2-Park Plan

[Tinker_Belle]

Hi everyone!

I'm planning to take my DS to US and IoA for the first time in mid-August. Although we've been to WDW several times, we have never been to the "dark side." DS is going to be 19, but he is on the autistic spectrum so not into roller coasters or anything that moves too fast or with a drop (or anything that features a natural disaster, like Twister or Disaster).

Simulators are fine (he loves Star Tours and Dinosaur), and his favorite WDW ride is Buzz Lightyear. He LOVES the MIB movies so the ride is a definite must, and we really want to check out HP.

Our plan for US includes: MIB, Despicable Me, Shrek, Simpsons, ET, Terminator, The Horror Make-Up show, Animal Actors show, Beetlejuice's Graveyard Review, and Transformers.

In IoA, we really just want to do HP (FJ & Ollivanders), Spiderman, and Storm Force, plus Poseidon's Fury & the Sinbad show if we have time.

A few questions...

1 - Are any of those attractions too fast or with drops (besides a simulated drop)? Am I missing anything else that's tame but not too childish?

2 - Where should we start? I know most head straight for HP, but we plan to hit more rides in US than IoA. (We plan to be there from park opening)

3 - Is it too much to start in one park, do the rides there, then head to other, then back to the first park for the shows?

4 - Is it worth it to buy the EP? Can we get it just for US if we have a 2-park pass? If so, I'm thinking it might be worthwhile...if we start at IoA and get the EP for US. (They're currently $40 each for that time of year.)

5 - How long should we plan to spend in the parks? We are thinking of arranging transportation through Mears, but I don't like having to decide when to leave the park in advance. Any thoughts on this?

6 - Which day is best in mid-August, Wednesday-Friday?

I know that's a lot...I appreciate ANY advice you can offer!

 

[macraven]

if you are not staying onsite, i suggest not to buy the express passes until you are in the parks.
the rides you listed could be done without the express passes as you have a short list of to do rides.


they are date and park related and non refundable.

check out the line waits before you make the decision of that additional purchase.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

if you are not staying onsite, i suggest not to buy the express passes until you are in the parks.
the rides you listed could be done without the express passes as you have a short list of to do rides.


they are date and park related and non refundable.

check out the line waits before you make the decision of that additional purchase.

Thank you! We are not staying on site. I was hoping we shouldn't need them. Considering the short list, do you think we should start in US or IoA?

 

[macraven]

you state you are going next year, mid august.

crowds do not slack off until the last week of august for the darkside parks.

i would avoid weekends due to local crowds coming to the park.


it varies when schools go back into session for the 2013 school year, but most are in full operation by the last week in august.


if your son is autistic, you can talk to the TM's at guest services and see if the Guest Assistance card would be helpful for you.
it will help alleviate long waits for rides.

onsite hotel guests are allowed early entry of one hour prior to park opening.
if you want to start at IOA, there will be some line waits for the parry hotter section. But, the waits will not be as long as they are around noontime.

you listed shows at the studios that you want to take in.
check the park guide map when you go and check out the times.

this alone could take a lot of time out of your park touring.
if you have park to park tickets, you could make a plan for the shows ahead of time. skip between the parks could be a possibility between the shows.
but, that could cut into your time also.

if you book the character breakfast at the Studios, you are allowed in early to that park.
if you make a 9:30 breakfast ressie, you could enter the park an hour before opening time and hit some of the rides then.
that would help you cut back on the long wait for DM.


the main reason i really can not give you a touring plan for the studios is because a new ride is opening there next summer.

the touring plans i could suggest might be invalid at this point.

i need to wait and see how the crowds tend to go once that new ride is opened.

new rides can change the crowd patterns that most of us advise to others.
until that ride is opened, and others talk about it, i have to take a pass on suggestions for how to tour the studios.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

you state you are going next year, mid august.

crowds do not slack off until the last week of august for the darkside parks.

i would avoid weekends due to local crowds coming to the park.


it varies when schools go back into session for the 2013 school year, but most are in full operation by the last week in august.


if your son is autistic, you can talk to the TM's at guest services and see if the Guest Assistance card would be helpful for you.
it will help alleviate long waits for rides.

onsite hotel guests are allowed early entry of one hour prior to park opening.
if you want to start at IOA, there will be some line waits for the parry hotter section. But, the waits will not be as long as they are around noontime.

you listed shows at the studios that you want to take in.
check the park guide map when you go and check out the times.

this alone could take a lot of time out of your park touring.
if you have park to park tickets, you could make a plan for the shows ahead of time. skip between the parks could be a possibility between the shows.
but, that could cut into your time also.

if you book the character breakfast at the Studios, you are allowed in early to that park.
if you make a 9:30 breakfast ressie, you could enter the park an hour before opening time and hit some of the rides then.
that would help you cut back on the long wait for DM.


the main reason i really can not give you a touring plan for the studios is because a new ride is opening there next summer.

the touring plans i could suggest might be invalid at this point.

i need to wait and see how the crowds tend to go once that new ride is opened.

new rides can change the crowd patterns that most of us advise to others.
until that ride is opened, and others talk about it, i have to take a pass on suggestions for how to tour the studios.

Thanks for all of your help. Fortunately, my son is high-functioning, just hypersensitive (temperature, motion, etc.). He is better able to handle waits than the average 6-year-old, so we've never gone for the GAC at WDW either. We do expect to wait a lot more this time, since we're going a little earlier in August than usual.

I guess this is me overplanning too far in advance again, haha. I'll check back once Transformers is up and running.

Thanks again!