Another Newbie Question - about checkin

[sharon_wv]

Good morning!

We arrive in Orlando next Saturday morning. We are staying at the DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal for 2 nights (6/8 and 6/9) and then, based on the recommendations we received here, we are moving to RPR on 6/10 to take advantage or early entry and Express Passes.

My question this morning is asking how I can most smoothly transition from the DoubleTree to RPR... We've never stayed near Universal so I don't know how far the DoubleTree is from RPR. Do you think it would be possible for me to walk over by myself about 6 AM (and let the DH and kids sleep a little longer) to check-in and stuff? Then I can go back and get them moving to arrive by 7:30 AM for that early opening? Or do we all need to physically be there to check in? My kids (18 and 7) are BEARS in the mornings so I'm trying to make it as easy on all of us as possible. Recommendations?

Oh, yeah, one more question... We bought the buy 2, get one day park-to-park passes. The first day (Sunday) we will be in the parks without an express pass. Any recommendations about what we should plan for this day, since we will have express passes the other 2 days. What activities/rides/shows should be good that won't be stressful without an Express Pass? I've checked out different touring plans on line, but they assumed either having Express passes or not and we're sort of a hybrid case.

Thanks for all the valuable information you all share with the rest of us!!

 

[damo]

Good morning!

We arrive in Orlando next Saturday morning. We are staying at the DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal for 2 nights (6/8 and 6/9) and then, based on the recommendations we received here, we are moving to RPR on 6/10 to take advantage or early entry and Express Passes.

My question this morning is asking how I can most smoothly transition from the DoubleTree to RPR... We've never stayed near Universal so I don't know how far the DoubleTree is from RPR. Do you think it would be possible for me to walk over by myself about 6 AM (and let the DH and kids sleep a little longer) to check-in and stuff? Then I can go back and get them moving to arrive by 7:30 AM for that early opening? Or do we all need to physically be there to check in? My kids (18 and 7) are BEARS in the mornings so I'm trying to make it as easy on all of us as possible. Recommendations?

Oh, yeah, one more question... We bought the buy 2, get one day park-to-park passes. The first day (Sunday) we will be in the parks without an express pass. Any recommendations about what we should plan for this day, since we will have express passes the other 2 days. What activities/rides/shows should be good that won't be stressful without an Express Pass? I've checked out different touring plans on line, but they assumed either having Express passes or not and we're sort of a hybrid case.

Thanks for all the valuable information you all share with the rest of us!!

It is going to be about 20 minutes to half an hour walk from Doubletree to RPR depending on how quickly you walk. You can certainly do it, but make sure you give yourself enough time and you know the exact route. Go to googlemaps and familiarize yourself with the route. The quickest way may be just staying on the main road and not going to the parking garage and through Citywalk.

What are you planning on doing with your luggage once you go back and get DH and the kids? I guess you could store it in a locker or something.

I would just get everyone up, get everyone in a cab with your luggage and head over to the RPR by 7 am.

On the first day, perhaps you can just stick to low line stuff and let some of you do single riders.

 

[macraven]

My question this morning is asking how I can most smoothly transition from the DoubleTree to RPR... We've never stayed near Universal so I don't know how far the DoubleTree is from RPR. Do you think it would be possible for me to walk over by myself about 6 AM (and let the DH and kids sleep a little longer) to check-in and stuff? Then I can go back and get them moving to arrive by 7:30 AM for that early opening? Or do we all need to physically be there to check in? My kids (18 and 7) are BEARS in the mornings so I'm trying to make it as easy on all of us as possible. Recommendations?

you can check the family in and receive the room keys.
(unless this procedure has recently changed)
this way your entire family will be allowed in for early entry.
you need to show the hotel room key to use the hotel line.



you can use your hotel room key to have your express pass made once you check in at the hotel.


but, the rest of the family will need to go to the hotel or to guest services to have their express pass made.
they need to show their hotel room key for this process at the kiosk.
without the photo express pass, they will not be allowed to use the express lines.


i think it would be smoother for the rest of the family to use the photo kiosks in the hotel lobby.
there are a few of the machines there compared to one machine at guest services inside the park.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would take a cab over, as a family, totally ready for the day. Make sure the kids know that this is for their own good and their own FUN. I've been known to tell DH and DS to zip it in the morning when we're on vacation (just like I zip-it in the mornings when not on vacation! at least until I have my coffee), since the early wake-ups are for the good of the fun we're going to have.

Get to the resort the quick way (taxi), do the checkin process, get the Express Pass pictures taken, stash the bags with Bell Services (or in the room if you get lucky), head on over to the parks!

 

[sharon_wv]

Oh geez... We will have a vehicle so I can drive. Important detail I missed, huh? I was thinking it was just across the street so I could walk easily. It's still probably easier to just get everyone up and out early. We can leave our luggage in the car until we can check in.

Any ideas about what we can do the first day in the parks without express passes?

Thanks again!

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh geez... We will have a vehicle so I can drive. Important detail I missed, huh? I was thinking it was just across the street so I could walk easily. It's still probably easier to just get everyone up and out early. We can leave our luggage in the car until we can check in.

You'll want to do the checkin process as soon as you get there, so that you can get your express Passes. If you want to leave your luggage in the car you can; I don't. With my luck my car would be broken into and all of my stuff would be stolen.

A thought on the luggage thing...I did leave a few little items in the car during our first stay, and I got to go get them later on. And it felt like I was walking a million miles to the car. It's one big lot (relying on my memory of our very first Orlando visit here, from 2010) and we had parked forever away. It was annoying. I wished that I had just let the Bell people take everything, when we had pulled up to the hotel hours before.



It's really hard for me to figure out what you might want to do on the non guest days vs guest days. I tried earlier but deleted it because it made no sense, LOL. I hope others can help you out with that.

Basic guideline is that the EP covers everything except for Forbidden Journey, Ollivander's wand shop show, and Pteranodon Flyers. Depending on the height of the 7 year old, some of you might be able to ride that (you have to have a child with you between a certain height range...and I don't think you could ride all 4 of you, but would have to escort the 7 year old one at a time onto the ride). If the 7 year old fits the height range and that is a ride that appeals, you might head there if you are getting to the parks that day AT opening. The line is LONG as the day goes on. (and for me, even though I literally cried at the *thought* of riding Dragon Challenge after riding Hulk and Dr Doom that same day...I would ride those three in a second before I get on Pteranodon again...that ride terrified me!)

Instead of heading to ride the above-mentioned Wizarding World stuff in the morning on the non-hotel-guest day, maybe try them at the end of the day.

Other than that, it's just dependent on what appeals to you and what has a decent line. I know; so helpful. (and that's a post that I didn't end up deleting, so you can imagine how useless my earlier attempt was)

 

[macraven]

Oh geez... We will have a vehicle so I can drive. Important detail I missed, huh? I was thinking it was just across the street so I could walk easily. It's still probably easier to just get everyone up and out early. We can leave our luggage in the car until we can check in.

Any ideas about what we can do the first day in the parks without express passes?

Thanks again!

you have an adult 'child' and a young one. (is the 7 yo able to ride alone?)

you could use the single rider lines while staying offsite to offset long waits for the rides.
can't really talk to each other while on some of the rides so sitting apart my not be an issue.

pick out at least 6 rides you wouldn't mind waiting for no matter how long the wait.



do the shows in the parks those 2 days.
ex line also will be waiting for the shows but will be let in 5 minutes prior to regular lines.
(sinbad, Marvel parade into that section of the park, Animal Actor show, Horror Make Up show, Beetlejuice, Blues Brothers show)


catch the minionions parade at the studios.

do meet/greet with the characters at the studios.

catch the magic show at the studios.

check out the new simpsons area.

do MIB



walk around in the park and take pictures of the family if you are into that.

pick a few rides in each park that you don't mind having a long wait.

do IOA parry hotter. walk thru it, check out the restrooms for Myrtle
there is no express line for FJ so do it once if the line wait is ok.
when you get onsite, the early entry will allow you a shorter wait for FJ.

get a butterbeer at parry hotter.

hold off on the water rides until you are staying onsite.
that way you can always return to the hotel to change if you are soaked.

 

[sharon_wv]

Thanks so much for the input! I'm so excited. We are going to see how the 7-year old does. She is 50 inches; this is the first time she will be able to go on the big rides. She was able to do expedition Everest at Disney last year and she freaked out, but then realized she loved it after all.

If she doesn't like them chances are we will split up into 2 groups: one parent with the 18 year old and one with this little one.

Thanks again for our non-onsite day. Lots to do despite we won't have express pass.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks so much for the input! I'm so excited. We are going to see how the 7-year old does. She is 50 inches; this is the first time she will be able to go on the big rides. She was able to do expedition Everest at Disney last year and she freaked out, but then realized she loved it after all.

My son loved riding Flight of the Hippogriff and the Woody Woodpecker coaster over and over.

I loved that at 48" kids can ride alone (of course if they meet the height req for the ride) at Universal. Sadly I only figured that out after 14 times in a row with him on Hippogriff.

Those coasters are fairly tame (though Hippogriff looks so HIGH when you're sitting on a bench watching your "baby" up there), and can help get a child into the rides.

 

[macraven]

when you stay onsite, that express pass will be a blessing!
no long waits for rides.
that includes RRR, Transformer, and the rest of the rides minus 4.

shows can be time consuming so catch them during the 2 days you are off site.


if you like some of them, repeat them with the express pass.


do the regular line to catch the ambiance of the inside line for Mummy, Spiderman, Dr Doom, MIB, etc.
the story line is part of that regular line which you miss portions of when using the express lines.

i do the above regular lines once each trip.
the wait is not bad first thing when the parks open.

after that, i'm all for the ride itself and use the express lines.

if you see any of the survey peeps out in the parks, do listen to what they have to say if you have time to kill.
i have spent the time for the surveys on some trips as the rewards are worth it.
(but, i do spend more time onsite than the average person and have time to do a survey.)
some of the rewards i have received for surveys have been food items, $20, $10 for my time with them.

if your kids do want to do the wet rides and you are staying offsite, do it at the end of the evening, maybe the hour prior to leaving for DT.


try to watch the cinematic spectacular show one of the evenings.
it is located at the studios around the lagoon.

if you are up on the older movies, you'll enjoy this.

the parade at the studios is short but cute!


the minionions mini show is doing at different times of the day at the studios.
i watched it from Mels area.

 

[sharon_wv]

Thanks so much for the additional tips and ideas! It is most appreciated. We leave home Friday evening! Woo hoo! So excited