Help!the two of us and four "teens" at ioa for the first time!

[snowwhitesmom]

Hi there!

I am looking for any and all advice - we are taking our two young adult children and two of their friends to IOA for the first time. We went by ourselves a year ago to see WWoHP, but really don't know our way around. We are going on a Monday in February, are NOT staying onsite, and plan on staying the WHOLE day.
When to arrive at gate?
How much is parking?
Is meal deal worth it for us? {All 4 are good eaters}

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Metro West]

Hi there!

I am looking for any and all advice - we are taking our two young adult children and two of their friends to IOA for the first time. We went by ourselves a year ago to see WWoHP, but really don't know our way around. We are going on a Monday in February, are NOT staying onsite, and plan on staying the WHOLE day.
When to arrive at gate?
How much is parking?
Is meal deal worth it for us? {All 4 are good eaters}

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

You should arrive about 30 minutes prior to park opening...not too much earlier since February is pretty slow. Parking is $15.00 per day and I think with four teens, the meal deal is worth it if you plan to eat three meals in the parks. Check the park hours since they will probably close between 6-7pm so you won't have much time for dinner. The meal deal is better when the parks are open late. You can decide on that later.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

You should arrive about 30 minutes prior to park opening...not too much earlier since February is pretty slow. Parking is $15.00 per day and I think with four teens, the meal deal is worth it if you plan to eat three meals in the parks. Check the park hours since they will probably close between 6-7pm so you won't have much time for dinner. The meal deal is better when the parks are open late. You can decide on that later.

Thanks so much for the quick response and very useful advice. Any more tips, anyone?

 

[zack123]

Hi there!

I am looking for any and all advice - we are taking our two young adult children and two of their friends to IOA for the first time. We went by ourselves a year ago to see WWoHP, but really don't know our way around. We are going on a Monday in February, are NOT staying onsite, and plan on staying the WHOLE day.
When to arrive at gate?
How much is parking?
Is meal deal worth it for us? {All 4 are good eaters}

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I think the previous tips are good. The only thing I might add, is that only a few restaurants participate in the meal deal. They are:

USO:
Mel’s Drive-In
Louie's Italian Restaurant
International Food and Film Festival - Asian, Italian, and American Food

IOA:
Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous™
Comic Strip Cafe®
The Burger Digs®

You might want to see if their menus/reviews are posted in the food sticky, and decide if you would be happy eating only at those places, or if you'd rather eat somewhere else.

The food sticky also has prices for a lot of the restaurants - you can add up how much you'd eat in one day and decide if the $20-$25 for the meal deal is worth the money.

You can check park closing times here: http://www.universalorlando.com/Resort-Information/Theme-Park-Hours.aspx to see if the park will be open late enough for you to get dinner in before you leave. Many of the restaurants close 30 minutes earlier than the park.

If they also drink a lot of sodas, you might consider the souvenir cups - you can buy them for $7-$10 in the parks, and get refills for $0.85 each all day. Normally each drink costs $2.50+.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

I think the previous tips are good. The only thing I might add, is that only a few restaurants participate in the meal deal. They are:

USO:
Mel’s Drive-In
Louie's Italian Restaurant
International Food and Film Festival - Asian, Italian, and American Food

IOA:
Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous™
Comic Strip Cafe®
The Burger Digs®

You might want to see if their menus/reviews are posted in the food sticky, and decide if you would be happy eating only at those places, or if you'd rather eat somewhere else.

The food sticky also has prices for a lot of the restaurants - you can add up how much you'd eat in one day and decide if the $20-$25 for the meal deal is worth the money.

You can check park closing times here: http://www.universalorlando.com/Resort-Information/Theme-Park-Hours.aspx to see if the park will be open late enough for you to get dinner in before you leave. Many of the restaurants close 30 minutes earlier than the park.

If they also drink a lot of sodas, you might consider the souvenir cups - you can buy them for $7-$10 in the parks, and get refills for $0.85 each all day. Normally each drink costs $2.50+.

Thank you - especially for the links!

 

[snowwhitesmom]

Any tips for managing WoHP early in the day? - {This is the main reason we are going} - Again, we are NOT staying onsite. Thanks in advance!

 

[Metro West]

Any tips for managing WoHP early in the day? - {This is the main reason we are going} - Again, we are NOT staying onsite. Thanks in advance!

Get there before opening as mentioned and then do Ollivanders first when the lines are shortest and then do Forbidden Journey. Those are the two main attractions everyone wants to see.

 

[macraven]

breakfast is not included in the meal deal.

i believe the cs places open either around 10:30 or 11:00.
the meal deal promo is not available 30 minutes prior to park closing.

beverages are not included in the meal deal.
that is a separate promo.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

breakfast is not included in the meal deal.

i believe the cs places open either around 10:30 or 11:00.
the meal deal promo is not available 30 minutes prior to park closing.

beverages are not included in the meal deal.
that is a separate promo.

Parking - how long to park, walk to gate on a February Monday, do you think?

 

[macraven]

Parking - how long to park, walk to gate on a February Monday, do you think?

the parking garage will open an hour prior to park opening.

if you drive there, be there early to avoid any long waits to park.

it could be about a 10 minute walk from parking your car to the park gate.


if you are not going on the monday MLK day, you should be fine with crowds.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

the parking garage will open an hour prior to park opening.

if you drive there, be there early to avoid any long waits to park.

it could be about a 10 minute walk from parking your car to the park gate.


if you are not going on the monday of presidents weekend, you should be fine with crowds.

unfortunately, it IS that Monday - everyone's schedule neccessitated it - I am hoping if we get there early, we won't have to get return tickets for WWoHP - we really need to plan well as we only have the one day. You have all been so wonderful - thank you!

 

[Southernmiss]

We ate counterservice for lunch while there in December.

I don't remember the name of the place, but it was a food court near the Simpson's ride at Universal Studios-not Islands of Adventure (where WWOHP is).
It was pretty good a meal with drink for about $10 with choices of pizza, hamburger, and American chinese.

Also, don't discount City Walk for your meals. It is right outside the parks and has more variety of places to eat both fast food type and sit down restaurants. We really enjoyed City Walk.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

We ate counterservice for lunch while there in December.

I don't remember the name of the place, but it was a food court near the Simpson's ride at Universal Studios-not Islands of Adventure (where WWOHP is).
It was pretty good a meal with drink for about $10 with choices of pizza, hamburger, and American chinese.

Also, don't discount City Walk for your meals. It is right outside the parks and has more variety of places to eat both fast food type and sit down restaurants. We really enjoyed City Walk.

Thanks for the tip - we will definitely check out City Walk - AFTER WWoHP!

 

[macraven]

unfortunately, it IS that Monday - everyone's schedule neccessitated it - I am hoping if we get there early, we won't have to get return tickets for WWoHP - we really need to plan well as we only have the one day. You have all been so wonderful - thank you!

Let me say that not all of the schools have the MLK day as a skool holiday. I know it is honored in the midwest and northern part of where i live.

We ate counterservice for lunch while there in December.

I don't remember the name of the place, but it was a food court near the Simpson's ride at Universal Studios-not Islands of Adventure (where WWOHP is).
It was pretty good a meal with drink for about $10 with choices of pizza, hamburger, and American chinese.

Also, don't discount City Walk for your meals. It is right outside the parks and has more variety of places to eat both fast food type and sit down restaurants. We really enjoyed City Walk.

that would be IFFF
international food film festival if i remember correctly.

the pizza there is good but many of us regulars like Louie's for pizza at the studios.
you can get a salad and slice of pizza for about $8 something.
if you have AAA, show it and get a 10% discount for food and merch in the parks and some of City Walk.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

Let me say that not all of the schools have the MLK day as a skool holiday. I know it is honored in the midwest and northern part of where i live.



that would be IFFF
international food film festival if i remember correctly.

the pizza there is good but many of us regulars like Louie's for pizza at the studios.
you can get a salad and slice of pizza for about $8 something.
if you have AAA, show it and get a 10% discount for food and merch in the parks and some of City Walk.

Thanks again! I really appreciate all the tips - please keep 'em coming!

 

[snowwhitesmom]

bumping!

 

[macraven]

Hi there!

I am looking for any and all advice - we are taking our two young adult children and two of their friends to IOA for the first time. We went by ourselves a year ago to see WWoHP, but really don't know our way around. We are going on a Monday in February, are NOT staying onsite, and plan on staying the WHOLE day.
When to arrive at gate? Be there early. 8:00 and wait until it opens at 9.
How much is parking? $15
Is meal deal worth it for us? {All 4 are good eaters}

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

since you don't know your way around the park, go to www.universalorlando.com and check out the layout of the park.

familiarize yourself with the location of the rides and paths to follow to get around in the park.
check out the eateries also.

the best way to potter is to go RIGHT once you leave the Port of Entry.
Confisco Grille will be on the corner, the last building when you come to the open area.
Turn Right...

(there is a short cut thru Green Eggs and Ham but i'll not go into that.)

go past Cat in the Hat ride.
the walkway sways to the left after that ride.
follow that path straight.
you will cross over a bridge where Dudley Do Right goes underneath.

you will come to JP.
just keep going.

(look at the park map on the UO website.)
you will run into HP quite easily.

you can enter/leave HP at two different places.
the way you enter is going through and pass Seuss.

the other way you leave/enter takes you to the other side of IOA.
you'll end up eventually in Marvel Land, near the front of the park.
you'll find Spiderman, Hulk, Dr Doom in this vicinity.


most of the places at IOA have good food and a nice selection.
Blondies is good if you like fresh made sandwiches.
i have eaten at every place in that park and also on the studio side.

I don't now how others feel but i don't do Captain America anymore.
i quit buying food there about 4 years back.
i had too many issues with the food.
management was good when i took the food back to the counter due to an issue. it was replaced but the replacement to me, wasn't an improvement.

if it has improved since then, i'm not aware of it.
i'm sure there are some that love that place as it is still in business and i do see lines there when i walk by.

i don't recommend the meal deal promo as you only have one day in the park.
it can be time consuming.
each time you want more food at the place, you have to go to the end of the line and order as you did the first time.
you want pizza and will only get one slice with the meal deal.
you want another slice, you need to return to the line.
if there are many in the restuarant, it will take up more time than necessary.

i do the meal deal only one day per visit.
but, i stay onsite for 9 days and have the time to wander, take pics and graze for a day.

i am thinking food will not be a priority but rides and attractions will for your one day.
if the 'kids' are big on soda, the beverage deal is good.
you buy the beverage deal and get refills on the cup all day.
only problem is, who will be taking care of those cups when they go on rides.
you need to be hands free for the rides.

you could rent a family locker in the front of the park to keep the mugs, snacks, change of clothes in case you do water rides, etc.
you can rent for an hour or by the day.

there are FREE lockers for Hulk and a few more rides.
some rides require no backpacks, mugs in your hands, etc.
therefore, your group can use them so they can do those rides.
you use those lockers before you get on the ride.


like others have said, go early to park.
you don't want to wait in the parking lot line for 30 minutes just to get into the garage. you are wasting time.

buy your tickets before you get to the park.
it saves you time.

be at the park gate and wait until the general public will be let in.

if the park is not crowded, it is possible, you might be let in a tad early.
this is not a guarentee, just a possibility.

if you have anymore questions, just ask.

do check out the UO website.
you will find answers to questions you didn't realize you had.


came back to add http://www.universalorlando.com/Restaurants/Islands-of-Adventure/Marvel-Dining.aspx to help you.

 

[kristilew]

Jumping in here because I am also trying to plan a day there, and am confused! Have never been to IOA or US.

macraven, thanks for your details! I'm wondering about the entrance to WWOHP - all I've been able to find before your post were echos of what is in the Unofficial Guide, which says that day guests must go left at Port of Entry and then queue up in Jur. Park area, to be admitted after resort guests.

Is this info outdated? We are going on Saturday, Jan 21 - will there even be long lines or will we be able to enter the area and then line up for attractions?

Sorry to sound so clueless, but I am in fact - clueless!

 

[macraven]

Jumping in here because I am also trying to plan a day there, and am confused! Have never been to IOA or US.

macraven, thanks for your details! I'm wondering about the entrance to WWOHP - all I've been able to find before your post were echos of what is in the Unofficial Guide, which says that day guests must go left at Port of Entry and then queue up in Jur. Park area, to be admitted after resort guests.

Is this info outdated? We are going on Saturday, Jan 21 - will there even be long lines or will we be able to enter the area and then line up for attractions?

Sorry to sound so clueless, but I am in fact - clueless!

i have only heard about day guests going to the left when potter first opened.
i think they TM's had to do that due to the crowds the first few months it was opened.
also heard it was used in a high volume day in the past.


when i went in October the year it opened, many of the day guests did go to the Right when they entered.
i know as i over slept and went in with the day visitor crowd.
we all went to the RIGHT.


Saturdays are always full of people.
many locals do go on the weekends.

the 17th is MLK day so i would assume the prior weekend would have larger crowds on the 14th. that would be the weekend prior to your day trip.

there have been times during the high period of summer that guests were issued a 'time pass' of when they could enter potterville.
that was due to the overcrowding inside the potter section.

i doubt you will encounter that when you go.

i suggest you read some of the past trip reports in the trip forum.
you can find some interesting things that people encounter and give their tips to make the day go smoothly.

and continue to ask here on the UO threads if you have more questions.

many of us are very happy to help with.
i try to base my answers on my personal experiences in the parks.

 

[moobear67]

I am also going on Jan 21st (first timer to US/IOA) and am wondering if it is worth it to pay for an onsite hotel to get front of the line privileges that day, or will the crowds be light enough that long lines shouldn't be a problem?