Beginner questions about US and also HP mania...

[CFioren317]

We are heading down to Orlando this weekend for a week. Already have Disney checking in Sunday and checking out Thursday morning. Was thinking about one of the following plans.

We are 2 adults, 1 16 YO boy and 1 6 YO girl.

Thursday-Saturday at Nick suites and a day at Sea World, which would cost around $750

===OR===

Thursday night at Nick suites(no parks) just to relax one day in the middle of the trip at $220
Friday night onsite at US at Loews Royal Pacific and do IoA Friday and US Saturday for around $940.

Supposedly the overnight at US includes 2 days each at single park, PLUS unlimited FOL passes both days. Is this accurate? Because pricing out 4 passes with unlimited FOL passes for 2 days costs around $1100, and that would not even include the room. Am I missing something?

Obviously, I am pushing for #2 since I want to do US with my 16 YO. But my wife thinks there isn't nearly enough to do at US/IoA for a 6 YO.

Another question is about the HP mania...even though it appears to be opening July 8th, do you think there will be extra heavy crowds hoping for soft openings or maybe to just check it out early? The last thing in the world I want is to have to wait in line to get into the park for something that isn't even open yet. I saw those picture of when HP opened last time and that is something I definitely want to avoid.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Metro West]

Obviously, I am pushing for #2 since I want to do US with my 16 YO. But my wife thinks there isn't nearly enough to do at US/IoA for a 6 YO.

Another question is about the HP mania...even though it appears to be opening July 8th, do you think there will be extra heavy crowds hoping for soft openings or maybe to just check it out early? The last thing in the world I want is to have to wait in line to get into the park for something that isn't even open yet. I saw those picture of when HP opened last time and that is something I definitely want to avoid.

Thanks in advance.

Try to stay onsite if possible. You will be spoiled by unlimited Express access and wait times won't be nearly as bad.

Is your child 6 or 16? You have both ages in the post.

I doubt crowds will be any heavier than usual prior to DA's opening. Now that we know the opening date, people might delay a week or two after it opens to make sure they can visit that area.

 

[CFioren317]

Try to stay onsite if possible. You will be spoiled by unlimited Express access and wait times won't be nearly as bad.

Is your child 6 or 16? You have both ages in the post.

I doubt crowds will be any heavier than usual prior to DA's opening. Now that we know the opening date, people might delay a week or two after it opens to make sure they can visit that area.

Yeah, the unlimited express is definitely a great perk. I'm just wondering if it is for the day you check in AND the day you check out. Also, I have both a 16 YO and a 6 YO. My 16 YO will love US and IoA and I think there's enough for my 6 YO to do, but my wife disagrees

 

[Metro West]

Yeah, the unlimited express is definitely a great perk. I'm just wondering if it is for the day you check in AND the day you check out. Also, I have both a 16 YO and a 6 YO. My 16 YO will love US and IoA and I think there's enough for my 6 YO to do, but my wife disagrees

Ah OK..you have two kiddos. There is plenty for both ages to do at both parks.

Check out the website and then YouTube for ride videos.

 

[Magpie]

Yeah, the unlimited express is definitely a great perk. I'm just wondering if it is for the day you check in AND the day you check out. Also, I have both a 16 YO and a 6 YO. My 16 YO will love US and IoA and I think there's enough for my 6 YO to do, but my wife disagrees

Yes, it is for both days - check-in and check-out.

And there is absolutely enough for a six year old to do! In fact, there's one ride in the Jurassic Park that you'll only be able to ride if she accompanies you - the Pteranodon Flyers. They don't let big people on unless they have a child with them.

The various playgrounds are awesome, too.

 

[CFioren317]

Thanks for the confirmations everyone. That truly is a great deal considering we were going to try to do 2 days at Universal and IoA anyway. To get a deluxe room at Royal Pacific for less than the cost of 2 days with unlimited express is amazing to me. I guess they really don't want just anybody buying those passes. They want them all to go to people staying onsite.

How long do you usually wait with the unlimited express passes? I'm guessing 5-10 minutes but considering so many people stay onsite, I would not be surprised if you have to wait longer.

 

[RMulieri]

Thanks for the confirmations everyone. That truly is a great deal considering we were going to try to do 2 days at Universal and IoA anyway. To get a deluxe room at Royal Pacific for less than the cost of 2 days with unlimited express is amazing to me. I guess they really don't want just anybody buying those passes. They want them all to go to people staying onsite.

How long do you usually wait with the unlimited express passes? I'm guessing 5-10 minutes but considering so many people stay onsite, I would not be surprised if you have to wait longer.

Advertised as less than 20 mins IIRC..We never wait more than 20 and usually it is alot less than that and sometimes walk on..The only thing that we waited for was Despicable me, but thst ride is always busy.we dont go in peak times though.We went late August last year and late Jan the year before and going back Jan 2015

 

[jennc27]

We went last summer when my youngest was 7. He loved it. There was some rides he was not tall enough for but they have an awesome rider switch program. This was really nice for the Forbidden Journey because we could keep our stuff with us and we did not have to use the lockers. My DS 7 loved walking through the castle and then they had a waiting room with seating and a movie while DH and DS 12 rode. Then me and DH switched and I was able to ride with DS 12.

In Island of Adventure he was able to ride
Caro-Seuss-el
The Cat in the Hat
If I Ran the Zoo
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
The High In The Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
Flight of the Hippogriff
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Storm Force Accelatron
Ollivanders wand shop

We spent two days here at this park and the first day was mainly at Harry Potter just walking around and we ate at the Three Broomsticks. The second day we did not have a lot of time here because of car issues and we had to find a mechanic.

In Universal he did almost all of the rides.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Shrek 4-D
Twister...Ride It Out
Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue
Disaster!
MEN IN BLACKTM Alien Attack
The Simpsons Ride
E.T. Adventure
TERMINATOR 2

At Rip Ride Rocket and Mummy we did the rider switch. At Rip Ride Rocket is where we learned about the rider switch program. My DH and I stood out front talking about where to meet up when he and DS 12 was done. When they went to get in line a worker came up and asked me if I wanted to ride as well. I explained that my DS 7 was not tall enough and he explained the rider switch program. He then had me follow him and we went through a back way through a gate, down some hallways, and then rode an elevator up. DS 7 called it the "Secret Passage". We stood in a gated area next to the ride and waited for my DH and DS 12. Boy were they were surprised to see us there.

At they Mummy they had a waiting room with a cartoon movie as well.

Before we left we watched YouTube video of the rides so he knew what to expect. My family loved it so much they are begging to go back.