Get to park at opening??????

[lisareneeo]

O.K. We have only been to Disney and do try to get to the park (or some of the parks) during our stay fairly early even at opening. Is this necessary at US/IOA? We will be staying at HRH so we will have front of the line pass.
We will be going at the end of Oct...10/29-11/4.
It would be so nice to sleep in and still get to do everything.
My kids are 12 & 10 and will want to ride and see everything!

We also plan on a day at Sea World and maybe Aquatica so we will probably try to be at those parks early since we only have 1 day each.

Thanks!
Lisa

 

[Metro West]

O.K. We have only been to Disney and do try to get to the park (or some of the parks) during our stay fairly early even at opening. Is this necessary at US/IOA? We will be staying at HRH so we will have front of the line pass.
We will be going at the end of Oct...10/29-11/4.
It would be so nice to sleep in and still get to do everything.
My kids are 12 & 10 and will want to ride and see everything!

We also plan on a day at Sea World and maybe Aquatica so we will probably try to be at those parks early since we only have 1 day each.

Thanks!
Lisa

If you're staying onsite, there's no need to be there at opening for two reasons: 1) FOTL will push you ahead of the lines and 2) the parks aren't usually busy that time of year. BUT...in the afternoons, you will start seeing the crowds build for HHN those nights.

So go ahead and sleep in.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

If you want to ride the Pteranadon Flyers ride, you'll have to be at IOA at park opening. There's only a small window (usually less than 1hr) when adults can ride without children under 56" in their group.

Other than that, relax, sleep in, and go at your leisure.

 

[tlrotzoll]

Great question. I was wondering the same thing for our early-mod Nov trip.

 

[EmmaLuvsPooh]

So if you do have children under 56" is Pteranadon Flyers busy during the day?

 

[the Dark Marauder]

So if you do have children under 56" is Pteranadon Flyers busy during the day?

Extremely. There are only 3 birds, each bird hold two people. Average wait times can be 45-60 mins, even during the slow time!

 

[lisareneeo]

Are the Pteranadon Flyers worth the wait?

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Only if the wait is 20 mins or less. Otherwise, no, don't bother with it.

 

[ky07]

 

[Chipmunk89]

We waited a little over two hours to ride PF. My five year old was SO tired he fell asleep while we were in line. When it was finally our turn to load, I tried to wake him up. But no luck. So, he rode the ride while he was asleep. Maybe this year he'll be awake to remember it.

 

[macraven]

Are the Pteranadon Flyers worth the wait?

i rode it last year twice

its worth the wait if under 20 minutes just for the view alone.

 

[macraven]

i stay on site at hrh but still get over to the parks and in line around 8:15.

when the lines grow, the guests usually and unofficially are let in around 8:30ish. not everything is opened that early though.

Hulk and spidey usually are on the IOA side.
i love the first thing in the morning there.
the morning mist on the hulk ride is an experience.


i do the parks from 8:30 until 11ish. stop and take a lunch break.

it is usually around that time that the guests from the onsite hotels are coming in and so are the day guests.

i go back to the hotel around 3 to change and then return for HHN around 4.

when i go in october, i go when hhn is offered.

on those event days, the parks start to get crowded around 3 in the afternoon


i like the parks empty in the morning so i get the best pictures there.
it's quieter, empty and very clean looking.

no rushing, no strollers at my heels and very peaceful atmosphere.
by going early, i take the regular lines for spiderman, MIB, dr doom and the mummy.
you miss a lot of the ambiance and story line when you bypass the regular way. i enjoy what universal creators have done in the line ques for us.
going early lets me enjoy that part of being in line at still a fast pace

the crowds don't bother me as you might think they do.
i just prefer doing the parks when it is bare for my picture taking and repeat rides early.

at crowd time i use my fotl and have zero wait times.

 

[lisareneeo]

Thanks everyone!

 

[tlrotzoll]

Do we know the park hours for Nov yet or is it like WDW & they don't post those until 6 months out?

 

[Metro West]

Do we know the park hours for Nov yet or is it like WDW & they don't post those until 6 months out?

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Do we know the park hours for Nov yet or is it like WDW & they don't post those until 6 months out?

Nov hours are generally 9-6 during the week and 9-7 on weekends. For Turkey Day weekend, that Fri-Sun are usually 9-8 or 9-9.

 

[tlrotzoll]

 

[amystevekai&bump]

We are there for 2 days next month (May 13th and 14th) and also staying onsite. We have 2 small kids so the coasters aren't our priority, I guess we don't need to rush around either, or is it busy in May???

 

[macraven]

when you stay on site, you are all set for the little or no wait in lines at universal.


i like to get there early to take pics

i have been there around mid may before and have not had any issues with crowds.

 

[sha_lyn]

no rushing, no strollers at my heels and very peaceful atmosphere.
by going early, i take the regular lines for spiderman, MIB, dr doom and the mummy.
you miss a lot of the ambiance and story line when you bypass the regular way. i enjoy what universal creators have done in the line ques for us.

ITA...I also like to hit the regular line for DD and ride the front row of both DD and hulk. I also like to take in the ambiance/details of the parks that are missed when the parks start filling up