Big rides first at Universal & IOA?

[Ginge]

This will be our 1st trip to Orlando & all the parks. 3 weeks to go I'm as excited as our 6 year old!!

These boards have been great with tips - really helped us a lot. However, we are meeting my brother and his family there from England and him and his wife say that its better to do the most popular rides later rather than first thing (they have both been before). I read the opposite somewhere else - that its best to get into the parks as early as poss and get the "big" rides out of the way.

So okay all you veterans out there - which is best way so we can settle this friendly argument?

They also think I am trying to "plan" too much. Should we be planning our days ahead or just go with the flow? I don't want it to be a military operation but I've read a lot of messages on the boards about good planning being a must.

Thanks.

(my 6 year old son watches the Universal Vacation Planning video every day and its getting us really psyched up!)

 

[Disney Debbie]

It's always better to do the most popular rides first before the crowds get big - unless you're on-site and then I guess it doesn't matter - you have fotl! Also if you use the express passes - or whatever they're called it probably doesn't matter either!

 

[Quentin Disney]

I've observed the crowds when IOA opened many times. The crowds will always head towards the left of the Port of Entry (Marvel Superhero Island). IMO, it is a really good time to do rides like Spiderman and the Hulk coaster (if you are so inclined) since their lines will increase throughout the day. If you aren't really into rides like Hulk and Dueling Dragons, my advise is to head for Suess' Landing first. It is a GHOST TOWN there the first few hours! Since you have a 6 year old, I seriously doubt he coul ride something like Dueling Dragons, but Spiderman, Cat in the Hat and One fish, two fish are great rides for young kids.

Personally, I would go "left" first...

 

[Ginge]

Sorry I've been off the web for a while, but thanks guys for the info. It was interesting that you said to go "left" when entering Port of Entry. I'll definitely keep that in mind. Only 11 days to go & counting!!!!

 

[Notatourist]

That's what I recommend, because most folks tend to go to Terminator, MIB, BTTF first-if you go Hanna at USF you tend to hit less wait times

As for IOA-RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT!!!!

Hope it helps.

 

[mar915]

First went to Hulk (9am), no wait, then spider man (5 min) wait, then skipped the water rides which had no wait, went to dueling dragons no wait, went on it 3 times. THen met grandma and my son at Suess land. This was on a Saturday which was packed by 11am and we did all this in less than 2 hours, went to USF and did all the rides we wanted with 5-15 minutes wait till closing.
On the next Monday we did the same, but since we missed some water rides we went on Jurassic Park, and all the water rides after spiderman(which we got a fast pass for). It was great we went on all rides except 2 by 12pm. then went to USF in the PM. Oh yah, even did happy hour at Buffet's place.

Mary