Does IOA/USF Open Earlier than Posted?

[Toadi]

Going to USF/IOA Dec 9 & 10 ... do they open a bit earlier than posted times?
also, we need to purchase tickets on site ...???what time should we arrive?

 

[Hockeyman]

When I went to IOA 2 weeks ago they let everyone in about 15 minutes early. Then they made us wait till a little before 9 at the bridge infront of the Hulk. Id get there around 8. Bye the time you park and walk out there it will be around 8:15 then just about a half an hour to wait until it opens.

 

[robvia]

You know, it's always better to be at the gate waiting in line, then to be late. So what if you wait 30 minutes at a gate. You've already got a jump on the crowd. If you try to time your morning so you arrive at a certain time, it never works. You'll get hung up, someone will forget something, you'll get stuck, and be late. Just be there at 8am and walk around city walk. It's fun to see the park come alive and walk around looking at the restaurant menus. Then you can get in line at the gate and go thru first.
Stowe you stuff in the lockers to the left, and then run to Hulk and Spiderman.

 

[MIB999999]

The turnstyles usually start letting people thru at 8:45, but i have seen it as late as 9:00.

The bridges to marvel and Seussland are blocked until 9:00 but i have seen it open at 8:46.

I do not know what determines when each section opens but there is no secret time that only the insiders know to get in ahead of the crowd.

The VIP TOUR might get in early or a special hotel promo but nothing ongoing that i am aware of.

robvia has put it as plain as it gets

 

[Quentin Disney]

I recall the very first time I went to IOA last year, and it opened nearly 20 minutes early with rides in operation. [blantant comparison]Unlike the Disney parks, which usually open with the rides operating exactly on the dot[/blantant comparison]

 

[BarryHom]

Sometimes the rides will open if they are ready before 9 am. These days, it probably won't happen too often. It's better to be early and wait than to be late and rush!

 

[jaane]

if you are planning on going the 9th and 10th, i wouldn't worry about time. there will be plenty! the parks have been slow, so even if you want to arrive early to purchase tickets at the gate...8:30/8:45 would give you ample time to enjoy your day without missing anything. just pick up a map to ensure you don't miss anything that may be closing early.

 

[kasey710]

We were at US on 11/28 and IOA on 11/29. they let you through the gates at exact 9 a.m. but 1/2 the rides and attractions didn't start until 10 - I thought that was pretty rotten.

Also, for some reason they parked us in the Jaws section - the farther away from the parks when the parking garage was empty - anybody know why they made us walk forever?

 

[MIB999999]

Originally posted by kasey710
We were at US on 11/28 and IOA on 11/29. they let you through the gates at exact 9 a.m. but 1/2 the rides and attractions didn't start until 10 - I thought that was pretty rotten.

Also, for some reason they parked us in the Jaws section - the farther away from the parks when the parking garage was empty - anybody know why they made us walk forever?

Read the map/program and you would know that not everything opens at 9:00.

The garage area undergoes perodic cleaning so they rotate which sections are in use depending on projected attendence.

 

[Hockeyman]

This morning they opened the gates at 8:45. Then at around 8:55 they let us over the bridge into the Marvel Area. So a little bit early. The only ride I noticed that wasnt opened at 9 was Posiedens Fury. By the time we got to the water rides they were already opened.

 

[meeshi]

We were there last week. We got there between 9:30 - 10:00 and had plenty of time to see everything we wanted to. The crowds weren't bad at all, if there were lines they were short (we walked on MANY rides with no wait at all) and we had a great time. We didn't feel the need to rush at all.