7 questions for you experts, from a (very excited) newbie!

[Albertan mom]

We will be going for our first time in August, and I have a few questions...
(FYI, we are me, DH, DD12, DS9, staying at RPR)

1. Where should I buy tickets? At the Universal website, is that the best price? Also, can I buy them now to use Aug 24 and 25?

2. We check into the RPR Aug 23, and out Aug 26. We plan to go to the parks the 24th and 25th. The FOTL pass will work for those two days right?

3. We are there on a friday and a saturday. Which park is likely to be busier on the saturday? Which park should we do which day?

4. We planned on taking a cab from MCO to UO, then a cab from UO to WDW, then ME from WDW to MCO again. Does that sound like the best way to go? We don't want to rent a car, but wonder if there are shuttles or something that would work better...?

5. We will arrive around 7pm our first night. Any suggestions on what to do that night? The pool will be open at that time, right?

6. You can walk from RPR, or is there shuttles?

7. Any other tips or inside info you would like to share with a newbie?


Thank you soooo much for taking the time to help me with my questions!!

 

[tlinus]

We will be going for our first time in August, and I have a few questions...
(FYI, we are me, DH, DD12, DS9, staying at RPR)

1. Where should I buy tickets? At the Universal website, is that the best price? Also, can I buy them now to use Aug 24 and 25? either the web site and do a kiosk pick up for the actual tickets - print at home is a pain to carry those sheets of paper around

2. We check into the RPR Aug 23, and out Aug 26. We plan to go to the parks the 24th and 25th. The FOTL pass will work for those two days right? it is good the moment you check in and the entire day you check out as well

3. We are there on a friday and a saturday. Which park is likely to be busier on the saturday? Which park should we do which day? my guess would be to do IOA Friday and Us Saturday

4. We planned on taking a cab from MCO to UO, then a cab from UO to WDW, then ME from WDW to MCO again. Does that sound like the best way to go? We don't want to rent a car, but wonder if there are shuttles or something that would work better...? not too sure about that one - someone else will have a better idea

5. We will arrive around 7pm our first night. Any suggestions on what to do that night? The pool will be open at that time, right? pool or explore City Walk

6. You can walk from RPR, or is there shuttles? you can most definately walk - that is one of the joys of staying onsite!!

7. Any other tips or inside info you would like to share with a newbie?
Go, have fun and be sure to report back!!

Thank you soooo much for taking the time to help me with my questions!!

hope this helps

 

[Spidey7]

I'm thinking the RPR package deal with tickets is probably going to be your best bet, part of that deal should include 2 tickets. And your room keys will give you front of the line access to all the rides no need for any additional fast passes of any kind, that is the major perk of staying on site.

Both parks are probably going to be equally crowded around that time I am guessing, I have never known one park to be light and the other heavy, unless something special like Halloween Horror nights is going on or something similar. We avoided the rental car too on the first trip and ended up paying almost as much for taxis than we would have spent in a car rental, now I always rent a car, but with that being said, that is not to say you may be able to get by without and save more. Once you are at RPR you will be able to get access easily to the parks, via boat, path or bus, so no need to pay for any additional transpo once you are there. Hope that helps some.

 

[damo]

There is a shuttle boat and bus that can take you from the RPR to the parks. Even though you will have your hotel keys to get you express lane access, it is advisable to go to the parks early while the crowds are low and the heat is not as oppressive. Then go back to the hotel in the afternoon for a swim and back to the park later on.

Taking a taxi works just fine.

 

[Albertan mom]

Thank you all so much for your help!!

The kiosk pickup--how does that work?

Wow, so FOTL is for 4 days then, cause we are there 3 nights? Cool.

I was thinking we would do IOA friday, and US saturday, like you suggested.

 

[Metro West]

The kiosk pickup--how does that work?

You have to have the credit card you made the purchases on and the confirmation number. Put the card and confirmation number in the machine and you get the tickets. Here's what you're looking for:

 

[ChisJo]

You have to have the credit card you made the purchases on and the confirmation number. Put the card and confirmation number in the machine and you get the tickets. Here's what you're looking for:

Do you know why I love this site so much???? Because I personally would never had known what to look for once I got into the park....Thank you SO much for posting this!

 

[damo]

Do you know why I love this site so much???? Because I personally would never had known what to look for once I got into the park....Thank you SO much for posting this!

These machines are kind of on the sides toward the backs of the ticket booths. They can be a little hard to spot.

Here's a picture of the ones at Universal.

Here's another picture at IOA. You can see how the regular ticket window is at the front and the kiosk is around the side.