Which is better?

[brianbrister]

Will be going to Orlando in July. The group will include two 4 year olds, one 5 year old, one seven year old, one 12 year old (all boys) and one 12 year old girl. Wanted to know of Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Hollywood Studios, which one would be the best for this group?

 

[damo]

Is it just for one day? I'd have to say IOA for the older kids. The little kids won't really care.

 

[brianbrister]

Is it just for one day? I'd have to say IOA for the older kids. The little kids won't really care.

We will be in Orlando for a total of six days, but we are spending two days a MK, one day at AK, one day at a water park, which would leave one day of rest and one day somewhere else or two days somewhere else.

 

[torinsmom]

Universal Studios has the most rides that everyone in your party can ride. How tall are the 4-5 year olds? You have to be 40" to ride Simpsons, 42" to ride MIB, 42" for Jaws Revenge of the Mummy and for Rip Ride Rockit are definitely out for that age group. I think everything else at US is for all ages and heights.

Since US and IOA are so close to each other, you could just do the 2 parks in one day. It's only $17 more per ticket to do both. Or you could do the 7 day tickets for $99. Some of the older kids might enjoy going over there one night with an adult.

 

[brianbrister]

Universal Studios has the most rides that everyone in your party can ride. How tall are the 4-5 year olds? You have to be 40" to ride Simpsons, 42" to ride MIB, 42" for Jaws Revenge of the Mummy and for Rip Ride Rockit are definitely out for that age group. I think everything else at US is for all ages and heights.

Since US and IOA are so close to each other, you could just do the 2 parks in one day. It's only $17 more per ticket to do both. Or you could do the 7 day tickets for $99. Some of the older kids might enjoy going over there one night with an adult.

Thanks. Never thought about that. That could be a real possibility.

 

[Coach81]

If you are only looking for a day or two... here are my thoughts:

1. HS is a blast with TSM, TOT, and RNR.. if the kids are tall enough, they will all enjoy these rides.
2. IOA could be just as good or maybe even better with the few water rides that they have available along with spidey, hulk, and dr. doom.
3. US is also a nice option with the new R3, Jimmy N, Shrek..

Wow.. it seems that you can't really go wrong...

If it were me.. I'd do IOA/US for the two days as a nice change up to Disney.. but either way you can't go wrong..

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Purseval]

Many years ago they did a study on children and WDW which found that the children in your age groups, except for the 12-year old, found the best part of a WDW vacation to be.......the hotel swimming pool There is even a mention of it in the Unofficial Guide under Whose Dream Is It? or something to that effect.

With that in mind, if you choose what the adults and 12-year old will like the younger kids will be fine. All 3 parks have wonderful areas for smaller children (but out of the 3 I would say Hollywood studios has the least to offer and IOA the most) so you can always split up.

 

[taliategan]

Many years ago they did a study on children and WDW which found that the children in your age groups, except for the 12-year old, found the best part of a WDW vacation to be.......the hotel swimming pool There is even a mention of it in the Unofficial Guide under Whose Dream Is It? or something to that effect.

With that in mind, if you choose what the adults and 12-year old will like the younger kids will be fine. All 3 parks have wonderful areas for smaller children (but out of the 3 I would say Hollywood studios has the least to offer and IOA the most) so you can always split up.

Our daughters fit into that category on their first trip to WDW in 2008 - the first thing they wanted to do was go in the swimming pool - much to the dismay of their parents who spent $$$ on the park tickets. I had to work in pool time each day for about the first 4 days of the trip until they finally got their fill of the pool.

 

[luvvseeyore]

my 2 cents...

Took my daughter to WDW when she was 11, she was bored, and looking for thrill rides, which HWS does have a couple but that's it...the following years, we went to IoA and she loved it, went three years in a row, you can also get a flex tickets on either the sea world site or universal that's good for IoA, Universal, Busch, Seaworld and Wet and Wild, well you could 2 years ago, I'm sure they would still have it, not expensive for 14 days, $234 was what we paid.

However if you're spending most of the other days at Disney, it's your cheaper option to do HWS and do the other parks a different trip, a reason to go back and use the Flex tickets.

Enjoy!