've been to IOA for two years in a row. Suess Landing has been great for our small kid. Its just enough for her attention span, and she gets to go on one "real coaster" Then, DSS gets a full day of his style of coasters!
The child swap at IOA is, IMO, far superior to Disney. At IOA, the entire family can wait in the line together, and theres a nice shaded, quiet spot to wait and swap. At Disney, you basically get a fast pass, and the person with the kid has to just wait around near the exit until the rest of the family comes out. Then, the swappees still have to go back through the fast pass line.

What I don't know is how IOA compares to the Universal Studios themepark. I've never been there. Is there at least something for the small one to do or enjoy? Suessland is perfect, we don't need more than that. And is the child swap similar at Universal Studios and IOA.

I may have my terminology wrong. I'm not sure how to refer to the original Universal themepark as opposed to the entire complex.

 

[nytimez]

Sorry, I think I was unclear.
We've been to IOA for two years in a row. Suess Landing has been great for our small kid. Its just enough for her attention span, and she gets to go on one "real coaster" Then, DSS gets a full day of his style of coasters!
The child swap at IOA is, IMO, far superior to Disney. At IOA, the entire family can wait in the line together, and theres a nice shaded, quiet spot to wait and swap. At Disney, you basically get a fast pass, and the person with the kid has to just wait around near the exit until the rest of the family comes out. Then, the swappees still have to go back through the fast pass line.

What I don't know is how IOA compares to the Universal Studios themepark. I've never been there. Is there at least something for the small one to do or enjoy? Suessland is perfect, we don't need more than that. And is the child swap similar at Universal Studios and IOA.

I may have my terminology wrong. I'm not sure how to refer to the original Universal themepark as opposed to the entire complex.

Sorry... mutual misunderstanding. Your terminology was right, but it could mean both... in any case, I think US has a little more for a little kid than IoA does. There are more "whole family" rides there, and shows. There's a Woody Woodpecker coaster, a Barney show, an animals show, the ET ride, Jaws and a Curious George play area among other things.

Overall, still not a great place for a little one -- they can get bored, or an adult can get bored watching them/bringing them on these attractions repeatedly -- but there is stuff to do.

 

[dsmom]

our son loves the studios and has since he was little. there is plenty for

small children to do. ET is really cute. the curious george play area is cute- even if you don't want to get wet(you can avoid that)

there is a cute song and dance show with the characters also. our son
LOVES the barney show and the indoor play area is great there.

the animal actors show is good. the woody coaster is great for little ones.

our son has loved jaws since he was little - i think he realizes how fake it is.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh gosh, the Curious George water area is great (well, it looked great while we walked around it LOL) and there's a Ball Factory in the back of there that was AWESOME. Soft soft foam balls that you can load and shoot and dump and just go crazy with. If you don't want to get wet, follow the footprints that go *around* the waterplay area, though.

In front of the CG area there's Feivel's play area, which my son LOVED, and he, at 7, was about the oldest kid in there for most of the time. Woody's Nuthouse Coaster is tiny and short and fabulous for kidlets.

I'd just switch out the adults hanging out with the 3 year old, and she'd have a blast.