Going opposite of the crowds??

[jmsvss]

What does this mean at Universal/IofA? I've seen several people refer to this. Is it just going counter clockwise or is there more to it?

For those of you that have success with limited lines - I know you start early, eat at off times but do you have certain way you tour to avoid lines as well?

 

[phamton]

It's not really a direction but just watching where the crowd heads. For instance, if when you first enter the gates and see everyone headed toward Shrek, you just go to Mummy. Also watch when shows let out. When Fear Factor lets out, everyone heads for MIB. Do MIB before FF lets out. Just be aware of the crowds and wait times. If I go by Spiderman and the wait is 30 minutes, I skip it and try later on. I went the other day and Spiderman and Hulk were a walk ons while Dueling Dragon had a wait. Usually that is the opposite. I think it was because I didn't get there until late afternoon. Most had already done Spiderman and Hulk and were now at Dueling Dragons.

 

[disneygal55]

I have been coming to both Universal Studios and WDW since my honeymoon 20 years ago...yearly usually. I have always done the "going against the crowds" and sometimes it just was hopeless. I remember "sweating" to a two hour wait for Jaws and Back to the Future. The posts are saying that the waits are much improved...even without the express passes. I will continue to "go against the crowds" and hopefully find short waits in June.

 

[yaytezIOA]

I think Phamtom has the idea, if you go in the opposite direction and go where the crowds are not, you'll miss the crowds. But again, to get the best rides get there early.

 

[jmsvss]

Great! Thanks to everyone who so kindly share their knowledge and experiences. Personally, I really appreciate it.

 

[macraven]

just remember the well known secret that a lot of us are aware of......


go early


if the parks open at 9, be in line at 8:20/30.

if the lines are long, many times the park will open before the scheduled time.
i have been there when it has happened more than one or two times.


do notice that some attractions/rides will have a sign up for when they will open that day.

quite a few times for terminator 2, it will say, "open at 10"

 

[CosmoKramer]

if the parks open at 9, be in line at 8:20/30.

Gotta get up early to enjoy the parks in the mornings!

 

[macraven]

i can only speak on what i have personally experienced.
few families get up early in the morning during their vacations.
i have received pm's from people on the boards stating they do not have small children and want to avoid crowds. i figured i would just post openly in case that is the need of others here.

since not many go to the parks early, that is the time to go on as many rides as you wish without a wait. i have been to universal and stood in line for the entrance at the time mentioned and have been let in with the others in line.

even though i stay on site now, i prefer starting the parks when it opens, do an early lunch, people watch for awhile, do more rides, then go back to the hotel. if i am there during a hard ticket event such as hhn, i take a 2 hour break in the afternoon before i go back to the park.

for people that are staying on site, at the hotels across the street, i think near major blvd, it is a 10 minute walk. if you stay very far away and have to drive a distance to get to the parks, if you come early, you get closer parking spots in the garage and still beat the crowds that start up before lunch time.

as for "go opposite " of the crowds. it has been mentioned before on the threads. if you want to see shrek and it has a line of 20 minutes, go to mummy first. don't wait in a line when you can go on another ride that you had planned.

if your family wants to see 6 must do rides/attractions before lunch, bypass the ones where the crowds are and go on to the next ride . most people start their rides with the first attraction they see. others follow that pattern at times also. you can go straight or right for rides when at universal or at ioa you can go left or right for rides/attractions. when i stated go opposite of the flow, pick the side many are not walking towards. as for by passing rides, one could go to MIB first then travel back up to the front of the park.

i did not make any mention about express pass.
that system is a personal opinion and preference.
that's a whole different topic than what this thread has talked about

 

[robvia]

The early thing works, and is worth it. Yes, most people want to sleep in on vacation, and most don't think to wake up at normal time and get to the parks at 08:00am. But that's exactly what you have to do. You wouldn't believe how many people show up at 11am. So being there early gives you a 2 hour head start or 1 lap around the park of short waits. At 11am or noon, it's over, the crowd is there, and the major rides have long waits. I go back to my hotel room and rest. Or you can do smaller attractions, eat lunch, or catch a show.

 

[CosmoKramer]

The "get there early" thing works if you're willing to wake up early.

Some folks like to sleep in while on vacation, so the Express Passes are a terrific option for them.

 

[macraven]

CosmoKramer, i hear what you are saying but know what has worked for us and others.

if you prefer to go later in the day, you will run into more waits at the park.
if you drive to the park, then that is another headache sometimes for that line to get into the garage. the only thing that i have seen that stops the crowds are rainstorms.

some people sleep in on their vacations. i only have 3-4 days at universal so i don't sleep in. its the parks for me from opening to closing.
but, i love it when people wait to come to the parks at 11 or noontime, less waits for me.

we all want to avoid wasting time in lines.

 

[macraven]

 

[macraven]

jmsvss

hope some of us have been able to answer your question


i found this to be a delightful thread tonight.
everyone is so happy and cheerful.

 

[ksdave]

I guess I'm weird, but I do not understand people who spend alot of money to go on vacation, and then they sleep 10-12 hours per day. If I want to sleep, I just stay home, where I already have a nice comfortable bed. When I'm paying big bucks for airline tickets, limo/rental car, park tickets, etc., I want the maximum fun for my $$$. Like some here, we are "themepark commandos" and get as much as we can out of each trip. We usually judge a good vacation by how tired we are at the end. If we all fall asleep before takeoff going home, it was a good vacation. I can always sleep when I go back to work....

 

[lindalinda]

ksdave...you read my mind completely! Yes I want to have a relaxing vacation, but I dont want to sleep thru it! I am also not a shopper, I totally dont want to spend my time "browsing" while on vacation...I can do that at home ..

 

[macraven]

ksdave and lindalinda, count me as weird..........i do commando style at the parks.


i agree with both of you.
i always need a vacation to recover from my vacation when i get home.

i stay on site and always get to the gate way before opening time.

 

[shankles91]

The last trip to IOA , my family arrived at the parks 30 min before opening. The kids enjoyed looking at the park maps that they hand out at this time. It was a perfect time for us to plan out our day. Once the park opened, we headed straight for Hulk which my DH and DS were able ride as a walk on 4 times in a row! While they were on Hulk, I had time to take the two little ones on Stormforce multiple times. My DH doesn't like spinning rides so it works out great for us. All of this was accomplished by @ 9:20. A perfect way to start the day!!!