US / IOA Playgrounds

[FOV]

We will be going to US/IOA at the end of June for 4 nights. When I booked I thought this would be plenty of time but the more I read the more I think we need MORE time! We will be staying onsite so will have FOTL, which will help.

1. How much time can I expect to spend at the great playgrounds within the parks? I have a 4 and 8 year old. My son could have spent an entire day at the Boneyard at Animal Kingdom this past October! Are the US playgrounds comparable?

2. Do you think we will have time to explore the other onsite hotels? I mostly want to do this for future visits - I'm already sure we will want to return!

3. I wasn't planning to visit City Walk because it doesn't seem to have too much to offer the kids. We have some great theme restaurants near home so that isn't much of a draw for us.

Thanks!

 

[pegasusEH]

I can't help with points 2 and 3 but as for point 1:

There is a great water playground in US with two massive barrels of water that fill up and pour from above every so often. There's flower-boxes to fill up and tip on unsuspecting people below, water guns, hidden water spouts to control and all sorts of other things. Children are not essential to this part - I know several adults that have "lost" and hour or two here!

A change of clothes for your children is a must.

 

[FOV]

I will NEVER get dh or the kids out of there!

Is it tough to get access to the flower boxes and other fun stuff? Are there crowds of people in there vying for the same things or is it relatively civil? I don' mean to sound negative, I just don't deal well with aggressive crowds!

 

[pegasusEH]

As far as I could tell (standing at a safe distance so as not to get wet) you just waited your turn until you could have a go. The water guns were pretty busy but I didn't see any pushing or shoving - all pretty civil from what I could tell.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Pegasus is referring to the Curious George area in KidZone. That is the water area and it is tons of fun. It's fairly civil, unless someone's plotting a "sneak attack" . The area behind the water is the Ball Factory, and that's fun as well. Fievel's Playland is also part of the KidZone and features nets and a slide and lots of exploring room.

IMO, IOA has the better playground. If I Ran the Zoo is a fun area in Seuss landing, as is Meship The Olive, but Camp Jurassic is my favorite. Camp J is the biggest, with lots of nets, a water play area, caves to explore, and whatnot. Easily my favorite play area.