Critique my plan, please?

[subtchr]

I'm not locked into a detailed plan for our visit to UO next week, but here are my ideas. I'd love to hear any advice from you pros.

I'm very familiar with the parks from my trips with groups, but on those trips I have no flexibility to change plans, so I'm excited for this short family trip! I also have not been since DA opened, and the rest of my family hasn't been since 2006.

We (me, DH, DD23) love any kinds of thrills/rides. If they build it, we'll ride it!

Monday, 12/15 -- Arrive at MCO 4:20, have a car service booked to RPR. Dinner in CityWalk (thinking Cowfish or Bubba Gump's), maybe putt putt, relaxing night.

Tuesday, 12/16 -- Breakfast at Starbucks about 6:30 (we are naturally early risers, so not a problem!), at the gates of US by 7:30 for EE. Plan to spend most of the morning at Diagon Alley, then probably the back end of US for MIB, Simpsons, etc. Maybe lunch in the Simpsons area, maybe Leaky Cauldron.

HE to Hogsmeade, then depending on crowd levels there, either explore that area or other parts of IOA.

Back to US for Macy's parade, then dinner at Hard Rock. (I go there ALL the time with my groups, in Orlando and elsewhere, so I'm "meh" about it, but DD really wants to go. I'll just be happy to order off the regular menu instead of the group one!) Back into US for Cinematic Spectacular at 8.

Wednesday, 12/17 - Breakfast at RPR, gates of IOA by 8:30, explore Hogsmeade, then whatever in IOA we did not do the day before. Lunch at Mythos (have an 11:30 reservation). Catch Wholiday at some point, and HE back to US.

Dinner somewhere in CityWalk, or maybe counter service in the parks since we will have had a big lunch at Mythos.

Thursday, 12/18 - EE at US again, revisit DA, ride anything else we want to revisit. HE to IOA, redo a favorite or two, probably lunch at Three Broomsticks. 1:30 car service pickup back to MCO.

At some point we will definitely see Blues Brothers and Beetlejuice. Sinbad and Horror Makeup lower priority, but they might fit somewhere, too.

Just to confirm, it's back to EE only at US these couple of weeks before the heavy Christmas crowds, right?

I love how flexible we can be at UO, compared to the motherland, but I like to have at least an idea.

Thoughts? Suggestions? TIA!

 

[macraven]

don't know what time starbucks opens in city walk but the orchid court lounge opens at 6:00 am everyday.

it's located in the lobby and the food is ala cart.

 

[johde]

At first glance things look good. With the combination of expected low crowds and Express Pass, you shouldn't run into any problems. The only thing I can think of is heading down from Ohio, you may want to take a warm afternoon and go swimming. I'm heading down for a longer trip from Ohio in January and I'm planning to trying to go swimming at least a couple of times.

 

[subtchr]

don't know what time starbucks opens in city walk but the orchid court lounge opens at 6:00 am everyday.

it's located in the lobby and the food is ala cart.

Thanks, Mac, I called the Starbucks because I had the same concern, and they told me they are open at 6:30, which will work for us. I'll confirm the time when we are exploring CityWalk Monday evening. We like their breakfast sandwiches. But I definitely plan to use Orchid Court the second morning, or we may do the full breakfast in the restaurant if we're in the mood.

At first glance things look good. With the combination of expected low crowds and Express Pass, you shouldn't run into any problems. The only thing I can think of is heading down from Ohio, you may want to take a warm afternoon and go swimming. I'm heading down for a longer trip from Ohio in January and I'm planning to trying to go swimming at least a couple of times.

Thanks for the idea, but with a short trip we won't want to take time from the parks for an afternoon, especially since we are fans of the shows. Being "hardy stock" from Ohio, we might swim in the evenings.

 

[macraven]

i went in october and it didn't have the morning crowds to the park most of the days.
starbucks in city walk wasn't open early when i went early october.

since you called, then that is good you have that choice.

guessing more park goers during the time you will be there.
(next week, hooray!)

at orchid lounge court, if you get a coffee, save your cup.
you can get a free refill with it.

or you can make coffee in the keurig in your room and take it down with you and save some bit of money.


at Islands for breakfast, i did the buffet once in the morning and two mornings i did my order from the menu.

think my menu order was about $11
buffet was more but it included the coffee.

i used my AP for the 10% discount there.

i liked Bula Bar.
think most of the items were $10 or under.
had the nachos, steak sandwich, quesidillas /sp, can't think of the other thing i got there.

if you drink, they have happy hour which is $4 for beer, $5 for hard drinks.

in January i took my son to the motherland and darkside.
he really wanted to go to bubba gumps so we did.
i have been before and its the ambiance i go for......

BG has some good food but the prices are higher than i wanted.

december is one month i have not been to the parks.
from what i read each year, the closer to christmas, the larger the crowds.

from what you have listed, i think it will work fine.
you'll be using express lines for most of the rides and going early for parry hotter things.

sounds like you will have a wonderful vacation!