First IOA /US trip

littlelulu

Earning My Ears
Joined
Mar 9, 2004
Messages
3
I'm surprising my son for his 11th birthday any suggestions for a trip to remember will be very helpful.

:Pinkbounc :bounce: :bounce: :Pinkbounc

We staying at RPR, any tips would be great!!!
 
Our first trip to Universal was when my sons were 10 and 11. Their absolute favorite ride was Men in Black and second was Back to the Future.

I'll list what my sons liked in order of preference starting with their favorite at universal: MIB, Back to the Future, Terminator 3-D, Jaws, Earthquake, Twister, Shrek, Horror Makeup Show, ET, Curious George water play area where they could shoot others with water guns (its over by ET and Barney).

IoA: Hulk, Dueling Dragons, Spiderman, Jurrassic Park, Ripsaw Falls, Popeye.
 
I'm hoping he will love this trip as much as I think I am going to. I have visisted WDW before he was born and I loved it. But his attention is always been focused on IOA and eating dinner at his favorite chef's restaurant. He has been watching Emeril since he was six years old. So for his birthday we are surprising him with this trip and of course dinner at Emeril's.
Thank you for your input on what your boys liked when you visited It sure sounds like the age group navigate toward the same rides. My son has been on the IOA /USO website and has mention all the rides you mention.
Would you know of any where I may be able to get discount coupons for meals and attractions. I already got the IOA/USO tickets online. But I would maybe like to visit SeaWorld and Epcot so any coupons would be helpful.

Any help would be great thanks alot!!!:wave:
 
Maybe someone here knows about coupons. I have an annual pass which gives a discount almost everywhere in the parks and city walk.
 

Thanks anyway I will keep looking. If any one else could help it would be great.

I have also been trying to put a count down clock but I don't know how if anyone could help would be great :confused:
 
littlelulu ~

First of all, what a great gift for your son! I have 2 sons who just love Universal (and a husband who loves it as much as they do ;) ).

There is a post here entitled 1/2 price certificates. Check into it ~ there are certificates available for purchase through the internet that give you a $50.00 credit at different City Walk restaurants, for $25.00 plus $3.50 shipping/handling charge. Radio stations are sponsoring this promotion.

I read that you'll be taking your son to Emerils and that will be v. special, ~ he may have fun at the other City Walk eateries as well. My sons love City Walk! We've eaten at almost every restaurant there.

Have a great trip!
 
thanks for your list of DS11 favorites
We're taking our DS there in Oct - he went to Universal 7yrs ago, never been to IOA
So w/that list how would you "attack" the rides? Is there a certain order how you would do them? We have 2day/2park tickets -thank you
 
My suggestion:

Universal: Morning schedule:

Park car by 8:30. Be at the park gate by 8:45. It almost always opens early. Enter park and pick up express pass for Shrek. You will be given two times to choose from so I would choose the later time.
Then head to the back of the park to MIB, ride it one or two times,then Back to the Future, then head to Jaws, then Earthquake, and Twister.
Check times for Horror Makeup show. Either hit it before or after lunch. Eat lunch (Mel's is a favorite for kids and is across the street from Horror makeup).

Afternoon:
Terminator (it is right by the exit from Horror makeup.)
Then go to Shrek. After Shrek head to ET (if you can get an express pass earlier it would help) But the wait isn't usually too bad there as it is inside and cool.
After ET, head to Curious George water play area (it is near ET.) Sit down and relax while you son has some water fun.
If you want to catch some shows like Animal Planet, check the times. (It is right by ET and water play area.)

IOA:
Morning: Same as above, be parking your car by 8:30 and at the gates by 8:45. Go to Hulk, get a front seat ride, go again.
As you exit Hulk, get an express pass for noon.
Ride Spiderman, and Dr. Doom, they will be walkons.
Continue to Rip Saw Falls then Popeye. You'll be soaked, but dry off. Then to Jurrassic Park.
On to Deuling Dragons. Eat lunch at Oak tavern near Dueling Dragons.

Afternoon: Catch Sindbad show and then go to Poiseden's.
Now head back to the front of the park again.
Go on Dr. Doom and Spiderman using single rider lines.
Use your express pass for Hulk.

Just wanted to add: if you stay onsite you will have front of the line access and won't need any touring guide.
 
wow! havent looked at the maps to see where things are located but this sounds like it could work
thanks
 
Both parks are in a circle around water( kind of like world showcase in Epcot.) I set up the ride sequences so they are all next to each other. With Universal, you'll start at the back and work to the front going mostly counter clockwise. The reason you don't start at the front in universal is because MIB has the longest wait time at Universal (except for Shrek which is busy right when the park opens as everyone heads to Shrek first so you'll get an express pass for that when you first enter.)



At IoA, you start at the front at Hulk and go clockwise around. Hulk is busy but it moves fast when it first opens in the morning, same with Spiderman. The lines at Hulk and Spiderman get long in the afternoon.
 
thank you sooooo much
Now Im looking forward to our Universal/IOA days even more!
I have a plan - yahoo
 
I think from your post you are staying at the Loew's Royal Polynesian Resort.

I assume you know that gives you "front of the line" express priviliges with no waiting, no planning. We just got back and it was AWESOME. We rode everything as much as we wanted to, no circling back, no planning at all!

Important NOte: You can "check in" early morning of your arrival date to get your room key so you can use the express hotel privilege that day as well. We checked in at 7:00 a.m., got the keys, took the hotel's water taxi to the park, stayed there until 4:00, then back to the hotel and into our room. (Your room probably won't be ready for your early "check in", but you get the keys no matter what.)

We were in Tower 3, which was the furthest from the pool/water taxi. I would ask for Tower 2 (middle), or 1 (probably the best views). In any case, ask for a pool view.

ALSO IMPORTANT: Go to the website and join the Loews frequent stay club. This gets you free newspaper, and free "goodie" when you check in - we got a lovely bottle of vintage wine and a large basket of gourmet nuts. It is free to join.

My kids 10 & 11 loved everything, even the Hulk which they were afraid of initially.
 
in that schedule where do we fit in the new Mummy ride?
 
Mummy is just past Earthquake but right before you get to twister. If it is open when you go, you better get an express pass first thing in the morning, before anything. If you have FOTL because you are staying at an onsite hotel, don't worry. If not, get that express pass soon.
 












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