WDW, Universal, Sea World? Taking small kids....

[mama4]

My DH has a business trip to Orlando coming up and wants us to come along. It'd probably be around 3-4 nights and I don't know where we'd be staying yet.My first thought when he told me was "YES! DISNEY WORLD HERE WE COME!!" but now I'm having second thoughts because.......

1. I swore NEVER to go in the heat of summer as it is miserable and I hate being miserable at my favorite place (also never experienced those summer crowds and not looking forward to it)
2. We have a trip coming up in January (6 nights) and will go back for day trips before that since we only live 2 hrs away.
3. Not looking forward to going without DH (he would be attending his conference every day.)

So, with all of those "cons' in my way, I started thinking about doing Universal (last time was in 2001 maybe) and/or Sea World (haven't been since 5th grade -mid eighties) and maybe IOA (never been) since I'd like to try these places in the future but can't see planning a trip to them during our normal vacation period (only WDW if we go to Orlando.) This way I could do all three places in one trip then have a day to relax in between. My kids will be 16, 5, 3 and 11 mths at the time and remember I won't have dh with me. Ds 16 is a big help w/ the little ones when his buddies aren't around though. Ds16 has been to Universal/IOA and loves them both.

What do ya think? Will the little ones enjoy enough for it to be worth all the work for me and ds 16? Will it be a lot more difficult to do things with the little ones? (WDW is so much more "little kid-friendly" compared to another frequent day-trip spot for us- Busch Gardens. ) Will the summer crowds be as huge as WDW?
I know it's only your opinion but I appreciate any info/opinions you can give me. THanks!

ETA: The trip would be in June. Also, my little ones have all been to WDW before a few times and have never been to the other places. As I said, ds16 has been to Univ/IOA, WDW several times and never to Sea World. TIA

 

[sha_lyn]

my kids have been to US/IOAclose to a dozen times in the last 6 yrs. DD was 3.5 and DS was almost 11 when we first started going. They have both always enjoyed the parks. There is plenty for little ones to do.
give this thread a look http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1353733

 

[Darcy03231]

I would plan a day at Seaworld. There's lots there for the little ones to do and see and since your DS (16) hasn't been yet it would be something new for him. I took my kids about 6 years ago and we're going again this summer (August). My kids are now 15 & 13 and are looking forward to going again.

 

[mama4]

Thanks sha_lyn! Lots of great info on that thread! Yes, I would like to fit Sea World in as well Darcy03231.... do you happen to know if they have a cool kiddie play area there? The shows will be fun for a while but I'm sure the little guys will need some running around time...

 

[sha_lyn]

SW does have a play area. If I remember correctly it (or part of it) involves water. It's been so long (2001) since DD played in it that I don't remember much about it. The last time we went she was old enough to really enjoy the shows, and we ran out of time before getting over to the play area

 

[Donald is #1]

I second the vote for Sea World! I really love it there. I especially like being able to feed everything: rays, dolphins, sea lions. I bet that your kids would love it.

 

[HeatherC]

My vote would be for SeaWorld. The shows are great, (which is nice to escape the heat) as is the play area for kids with lots of water sprinkler things to keep them cool.

I also like Universal, but SeaWorld would be a lot less walking IMO for your smaller ones. Just the walk from the parking lot to the main entrance at Universal is quite a hike for little feet. Since you will not have your hubbie, I think you would find SeaWorld easier with little ones.

Have a great trip no matter what you wind up doing.

Heather

 

[Amy162]

We will be at Disney 5/13-5/17, and were going to go to SeaWorld on 5/18. I have a lot of coworkers who were just there on a company trip, and said SeaWorld was the BEST.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a hotel to stay at for one night close to SeaWorld?

 

[sha_lyn]

I also like Universal, but SeaWorld would be a lot less walking IMO for your smaller ones. Just the walk from the parking lot to the main entrance at Universal is quite a hike for little feet. Since you will not have your hubbie, I think you would find SeaWorld easier with little ones.

To me seaworld is so spread out that that it requires much more walking and back tracking (to see the shows) than US/IOA do