How important is Front of the Line access?

[deedeetoo]

We are thinking of doing US/IOA, Seaworld, and Discovery Cove next year instead of WDW. We've got 2 kids who will be 9 and 7. None of us are into the extreme roller coasters. We would probably be going the third week of April (school vacation week in MA). How important is FOTL during this time if you aren't doing the coaster rides?

Does FOTL make that much difference? I should add that we are completely unfamiliar with US. DH and I went many year ago before kids but I really can't remember that much.

The reason I ask is that the only reason we would want to stay onsite at Univeral is for FOTL access. I like some of the hotel options near Seaworld better and the pricing seems much more reasonable. We also don't want to switch mid trip - we like to go somewhere and get settled.

 

[keishashadow]

As I see you are DVC, have you considered visiting U on the weekend & staying onsite the 2 weekend nights...depending on the season; great AAA rates can be had for far less than a studio.

After seeing the regular lines the week before President's Day; our family unanimously decided FOTL was a must for us. MIB had huge lines as did Spiderman & many others. Can only imagine spring break

The U onsite resort stay is a whole 'nuther vibe; totally different than @ WDW & very relaxing. I like to think of it as a 2 for 1 vacation orthe best of both worlds.

 

[damo]

If it is spring break it will be busy and FOTL will be nice to have. You never absolutely have to have it, you can still wait in line. The earlier you go in the morning, the less time you will wait in ine.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Yeah, that time of year is busy! Figure some kids some places are on their spring break; other kids in other places are closing out their school years with group trips; then you've got various competitions at the end of April/beginning of May.

I don't go on the coasters, and FOTL is still necessary, IMO. We went 4/28 through 5/5, and Spiderman had a 70- to 90-minute wait. Ouch! I think it was the school groups, honestly, that really made the parks crowded. We spent a lot of time over at Epcot, too, and I don't recall seeing any school groups over there, and the parks were very light, 10 to 20-minute standby lines on the popular rides (Nemo, Soarin' & Test Track).

The only time of year I've ever felt FOTL was totally not necessary is the last week or two of September and the first couple weeks of December. We do stay offsite at those times, and we get to the parks between 10 a.m. and noon, and we walk on all the rides until the parks close.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I agree FOTL is a must -- we were not staying onsite, came to Universal, and actually bought it (1 pass per ride), because the lines were insane!

We learned our lesson, and we are staying onsite for our next trip. By the time you buy the FOTL (if it's even available), it isn't that much more than a comparable (Loew's) hotel. When it comes w/two adult length of stay passes free -- it was a no-brainer.

You do need it for things like Jimmy Neutron, MIB, Spiderman...I could go on and on, but the point is it's going to be much more pleasant if you aren't standing in long lines. Plus, your hotel is very close for an afternoon swim, and you can walk to dinner and back.

Don't think that MA vacation weeks are light -- we've been there done that, and there are crowds o'plenty!

 

[robvia]

Besides FOTL, the resort pools are really nice, plus when you stay onsite you "feel" like part of the action.

I've done both on a regular basis. I've stayed across the street at the Best Western to save money. It works if you show up early. The parks will probably open at 08:30am. That's a little secret the regulars around here know. Get to the parking garage at 8am and go in ahead of the crowd. You can tour a park in the morning, then leave when the "heard" or people show up at 11am.

Staying onsite also gives you a short walk to/from the parks. It's part of the entire experience and worth the splurge. The parks usually stay open until 10pm during spring break (the first two weeks of April), so it's nice being able to walk back and forth.

If you can get everyone up very early and be at the gate first, then offsite works. If you sleep in and can't get everyone moving, forget it, you'll need to stay onsite.

 

[BluOrchid2]

We are thinking of going to Universal on Labor Day week, 9/1 - 9/6 and we could save $100/night by staying at a very nice, all-suite resort offsite. Is the FOTL access that important at that time of year? I think it is considered the "low season" and so I wouldn't expect long lines at that time. Am I right?

 

[mesaboy2]

Zombie thread alert! The first six posts here are five years old. This has been a public service announcement.

We are thinking of going to Universal on Labor Day week, 9/1 - 9/6 and we could save $100/night by staying at a very nice, all-suite resort offsite. Is the FOTL access that important at that time of year? I think it is considered the "low season" and so I wouldn't expect long lines at that time. Am I right?

Labor Day weekend itself will probably see moderate crowds, but not much more. I think you're probably safe staying offsite. YMMV.

 

[BluOrchid2]

LOL @ zombie thread alert! This thread came up in a google search for "How important is FOTL access"....sorry! ;-P

Thanks for your input.

 

[mesaboy2]

LOL @ zombie thread alert! This thread came up in a google search for "How important is FOTL access"....sorry! ;-P

Thanks for your input.

No problem. Just trying to keep others from wasting time answering questions of people who are likely not going to read them. Except damo, who answers far more than asks anyway.

Labor Day weekend is historically the lightest-attended of the holiday weekends at any of the Orlando parks. But it is of course a holiday weekend. Planning on hitting Disney myself that weekend, as in the past our experience has been good that time of year.

 

[macraven]

Zombie thread alert! The first six posts here are five years old. This has been a public service announcement.

that was what i was thinking when a thread of 5 years starts to grow legs.


for those reading now, patterns have changed since then.

it's easier to create a new thread so current info can be passed on.