Grade School boys at Islands of Adventures

[janieenrose]

I have two boys - one 6 and one 11. This will be our first trip to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The eleven year old refuses to even try riding roller coasters. He even refused to try Sum of Thrills at Disney Epcot. However, he loved Star Tours and rode it no less than 6 times last year. The six year old could only stomach Star Tours once but was willing to ride Splash Mountain - we did not though because of the eleven year old (and the six year old won't do anything that his older brother won't do). My six year old's favorite ride was Spaceship Earth - he liked it because of the big backwards drop near the end of the ride. The question is - what is there for these pair to ride at Islands of Adventure? It seems that most rides are either roller coasters, or dark and scary simulation rides. Have I gotten the wrong impression? Are the rides at IoA more "intense" than at Disney?

 

[Teebin]

Spider-Man!!!, Ripsaw, Bilge rats, JP River Adventure, Cat in the Hat, Hippogriff, FJ (maybe, just don't tell the eleven year old what it is technically)

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

Spideman, Cat in the Hat, and the water rides will be musts. I wouldn't risk Forbidden Journey (the six year old probably can't ride it).

 

[Eric]

To answer your question bluntly, yes. Some of the rides at Universal are more intense. That, however, doesn't mean your family won't have a great time.

There is still so much to do at IOA and Universal other than the thrilling rides. Check out here:

http://www.universalorlando.com/Rides/Rides-For-Kids.aspx

If your 11-year old son loved Star Tours, I'm sure he could handle Spiderman and then maybe transition to Forbidden Journey in the Wizarding World. Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey is really the only "dark and scary simulation ride" but it's not that bad.

Your family will have a great time!

 

[Teebin]

Ooops... didn't mention US. Darn... they will both like MIB, ET, Simpsons, Despicable, Terminator!!! Just tell the 6 year old BEFORE that it is all pretend at the beginning of Terminator and there will be big gun sounds but it is all fake.

 

[justinmb98]

At Islands, there is plenty to do. And it's not just rides. There's also a great show (Sinbad), storytelling in Seuss Landing, two play structures, Jurassic Park Discovery Center - plenty to do. Plenty. Don't worry. At Universal, pretty much every ride is a family ride besides the roller coasters.

 

[universal_fanatic]

I remember going to IOA back in 2001 when I was 11. I too would not go anywhere near a roller coaster, however I still had an absolute blast and there was plenty to do even back then! I think I could've spent the whole day just in Camp Jurassic (the Jurassic Park playground)

 

[janieenrose]

Thanks all for your responses. It has made me feel a bit better about our upcoming trip.

 

[J03Y]

he's 11? make the kid go on a coaster, at least Splash Mountain. at his age he should at least be into softer coasters. and Splash Mountain is barely a coaster, it's more of a dark ride mixed with a boat cruise with large drops every now and then. just make him get on one at his age, i guarantee you he'll have fun at this point.

anywho, yes IOA and Uni rides are considerably more intense than Disney rides, but not to the point where he won't enjoy it.

IOA:
he likes simulator rides so Spiderman is a go
Hulk is a super mega awesome coaster, so no-go
Dr. Doom is basically Tower of Terror so unless he likes that, no-go
Seuss Landing is, well, Seuss Landing
WWoHP is a great place to transition your kid to liking the rougher rides
Flight of the Hippogriff is a gentle coaster he'll like that
Forbidden Journey is... scary. and very rough but it's best to not tell him that, he'll like it
Dragon Challenge is basically a coaster, best not to let him on it until after he's been on Forbidden Journey so he can make the decision himself whether he wants to take it a step further
Lost Continent just has Poseidon's Fury which is just a show so he's fine
Jurassic Park's biggest draw is River Adventure which just has a lot of scary scenes it's not intense at all
Toon Lagoon's two biggest attractions are water coasters
Ripsaw Falls, i don't exactly recommend if he doesn't like coasters. it has slow moments but it's a coaster i won't fabricate that
Popeyes is safer, a lot tamer he'll be fine on that one

Universal:
Revenge of the Mummy is no-go
Rip Ride Rockit is no-go
Transformers might be a no-go not sure yet
the majority of attractions here are either calmer rides or shows so like Universal is, compared to IOA, the tamer park so
MIB is good
Twister and Disaster are good
Simpsons is good
Kidzone is, well, Kidzone
Despicable Me and Shrek are good

so, there's Universal Studios Orlando referenced for your children. but seriously he's 11 he needs to get over that fear.

 

[justinmb98]

Also remember about height restrictions. Your 6 year old might not even be tall enough for some rides, like Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey, The Incredible Hulk, just to name a few.

 

[janieenrose]

he's 11? make the kid go on a coaster

So funny - that's what his father says!

 

[J03Y]

So funny - that's what his father says!

i don't mean to sound rude sorry! it's just that i'm surprised a kid his age isn't at least cool with Splash Mountain or Thunder Mountain, he needs to grow a back bone and get on the scary rides. it took me til i was 15 until i actually got the courage for Tower of Terror and i was shocked at what i was missing. trust me, it won't do him either harm or good if he misses out on those opportunities while he's still young. get him on those coasters! i was having a blast on Rockin Roller Coaster at that point!

 

[youhow2]

I'd go for Revenge of the mummy. It's a rollercoaster but the "coaster" part isnt very intense. It's more of a dark ride.


I'd say try everything that isn't a coaster besides The mummy. Forbidden Journey can be intense scary depending on their fears, but Revenge of the mummy is more "fun" scary.

 

[Licciardi]

I went on my first inverting roller coaster when I was about 11 at Universal! Dragon Challenge (Dueling Dragons) is a perfect first roller coaster to go on, and it was my first so I would know! haha
Take him on that ride and don't take no for an answer!! He'll thank you later, trust me! Plus, if your 11 year old goes on, he'll pave the way for your 6 year old to go on! My older sister certainly helped convince me to get on DD back then. It's not a Universal vacation unless you make the most of alllll of the rides! :happy:

 

[janieenrose]

Just wanted to give a small update and my thanks for your help here. My boys loved Universal Studios Florida. The 11 year old did try one rollercoaster - unfortunately it was revenge of the mummy. He decidedly did not like the coaster ride portion; he thought that he was going to fall out. On the bright side, the 6 year old loved it and my 11 year old loved everything else - he absolutely could not get enough of Forbidden Journey or MIB. So it was a good trip. Thanks for your help!