IOA or US???

I'm planning on hitting the Orlando area sometime next spring...
I know there are coasters at IOA, but I've heard great things about Universal studios as well....I have to pick one of the other, which park would you recommend?
Are the two coasters at IOA really that great?

If I was you, I'd get the 1 day, 2-park pass for 73 dollars and do both. IOA is a great park, but so is USF. USF also has Revenge of the Mummy. It's a hard call. If you haven't been to either, I'd probably pick Islands of Adventure, however both parks can be done in one day...

*** Edited 10/5/2004 4:13:50 PM UTC by Chris the Coaster Freak***

IOA is my #5 ranked park. US is #71 (out of 73). Do the math. ;-)

I know Tekno would recommend whichever park he was going to be at... ;)

I haven't been to Universal since before Revenge of the Mummy and Shrek 4D were added, but as the park was then, I would choose IOA without a doubt. Dueling Dragons and The Hulk are excellent coasters and the *dense theming* everywhere is something I can't get over. I could walk around the park all day without riding anything and probably be more than satisfied with the eye candy. Spiderman is an impressive simulator and a favorite of many and they have the best water rides of any park I've been to.

+Danny

Janet, I really *do* think very highly of Mummy (hey, we did better than the SoCal'ers)...;)

That being said, other than MiB and RotM, I find USF to be lacking in the "star attractions" dept. IoA not only has BOTH sides of DD, and Hulk, and Spidey, and Doom, and Dudley, and Popeye, and Flying Unicorn (if you like that sorta thing the way I do, LOL), and even Pteranadons if you happen to have a kid, it's also just a MUCH better all-around park IMO. Perhaps I just don't *get* the movie studio thing, but I'm not really a movie person...;)

Hopefully you'll get more opinions so you can get a more "well-rounded" basis for your decision....but that's MY take. :)

Both parks are great and offer thrills and fun but if you have to choose I would always say IOA - not only do you get the rollercosters, plus Spiderman but also the best water rides. Add to this the most amazing theming! Plus One Fish Two Fish is the best kiddies roundabout ever!

IOA. US will be hard pressed to beat Hulk, Dueling Dragons, Spiderman and some of the other great rides there. The theming is top notch and it's a really great park. You won't go wrong with IOA. I ended up spending 3 days at the park just because I couldn't get enough of it ;)

Wow, thanks for all the great feedback guys! :)
I'll probably go with IOA, I have heard great things about it, I just heard US was good for movie effects and stuff.

The last time that I went to US was when I was a kid so I don't remember much. In 2002 I took a trip to Orlando, to go to SW and IOA. IOA was great, the best themed park in the world. The coasters were great. Only got on like 5 rides all day due to the lines but it was worth it. You should consider going to Sea World as well. Kraken is one of the best steel coaster around. When I went(on a Sunday) there were hardly any crowds for the rides. *** Edited 10/5/2004 7:01:05 PM UTC by razore86***

Which is generally more crowded?

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GIGAFORCE01 said:
Which is generally more crowded?

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USF has slightly higher daily attendance than IOA -- but because so much of that is spread out into high-capacity shows and attractions you will probably spend more time waiting in line at IOA than at USF.

Is there a "busy season" for the Florida parks?

Summer is busy, Spring Break time is busy, And Winter isn't really busy (from my experience) unless you go to Disney.

Check some of the Disney/Orlando web sites for the peak times. There are some wierd peaks that you wouldn't think of like spring break in Brazil. Sometimes just a week or so can be a major difference.

If I had to pick just one, I would pick IOA, but both parks are excellent. When I went there this summer, I bought the $73 two park ticket, but I'd been to both parks before, so I was just hitting the highlights and new things. Even then visiting both parks was a long, tiring, but fun day.

I agree with the 2 parks/1 day pass as you can easily do both parks in one day. If you feel like you might not be able to get everything done, then invest in the Universal Express Plus pass and you can get'r done!. :)

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+Danny said:
I know Tekno would recommend whichever park he was going to be at...

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That took me a second, but, yeah, I got it;).

You and Antuan need to behave, if it really was true, You know I'd be all over it.:)

Tough choice, but IOA is one of a kind. Its small, but what it lacks in size and variety it makes up for in quality. Their combo of wet rides and thrill rides cannot be beat and the themeing is the icing on the cake.

However, you will have fun at both parks and the Mummy, Shrek 4-D and MIB make US hard to miss. My suggestion stay on site, get FOL acess, and buy a one day hopper and do both: if you can handle it.

Choosing between IOA and USF is like trying to choose between love and orgasm (to quote +Danny from a MF v Magnum debate earlier this season). There's something amazing about both parks.

USF has MIB and ROTM, both amazing attractions. (Admittedly I haven't made it on ROTM. It opened for a preview the day after I left the state) Shrek 4D is uber cool, Twister feels too real to be fun for me, Jaws is classic, BTTF:TR sucks monkey nuts anymore (it used to rock) and ET Adventure is just TOO CUTE to pass up. Overall USF has a *lot* of *fun* things to do.

IOA, however, has a a couple fewer fun things to do but what it lacks in variety and quantity it makes up for in quality and being Totally Immersive (caps added for emphasis).

Spiderman is beyond amazing, Dueling Dragons is top notch, Hulk is... alright, Jurassic Park is nifty, and Dudley is right up there with Splash Mountain.

It all depends on what you like. Do you perfer thrills (IOA) or do you perfer entertainment (USF)? Either park on a not-so-busy day should only be a 1/2 - 2/3 of a day experience, though. I was able to do both parks in a day two days in a row back in Mid May. If it's a busy day don't expect to get everything done at either park, though.

I would just do them both. It would be more than worth the money.

-Tina

<----who went to Universal 10 years ago but has never seen IOA, darnit. ;-)

I'd go to IOA. I love both parks a lot! But go ride Hulk and Dueling Dragons and Spiderman! And if you feel you did everything head over to Guest Relations upgrade your ticket and head over to the other park. Have a good trip and I expect a trip report on my desk Monday morning! :>)