Which Universal park should we choose?

[karajeboo]

We have one day to do Universal and we're trying to decide between the two parks. DH and I have both been to Islands of Adventure before, but never to Universal Orlando. We have a DD who is almost 7 and she does like thrill rides. Her fave at WDW is Tower of Terror and Test Track, so she's not afraid of dark or fast (this year she's finally tall enough that she can ride Everest, Space Mountain and maybe even Rock n Roller Coaster). I think she's 48 or 49 inches tall now. One concern (and I can't remember which park it was) is the content of some of the attractions - like some of the violence of Terminator or the "grossness" of some of the other ones, know what I mean?

 

[Metro West]

That's tough since there are attractions at both parks your daughter would like. The easy answer is the Studios...since you haven't been there before but IOA has so much more themeing.

When are you going? You might be able to do both parks in a single day...but it's not recommended.

I guess it would be a toss up really. Either park would be great!

 

[CPanther95]

I'd vote the Studios just since you haven't been. The Mummy is probably the best attraction in Orlando (IMO) - a position in our family previously held by Spiderman, and Tower of Terror before that (just for perspective).

 

[BTDTGB]

This is a tough one. IoA is my favorite park, but seeing that you have never been to US I would give the node to US.

 

[apparition]

Go to the Studios.

 

[Ileana]

The Studios!!! Your daughter is young enough to really enjoy the rides there, while still getting "thrills" from the Mummy & Men in Black

 

[zgirl]

I agree - go to the Studios. My 8 year old had a lot of fun there. She especially loved Mummy. She was totally bummed that she couldn't ride the coasters at IOA - too short.

 

[fan of the TTA]

if i was in that situation, i'd go to IOA because of all the variety. water rides, coasters, shows, even rides for little kids. but...if you've never been to universal, guess that settles it. go there

 

[fan of the TTA]

ride ET and jaws....both are brilliant!

 

[karajeboo]

Ok, y'all win! We're going to the Studios! Luckily we now live close enough to his IOA some other time! Thank you!

 

[winegirl]

How does Studios compare with the one in Hollywood. We've been there several times and we're trying to make the same decision when we're there next week. I've been to IOA, but the rest of the family hasn't.
Thanks!

 

[UniversalLover]

I have heard that the studios in Orlando is bigger than the one in Hollywood but don't qutoe me on that cause I have never been to the one in Hollywood.

 

[Metro West]

I have heard that the studios in Orlando is bigger than the one in Hollywood but don't qutoe me on that cause I have never been to the one in Hollywood.

USH is a theme park built around a studio...USO is the opposite. USH is bigger in terms of space since they have a tram that takes you around the park instead of having individual queues and USH has many more sound stages than USO does. I like both but probably wouldn't go back to USH. There's no IOA there.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

How does Studios compare with the one in Hollywood. We've been there several times and we're trying to make the same decision when we're there next week. I've been to IOA, but the rest of the family hasn't.
Thanks!

I've been to both. Universal Studios Orlando has some major attractions that you won't find at the Hollywood park.

These include:

Men In Black
Disaster!
Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast
Twister
Jaws
E.T. Adventure (closed in Hollywood to make room for Mummy)

Also, the Revenge of the Mummy in Orlando has some differences from its Hollywood counterpart.

Islands of Adventure on the otherhand has a bigger mix of thrill rides so it really depends on what your family wants to experience. You can also hit up the highlights of both parks with a 1-Day 2-Park ticket and get the best of both worlds if you're really pressed for time.