Jurassic Quest at the Statehouse this weekend, worth the tickets?

My daughter asked me to take the two grandkids (they're 3 and 6) to Jurassic Quest at the Statehouse Convention Center this weekend, and I'm trying to decide if it's worth it. Tickets start around $31 a kid and that adds up quick once you've got more than one, plus whatever they charge for the extras.

I've been going to things at the Statehouse for more years than I'll admit, craft shows, home shows, even a gun show once with my late husband, so I know how a crowd in that building can get. Parking downtown on a weekend can be its own adventure too.

Two questions for anyone who's been or is going:

1. When's the best time to go to miss the long lines? Saturday morning right at opening, or later in the afternoon, or is Sunday calmer?
2. There's a quieter sensory session Saturday 8 to 9 am. The 3 year old gets overwhelmed by loud noise and the big animatronic ones might be a lot for him. Has anyone tried that hour? Is it actually quieter or just earlier?

If it's mostly a line for a photo and a $12 balloon I might just take them to the Museum of Discovery instead. Tell me honestly.

I took my grandson to one of these dinosaur things a few years back, not sure if it was the same outfit, and honestly the kids loved it but my wallet didnt. Its the extras that get you, the rides and the balloon and the dig thing. I'd budget for that before you go in.

For the lines I'd go right when they open, thats when everybody's still fresh and the lines are short. By lunch it gets packed. The sensory hour sounds like a good idea for your 3 year old, usually they turn the sound down and the lights up some, so its worth a shot. Park in the deck and not on the street, thats my advice.

Museum of Discovery is a good backup too. And if you want cheap dinosaurs, the yard sales are full of them come spring lol

God bless

Agree with Terrance on going right at opening. We took my sister's two to one of these a couple years back and the first hour was fine, then around lunch it turned into a wall of strollers and you couldn't get near the good displays. The extras are where it gets you. I'd tell the kids ahead of time that they get ONE thing, the ride or the balloon or the dig, not all of them, and then stick to it. Saved us alot of whining.

For the 3 year old, I'd try the sensory hour. Worst case it's earlier and you're done before the crowds show up. I'd also throw a pair of those kid ear muffs in the bag just in case, because even with the sound turned down the big roaring ones can startle a little one. Maybe call and ask what they actually change for that session so you're not guessing.

And yes to the yard sale dinosaurs lol. Come spring I'll find a whole bag of plastic ones for two bucks, so if the grandkids just want to hold a T-rex that works too. Hope you guys have fun whichever way you go!