What order to do the parks? (and other related questions)

[Zippa D Doodah]

I know this may be 'old hat', but I need some UO advice...

The setup: Our family of four (me, DW, DD8, and DS6) has decided on one week's notice to make a three-day trip to UO. We've been to WDW many time, but never UO... yada, yada, yada.

Both parks seem to have attractions at least some of us want to experience. DD is not much of a thrill ride person (will do sim rides, but not coasters) ; DS is too short to do the big coasters at IOA. Which park would you recommend for us to do first? If we do one park on Day 1 and another on Day 2, what would you recommend we do on Day 3? Go to MK?

We have been poring over websites and a guidebook since yesterday. Here is what sounds interesting to us:

US -Shrek 4D; Jimmy Neutron; ET Adventure; MIB; Back to the Future; Jaws (not sure if this will be good for kids or not); Earthquake; T2 (just me ); Animal Planet Live; Twister (3 of us -yes; one -no way!)

IOA -Seuss land; Spiderman; Sinbad show; Poseidon' adventure; Ripsaw Falls; Jurassic Park water ride; Toon area

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Where will you be staying and what type of tickets will you have? Are you going for the MLK weekend?

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

First day in park is Tuesday, January 17. We are staying off-site, at a motel about a mile from UO. It was booked as part of the "kids play, stay, and eat free" plan. Our tix are "hoppers" -good for 5 days although we will use only 3

 

[yaytezIOA]

Definately do IOA first. You can get all of the big attractions out of the way, and there is child swap, so if you or DW want to do the big attractions like Hulk Doom and Dragons, you can, then swap off. If you do them first, you'll miss the long lines. Definately get there before park opening, I recommend being there at least 20-30 mins in advanced. Yeah, its a wait, but you'll be first when it comes to the big stuff, and you should be able to get around the whole park before 12, then hit the other park and just do the less crowded stuff.
I would recommend, in this order, Hulk, (while you or other are on Hulk, kids can hit storm which is like teacups.) Spiderman, Doom, Pterradon Flyers, Jurassic Park, Flying Unicorn, Dueling Dragons (kids can either do swap or do Flying Unicorn, or hang out at the mystic fountain while you ride) Cat in the Hat.
Day two, if you want to just take in the sights on the first day, and hit it heavy the second, Shrek, Mummy, MIB, ET, then Jimmy Nuetron....make it a full circle. Then day 3, if you're not wore out, go back and do a few smaller things like shows and whatnot at both parks. Sinbad and Toon Lagoon are good for a slow day at IOA, and Twister, Jimmy neutron, earthquake, Fear Factor, Make up show, and Barney are good for USF. Just a few suggestions. We also have a family of 4, and usually do both parks before 3, doing all the popular big stuff first.
AND its not Disney. It wont be crowded all the time. You're going in the middle of the week, if you get there early, and come back later, you'll be able to do a lot at each park each day, or you can do a little at both parks each day...upto you. Not that I recommend this, but you can also hop a boat and ride over to the hotels and check out the shops, resturants and pools. I havent seen them check, but dont quote me on it.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Thanks for the advice. We are looking forward to this being a slower-paced vacation than out typical WDW trip. I think we'll be fine with that especially since neither DW nor I care for the mega-coaster stuff. I think it would be nice to get to the parks early-ish and then leave for the day around 3-4pm knowing that we'll have plenty of time to do everything in three days.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

My guess is that since you are steering clear of the holiday weekend and things don't really pick up again until Feb--Mardi gras, Pres Day, that you will be fine with whatever you do. With those tickets you can visit both parks in one day. Unlike WDW it is an easy 5-10 minute walk from one park to another.

I say pick the attractions you want to see at each park and do them...repeatedly.