I am back from a most awesome trip(5/3-5/13). WDW for four days and Universal/IOA for 3 days! Stayed at the Portofino for $150 per night/entertainment rate, two nights. It was more than I wanted to pay (Since my other hotel was CI&S at Calypso Cay for 39.50 with breakfast) but we had fun!!
Just a few notes:
1. Kids (5 & 10 ) had a great time at these parks!!10 year old did it all, and 5 year old did all but the big Coasters.(and Twister--we do live in Iowa, get enough of that)
2. WEAR A BATHING SUIT to Universal/IOA, even the grown-ups! You will get wet, especially if you have little ones and they want to go to the Woody Woodpecker Zone water play area (a blast!) We smartened up in the heat and dressed to get wet. I wore a tankini bathing top with men's bathing trunks to the parks, as did my 10 year daughter. Dried off in no time, therefore no need to carry extra clothes.
3. Wettest ride I have ever been on is Popeye & Blutos Bilge-Rat Barges at IOA
4. Best Flume ride ever--Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls
5. Do stay on site--especially with the new hotel opening up. My only complaint about the front of the line access is that I was looked at like I was crazy for using it when there was not much of a wait. The waits were only like 20 minutes for most rides when we were there, except for Spiderman--he was always at 45- 1 1/2
I Can't wait to go back!! I am sooo glad Universal sent me their vacation planning video--I didn't even know about IOA! I am glad I got three days at these two parks(my son and I went back for a third day while DH and DD did Discovery Cove)
Thanks All for helping me make it happen!
Just a few notes:
1. Kids (5 & 10 ) had a great time at these parks!!10 year old did it all, and 5 year old did all but the big Coasters.(and Twister--we do live in Iowa, get enough of that)
2. WEAR A BATHING SUIT to Universal/IOA, even the grown-ups! You will get wet, especially if you have little ones and they want to go to the Woody Woodpecker Zone water play area (a blast!) We smartened up in the heat and dressed to get wet. I wore a tankini bathing top with men's bathing trunks to the parks, as did my 10 year daughter. Dried off in no time, therefore no need to carry extra clothes.
3. Wettest ride I have ever been on is Popeye & Blutos Bilge-Rat Barges at IOA
4. Best Flume ride ever--Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls
5. Do stay on site--especially with the new hotel opening up. My only complaint about the front of the line access is that I was looked at like I was crazy for using it when there was not much of a wait. The waits were only like 20 minutes for most rides when we were there, except for Spiderman--he was always at 45- 1 1/2
I Can't wait to go back!! I am sooo glad Universal sent me their vacation planning video--I didn't even know about IOA! I am glad I got three days at these two parks(my son and I went back for a third day while DH and DD did Discovery Cove)
Thanks All for helping me make it happen!
