First trip

[SprExcited]

Hello everyone, this is my first post so I will try to make it easy to follow.

We are going to be making our first trip to anything Disney for Christmas .

To that end I have some questions and would welcome and suggestions, tips, tricks or things to avoid.

The basics are that we are from the Hamilton area of Ontario, we will be traveling to the Orlando area (we are driving with our travel trailer and staying in a local campground, Lake Louisa State Park) and we plan on arriving Christmas Eve. We are a family of 3, our daughter is 12 and she is a HUGE Harry Potter fan. We also have a dog.

Our plan is to hit IOA on Christmas day as we have read that perhaps this is our best shot and avoiding massive crowds. Then we will hit Universal on the 26th. We also plan on using the dog kennels on site.

We've never been to anything Disney before, but we frequent theme parks (this year we've visited Darien Lake and Hershey Park for example) so the concept is familiar enough.

I plan on buying our tickets online today and printing them.

While I don't have specific questions right now perhaps some of the more veteran park users could chime in to let us know what we are in for.

 

[TheWog]

First, welcome to the boards. Second, prepare for crowds. Busy time of year. If you can get the express passes that would help with some of the lines at Universal. Disney uses a FastPass system that you should learn how to use. There are return windows, but you can only have one at a time, etc. Good luck.

 

[macraven]

if you are going to IOA on Dec 25th and the 26th, be prepared for crowds and long waits.

the express passes will be expensive for those 2 days if you chose to buy them.
they will only be valid for the park you buy them and only can use them one time per ride/attraction.

FJ does not have express lines.


regarding the usage for the dog kennel:




Kennel Boarding

For the convenience of our guests, we provide a daytime kennel at our Parking Facility.
The fee is $15.00 per pet*

Premier Passholders receive 50% off for first pet on day of visit, and full price for any additional pets (subject to availability). Guests should bring food and plan to visit their pet at least once during the day.
Please call (407) 224-9509 for further details.

*Prices are subject to change.

No native or exotic species are allowed in the kennels. Prior to boarding, all Guests are required to show records of vaccination, (for dogs, Rabies, D.H.P.P. and Bordetella: for Cats; Rabies, Panieukopena, Rhinotracheitus and Calcirus).

 

[SprExcited]

Thanks for the info thus far, please keep the suggestions coming. The Express Pass for the 25th for IOA would be 49.99 per person, OUCH. It's not something that I'd purchase ahead of time because we are not 100% sure that we will make it on Christmas day, although we hope so.

We are going to try and get one meal at Three Broomsticks. Will I require reservations for this? Or do they even take them at that time of year?

 

[macraven]

ressies usually needed for breakfast.
walk ups are possible, see the TM standing outside the 3 B's to inquire about a wait list.
the breakfast is prepaid when making the ressie.

for the rest of the day, go early and stand in line.
no ressie needed after breakfast.


that is the way it has been but do not know if any changes are ever made for this during the crowded time periods.


don't buy the epp until you are in the park.
you might find that you can use the single rider lines and bypass long waits in the regular line.

do what you can after you do potter.
if you find lines too long for you, then buy the epp.
you can only use them once per ride/attraction.

 

[macraven]

don't be shy to use the single rider lines.
on some of the rides, you really can't carry on much of a conversation during the ride.
by using them, you can cut your wait time for a ride in half.

 

[SprExcited]

Fantastic point about the single rider lines. I wasn't sure whether or not Disney had them.

I hadn't planned on buying the EPP until the day we arrived anyway, if we thought it necessary. At 50 per person that is way more than we wanted to spend for the day anyway. As long as we get to visit the wizarding world we'll be happy...

I'll be buying the tickets tomorrow!!!!

Has anyone visited Lake Louisa State Park?

 

[Albytaps]

Even waiting on line without express pass, you will be able to do everything in IOA. There is not that many rides (compared to a park like Magic Kingdom) so you'll be able to ride everything. Get there early, go straight to WWOHP, and get on line for FJ. FJ is something you will not want to miss and may have the longest line in the park. I would suggest waiting on the line and not taking the single rider for that until you've been on it at least once.

Get the frozen butterbeer, it's alot better than the cold version. (It's delicious!)

I didn't think Ollivander's was worth waiting for... but if your heart is set on seeing it, get ready to wait in the worst line ever. Some people say you should do that first. Check the line as you walk by... if you see it snaking a little already, you'll be waiting. If there's only a few people on it, by all means hop on it.

Enjoy your trip! Hopefully the crowds don't bother you much.

 

[cigar95]

Fantastic point about the single rider lines. I wasn't sure whether or not Disney had them.

One thing to be sure you're clear on before you arrive, just so there's no confusion - Universal and Disney are two separate resorts, two separate companies, with no connection between them. They are very much in competition with each other. (Your posts were written in such a way that it sounds like you might be lumping them both together - not an uncommon mistake, believe us.)

I'd hate for you to make a purchase of some sort from one and figure it could somehow be used at the other.

If there's any doubt about the relationship between the two companies, just listen carefully to the commentary the TMs provide while you're in the pre-show area at Shrek!

 

[Bonniec]

Get the frozen butterbeer, it's alot better than the cold version.

I'd get one of each. I actuall prefer the non frozen but it depends on my mood, lol.



I am excited for you to come on your first trip! My advice is to be prepared for VERY intense crowds. This whole fall season has been much busier than normal. Christmas will be crazy! Normally you'd have no problems covering IOA on a regular day but you may not get to it all on a holiday. Even on a slow day, Forbidden Journey can be an hour. On busier days, they actually fill the HP land to capacity and give you a ticket to come back at a certain time (kind of like a Disney Fast Pass)...and that's just to get into the land!

Even with express passes, there might be some wait for rides on a Holiday. BTW, if you can get a Universal hotel room for the night (one of the 3 places), you get complimentary express passes. Even though rooms are pricey, it might be cheaper for you. IF they have any openings. I tried for New Years Eve and they are sold out.

That being said, all of the parks are really magical looking during the Holidays. I think you will have a blast even if you don't get to ride everything. Just be prepared about the crowds and have the right mindset.

 

[SprExcited]

cigar95, no worries I was aware of the fact Universal and Disney were seperate. Before planning for this trip I didn't know that, well I knew little about Disney in general as we never even considered a trip there before.

The reading I have done (it seems I've read enough to last me a lifetime...) definitely leaves me wondering if Olivander's will be worth the wait, but I'll let my daughter steer the ship on that one. Our plan is to head right into WWOHP and likely head for FJ first thing. After that all bets are off...

As for the crowds, well that is what it is right? Not like we can control them. We'll take our time, and have fun; after all that is why we are going right?

As for the lines, a question are there any activities, television screens etc in the queues themselves? In other parks we've been in there are things in the queue area to help keep you occupied while waiting.

Bonniec, we are driving from Ontario and we are towing our travel trailer and will be staying in a campground as this trip is split between Universal and camping so a hotel is not in the cards. We don't enjoy hotels on our vacations anyway.

Side question (I apologize if this is out of bounds) but is Kennedy Space Centre worth it? That is another activity we are planning on.

Thanks so much everyone! Our excitement is growing every day. I can just taste the Butterbeer already!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[islandtimect]

Thanks for The tips, our family is doing our first US trip in Presidents weekend.
I'm assuming it'll be crowdwd, especually with Mardu Gras and Kelly Clarkson performing.

 

[cigar95]

If you're at all interested in the space program, then KSC is a no-brainer. (I grew up during the Gemini and Apollo programs, so going there was like the best thing in the history of the universe.)

And if anyone in the family is more than just a little interested, then I'd recommend adding the "KSC Up Close" tour, which gives you a much more detailed tour, including (temporarily, at least) a chance to go inside the gigantic Vehicle Assembly Building, a building so huge they actually get clouds in there, and a (relatively) close visit to the shuttle launch pads that the regular tour doesn't get.

 

[AJA]

Hello and welcome

I'm sure you will have a great time. My SIL usually stays at the Disney camp grounds with their RV and they love camping in Orlando.

You've gotten some great advice so far. I'll only add to keep asking any questions you might have. There are so many helpful people on the forum. We used the Dis a lot before our first trip.

...and another vote for the FROZEN butterbear, it is delish!

 

[macraven]

Fantastic point about the single rider lines. I wasn't sure whether or not Disney had them.

I hadn't planned on buying the EPP until the day we arrived anyway, if we thought it necessary. At 50 per person that is way more than we wanted to spend for the day anyway. As long as we get to visit the wizarding world we'll be happy...

I'll be buying the tickets tomorrow!!!!

Has anyone visited Lake Louisa State Park?

universal has some single rider lines.

disney does not have single rider lines.

 

[lvdis]

universal has some single rider lines.

disney does not have single rider lines.

Last time I was at Disney they had some single rider lines. We used them at Test Track (Epcot), Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom) and Rock N Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios). Although I have to admit the one at Rock N Roller coaster didn't work very well. We almost always use it at Test Track though, it's so much faster.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Bonniec, we are driving from Ontario and we are towing our travel trailer and will be staying in a campground as this trip is split between Universal and camping so a hotel is not in the cards. We don't enjoy hotels on our vacations anyway.

Hi SprExcited,

We too are planning our first trip to Universal & IOA, and as fellow Canuks, we share in your excitement!!! We arrive just after you do (Dec 31 for us).

Just a suggestion about the express passes and onsite hotel. If you are considering purchasing express passes to avoid the lines, do find out what one night at an onsite hotel would cost. Here's why:

When you spend one night at an onsite hotel, you get express passes for your entire family for two consecutive days (day of check in and day of check out). You also get 1 hour early entry to Harry Potter both days. The express passes included in the hotel rate are unlimited, so you can do the rides with express entry as many times as you want.

When you buy the stand-alone express passes, they are only good for one day AND they are only good for one time at each eligible attraction. And no early entry to HP.

We have reserved a room at the Royal Pacific for one night, but don't intend to sleep there (we will return to our one bedroom suite at our hotel on I -Drive). However, it was cheaper to rent a room for one night and get unlimited front of the line access for two days than it was to buy express passes for two days (and there are only 3 of us....for larger families, the value would have been even greater). And we have a place to take a break during the day if we need to collapse on the bed and recharge.

At any rate, if express passes are a consideration, I just wanted to suggest you price it out. It might be a much better value to get a room rather than paying for the express passes a la carte.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas vacation!!!!

 

[SprExcited]

Tickets have been purhcased! We went with 2 day single park tickets.

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina while I understand what you are saying re: hotel, hotels really aren't our thing. We much rather sleeping our own beds. Besides meals have be factored in when talking the cost of hotels. In our trailer we eat our own prepared food.

We are just over the moon with excitement!

 

[macraven]

Last time I was at Disney they had some single rider lines. We used them at Test Track (Epcot), Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom) and Rock N Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios). Although I have to admit the one at Rock N Roller coaster didn't work very well. We almost always use it at Test Track though, it's so much faster.

yup, you are correct.
i screwed up on that question.


i must have been drinking when i read and answered that post.

 

[zack123]

The reading I have done (it seems I've read enough to last me a lifetime...) definitely leaves me wondering if Olivander's will be worth the wait, but I'll let my daughter steer the ship on that one. Our plan is to head right into WWOHP and likely head for FJ first thing. After that all bets are off...

As for the lines, a question are there any activities, television screens etc in the queues themselves? In other parks we've been in there are things in the queue area to help keep you occupied while waiting.

There are videos of the Ollivander's show on youtube - you might be able to watch them and decide how long you're willing to wait to see the show live.

Some of the rides have better queues than others - the Forbidden Journey queue is actually inside Hogwarts castle, so there's plenty to look at. Some of the rooms have talking portraits or short videos featuring characters from the movies. A lot of the queues have video screens playing, but sometimes it's just the ride safety video, ie. sit in your seat, latch the restraints, etc.

Note if you use single rider/express lines, you skip most of the regular queue and so there isn't much to see in the single rider/express lines. If you use the single rider line for FJ, you can go on the castle tour later and see almost everything you skipped by not waiting in the regular line.

I did single rider lines for FJ (did the castle tour twice and regular line once), RRR, Mummy, MIB, Spiderman, Hulk, and maybe others (?) so I don't really know what those regular lines are like. But the single rider lines were so much faster, it was almost like having an unlimited FOTL pass for those rides - I could do the ride 5+ times in the amount of time it would have taken to see what was in the regular line and ride once. I was there during one of the slowest times of the year though - I imagine during Christmas when it is super busy, even the single rider lines involve a decent wait.