Breakfast blip...

[micheleq]

Dark side newbie here! Headed to Universal May 15-16th with a large group of my in-laws (up to 16 total as of now!). Looking forward to the weekend which is a celebration of our niece's college graduation. However, on our first day, Friday May 15th, MIL made a 9:30am breakfast reservation for all of us at HRH (I'm assuming at The Kitchen). Breaking the cardinal rule of theme park touring EARLY EARLY EARLY!

So, US opens at 8am and I believe there is no early entry for on-site guests (ILs are all at Cabana Bay, we are at AKV as we are DVC members) that day? Is it only IOA right now?

The main question is can I get my family of four on Gringotts and Despicable Me and get to breakfast on time? Those are our must-do rides for my kids. After we ride those, the rest of the day will be fine. We'll aim to leave AKV at 7am to make it to the parking garage in decent time and I already have my park passes (came today from UT!).

Any advice is appreciated! TIA!

 

[bumbershoot]

I would leave earlier than 7 to get to the gates of US for an 8am opening time. AKV is nearly as far at Disney as you can get, and you're very likely hitting commuter time. Then there's the time to get into the parking structure, park, get from the car to the vast system to get to Citywalk, get through Citywalk and to US...

I personally would be leaving before 6:30. And when I started thinking about that, I would get a room onsite at Universal on the 14th because waking up that early makes me want to cry. And being without unlimited Express Pass makes DH and DS cry. (and we're DVC members, too, but when we play at Uni, we stay at Uni)

And none of that helps you determine if you'll be able to ride two of the most popular rides in the park AND get back to HRH before 9:30. Still have no answer on that, but I would leave AKV before 7, that is for certain.

 

[micheleq]

Thanks for the tip on leaving earlier bumbershoot. Since the trip is two weeks away, there's no cancelling our DVC reservation but I hear ya! The next time we do a trip with just our family of four, we will spend a night or two at US to fully enjoy those parks. This trip was planned by my ILs, and a bonus trip for us this year (we were at WDW in Nov. '14 & then in January '15).

 

[kjpotter]

I think you will make it. Just get there really early. The parking/walk from parking to turnstyles is ridiculously long. We "rope dropped" US, went straight to Despicable me (which was a walk on) and then went straight to Diagon Alley. The problem will be getting everyone to leave Diagon Alley and go to breakfast. I'd be begging to stay. Can't you do breakfast at Leaky Caldron?

 

[micheleq]

I think you will make it. Just get there really early. The parking/walk from parking to turnstyles is ridiculously long. We "rope dropped" US, went straight to Despicable me (which was a walk on) and then went straight to Diagon Alley. The problem will be getting everyone to leave Diagon Alley and go to breakfast. I'd be begging to stay. Can't you do breakfast at Leaky Caldron?

Thanks kjpotter! Good to know that the walk is a long one from the garage to City Walk. Oh it will be hard for all of us to leave! But, the trip is a celebration for my niece and this is the only large group meal all weekend. We can do it for her. And I appreciate that my MIL wants one meal together; her heart is in the right place she just doesn't "get" the rides and touring. My girls are the only younger kids, so we won't be with them 24-7. The rest of the "kids" are ages 17-30, so they're going to want to do their own thing at the parks and at night.

I will mention to MIL about breakfast at Leaky Cauldron. My niece would love that! Thanks again!

 

[Duanerice]

Why don't you mention having lunch as a group? Much better option and you can have it in the park.

 

[micheleq]

Why don't you mention having lunch as a group? Much better option and you can have it in the park.

Thanks, I will try to sneak that in I did ask SIL and MIL if they wanted to do a dinner on Saturday (both US/IOA close at 7pm that Sat) and they responded that they thought breakfast would be easier. Since it's not my rodeo, I won't push it. And it won't ruin our day--any day in Orlando is a bonus to me!