First night advice needed!

[ready4mouse]

Hi there!
I'm looking for a little advice...

We'll be arriving for our first ever Universal vacation at the end of April. We'll be there for 3 nights/4days. (2 adults, 3 kids) Our first day we should be landing at MCO around 11:30 and will rent a car to drive to US.

We're staying at PBH. We have tickets for at 7:30 show of the Blue Man Group on our first night. My question is, do you think we should just hang at the hotel and swim before BMG or swim in the afternoon and head into US or IOA for a few rides/walk around before we head to the show?

 

[keishashadow]

Landing @ MCO @ 11:30 pm, then waiting for luggage & grabbing car + drive to PB will probably get u to resort by 12:30 - 1:00 pm ish.

There is no guarantee u will get into your hotel room before official checkin time (it's never happened to us). That said, they will store ur luggage & call u when the room is ready.

You will have your room keys so you can utilize the pool, myself, i can't wait to hit the parks

if u have the 7 day tix, no problem to catch a couple of quick rides, early dinner & then back to hotel to settle in ur luggage before catching the show...enjoy

 

[suzu]

It all depends on your tickets. If you want to save for a "full day" in the parks why not check out City Walk or go for a swim in the pool. Grab an early dinner and then head to your Blue Man Group show.

 

[ready4mouse]

It all depends on your tickets. If you want to save for a "full day" in the parks why not check out City Walk or go for a swim in the pool. Grab an early dinner and then head to your Blue Man Group show.

Oh yea- I should have mentioned that I have 7 day unlimited tix (locked them in at $99 on my package just before the increase!)

 

[ready4mouse]

You will have your room keys so you can utilize the pool, myself, i can't wait to hit the parks

if u have the 7 day tix, no problem to catch a couple of quick rides, early dinner & then back to hotel to settle in ur luggage before catching the show...enjoy

See- this is what I can't wrap my head around for this trip- the ability to "catch a few rides" and still have time to get back to my hotel... we're so used to it taking a long time to get anywhere around WDW, I don't think I understand that things are closer/easier to get to at US. But, from what I'm reading that's how it seems to be?

 

[Purseval]

You can take a short water taxi from the hotel and be at the park in minutes so you can easily go back and forth.

 

[ky07]

See- this is what I can't wrap my head around for this trip- the ability to "catch a few rides" and still have time to get back to my hotel... we're so used to it taking a long time to get anywhere around WDW, I don't think I understand that things are closer/easier to get to at US. But, from what I'm reading that's how it seems to be?

Since you have only been to Disney you will be amazed on how close the parks are together and nothing like disney where you have to do some serious planing since the parks are so spread out

 

[pixeegrl]

See- this is what I can't wrap my head around for this trip- the ability to "catch a few rides" and still have time to get back to my hotel... we're so used to it taking a long time to get anywhere around WDW, I don't think I understand that things are closer/easier to get to at US. But, from what I'm reading that's how it seems to be?

Trust me! It's very do-able!

 

[Purseval]

We have annual passes so there have been times when we've headed over to the parks just to go for a walk and peoplewatch.

 

[Carl4628]

Your room may not be ready; it may be easier to store your bags and hit the parks. Staying at PBH allows for express privileges in the parks. You can actually accomplish quite a bit in a short period of time. Express seems to really take the stress out your vacation.

 

[keishashadow]

See- this is what I can't wrap my head around for this trip- the ability to "catch a few rides" and still have time to get back to my hotel... we're so used to it taking a long time to get anywhere around WDW, I don't think I understand that things are closer/easier to get to at US. But, from what I'm reading that's how it seems to be?

trust me, the next time you're @ Disney you won't help but remember how easy U is to navigate, combine it w/FOTL and all that commando planning mentality goes out the windowexcept for those of us that are hard-wired that way

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Keep in mind that your kids will be able to see the rides from the BMG building. Do you think they will be okay skipping rides they can see? I know my DS wouldn't have been when he was younger. You should have time to do a little of everything (swim, ride, & see the show). If not, you'll have plenty time on your full days to swim. We go back & forth to the parks multiple times a day. My DH & DS usually hit the parks for a couple rides, while I get ready for dinner. Yes, it's that close.

PBH is a little further from the parks than the other resorts. IMHO, it's also the nicest of the 3, so I guess it's a tradeoff. For comparison, have you ever stayed in an Epcot resort? The boat ride from BWI/YC/BC to DHS is comparable to the boat ride between PBH & Citywalk. From CW, you can see both parks.

 

[JAL2525]

We usually get in about the same time and always head over to the parks and have a late lunch. We'll take in some rides and usually get our call for the room shortly after that. You should definitely be able to get in some park time before the BMG.