What age would you first bring your kids?

[Disneyolic]

We have never taken our kids to US/IoA. We are all big "fast" ride fans but my kids are still on the young side (8, 6 & 3). For all you US/IoA fans, what age would you consider bringing your kids for the first time if you don't want them to miss out on anything? I kinda feel like we're just getting to the point where everyone can ride almost everything at Disney without the child swap.

 

[Metro West]

We have never taken our kids to US/IoA. We are all big "fast" ride fans but my kids are still on the young side (8, 6 & 3). For all you US/IoA fans, what age would you consider bringing your kids for the first time if you don't want them to miss out on anything? I kinda feel like we're just getting to the point where everyone can ride almost everything at Disney without the child swap.

I would go ahead and take them now. Universal has Child Swap too and the kids would love Seuss Landing and the Curious George play area. Of course, there are going to be some rides they won't be able to go on but you could do child swap for the coasters.

 

[ky07]

I would go ahead and take them now. Universal has Child Swap too and the kids would love Seuss Landing and the Curious George play area. Of course, there are going to be some rides they won't be able to go on but you could do child swap for the coasters.

 

[melly]

When we went our 3 kids were 6, 3 and 10 weeks old.

Obviously there was nowt for the 10 week old but plenty for the other 2. Its a myth that Universal doesnt cater for the youngest kids.

 

[mckymama]

We just returned from US/IOA last night. We took our two sons, 16 & 18 and their two friends, also 16 & 18. Honestly, we felt that there wasn't enough for their age group. They are into coasters, and there are only 2 at IOA, and none at US. There are so many cool things for younger kids. I'd take them now.

 

[Disneyolic]

Great! Well, maybe not. I was actually talking to my father about our next trip down to Florida and he said it should be a Universal trip (mostly because he wants to join us). I immediately scoffed and said the kids weren't big enough to really enjoy it. Now I have no backup thanks to you all! But, really, thank you for your answers. I really will have to rethink taking the kids to Universal. I know my DH and I were last there in 1998 and liked it. We didn't even do IoA.

 

[Dead-metal]

My kids were 9 and 6 when they first went and they loved US/IOA.

MIB, Shrek 4D, Jimmy Neutron, Curious George, Fievel's Playground, ET and the whole of Suess Landing were some of their favourites.

There is plenty for younger children

 

[Metro West]

We just returned from US/IOA last night. We took our two sons, 16 & 18 and their two friends, also 16 & 18. Honestly, we felt that there wasn't enough for their age group. They are into coasters, and there are only 2 at IOA, and none at US. There are so many cool things for younger kids. I'd take them now.

It's too bad you didn't have a good time. I would think your kid's age group would prefer Universal to Disney but I guess not. ROTM is great...did they do that? Also, the three coasters and Spiderman along with Jurassic Park River Adventure should have made a full day especially with the lines.

Maybe you should check into Busch Gardens Tampa...they have plenty of coasters.

 

[mckymama]

It's too bad you didn't have a good time. I would think your kid's age group would prefer Universal to Disney but I guess not. ROTM is great...did they do that? Also, the three coasters and Spiderman along with Jurassic Park River Adventure should have made a full day especially with the lines.

Maybe you should check into Busch Gardens Tampa...they have plenty of coasters.

Maybe next time. We are done with Disney also because of their ages. My DH and I were just discussing our trip. We had a great week. The combination of the long lines for food and the ridiculously long wait for Poseidon's Fury (which we found to be an absolute waste of time) just kind of set the tone for a cruddy day. I hope you all know what I mean. You get in those moods and then it's hard to shake. What is ROTM? They did like Spiderman. Vacation time is so precious, and when you feel like you lose a good part of a day waiting in lines for food and other things, it gets frustrating. Since we live in Indiana (where it happens to be 40 degrees right now), it is a big deal for us to get down to Florida, and we want to maximize every minute of that beautiful weather. We thoroughly enjoyed Sea World and Aquatica.

 

[donaldduck352]

It's too bad you didn't have a good time. I would think your kid's age group would prefer Universal to Disney but I guess not. ROTM is great...did they do that? Also, the three coasters and Spiderman along with Jurassic Park River Adventure should have made a full day especially with the lines.

Maybe you should check into Busch Gardens Tampa...they have plenty of coasters.

Busch Gardens is a coaster junkie haven..I just wish my DH would take off the blinders and try 1.

 

[Disneyolic]

Maybe next time. We are done with Disney also because of their ages. My DH and I were just discussing our trip. We had a great week. The combination of the long lines for food and the ridiculously long wait for Poseidon's Fury (which we found to be an absolute waste of time) just kind of set the tone for a cruddy day. I hope you all know what I mean. You get in those moods and then it's hard to shake. What is ROTM? They did like Spiderman. Vacation time is so precious, and when you feel like you lose a good part of a day waiting in lines for food and other things, it gets frustrating. Since we live in Indiana (where it happens to be 40 degrees right now), it is a big deal for us to get down to Florida, and we want to maximize every minute of that beautiful weather. We thoroughly enjoyed Sea World and Aquatica.

I'm going off topic here but have you been to Cedar Point? We are definitely waiting for our kids to get taller so we can enjoy the coasters there. It's about a 9 hour drive from our home in NY.

 

[donaldduck352]

Cedar Point ROCKS also!!!!!
So does Kings Island!!!!!

 

[ky07]

Cedar Point ROCKS also!!!!!
So does Kings Island!!!!!

Are you talking about King Island in Ohio ???

 

[RVGal]

My boys were 5 and not quite 2 on our first trip. If you will be there when the weather is warm enough, there are some wet play areas that kids get a big kick out of.

Seuss Landing is great. The Curious George playground has fun wet play areas and a dry foam/ball factory area. The Barney show and Barney's Backyard playground should be great for your youngest one (the older ones my roll their eyes if they've hit the "Barney is for babies" age). There are a couple of small coasters for the younger thrill seekers.

We split our last trip between Disney and Universal. We spent 3 days at Universal and everyone had a good time.

 

[Metro West]

What is ROTM?

Sorry...Revenge of the Mummy. I sometimes forget people don't know what I'm talking about.

You know Sea World as well as Universal are adding coasters for next year right? Both should be awesome. Sea World's is a flying coaster and we're all waiting to see the artwork.

 

[mckymama]

I'm going off topic here but have you been to Cedar Point? We are definitely waiting for our kids to get taller so we can enjoy the coasters there. It's about a 9 hour drive from our home in NY.

Okay, so how silly is this? We live in Indiana with coaster junkies, but we drive all the way to Florida for amusement parks. You are right. Cedar Point rocks. The last time we were there (years ago), my DH and I wanted to ride on everything, but our kids were too little. Now the kids are old enough to ride everything, and DH and I are too old to ride anything without getting dizzy/motion sick. If only Sandusky had 80-degree weather during spring break! Maybe we'll check it out again this summer, and just let the kids enjoy the rides. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Disneyolic]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful thoughts and opinions ... and knowledge! I did know that US/IoA had kids areas but I just didn't think it would be enough. Guess I'm still thinking about 1998 (hooboy, 10 years ago). It probably won't even be this year that we go but I love to do research way ahead of time, hence being on the DIS all the time.

My hopes is that we can get a 2-week vacation and we can drive down from NY. Then we can experience both parks. And thanks Metro for throwing Sea World into the mix now . One more thing I need to think about!

 

[Dead-metal]

And thanks Metro for throwing Sea World into the mix now . One more thing I need to think about!

Seaworld is brilliant for kids and don't forget Aquatica is open now, something else to think about.

 

[Metro West]

And thanks Metro for throwing Sea World into the mix now . One more thing I need to think about!

Sorry.

 

[donaldduck352]

Are you talking about King Island in Ohio ???

Haven't been in afew years though.Have fam that lives in Owenton KY.Well be going this summer for a wedding.We will haveto go to Kings Island then.Senntimental reasons,The Beast was my 1st coaster.I was only 11 then.