Do you still get to the parks early, even if you have FOTL?

[zippehsmom]

I was just wondering if people still get to the parks early, even if they have FOTL.

Should I be pressed for time and make sure I am there when the parks open or can I sleep in a little?

Thanks, just trying to see what everyone else does.

 

[robvia]

Yes, I get to the park early, even with magic keys.
I'm first thru the gate, run to Hulk, and get a front seat ride.
Then I high tail it to Pteranondon Flyers before the kid rule starts.
Or I head to Dueling Dragons for some front seat rides.

It's really nice to be in the park before the crowd arrives, plus the temperature is lower. In the summer time, it's very hot between the hours of noon to 4pm, and that's the busy time of the day with crowded walkways.

Check on my Pteranondon Flyers video. The park is empty when I shot it.
http://www.nogodforme.com/ioapovs2005.htm

 

[gschmerl]

I'm a morning person, so I get to the parks as the gates are opening. I too love to ride the front row of the coasters. I do Hulk first. Then I go back and ride the front row of Fire and Ice over and over...Sometimes I'm the only one back there on the Dragons!! I then might circle back and ride Dr. Doom. My friend usually meets me at the park about 10:00 and the we ride the tamer rides.
We are usually there in the summer, so we go to the parks in the AM and then spend some time at the pool. We then return to the parks in the evening.

 

[Omnivus]

We get there as early as we can to get a front row seat on Hulk, before it obviously gets too crowded. Then we might go to Pteradon Flyers depending on the wait, or we might instead go to Dueling Dragons for front row seats there. We just get to the parks early because of the chance to get front row seats.

 

[PavelB]

With FOTL you do not have to be there at opening. We usually got to the parks at about 11am. We were there the week of July 4th and never had a problem with lines at all. We love FOTL! (Actually it really spoiled us for disney this year.)

 

[themepark]

We never get there early and we never feel rushed. We usually arrive 10-11am and do everything we want numerous times with FOTL. It is the ONLY way to go!

 

[zippehsmom]

Thanks for the feedback!

Totally forgot about the heat factor .

We are morning people also, so mornings it will be.

 

[maggiew]

This is the one thing my family really enjoyed at Universal. Since we had FOTL, I let the kids (and DH) sleep in and didn't force them to be at the park opening (like I do at Disney). They slept in until 9 or so, we all showered and got ready and then headed to the parks - maybe 11 or so. We toured until mid afternoon and then went to one of the pools to swim. Then we had dinner at City Walk. Then we headed back to the parks for a little more. Everyone really enjoyed it.

Maggie

 

[robvia]

The thing many don't talk about, is splitting up. For example, on my recent trip, the wife and kid slept in, while I walked to IOA and got my front seat rides.
If you are an early riser, and the people you are with sleep in, just leave them in the hotel and get to the park at 08:30am. We have a Florida plan for our cell phones, and each of us has one. We could call each other for free, that's how we stayed in touch. You can still do this even if you have to pay a long distance charge if you are out of state. So what if you make a few long distance calls.
After you get your front seat rides and take a thrill ride tour, head back to the hotel, get cleaned up, and come back for lunch.
I'll tell you, there is nothing more frustrating than trying to get people up who like to sleep in.