US/IOA to do or not to do!

[stephensmum]

Spending 2 weeks at POFQ on DDP. planned on staying on site all hol except 1/1.5 days at Seaworld. We did this in Aug 05 & feel we still missed things. The closer it gets(May/June) the more I wonder about US/IOA, my ds9 would love it, he likes thrill rides, I prefer shows & don't want to waste ddp & dh feels it would be too tiring. We did do disney at a fast pace last time, although we were not on ddp & this should help us have time out. Opinions please.

 

[Merylj]

We always stay on site -(usually at POR however I walk down to POFQ every morning - what a beautiful resort!)
I think I`d be tempted to stay with your plan of just going out to Seaworld, maybe next time you could stay at night or two at a US hotel and get front of line access and enjoy it all without the hassle of getting there.
We plan to visit Seaworld on our next visit as DH hasn`t been for years - we`re going to try the Lynx bus - how are you getting there?

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks Merylj. Last time we took a taxi there & back, stayed day & evening. This time plan on taking no. 50 bus. It looks easy enough & I did'nt know about it last time.

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Although I tend to prefer the Disney parks, US/IOA are fantastic parks in their own right.

Why don't you play it by ear a bit. If you get a few days into your holiday and decide you fancy a change from Disney you can always nip across to Universal. If your son likes thrill rides Islands of Adventure is the park for him.

Kev

 

[JohnnySharp2]

IOA/US boast an assortment of great rides.

IOA has the thrill rides such Hulk and Duelling Dragons, and also some excellent water rides too as well the top attraction Spiderman, in my opinion THE best ride of all the parks.

US is for movie lovers with Twister, Terminator 2, Jaws, The Mummy, Men In Black plus the superb 4D show Shrek.

There is also plenty for young children to do too.

However, the big advantage Universal Orlando has over Disney is that both parks are side by side, meaning that you have just a 5 minute or so walk between the 2 parks.
In many ways we actually prefer the Universal parks over Disney, with the exception of Magic Kingdom.

At Citywalk there is good shopping, restaurants and bars that make the whole place come alive at night.

I have loads of photos of both parks, if you would like to see some please pm me.

 

[UKDEB]

I'm assuming from what you say that you've never been to US/IoA? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised if you choose to go. The whole USF franchise really does give Disney a run for its money. The attention to detail is equally as good and many of the attractions are truly incredible.

I would definitely not count myself as a thrill-ride fan, but some of my favourite rides are at USF. Spiderman is, arguably, the best theme park ride of all. The Mummy is superb and, even if you're not a coaster fan, I'd encourage you to give it a go. I was terrified before riding for the first time, but I was determined to do it and it's actually quite tame as coasters go. The theming and effects are amazing.

Shrek 4-D is, in my mind, the best show of its kind. Well, I suppose I'd have to say it shares the honours with Mickey's Philharmagic. There's nothing like Terminator 2 - incredible. Men in Black is great fun. At IoA, the theming is amazing. I particularly love the Lost Continent and it has two really good shows - The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad and Poseidon's Fury, plus the talking fountain (simply great entertainment).

The whole place is very compact - you enter via CityWalk which, in itself, is a great entertainment complex - with both parks next door to one another. You can easily do both parks in a day and just visit the headliner attractions if you choose to. For me, to visit Orlando and not do Universal is to miss out big time.

 

[Lisash]

I can't imagine going to Orlando and not popping in to Universal at least once. You are really missing out on some fantastic rides. Spiderman at IOA and Shrek 4D at US to name but two. We can quite easily hop between both in one day now by choosing our rides carefully. Just one word of warning about IOA's water rides. YOU WILL GET SOAKED in fact you wouldn't get much wetter if you jumped out of the car and into the water instead so if you are planning to do them I'd give yourself plenty of time to dry off before getting the bus back

 

[tubtruck]

to do

 

[wayneg]

Cant imagine a trip to Orlando without going to both US and IOA, could miss the Disney parks some visits.
We can spend 4 or 5 hours just in Curious George, time flies in there.
Will be renewing AP's again in July for the 5th year, doubt we will be renewing our Disney AP's

 

[Graeme]

A nine year old boy should be taken to Islands. It's that simple. If you don't take him I'll happily PM him the number for childline and you can fight it out with Esther.

Seriously, I'm 38 and I run round like a nine year old when I'm in there, (granted a bald nine year old). You will be tired at the end of it but believe me it is worth it. The rides are fantastic and are suitable for everyone. They're not too babyish for adults but you don't have to scare yourself witless on high powered coasters.

Compare Splash Mountain with Dudley Do-rights or Kali River Rapids with Popeyes and the Universal ones win hands down, and then there's Spiderman which is a unique experience!

I can't wait to read your trip report now

 

[wicket2005]

Everytime we go to Orlando we have always done all the Disney, Universal and Sea World Parks. The 2 Universal parks are our favourites and we wouldn't dream of missing them out. I would say do them, you had free days on your itinerary fill them up, you can always rest when you come back home.

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks guys - really great advice, I will show dh & he won't be able to resist as it looks like these parks are made for Stephen. Plus, don't want Esther on to us! Did someone mention trip report ! It took me 3 attempts over as many months just to join, then Johnny had to tell me how to start a new thread. Next challange pm's. Don't even know what it stands for. ls

 

[MorningGlory]

Thanks guys - really great advice, I will show dh & he won't be able to resist as it looks like these parks are made for Stephen. Plus, don't want Esther on to us! Did someone mention trip report ! It took me 3 attempts over as many months just to join, then Johnny had to tell me how to start a new thread. Next challange pm's. Don't even know what it stands for. ls

Hehe, you'll pick it up in no time

PMs are private messages. If you look near the top right hand corner of this page, you will see a part that says;

Welcome, stephensmum
You last visited:
Private messages

If you click on the 'private messages' part, this will take you to your 'inbox' (much like an email inbox).

Also, if you would like to send a PM to a particular person, click on their name on any thread, and a menu with (I think) 4 options appears, one of which is to 'send a private message to xxxxx'

Hope that helps

 

[alisonbestford]

Definitely 'do'

DD loves the Sinbad show - we had to sit through it half a dozen times last year

 

[stephensmum]

Thank you. I thought that meant private message for me!!!
Sharon

 

[Dead-metal]

IOA/US is a must. IMHO better than Disney

 

[Red-Snapper]

There is sooo much more to Orlando/Florida than staying on Disney property for the whole 2 weeks & its a hell of a long way to go and not see some different things.

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks - I'm really thinking it's a must. What's IMHO.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Thanks - I'm really thinking it's a must. What's IMHO.

"In my honest opinion" - though I am not an abbreviation expert I know that one.

 

[wayneg]

In My Honest Opinion or In My Humble Opinion.
Unless there are more meanings