Best drop off point at USF, coming for the day

[SouthAfricaTraveller]

We doing USF/IOA for one day in October. Thinking of using Uber from WDW. I believe US has got one central drop off point for US, IOA and CW and that this area gets extremely busy. Is there any way around this, like getting dropped off at one of the hotels instead and walking across? I am not familiar at all with the layouts and just want to keep this day that is going to be awesomely busy as stress free as possible. We have pre purchased our tickets for pick up at park entrance. Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

 

[macraven]

www.universalorlando.com can show you the lay out of the parks.
get an idea of where the rides, eateries, restrooms, first aide, guest service locations in the park before you go.
familiarize yourself with all that layout in advance.
it will help you save time wandering around trying to reach the places you have listed to do that day for both parks.

i would google the layout of the entire grounds that include drop off area, city walk, 4 hotel locations and see the path ways to the parks.
i think being dropped off at the city walk area, would be the most direct line to IOA.

all 4 hotels have walking paths.
it can range from 7 minutes to 15 to walk from a certain hotel to the parks.
if it were me and i was a noobie to the darkside, i would choose drop off at city walk.

HRH probably would be the closer to the studios than the other 3 hotels.
if dropped off there, walk thru the lobby and go to the walking path at the other side of the lobby.
closest hotel to ioa would be rpr.
walk from there could be 7 to 10 minute walk depending on your walking pace.
don't do a drop off at pbr or Cbay. longer walks from there.

since this is your first time there, you might enjoy walking thru City Walk.
stores, eateries, cinema, mini golf you'll notice along that way.
all lit up in the evening time and enjoyable things to see when you leave the park in the evening time.

are you going on a weekend or weekday?
monday and tuesdays in october have longer park hours.
8:00 closing for IOA
7:00 closing at the studios

all other nights the studios close at 5:00 due to a hard ticket event for hhn.

i hope you have a fantastic time in the parks.

make a mental note of the must do things in the parks and use the single rider line when you can.
if you look thru the UO website, it will help you in keeping directions straight and not lose time.

 

[SouthAfricaTraveller]

www.universalorlando.com can show you the lay out of the parks.
get an idea of where the rides, eateries, restrooms, first aide, guest service locations in the park before you go.
familiarize yourself with all that layout in advance.
it will help you save time wandering around trying to reach the places you have listed to do that day for both parks.

i would google the layout of the entire grounds that include drop off area, city walk, 4 hotel locations and see the path ways to the parks.
i think being dropped off at the city walk area, would be the most direct line to IOA.

all 4 hotels have walking paths.
it can range from 7 minutes to 15 to walk from a certain hotel to the parks.
if it were me and i was a noobie to the darkside, i would choose drop off at city walk.

HRH probably would be the closer to the studios than the other 3 hotels.
if dropped off there, walk thru the lobby and go to the walking path at the other side of the lobby.
closest hotel to ioa would be rpr.
walk from there could be 7 to 10 minute walk depending on your walking pace.
don't do a drop off at pbr or Cbay. longer walks from there.

since this is your first time there, you might enjoy walking thru City Walk.
stores, eateries, cinema, mini golf you'll notice along that way.
all lit up in the evening time and enjoyable things to see when you leave the park in the evening time.

are you going on a weekend or weekday?
monday and tuesdays in october have longer park hours.
8:00 closing for IOA
7:00 closing at the studios

all other nights the studios close at 5:00 due to a hard ticket event for hhn.

i hope you have a fantastic time in the parks.

make a mental note of the must do things in the parks and use the single rider line when you can.
if you look thru the UO website, it will help you in keeping directions straight and not lose time.

Hi Macraven, thanks for all the info. I agree it might be great to experience it arriving at Citywalk. We are planning to stay on and have dinner there at Citywalk as we are visiting on a Friday that has got a HHN. I am going to make sure I do all my homework on the layouts, I was concerned that it is going to be chaos as we arrive there, but from what I have been reading it should be mid level occupancy at the parks so hopefully it won't be too bad. It is so challenging going from Disney where I feel I can find my way around with my eyes closed to the unknown! But we are so excited for this new experience! Any idea how much time I should give myself to get from the drop off point to the ticket pick up point? Thanks again, have a great day!

 

[macraven]

use the walking sidwalk as it exits right at the beginning of city walk.
maybe 10 minutes from drop off to the park?
it has been a long time since i have used it so maybe others will post from their experiences on how long a walk it was for them.

go to the kiosk that is near the outside the park kiosk to pick up your tickets.
but check with UO to see if the guest service in city walk would be better to use.
thought there was a kiosk by that building in city walk.

take your cc and confirmation number with you to use the kiosk pick up.
if you forget to do so, go to guest services for help in picking up your tickets.

go early as many use the kiosk when they arrive.
your goal will be to waste as little of time possible and to enter the park as soon as possible.
the walk will not be the issue time wise, but the kiosk line might be.

since the studios close early on friday, ioa later closing, make a reservation for your city walk dinner in advance.
many people eat at city walk when they leave the park on the weekend nights.
open table or nexttable would be the sites you can use for a reservation or reserve directly with the restaurant.

you ask how much time should you allow
i would rather go early and avoid long line waits to use the kiosk.
sometimes you can have a long wait for that procedure while other mornings you won't.
i just can't say how long it will take for you to go thru city walk and then the kiosk pick up before you can enter the park.

 

[SouthAfricaTraveller]

use the walking sidwalk as it exits right at the beginning of city walk.
maybe 10 minutes from drop off to the park?
it has been a long time since i have used it so maybe others will post from their experiences on how long a walk it was for them.

go to the kiosk that is near the outside the park kiosk to pick up your tickets.
but check with UO to see if the guest service in city walk would be better to use.
thought there was a kiosk by that building in city walk.

take your cc and confirmation number with you to use the kiosk pick up.
if you forget to do so, go to guest services for help in picking up your tickets.

go early as many use the kiosk when they arrive.
your goal will be to waste as little of time possible and to enter the park as soon as possible.
the walk will not be the issue time wise, but the kiosk line might be.

since the studios close early on friday, ioa later closing, make a reservation for your city walk dinner in advance.
many people eat at city walk when they leave the park on the weekend nights.
open table or nexttable would be the sites you can use for a reservation or reserve directly with the restaurant.

you ask how much time should you allow
i would rather go early and avoid long line waits to use the kiosk.
sometimes you can have a long wait for that procedure while other mornings you won't.
i just can't say how long it will take for you to go thru city walk and then the kiosk pick up before you can enter the park.

Thank you for all the great advice, I will most definitely plan to arrive early and make reservations for dinner. I am going to check today whether there is a kiosk in city walk, the last thing I want is a surprise delay to pick up tickets! Thanks for the really useful information! Appreciate it!

 

[humphreydog]

28.471253, -81.467213

This is the spot on Hollywood Way

 

[SouthAfricaTraveller]

T

28.471253, -81.467213

This is the spot on Hollywood Way

Thank you so much, appreciate it!