1 Day to Go, Mixing WDW & USF/IOA, HHN! Thanks all 4 everything!!

[Marquibiri]

Well, hello folks!

The time has come, well almost, I’ve got 10 days (now 1 day left) for my trip to Orlando. I am about to do my online check-in for the Disney resort.
Seeing how wonderful you all are, I have decided to post my September itinerary and pre trip report for all to read and make suggestions! Plus, there are several questions which some might be able to help me out with

I have a packed itinerary, but that’s no surprise to me, I always do!

Sunday

Will be arriving on Sunday September 19th, at 2pm, car rental, head to Disney’s All Star Sports with DW. We will have dinner at Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner at 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

Monday

Early breakfast at Playhouse Disney’s Play ‘n Dine at Hollywood and Vine at DHS. Walk (dash) to Toy Story Mania, get fastpasses (for later) and ride, then Aerosmith and ToT, etc. We will then hop to Epcot and head to the major attractions (Soarin, Mission Space, etc). 2pm lunch at Nine Dragons. Around 8pm we might head back to DHS (EMH) for a late dinner at Sci-Fi Dine-In. Park closes at 10 pm that day.

Tuesday

We will head to Animal Kingdom for an early breakfast at Donald’s Safari at Tusker House. Then, we will do all the best attractions including the Nemo thingy we have missed before (heard this show is great, is it nemo? Can’t rememeber, lol).
Then we hop on over to Magic Kingdom around 1pm, spend the afternoon there and stay for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! =) So excited to do this, never done this before! Will probably, hopefully dress up for the event! Something not too uncomfortable though! We will leave when the party ends, at midnight, head to resort, pack, checkout, and drive on over to the Universal Resort area and check in at the Royal Pacific Resort. Sleeeeppp!
Is it dangerous or too confusing driving this late at night from Disney to Universal?
Do I have to let RPR that I have a late arrival?
I booked the resort online and paid the one room deposit with my CC. How on earth do I pay the remaining balance? I can't find th option to pay with my CC when I oull up the ressie?

Wednesday

Sleep in! A little shopping, any suggestions? Mall of Millenia, Florida Mall, Prime Outlets? Any Marshalls or Target?

Head to IOA late afternoon and only take pictures of the WWOHP, might use the resorts express pass for several rides.

Thursday

Early admission into IOA, WWOHP, park all day. Take advantage of the onsite express pass.

Friday

Universal Studios all day, express pass, followed by a late lunch and drinks at Finnegan’s, then Halloween Horror Nights opening night! We have the frequent Fear Pass plus Express Access!

Saturday

Sleep in, then head to IOA and redo whatever, and head to Universal Studios before 3 pm. Will have a late lunch and drinks at Finnegan’s, followed by HHN!

For those HHN fans, I will most likely upload vids of the Opening Night on my youtube account!

Sunday

Sleep in, check out, head to airport, fly home, and sob!

Sooo, what do you think, sounds good??

Marquibiri

 

[damo]

I recommend you spend your Wednesday at Mall at Millennia. lol

There is a Target across the street from it as well. There is a Marshall's or TJ Maxx beside Target.

 

[WWEDUDE]

I recommend you spend your Wednesday at Mall at Millennia. lol

Second that, very nice mall

 

[smelly123]

Hi I am due to go October 8th could I ask How do you get the express passes you mentioned in your post, we should get early admission into Harry Potter as we have booked with Virgin and they had an offer
Thanks

 

[Marquibiri]

Hi I am due to go October 8th could I ask How do you get the express passes you mentioned in your post, we should get early admission into Harry Potter as we have booked with Virgin and they had an offer
Thanks

Hi there! You have a package? All packages get early admission and if your package includes an onsite hotel, you automatically get express pass for the parks, which is much better than buying for them at the gate since you get unlimited use of the pass whereas if you buy at the gate, you only get one use per ride. If staying at a partner hotel, then you don't get the express pass.

Marquibiri

 

[damo]

Hi I am due to go October 8th could I ask How do you get the express passes you mentioned in your post, we should get early admission into Harry Potter as we have booked with Virgin and they had an offer
Thanks

There are a few different ways to get express.

1. Stay at an onsite resort. This will give you unlimited express.

2. Purchase the express pass plus at the parks. This will give you express access one time for each ride.

3. Purchase the VIP ticket (includes admission) at the parks (very expensive) which will give you unlimited express access.

4, Book a VIP tour (very expensive) which will give you a tour guide and immediate access to the rides.

 

[Dax]

You asked about driving from Disney to Universal...no its easy...at that late hour, no traffic...just get on I-4 heading east, and get off at the Universal exit...Follow the signs to your resort.

 

[canadiankim]

It sounds like you have a fantastic itinerary for your trip. I love the Mall at Millenia as it has Macy's, Bloomingdales and if you have the big bucks, last time I was there it had a Tiffanys and Jimmy Choo's.

4 weeks, 4 days till we arrive

DH, DS 10, DD 8, Me!

 

[brenda1966]

Sounds like a great intinerary! And yes, at AK it is the Nemo show and it's very good. The halloween party is fun and I do suggest dressing up -- that's half the fun is seeing others dressed up.

Now it looks like you are double booked in hotels for Tueday night? Why didn't you just sleep at WDW and then check out whenever you woke up and then head to US on Weds, check in, go shopping? Color me confused.

I'm sure you'll have a great vacation -- fun filled and exciting!

 

[BLTLDZ]

Sounds GREAT!! Have a blast!!

 

[damo]

Sounds like a great intinerary! And yes, at AK it is the Nemo show and it's very good. The halloween party is fun and I do suggest dressing up -- that's half the fun is seeing others dressed up.

Now it looks like you are double booked in hotels for Tueday night? Why didn't you just sleep at WDW and then check out whenever you woke up and then head to US on Weds, check in, go shopping? Color me confused.

I'm sure you'll have a great vacation -- fun filled and exciting!

I agree. It would make more sense just to stay at WDW that night since it doesn't sound like you are even going to the parks early on Wednesday and there really doesn't seem to be a need to be paying for the room at WDW just to be holding your clothes.

If you are planning on going to the parks early on Wed. and then going shopping, I would also consider packing up and leaving everything in the car on Tuesday so you don't have to pay for the hotel for the whole day. Tuesday sounds like a very, very long day and I wouldn't be surprised if you left well before midnight.

 

[tink1957]

We'll be right there with you Sept 22-25 at Doubletree Universal and Sept 25-27 at RPR also at HHN (FFPs no express, I'm too cheap although I'll probably regret it)

Hope to see you at Finnegan's.

 

[lildamo]

I booked the resort online and paid the one room deposit with my CC. How on earth do I pay the remaining balance? I can't find th option to pay with my CC when I oull up the ressie?

Generally, you just pay the remaining balance upon check out from the hotel. If you want to pay in advance, you have to contact Loews and they will send you a credit card pre-authorization form via e-mail. You need to fill it out with your credit card details and fax it back alongside a photocopy of the front & back of your driver's license and the front & back of your credit card. They will then process your payment right away.

You can choose whether or not to include incidentals when you fax in the form. If you do include incidentals, the hotel will automatically charge your credit card for these upon checkout.

 

[Marquibiri]

Generally, you just pay the remaining balance upon check out from the hotel. If you want to pay in advance, you have to contact Loews and they will send you a credit card pre-authorization form via e-mail. You need to fill it out with your credit card details and fax it back alongside a photocopy of the front & back of your driver's license and the front & back of your credit card. They will then process your payment right away.
You can choose whether or not to include incidentals when you fax in the form. If you do include incidentals, the hotel will automatically charge your credit card for these upon checkout.

Wow, Thanks! Just what I needed to find out.

You asked about driving from Disney to Universal...no its easy...at that late hour, no traffic...just get on I-4 heading east, and get off at the Universal exit...Follow the signs to your resort.

This is great, I wasn't sure about driving so late at night! I won't have a gps though.

I recommend you spend your Wednesday at Mall at Millennia. lol

There is a Target across the street from it as well. There is a Marshall's or TJ Maxx beside Target.

Second that, very nice mall

Excellent. Mall of Millenia it is then!

For all:


Marquibiri

 

[Marquibiri]

Sounds like a great intinerary! And yes, at AK it is the Nemo show and it's very good. The halloween party is fun and I do suggest dressing up -- that's half the fun is seeing others dressed up.

Now it looks like you are double booked in hotels for Tueday night? Why didn't you just sleep at WDW and then check out whenever you woke up and then head to US on Weds, check in, go shopping? Color me confused.

I'm sure you'll have a great vacation -- fun filled and exciting!

I agree. It would make more sense just to stay at WDW that night since it doesn't sound like you are even going to the parks early on Wednesday and there really doesn't seem to be a need to be paying for the room at WDW just to be holding your clothes.

If you are planning on going to the parks early on Wed. and then going shopping, I would also consider packing up and leaving everything in the car on Tuesday so you don't have to pay for the hotel for the whole day. Tuesday sounds like a very, very long day and I wouldn't be surprised if you left well before midnight.

Yes, I knew this would come up. Tell me if I've done wrong. I had all ready booked and paid off my WDW trip until Wednesday. The only good offer for onsite was the stay more pay less and had to be for five nights, from Tuesday! So I booked from Tuesday instead of Wednesday. I think the difference was minimal or something like that.. No? Yes?

Tuesday sounds like a very, very long day and I wouldn't be surprised if you left well before midnight.

Never! I won't give in....

Marquibiri

 

[donaldduck352]

You asked about driving from Disney to Universal...no its easy...at that late hour, no traffic...just get on I-4 heading east, and get off at the Universal exit...Follow the signs to your resort.

Just watch the signs for the exit's,if you pass them on I-4 you are scre*** and have to backtrack alot.Pretty much what I'm saying is-I-4 6lane Interstae can get very confusing!!!!

MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN THE PROPER LANE TO EXIT!!!FHP loves lane jumpers..

 

[keishashadow]

Just watch the signs for the exit's,if you pass them on I-4 you are scre*** and have to backtrack alot.Pretty much what I'm saying is-I-4 6lane Interstae can get very confusing!!!!

MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN THE PROPER LANE TO EXIT!!!FHP loves lane jumpers..

we've done more times than i care to admit, isn't that where u have to cut across several lanes of traffic for left exit to U? doesn't matter, better half knows better than to ever let me drive I-4 again

OP sounds like a mavelous trip! i'd like a review on nine dragons when u return please, DS always want to try it, mixed reviews have kept me away

 

[brenda1966]

Yes, I knew this would come up. Tell me if I've done wrong. I had all ready booked and paid off my WDW trip until Wednesday. The only good offer for onsite was the stay more pay less and had to be for five nights, from Tuesday! So I booked from Tuesday instead of Wednesday. I think the difference was minimal or something like that.. No? Yes?

So, if you're booked at both hotels I'd be tempted to just go ahead and sleep at WDW, but would call the US hotel and tell them your trip has been delayed so you'll be arriving a 1/2 day late and won't be checking in until midday the next day. If your room is paid for and they know this, they should hold your room for you.

 

[Marquibiri]

So, if you're booked at both hotels I'd be tempted to just go ahead and sleep at WDW, but would call the US hotel and tell them your trip has been delayed so you'll be arriving a 1/2 day late and won't be checking in until midday the next day. If your room is paid for and they know this, they should hold your room for you.

Your idea sounds pretty good. I might do it this way!

Thanks!

Marquibiri

 

[Marquibiri]

I"m about all set! Got 32 hours left!

Any final thoughts?

1. Will it be easy to get to Mall of Millenia from RPR by car?
2. Will the boat rides be open after HHN to take me back to RPR?
3. Do the boat rides open to Citywalk from RPR at 7 am daily, busy at that time?
4. What other way can I take to get to the parks, walk from RPR?
5. Is there a dress code to eat at Mythos? I was planning on wearing shorts and t-shirt to the park...


Marquibiri Thank you all! Long Live HHN!