Universal with a two year old?

[2002Disneybride]

WE are going to Disney from May 17- May 21. I was thinking of taking DS 2.5 year old (41" tall) since he loves superheroes, Shrek, Barney...I think he would have fun. (No worries about characters or rides, he is a little daredevil)Here are my questions:

Could we do UO/IOA in 2 days? I want to try to stay on-site.
Should we tack on the days in the beginning or the end of our trip?

Thanks.

 

[Tank]

If you are staying onsite you will not have any problem with seeing everything in 2 days. That will give you plenty of time to just let him have time in the play areas, there are a couple in both parks. The rides he will be tall enough for you could easily do in 1 day.

 

[2002Disneybride]

Thanks...
If there is not too much for him to do, maybe we should just do 1 day off site?

 

[lorax123]

Even if you do just 1 day at the parks. I'd stay on-site for the perk of FOTL. Makes it a lot easier touring the park with a 2.5 year old. Some of the rides he will want to go on could have long waits, just becuase of low capacity and long load/unload times (1 fish for example).

We've taken our 2.5 year old to Uni quite a few times, and she loves both parks. And with FOTL, you can treat them to multiple rides on their favorites.

 

[2002Disneybride]

I think i want to add a day to our trip in may= ehat can I expect to pay for a room? does universal have codes like disney?

 

[lorax123]

We are actually staying on-site at Uni, in the RPR for 2 nights at the end of our Disney trip (AK Lodge) in May (14-21, 19th & 20th at RPR)

For the 2 nights at the APH discount we have $159 the 1st night and $139 the 2nd.

Standard costs for a room at RPR is $239 I believe. You can go to the Loews website and input the codes AAA, ENT(entertainment) and APH (annual pass holder) and see which is best.

Even for 2 nights, with a discount, you might be better off getting a single 2 park Preferred Annual Pass for $169. Besides a hotel discount, you get 10% off food and 20% off merchandise and free parking at the parks (which you won't need).

Besides the hotel savings, we easily save $60-100 on food and merchandise for a 3-4 day trip. Plus a $100 renewal fee (if you ever decide to go back), might make it worthwhile to pick one up.

 

[2002Disneybride]

That's more affporable than I am getting now!

 

[2002Disneybride]

cheapest i can get is 264 std at rph

 

[missesdisney]

We took our son at that age and we've been able to hit one day at both parks IF it is off season. Good thing about universal is they do a good job at baby swap - you all go through line together for most rides with height requirements and then one sits in the swap room while the other rides. As soon as the one gets off the ride they go to the swap room and literally swap and the other one goes right onto the ride. No doubling up walking through the lines like some of the disney swaps are now. Also there is stationary seating in a few rides/shows to allow you to take the little one. There is a great play area with water stuff so bring a bathing suit or a change of clothes!

 

[macraven]

for the poster of when to do universal, i would suggest do the universal portion of your trip after your disney portion.

i do both parks and end with universal.

 

[lorax123]

cheapest i can get is 264 std at rph

Do make sure, when checking online, that once you get to the netbooker site, you click start over in the upper left corner.

Once you do that, you can enter the rate codes, under promotion codes. APH rates are usually at the bottom of the list. You can try calling, and asking for rates at the different codes too.

It does depend when you are going. The rates are different everyday. Maybe you are too close to Memorial day weekend?

Lowes doesn't have value and peak seasons like Disney. You can book today at $269, check tomorrow and the same room could go down to $139 with the same rate code. It always pays to go back and check. Loews will rebook you at the lower rate, you just have to call and speak to an operator as soon as you see it.

I do agree with the other poster, make the Universal portion of your trip at the end of your vacation. FOTL will spoil you.

 

[2002Disneybride]

I found HRH water/pool view for 194...we booked it. (I would have went with the standard but DB wanted water view!) Anyway, I will do what you suggested and double check it!

Also, I was wondering...at Disney there are a lot of attractions that I can take my infant on (think Fantasyland etc...you know the slow moving ones) Is there anything at Us/IOA that I can take him on?

 

[lorax123]

I found HRH water/pool view for 194...we booked it. (I would have went with the standard but DB wanted water view!) Anyway, I will do what you suggested and double check it!

Also, I was wondering...at Disney there are a lot of attractions that I can take my infant on (think Fantasyland etc...you know the slow moving ones) Is there anything at Us/IOA that I can take him on?

Yes, keep checking. The rates are like airfare, up and down constantly. But $194 may not be terrible. Especially if its the holiday weekend.

There's a few rides you can ride with your toddler. ET, 1 fish, 2 fish, Seuss trolley, Carosuessel. Cat in the Hat does spin, but it's a good dark ride for a 2.5 year old.

There are 2 kiddie coasters and a bunch of interactive play areas in both parks, plus a few 3-d shows and live action shows (which are hard to get our 2 year old to sit through, except for Barney).

We've always found plenty to keep our daughter happy and she's the same age (actually turning 3 the day we get back.)

Our strategy usually involves, hitting one park, doing some rides just for her, then a few for ourselves. We'll walk over to the next park, take her to the kid friendly rides, then do a few for ourselves. Then finish up the day back at the park we started at and do, what else, more kid rides! It keeps her from getting bored waiting around for mom and dad.

 

[2002Disneybride]

I think my son will love it (the 2 year old) since he is a daredevil! I have an infant who will be 4 months...is there anything he can go on with us?

 

[lorax123]

I think my son will love it (the 2 year old) since he is a daredevil! I have an infant who will be 4 months...is there anything he can go on with us?

Oh if he's a daredevil, he'll love it! Our daughter wasn't even 2 last year, but was just barely over the 36 inch hight restriction for the kiddie coasters. She loved them. Now she's insisting she's 'got bigger' and wants to ride the green coaster (the Hulk).

the 4 month old, not sure about the policy for hand held infants. Mabe he can go on Carossuesel, 1 Fish 2 Fish. I'm not sure. He can go on the stationary seats for Jimmy N and Shrek. It might be tough for the little one.

But there are always the interactive play areas! One person can ride with your older son, while somone plays in those areas with the younger guy, then you can switch and take your son on the rides again. I'm sure he won't mind!

That's why FOTL is so great, especially with kids! They'll both have a great time. There's just so much to see.

 

[2002Disneybride]

Yeah, much to my dismay he is a total daredevil! He's about 40" inches tall at our last measure! BUt by theme park standards, I amnot sure if he will be tall enough! He showed me a picture of a roller coster from six flags by us and said "I go on!" Now, my husband loves big roller coasters and thrill rides-but I can take them or leave them!

I read on another site that "babes in arms" are not allowed on 1 fish 2 fish and they have to ride in a chariot on caroseussel...I think we will baby swap a lot anyway so no biggie...your suggestion of hitting the play areas sounds good to me!

I am looking forward to it- even if it is just for 2 days!
If we like it, we may go every Disney trip!

Thanks again for your help!

 

[macraven]

I think my son will love it (the 2 year old) since he is a daredevil! I have an infant who will be 4 months...is there anything he can go on with us?

Suess Landing

The whole land is built for kids, with even the fences, signs, and steps are built kidsize. One Fish Two Fish is like Dumbo but with water. Caro-suess-el is a whimsical caroussel full of Dr. Seuss characters. Cat in the Hat has some spinning but kids love this ride.

If I ran the Zoo is another interactive play area. Kids can crawl into holes, squirt water on a small island, and play tic tac toe. There are plenty of areas to climb and get some energy out.

The High in the Sky Trolley, takes you on a trolley ride in the sky above Suess Landing. There are two tracks and four story lines all involving the Sneetches.

Other areas in Suess Landing: Toss a coin into the mouth of the fish in McElligot's Pool to receive a surprise. Sit on Horton's Egg outside the Cat, Hats, and Things gift shop. Walk through the street of the Lifted Lorax and listen to the Once-ler. Stop by Sneetch Beach and listen to the story of the Zax. Meet the Grinch, Cat and the Hat, and Thing 1 and 2.

Jurassic Park

The Discovery Center is a mini-science center where every exhibit is based on dinosaurs. Kids can test their dinosaur knowledge, X-ray the inside of a dinosaur egg, have their DNA sampled to create a new dinosaur, search for bones in a rock, and can "Beasuar" by looking through virtual reality glasses in dinosaur models, or watch a dinosaur hatch in the nursery.

Camp Jurassic is a play area where kids can run through caves, squirt water, climb rope bridges, and go down slides. There is also a kids' ride called Pteranodon Flyers where adults can only ride if they are accompanied by a child.

Lost Continent

The Flying Unicorn is coaster made for children. Pteranodon Flyers is a ride you can only go on if you have a child with you. Enjoy it while your kids are still short enough for you to accompany them on it. "Adults only" guests can't ride this one.

Toon Lagoon

The Me Ship, the Olive is a tri-level play area. There are stairs to climb, slides to go down, and a piano to play. They can squirt the people who are on the boats at Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rats.

Marvel Super Hero Island

Storm Force Acceltron is a tea-cup clone. This one makes me dizzy but kids love it. And there are characters who ride into Marvel several times a day for Meet and Greet.

Now all of these examples are for little kids. Older kids will probably love some of the wilder rides but we know all about those rides. It's the things for the toddler to age 5 kids that we often forget.
__________________

 

[macraven]

this is a thread about barney.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1046108

 

[macraven]

i meant those above rides for your 2 year old.
for the 4 month old, you can parent swap.
universal is good about that.
your 2 year old can ride twice then.

 

[2002Disneybride]

Thank you so much for your replies macraven!!! That was perfect!