casual touring plan needed

[goofymom23]

We will be visiting for the first time (Disney many just never made it over to US). I would really appreciate any advise on a touring plan for the week. We want to take it slow and enjoy the days at US. We will have the $85.00 tickets and will be there for 5 days. The ages of the kids are from 2 to 14. So we will most likely ride all the rides. We will be there the 3rd week in March.Thanks in advance

 

[damo]

Are you staying onsite?

 

[goofymom23]

No, I'll be staying off property.

 

[robvia]

Park hours are here, crowds are expected to be ok.
http://www.universalorlando.com/cal...o_park_hours.html&year=2007&month=3&year=2007
Spring break is the first two weeks of April, that's when the park stays open until 10pm. Since the park is open until 8pm, that means crowds will be moderate.

The advice I tell everyone is to arrive the parking garage at 8am and be first to the gate. Start off at IOA and go on a few rides. The crowds arrive at 11am. That will give you 2 hours of the park to yourself before the lines get long. I realize you want to take things slow, and that's fine, but I'd still arrive early.

USF takes longer because there are shows, and movie attractions. You can do these in the afternoon which will get you out of the heat.

Go to lunch at 11:30am to avoid the crowd at the restaurants.

After that you can take advantage of the single rider lines for popular rides. You'll be together until you get on the ride. Then you'll take any empty seats available and be split up.

 

[bubba's mom]

If you are not a "morning" person, the people here recommend you stay onsite. Your room key will give you Express Pass entrance the entire length of your stay...all day, every day. The one you purchase, is only good for 1 time each ride. If it's too expensive for you to stay onsite, go with robvia's plan....

 

[robvia]

I made two web pages to show why it's important to show up early, even if you want to tour slowly.
Universal Studios Early
And scroll down this one to the bottom
Islands of Adventure Early

If you show up at 11am you won't have fun, because that's when everyone is arriving. You can show up a couple hours before the park closes as the tired are leaving. But I prefer the early thing, rest in the afternoon, then return to another park before they close.

 

[bubba's mom]

I made two web pages to show why it's important to show up early, even if you want to tour slowly.
Universal Studios Early
And scroll down this one to the bottom
Islands of Adventure Early

If you show up at 11am you won't have fun, because that's when everyone is arriving. You can show up a couple hours before the park closes as the tired are leaving. But I prefer the early thing, rest in the afternoon, then return to another park before they close.

Thanks for sharing those pix.... I would never had seen what it looks like coming in and going to the parking garage....we always stay onsite! It always amazes me how many people stand in line at the park to buy tickets In the day and age of computers and AAA, you'd think people would think ahead and buy their tickets in advance.... I don't get that? I will have to venture on the "other side" of the cineplex when we go in the summer....have never been past where Bubba Gump's is now...it looks interesting I've already told DH that one day (while there in the summer), I'm getting up early and going to the parks at opening....with or without him & the boy (prolly be w/o, cuz they like to sleep in)... I'm actually kinda lookin' forward to it. Thanks for sharing!

 

[nymomof3]

robvia, what great pictures and information, i can't believe how croweded the parking garage gets, like bubbas mom said always stay onsite so you don't see what goes on,

bubbasmom, i see your also going in the summer, have you been before, i know its crowded but with fotl will it be ok no matter what time of day you are at the parks. we're going for 7 days so we know we can take it slower but still nervous about crowds. would love to hear your experiences. thanks

 

[robvia]

The reason why many people show up at 11am is
1. They're on vacation so they sleep in and take their time. Everyone else has the exact same idea. So most arrive the park at 11am. If you walk thru Citywalk, and to the garage at this time, it looks like a herd of cattle, which is why I call it the "herd."
2. Some people have this weird idea that the park has to open and get going before they show up. They'll say things like, "we'll wait because the park has to get going." Huh? The park is awake and ready to go at 9am every morning. During the summer months, the park actually opens at 08:30am.
Part of this myth happens because some of the parks up north open at 10am, and then the rides don't start until 11am. Not at IOA, they're ready to go first thing.

If you're spouse and kid don't want to wake up, then by all means go visit the parks on your own. That's exactly what I do. I walk thru an empty Citywalk, stand at the park gate, and go on all the rides in 2 hours. You'll feel "free" not dragging anyone around. Then you can go back to your hotel room and the spouse and kid will still be in the bed sleeping.

 

[bubba's mom]

bubbasmom, i see your also going in the summer, have you been before, i know its crowded but with fotl will it be ok no matter what time of day you are at the parks. we're going for 7 days so we know we can take it slower but still nervous about crowds. would love to hear your experiences. thanks

yep, always go the last week of June/beginning of July, then head to Ocala, Fl for my DFIL's birthday (his birthday is July 4th). We were there that time last year, and again this year. Let me tell you, it was crowded (because of summer), BUT, we had such a good time, we bought AP's. We never made it to the park before 11am (we are night owls, and stayed till closing everynight). With the FOTL, we walked on a ride sometimes 5 times in a row, and walked past the same people in the standby lines (kinda hard not to snicker....but, we were nice!) We did everything we wanted to in the first 2-3 days...saw shows we might not have had time to see if not for FOTL. It was a very relaxing vacation, believe it or not. The only thing I can see you have to "watch" for, is eating times. We eat at 5pm, so, we'd go to eat about 4ish...before the crowds. It will be crowded when you go, but with your FOTL, you'll feel like the only people in the park!

 

[nymomof3]

thanks bubbasmom, it sounds like its gonna be ok, we are thinking that we are gonna do the pool thing in the morning, get ready eat something then head to parks later in day. we will try this the first day and see how it works, we might have to change up a litttle but i think it might work this way...do crowds start leaving or do the majority stay till closing... getting so excited, with this cold weather here i just can't wait for the heat, i know i'll regret saying that in the middle of july in florida.haha. thanks again for the info

 

[bubba's mom]

..do crowds start leaving or do the majority stay till closing...

it seemed the crowds lightened a little (because of little ones tiring out who are up early) and people eating dinner 8ish...but, at US it was still pretty crowded later because most stay for the show at the end of the night....don't worry...you'll see and come up with a plan that works for your family.....you got nuthin' to worry about...you're doing all the right stuff!