Hi all! Everyone was so helpful answering my questions before I left that I hope I can help someone else. This was our 1st US trip. Many trips to Disney so this trip was unknown territory for me. We started at Cabana Bay but moved to Portifino, I'll post about that in the resort thread. We are 2A & 4kids(12,10,8&6)
So, I purchsed tix through Tickets at Work(thru my husbands work) it was a B2G2 free park to park pass. And from your advice I went to guest services inside the park to upgrade to AP. I don't remember the exact $ but it was like $6 per adult and $16 per child to upgrade to power pass and I upgraded 1 adult tix to a preferred pass for extra $100 and used that for discounts on our meals and purchases. Other then the carts all our dining places took the discount. It was also good on all souvenirs, including the wands! The only thing they wouldn't discount was collectibles, we bought the ceramic scroll that came with& held 6 wands. This was purchased from the store that the Forbidden Journey ride empties into in. This was by far the BEST DEAL in the park! For $150 It comes with Harry, Hermoine, Ron, Luna, Neville & Ginny's wands plus this awesome heavy scroll holder. The wands along would cost $240!
I also purchased the AP Photo Connect card. They never asked for my AP when I picked it up. There are photographers right as you walk in but that's about it. They were also at the character photo spots like at transformers & minion so that was good. I thought they really should have them in the Harry potter sections, that area is so incredible it would have made for great pics. They ride pics are awesome. I'd say we got about 50 pics. No where's near the amount of dIsley pics, but I thought it was worth it. I did think some were also blurry. But knowing we'll use it again next year, it was a good purchase
I think the Exp Pass is a necessity. We are use to our Disney fast pass system and don't do lines! Anything with a 30min or longer wait is too long for us! Now, I would never, ever pay $90 pp for it (there's 6 of us) that's insane, so staying on park property ore than pays for itself.
We were there for 6 full days & till 5pm on departure day. We did 1 day in sea world, which was plenty, there didn't see to be too much there. 1 day in aquatica, kids would have happily done a 2nd day there. And then 4 1/2 days at US & IOA. We easily could've done another day at US & IOA. We took it slow & easy. At the parks by 9, left around 3/4. Hit the pool and to dinner by 8. There was still things we missed.
I came to realize that they can't forcast the weather even an hour out in FL! 1 min it says 15% chance rain for the whole day and 15 min later the sky is black with thunder & lightening and it's now 99% for the next 3 hrs!!! So trying to find the perfect day for aquatica was impossible.
The water rides in IOA are crazy!you don't just get wet, you get totally soaked!! So wear bathing suits that day! The restaurants are freezing so bring a light sweater.
We didn't have a bad meal anywhere! Ate at The Kitchen(2xs) the Islands dining room (did the WOK experience Trattoria del Porto (did the make your own pasta thing), Antojitos(excellent), Pat Obrians, Panda Exp, Moes, 3 broomsticks, Springfield area, I think that's it. Big pink donut is a winner! Also the Carmel apples from the candy store.
We also did the coke freestyle cup, worked great for us. We don't normally drink much soda, so we used it everywhere for water too. Every food stand or counter happily filled it for us. The freestyle machine had the best water, it was freezing cold!
There's a million things I think I could talk about, but that's all I can think of right now. If you have any questions I'd love to help!
Everyone there was super nice & friendly. Looking forward to our trip next year!
So, I purchsed tix through Tickets at Work(thru my husbands work) it was a B2G2 free park to park pass. And from your advice I went to guest services inside the park to upgrade to AP. I don't remember the exact $ but it was like $6 per adult and $16 per child to upgrade to power pass and I upgraded 1 adult tix to a preferred pass for extra $100 and used that for discounts on our meals and purchases. Other then the carts all our dining places took the discount. It was also good on all souvenirs, including the wands! The only thing they wouldn't discount was collectibles, we bought the ceramic scroll that came with& held 6 wands. This was purchased from the store that the Forbidden Journey ride empties into in. This was by far the BEST DEAL in the park! For $150 It comes with Harry, Hermoine, Ron, Luna, Neville & Ginny's wands plus this awesome heavy scroll holder. The wands along would cost $240!
I also purchased the AP Photo Connect card. They never asked for my AP when I picked it up. There are photographers right as you walk in but that's about it. They were also at the character photo spots like at transformers & minion so that was good. I thought they really should have them in the Harry potter sections, that area is so incredible it would have made for great pics. They ride pics are awesome. I'd say we got about 50 pics. No where's near the amount of dIsley pics, but I thought it was worth it. I did think some were also blurry. But knowing we'll use it again next year, it was a good purchase
I think the Exp Pass is a necessity. We are use to our Disney fast pass system and don't do lines! Anything with a 30min or longer wait is too long for us! Now, I would never, ever pay $90 pp for it (there's 6 of us) that's insane, so staying on park property ore than pays for itself.
We were there for 6 full days & till 5pm on departure day. We did 1 day in sea world, which was plenty, there didn't see to be too much there. 1 day in aquatica, kids would have happily done a 2nd day there. And then 4 1/2 days at US & IOA. We easily could've done another day at US & IOA. We took it slow & easy. At the parks by 9, left around 3/4. Hit the pool and to dinner by 8. There was still things we missed.
I came to realize that they can't forcast the weather even an hour out in FL! 1 min it says 15% chance rain for the whole day and 15 min later the sky is black with thunder & lightening and it's now 99% for the next 3 hrs!!! So trying to find the perfect day for aquatica was impossible.
The water rides in IOA are crazy!you don't just get wet, you get totally soaked!! So wear bathing suits that day! The restaurants are freezing so bring a light sweater.
We didn't have a bad meal anywhere! Ate at The Kitchen(2xs) the Islands dining room (did the WOK experience Trattoria del Porto (did the make your own pasta thing), Antojitos(excellent), Pat Obrians, Panda Exp, Moes, 3 broomsticks, Springfield area, I think that's it. Big pink donut is a winner! Also the Carmel apples from the candy store.
We also did the coke freestyle cup, worked great for us. We don't normally drink much soda, so we used it everywhere for water too. Every food stand or counter happily filled it for us. The freestyle machine had the best water, it was freezing cold!
There's a million things I think I could talk about, but that's all I can think of right now. If you have any questions I'd love to help!
Everyone there was super nice & friendly. Looking forward to our trip next year!
.
