Ditching people at US/IOA

[crashbb]

Okay, let's get it out of the way - I am a mean, horrible person.

With that said...

I have an upcoming conference in Orlando that ends on Saturday night. I booked myself into an on-site hotel for Sunday night so that I could have Sunday and Monday at the parks and make use of the FOTL privilege for both days.

Here's the problem - a number of colleagues have also added a night (but not on-site) and will be at US/IOA on the Sunday. Since they already know that I am doing US/IOA (not really specific about where I am staying) some of suggest going together. Two problems - I don't want to waste my FOTL and I hate going around in larger groups (probably 7-8 people).

Short of hiding behind lampposts, I'm not really sure what else I can do.

No real point to this post, just a kind of vent (stupid as it may be), I suppose.

 

[disneyfreakk]

Just simply state that you have other plans. Its not lying, because you actually did have plans of going to the parks with FOTL *without* THEM.

But you at-least have to wave at them as you run pass them using your FOTL.

HAVE FUN!!!

 

[macraven]

ditch them, i don't blame you.......



tell them you will meet them at food time.
that way you will be able to spend some social time with them.



tell them next time they should book for an onsite hotel for the perks in the parks....

 

[Phil from PA]

Went to WDW last year with my family and tried to haul 12 thru the parks. It is just too much and can take a spectacular experience and diminish it considerably. I would just meet them for lunch or dinner as stated before. I would avoid it at all costs.

That being said, if you have more experience doing the parks I would not hesitate to help them put together a touring plan. Maybe they want you more for your knowledge and to be a tour guide for them.

phil from pa

 

[crashbb]

Went to WDW last year with my family and tried to haul 12 thru the parks. It is just too much and can take a spectacular experience and diminish it considerably. I would just meet them for lunch or dinner as stated before. I would avoid it at all costs.

That being said, if you have more experience doing the parks I would not hesitate to help them put together a touring plan. Maybe they want you more for your knowledge and to be a tour guide for them.

phil from pa

Actually, I've never been to US/IOA before. I may know more than them from reading here, but that's it.

It's nice to know that I'm not the only person who would consider ditching people!

In any event, they won't be there on the Monday, so I'll have at least 1 FOTL day (my flight isn't until 7pm and the parks close early anyway, so I get most of the day).

 

[macraven]

like phil stated, it is sometimes harder to get thru a park when you have more than 3 people with you.

larger numbers make the walking to each ride/attraction slower and harder to accomadate/sp 7 or 8 people on the same ride to be near each other.

if you start reading up on threads and stickies, you will learn a lot about touring the parks to your advantage.

even though you will have the FOTL perk, you need to be aware that not all rides open at 9 in the morning.

on the studios side, jaws opens around 10 or 11 depending on the date as well as shrek, mib and the mummy on some days.

stick with us homie and we can help you out as your time draws nearer on a touring plan.

 

[rebecca06261]

I'd ditch them too.

 

[Phil from PA]

You might not have been to the parks yet but I can bet you dollars to donuts not one of the other 8 people will do any research on how to hit the parks. I believe the Unofficial Guide to Disney also has touring plans for US which is a good start.

Another idea since you have 2 days is that day one you can get to park early and do a few rides together, before the crowds and lines start forming. After an hour or 2 peel off and do your own thing.

MIB is great to do with a large group, Terminator is good also as FOTL is insignificant.

At IOA, if you are first in you could probably do Spiderman which is great with a group and try Hulk first thing before lines get out of hand. Might be nice to do a couple of rides and I am sure they could understand why you want to use FOTL. You are paying for it as there are other cheaper hotels.

When park closes than grab a bite in Citywalk with everyone and talk about your day. Most reasonable people would understand your situation and if they don't well then.... curse at 'em

Phil from PA

 

[Phil from PA]

Maybe we should start a survey....

Would you ditch friends who do not have FOTL.

next question

Would you ditch your family who do not have FOTL.

 

[macraven]

phil, make that survey, "would you ditch your friends that do not have the express pass for hhn............."


to the op, be at the entrance gate around 8:30 at ioa side.
more times than not, you will be let in early..

the hulk, dr doom will be operating then.
do multiple rides and pick front row on the hulk.
so kewl.....


the crowds start around 11ish at both parks.
the ones that are staying on site, take their time as they have the fotl perk.
the ones staying off site mis judge the amount of travel time to the park and the amount of down time to park their car in the garage.

due to that, parks are seeing the big crowds arrive around 11ish each day.

do lunch when those crowds start forming. food places open at 11 for lunch.

even though you have fotl, you will still have some waits.
the wait time will be nothing like the regular line though.

if you go early, take the regular line for MIB, Mummy, Spiderman, Dr. Doom.
you miss out on some neat stuff when you only go through the express lanes.

there is a lot to see and take in when you go thru the regular lines on those above rides.

have fun at the parks!!

 

[Phil from PA]

phil, make that survey, "would you ditch your friends that do not have the express pass for hhn............."

Mac,

I be a spoiled RIP kid for the past number of years. I dunno what you are talking about.

 

[swilshire]

We were just there last week and I agree with getting there early (about 8:30 for a 9 AM) opening. Hit the "big" rides first. If your associates aren't willing to be there early, you have an easy out.

If they do agree to join you and follow your plan early, very nicely tell them that you plan to split off on your own when the lines lengthen. They might even elect to purchase the Express FOTL passes once they understand.

Sheila

 

[donaldduck352]

We were just there last week and I agree with getting there early (about 8:30 for a 9 AM) opening. Hit the "big" rides first. If your associates aren't willing to be there early, you have an easy out.

If they do agree to join you and follow your plan early, very nicely tell them that you plan to split off on your own when the lines lengthen. They might even elect to purchase the Express FOTL passes once they understand.

Sheila

If its IOA after you ditch them,tell them too meet you at Mytho's for lunch..
All will be good then!!!
Mytho's will give Ya the chance to redeem your guilt,cuase the food is great

 

[Metro West]

If they do agree to join you and follow your plan early, very nicely tell them that you plan to split off on your own when the lines lengthen. They might even elect to purchase the Express FOTL passes once they understand.

Sheila

That's what I would do Sheila. Sounds like the most reasonable explanation to give.

 

[kirbsam]

just tell them, you are staying onsite and have a fotl pass. and tell them you arent going to stand in lines since you dont have to. who cares what they think?

 

[crashbb]

Well, my trip is this coming week. My current plan (please feel free to criticise):

Sunday - Leave the conference hotel (Marriott World Centre area) at about 7:30am so that I can check in (I know that I won't get my room) and be at the opening for US. Hit Mummy and MiB using the normal lines (so as not to miss the theming). Spend the rest of the morning (until maybe 1-2) at US hitting the rest of the rides - I'm not hugely concerned with missing Jimmy Neutron, Disaster or Jaws, if I have to miss something. Then heading to IOA for the rest the day (it closes at 7pm). Since the park will likely be crowded by this time, I won't bother with the regular lines for themeing. I don't really have an order planned, but my thoughts were to leave the three wet rides until the end (probably starting with JP at 5pm). For the evening, I plan on dinner in Citywalk and some pool hopping.

I'm not sure that my colleagues will be into leaving the conference hotel that early, so I'll suggest that they text me when they do reach the parks (and I may, or may not, "receive"). I will suggest that we meet up for dinner. To clarify, these are definitely colleagues and not friends and most of them I don't even work closely with (I may see them at meetings/lectures, but that is about it).

Monday - Start at IOA, using the main lines that have good themes. From the list I made earlier, I think that this is DD, Hulk, and Spiderman. At about noon-1, go back over to US to hit/repeat the rides I missed on Sunday morning. Then head back to the hotel (where I had already checked out and left my luggage) to grab a cab for 4:30pm (my flight leaves at 7:10pm, but my final destination is Canada).

Given that I am gluten intolerant, meals (even Mythos) are not a huge thing for me (most menus are not very GF friendly), so for the most part I'll grab quick snack meals (plus eat the breakfast that I'll bring with me).

 

[swilshire]

If you want to ride the Simpsons, I'd hit it early. The lines for it were usually longer than the ones for MIB.

Sheila

 

[crashbb]

If you want to ride the Simpsons, I'd hit it early. The lines for it were usually longer than the ones for MIB.

Sheila

Even with FOTL? I could hit it after Mummy and MiB - from what I can see there is no need to do the Simpson regular line since there is nothing interesting to see.

It turns out that the rest of the group bought conference tickets - which are only good after 2pm, so I'll definitely do the morning alone. Given that US closes at 5pm and IOA closes at 7pm, I'm not sure how much they'll get to do.

 

[Metro West]

Even with FOTL? I could hit it after Mummy and MiB - from what I can see there is no need to do the Simpson regular line since there is nothing interesting to see.

With unlimited Express access, you can basically ride whenever you want.

 

[ky07]

With unlimited Express access, you can basically ride whenever you want.