Which park would you choose for our family?

[AnaheimGirl]

Hi,

Our family will have just one day to spend at Universal and we need help deciding which park to spend it in.

We'll have our 2yo dd and our just-turning-8yo dd with us. The 8yo likes medium sized coasters, but isn't ready to try anything too tall, or anything that goes upside down. She mostly still likes more kiddie-type rides, as of right now anyway, although she's approaching the height requirement for the big coasters (I think she'd love the Pteranodon Flyers at IOA, or something similar).

The 2yo is quite adventurous, but obviously, wouldn't meet the height requirements for anything but the kiddie rides. Oh, and she loves Dora the Explorer and Blue and would love to meet those characters if possible. 8yo loves the Nick game shows, but I'm not sure if they still tape any of those.

Oh, yea, and mom and dad love coasters -- the bigger the better, but since it's a family vacation, we'll likely only take turns riding two or three over the course of the day, spending most of our time on rides we can enjoy with the kids.

Anyway, which park do you think would suit us better?

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[phamton]

Why don't you buy a 1 day/2 park pass? it is only $10 more than the 1 day/1 park pass.

1 day/2 park pass $69.95
1 day/1 park pass $59.95

 

[AnaheimGirl]

Why don't you buy a 1 day/2 park pass? it is only $10 more than the 1 day/1 park pass.

1 day/2 park pass $69.95
1 day/1 park pass $59.95

Doh! Um, because I didn't know it existed... (insert embarassed icon)

LOL. On the website, I only found pricing for one day/one park or 2 days/2 parks.

Your answer is probably the best one. Is one day enough time to hit both parks? We're mostly into rides, not too big into shows (especially now that I've learned elsewhere that they don't tape any of the Nick game shows there), so maybe it would work for us.

Thanks,
AG

 

[Laurajean1014]

I chose US and also try SW. Both great for smaller children!

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I'm getting a little confused. Most who have answered my poll (although it's not a big number yet) have said US. Same with the woman on the phone at US that I called to ask about Nickelodeon show tapings. But when I look at their website, at "Find adventures for families with kids under 10", I'm finding more rides that sound good for my kids at IOA, and about an equal number of playgrounds.

Here's what I think they'll like at each:

Rides:
IOA: Cat in the Hat, Caro-seuss-el, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Flying Unicorn, Pteranodon Flyers.
US: E.T., Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster

Big advantage to IOA on Rides

Playgrounds are equal in number and IOA sounds a little more appealing, because neither of my kids ever liked Barney (and dh and I can't stomach him enough to go anywhere near him in the first place) and they don't even know who Fieval is. They don't know who Popeye is, either, but that still leaves us with 2 play areas at IOA and one at US.

Shows seem to be pretty equal, too -- Animal Planet at US vs Sindbad at IOA. (We won't go to see Barney and probably not Shrek either, as dd is blind in one eye and can't see things in 3D)

Characters -- definitely better at US, but rides are more important to us than characters.

So, that's my analysis. What am I missing? Why is US considered better for kids, when they seem to have less appropriate rides?

Thanks again for any help.

AG

 

[3Mousketeers]

We have DS's 7 & 5 and DD 2 and we're planning our first trip to Universal with them next week. We luckily have a few days staying at the Royal Pacific so we'll have the luxury of taking our time and using FOTL. I really can't predict where we'll spend most of our time. I think both parks have something for kids of that age range and if you have only one day its a tough choice. Why not just go for the 2 park pass and if you wind up spending more of your day at one of the parks its only a $10 per ticket difference (and you don't need a ticket for your DD 2). I don't know when your trip is but I'll post a trip report when we return.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

3Mousketeers -- Thanks, we don't go until fall, so I'd love to see your trip report.

Have a GREAT time!

Thanks,
AG

 

[JalensMom]

I quess I'm a minority here but I say definately IOA.

You say your family is more into rides, IOA is full of them and your 8 yr old as well as the rest of you would truly love it.

I like to take my time in the parks so the 2 parks in one day thing really doesn't work too well for me. You want the kids to be alert enough to really enjoy the whole experience.

I've been traveling to US/IOA with my son who is now 10 and my niece who is 11 for the past 4 years now and hands down, IOA is our first pick.

Good luck with your plans.

 

[phamton]

You can only buy the one day/2 park at the gates but the price is $69.95.

I would seriously choose 2 parks, that way you can pick and choose the best of both parks. There are great things for the youngest child to do at both parks. You can do babyswap for the thrill rides.

Here's some information about young kids at both parks:

Kids at Universal

Kids at Islands of Adventure

If you decide to just do one park, then just pick the park that has the rides that you and your husband want to do. Then find the things at that park for the little one. Since you are from Anaheim, you have probably been to Universal Hollywood. It has some of the same rides as Universal Orlando but Islands of Adventure is totally different. So you might want to check out Islands of Adventure.

 

[alanda]

I think trying to do 2 parks in 1 day is madness, especially with 2 young children. In our experience you get the most rides in early morning before the queues build up. So whichever park you choose to do first, you will be faced with big queues in the 1 you hit later on.

I would suggest IoA. Get an Express Pass for Hulk, and ride both Dueling Dragons first thing, then you've done the big stuff and the rest of the day belongs to the kids. IoA is the best for rides, USF best for movie-based attractions/shows, which won't mean a lot to a 2 year old.

We saw loads of characters in IoA - Spiderman, Wolverine, Storm, Captain America, Popeye, Olive Oyl, Bluto, Woody Woodpecker, Bullwinkle, the Cat, Thing 1 and Thing 2 and the Grinch! (And I'm sure that's not all)

 

[PiRSquared]

I think Cat in the Hat has a height requirement, so don't count on that for the little one. If you truly want family vacation, picking the best of both parks would be fun for the kids, but it is a LOT of walking. I went with my nieces to Universal when they were about 4 and they did get a little bored. But, I'm not sure that there is a days worth of kids stuff at IOA either.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I think Cat in the Hat has a height requirement, so don't count on that for the little one. If you truly want family vacation, picking the best of both parks would be fun for the kids, but it is a LOT of walking. I went with my nieces to Universal when they were about 4 and they did get a little bored. But, I'm not sure that there is a days worth of kids stuff at IOA either.

Thanks for your input. I checked the height requirements. For Cat in the Hat under 48" need only be accompanied by an adult, so 2yo is good, since we wouldn't put her on many rides alone, anyway. She can even go on Flying Unicorn and Pteranodon Flyers, as she's now at the minimum of 36" (but still needs to be accompanied by an adult). Not that you really needed the explanation, but just in case anyone else is reading this for similar info.

We're also fine without a full days worth of kids stuff. They can make a full day out of 2 or 3 rides, if they like them enough to ride them over and over! Dh and I want to ride a few coasters, too. I'm just worried it would be a little too much to try to do 2 parks in one day.

Thanks,
AG

 

[marybet]

Just got back. Took our 11 and 12 year old grandchildren. If you only do one park then go to IOA. We were there for 4 days and on the last 2 we only went to US to do the Mummy, and if you do it first thing there is not line, and then went to IOA. On the last day we did Mummy, Earthquake, only because DGD wanted to and had been so patient waiting for us to do the Mummy, MIB, and ET. So we spent more time at IOA and DGD is not big on the thrill rides but loved the Flying Unicorn, did it about 5 times while her brother was riding Dueling Dragons. Don't count on Pteranodon Flyers, unless you want a long wait, no express so you have to stand in line and when we checked it was 60 min.

It is only a 5 min. walk between the parks, so really easy to go from one to the other. If you hit the highlights at US first thing you could probably do it in less than 2 hrs and have the rest of the day for IOA. Are you going in Sept.? If so you probably won't have very big crowds and should be able to do both parks.

 

[ms.ojo]

Just wondering if anyone had any add'l feedback. Thanks for posting the links!!!! We're taking 1.5 days on our next trip in Dec to try US/IOA and I've been debating what to see too. Our kids will be nearly 3 and 6. One thing I did do, was book a room at HRH for our last 2 nights so we can enjoy FOTL perks on both days! Pricey hotels...but what a benefit!!!

Just not certain about where we'll eat there. So many diff't restaurants (counte/table) at Disney....I know nothing about Universal/IOA and the City place. Anyone have any good experiences or links???

Thanks!

 

[Snoopymom]

Just got back and I definitely vote for IOA! It's visually more bright and fun and the water playground area in Seuss Landing is very two year old friendly.
If you go, be sure to ride Pterandon Flyers first thing. The wait is deceivingly long and the ride is short. Have fun.

 

[goofy!]

I voted for IOA. You said you were coaster people - so IOA is a must! And there is plenty to do for the little ones.

In fact, the Unicorn coaster is right next to the bigger Dueling Dragons. I know from experience that it takes 12 consecutive rides (FOTL in August) for the rest of your party to ride either fire or ice and then call you to tell you that you they are going to ride the other, so you may as well ride Unicorn some more.

If you see a crazed woman stumbing around IOA in July, mumbling something about lions roaring and preparing to soar, don't be frightened. It just means that I have just finished doing my motherly duty on Unicorn.

 

[Snoopymom]

In fact, the Unicorn coaster is right next to the bigger Dueling Dragons. I know from experience that it takes 12 consecutive rides (FOTL in August) for the rest of your party to ride either fire or ice and then call you to tell you that you they are going to ride the other, so you may as well ride Unicorn some more.

If you see a crazed woman stumbing around IOA in July, mumbling something about lions roaring and preparing to soar, don't be frightened. It just means that I have just finished doing my motherly duty on Unicorn.

LOL, that's hillarious!!! Thanks for the laugh!

 

[Cindy B]

ioa.

You have the coasters, the Suess land, and the Camp Jurassic areas. The water rides are fun and Spider man is great.

 

[pixiepower1971]

IOA if you have to pick but I would go for the 2 park pass. In the fall, during the week, the lines should be short enough to hit what you want in one day. I take my 7 and 9 year old often and we can hit everything we want in less then a full day.

IOA is a must just for Suess Landing for the age of your kids.

Have fun!

 

[AnaheimGirl]

Thanks everyone, for voting and for your comments. Based on the comments and our own research, we plan to do IOA, if we do just one park, which is most likely.

Great point, Phamton, about Universal Hollywood -- you're right, we've been there and we have the opportunity to go there more often, so something completely different would be nice. Also, about picking the park with rides the adults want to ride. I'd almost forgotten that our whole reason for going to Universal is so dh and I can ride some thrill rides. Most of our vacation is at DW, which will be more for the kids. I naturally began thinking of which Universal park would be better for the kids, but hey! Who cares??! This is mom and dad's day!

Thanks again,
AG