What time to leave to enter parks

[tarheel]

Hi. I'll be taking my first trip to Universal in a few weeks Nov1-4th. I will be staying at the RPR. I realize it is fairly close and all that, but I want to know what time I should plan on leaving the hotel to be at the gates for opening at 9am. Also, we will be going to Epcot one morning. How long should I plan that on the drive taking? I want to be sure to be there no later than 8:30. Thanks!

 

[hack2112]

Hi. I'll be taking my first trip to Universal in a few weeks Nov1-4th. I will be staying at the RPR. I realize it is fairly close and all that, but I want to know what time I should plan on leaving the hotel to be at the gates for opening at 9am. Also, we will be going to Epcot one morning. How long should I plan that on the drive taking? I want to be sure to be there no later than 8:30. Thanks!

I would say 30 minutes for both, but I'm not so sure about the RPR.

 

[Metro West]

Hi. I'll be taking my first trip to Universal in a few weeks Nov1-4th. I will be staying at the RPR. I realize it is fairly close and all that, but I want to know what time I should plan on leaving the hotel to be at the gates for opening at 9am. Also, we will be going to Epcot one morning. How long should I plan that on the drive taking? I want to be sure to be there no later than 8:30. Thanks!

If you're staying onsite at the RPR, there really isn't a need to be there at opening with your unlimited Express access. I mean...unless you like getting up that early.

As far as the trip from RPR to Epcot...I would say 30-45mins since you'd be going during rush hour and I-4 can be nasty in the mornings.

 

[rpbert1]

Take about 10 mins to be at the gate of IOA 12 probably to US. Like Metro West says, why go that early when you have your room key, unless you are wanting front seats on some rides.
As for going to Epcot, we always drive down Turkey Lake road and go in by DTD rather than I4, never went down that early ,but anytime we have drove that way takes about 20 mins to DTD.

 

[khertz]

When we stayed ar RPR last year, it only took us about 10-12 minutes to walk to the parks.

 

[bas71873]

Universal newbie....what is RPR?

 

[DeblovesPoohbear]

Universal newbie....what is RPR?

Royal Pacific Resort

 

[Bluer101]

No need to get there when the parks open at US and IOA when staying onsite. Sleep in, enjoy breakfast in the dinning room, then venture to the parks. If we go to Disney give yourself 30-45 minutes from there to be safe. I would get there when the gates open to avoid the lines. You get spoiled at Universal Resorts.

 

[tarheel]

Wow. I wasn't expecting so many replies. Thanks everyone. I know we don't have to be up so early since we will have the FOTL passes, but my kids just don't seem to sleep in. Plus with probably wanting to swim in the afternoon and the parks closing at 6pm (7pm on Sat for IoA) I figured if they were up, we'd go.