Couple questions from a Universal newbie!

[3Mousketeers]

We've been to WDW several times and haven't been to Universal since IOA opened. We're looking to go 6/25-7/1 (based on school and work schedules). I know summer will be busy but will it be really crazy this early in the summer? I would have loved to stay on site but the prices are much higher than I would've expected. One option is to stay on site a couple nights but we just can't swing staying there all week. Do you get the benefit of the FOTL on the day you check in? I mean I'm sure check-in is pretty late in the day but if you check in early even if you're room isn't ready, do you have access to FOTL? FYI - we have 3 kids, who will be 7, 5 and 2 at the time of the trip - if that matters in any of your advice.
Any advice would really be appreciated!

 

[Motherfletcher]

You get the day you check in and the day you check out. I have got a room at RPR for a night then skipped one and got another night. We had a cheap off site hotel for a week. We had FOTL for 4 days!

 

[3Mousketeers]

Motherfletcher - that's exactly what I was thinking of doing but didn't know if it was allowable. i'm so glad to hear it is. have you been in late june? what do think the crowds will be like?

 

[All Aboard]

We save a little bit of dough periodically by doing something similar. Last weekend, we arrived in Orlando at about 7pm. Knowing that the Universal parks closed at 8 that night, and the Magic Kingdom was open until 11 - we opted for a Friday night stay at Pop Century and a Sat night stay at Royal Pacific.

We arrived at 8 in the morning, checked in (even got our room) and headed straight for IOA before opening. We spent the entire day at the parks - using Universal Express - and finished up at Mardi Gras. On Sunday, we spent all of our time up to departure at USF.

So, we got the exact same amount of Universal Orlando park time in (all with Express priveledge) but saved around $130.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Motherfletcher - that's exactly what I was thinking of doing but didn't know if it was allowable. i'm so glad to hear it is. have you been in late june? what do think the crowds will be like?

We go in late June annually (June 30 is DS16's birthday)and the last three years have stayed at PBH. When you stay on site the crowds are not a problem. The pools are real active that time of year, though.

 

[Corporal_Radar]

you really need to get your head out of disney things....

universal rides, you only waite for 40 min. at the max... except for new things like ROTH ((only 50)) and shrek is still a tourist favorite...((75min))

not like disnay where you have to waite in lines 75 min. long just to go on the tea cups... universal's ioa has teacups.. but they are not in the shape of tea cups right next to the hulk... and the longest time i waited there was three min...

 

[4greatboys]

If I were you I would spring for onsite atleast 1 night. You get FOTL access the day you check in and out. So get there early check in--they will hold your luggage til your room is ready. Go to one of the parks. Get up the next am, pack up, check out and leave your luggage with them again and hit the second park.
Even of the lines are only 30-40 minute wait with FOTL thats 30 minutes you didnt have to waste in line. Last Dec the boys and I went one day--when it was not a crowded time and the stand by line in Spiderman was about 1 hour and with 2 little ones thats never good, lol.

 

[robvia]

Late june is fine. Parks stay open until 9pm, hours are here.
http://themeparks.universalstudios....o_park_hours.html&year=2005&month=6&year=2005
In July, they stay open until 10pm, an extra hour.

With FOTL you'll be able to see everything easily. Your kids are not tall enough for the big kid rides, but they'll spend hours in the play ground areas. Maybe you can let the spouse watch them while you go on some coasters.

One thing you can think about, is that they have fireworks starting July 4th and until the 1st two weeks of August or so.

We're staying at the RPR July 6-8 so we can see the fireworks each night.