How much planning?

[sadossey]

Just booked RPH for five nights the first week of June. Been to WDW last 2 yrs and did a lot of planning for park days, timing, etc. This is our first trip to US/IOA so we don't know what to expect. My question is: being that HP expansion will probably not be open yet and we will have unlimited EP, will we be able to do the parks without too much stress and planning? The crowd predictor for our week showed moderate crowds.

 

[AustinWells]

Just booked RPH for five nights the first week of June. Been to WDW last 2 yrs and did a lot of planning for park days, timing, etc. This is our first trip to US/IOA so we don't know what to expect. My question is: being that HP expansion will probably not be open yet and we will have unlimited EP, will we be able to do the parks without too much stress and planning? The crowd predictor for our week showed moderate crowds.

You should be perfect to do everything multiple times. With the unlimited EP, you will be able to do it all.. only two parks and they are growing, but not as much to do as disney IMO, but more thrill rides at US/IOA...but i would hit harry potter first thing and work your way back to the front from there in IOA. At US, you can tour how you want, ive never seen it matter in my plans where i started there

unlimited EP's are the way to go

Have fun!

 

[damo]

Planning? You don't need no stinkin' planning.




I think that Diagon Alley will probably be open for softs by then.

 

[sadossey]

Thanks. My biggest concern is all the reviews that say the parks are not good for kids. Mine will be my daughter who is 7 (tall enough to ride anything that she would actually want to) and my son who will be 4 and between 40-41" with shoes on. He loves the super hero stuff and is more of a daredevil type and would get on the Hulk if they let him. Hoping he can grow a bit to get the 42" mark. Also can't decide between 2 day park-park or 3 day single park tix. We definitely want at least one day to relax, pool hop and do city walk.

 

[damo]

Thanks. My biggest concern is all the reviews that say the parks are not good for kids. Mine will be my daughter who is 7 (tall enough to ride anything that she would actually want to) and my son who will be 4 and between 40-41" with shoes on. He loves the super hero stuff and is more of a daredevil type and would get on the Hulk if they let him. Hoping he can grow a bit to get the 42" mark. Also can't decide between 2 day park-park or 3 day single park tix. We definitely want at least one day to relax, pool hop and do city walk.

Meh. Lots of kids love it. There are many things for the kids that people just skip over like the Jurassic Discovery Centre and the Jurassic Park playground, the Sinbad Show, the Animal Actors Show, the Curious George Playground, Me Ship the Olive,..... Things like that make it so much fun but many people just focus on rides. I'm sure they'll love Despicable Me, Shrek, the Cat in the Hat and the other Seuss Rides. My niece's favourite was ET even though she had no clue who ET was! It is all what you make of it!

 

[RMulieri]

Thanks. My biggest concern is all the reviews that say the parks are not good for kids. Mine will be my daughter who is 7 (tall enough to ride anything that she would actually want to) and my son who will be 4 and between 40-41" with shoes on. He loves the super hero stuff and is more of a daredevil type and would get on the Hulk if they let him. Hoping he can grow a bit to get the 42" mark. Also can't decide between 2 day park-park or 3 day single park tix. We definitely want at least one day to relax, pool hop and do city walk.

We first brought my daughter at age 8 and she was a very timid, very short for her age kid..She had a BLAST and she didnt even ride alot of the scarier stuff..Dont underestimate it for kids..

 

[2PreciousBlessings]

I was in your shoes last year. Our first trip to Universal was the 3rd week of June, and I was scared I hadn't "planned" enough. When we do Disney, I'm the girl who has dining reservations 6 months out, a complete binder in hand with park information, minute to minute itineraries, etc. Total commando. Universal was such a different experience!!!! We spent 5 nights at RPR, we saw everything AND did something I've not been able to do at Disney: relax and go with the flow!! One day, we spent over an hour at mystic fountain eating popcorn and watching our kids play in the water. We let our kids (8 and 10) ride the rides as many times as they wanted! We spent a lot of time relaxing at the resort pool!! (Kids LOVED the water cannons at RPR!!) We ate wherever and whenever we wanted... Without making a single reservation!! Best.Vacation.Ever!! I will never convince my dh to go back to Disney, and I don't want to!! And don't worry about your kids being too young... there is a ton for them to see and do!!! Have fun!!!

 

[sadossey]

I was in your shoes last year. Our first trip to Universal was the 3rd week of June, and I was scared I hadn't "planned" enough. When we do Disney, I'm the girl who has dining reservations 6 months out, a complete binder in hand with park information, minute to minute itineraries, etc. Total commando. Universal was such a different experience!!!! We spent 5 nights at RPR, we saw everything AND did something I've not been able to do at Disney: relax and go with the flow!! One day, we spent over an hour at mystic fountain eating popcorn and watching our kids play in the water. We let our kids (8 and 10) ride the rides as many times as they wanted! We spent a lot of time relaxing at the resort pool!! (Kids LOVED the water cannons at RPR!!) We ate wherever and whenever we wanted... Without making a single reservation!! Best.Vacation.Ever!! I will never convince my dh to go back to Disney, and I don't want to!! And don't worry about your kids being too young... there is a ton for them to see and do!!! Have fun!!!

Thanks! That is what I needed to hear. We had a lot of fun doing WDW but I got tired of dining reservations, catching busses, be here, be there. I think this is gonna be more of a vacation! I'm looking forward to a day to see the other resorts and pools which of course is a no no at DW. And staying at a deluxe hotel for not much more than the values at Disney!!

 

[AustinWells]

Thanks. My biggest concern is all the reviews that say the parks are not good for kids. Mine will be my daughter who is 7 (tall enough to ride anything that she would actually want to) and my son who will be 4 and between 40-41" with shoes on. He loves the super hero stuff and is more of a daredevil type and would get on the Hulk if they let him. Hoping he can grow a bit to get the 42" mark. Also can't decide between 2 day park-park or 3 day single park tix. We definitely want at least one day to relax, pool hop and do city walk.

just got back from 3 days at universal last week and we did every ride at least 5 times without the express pass. so i don't think you'll have a problem at all! lol

 

[glocon]

Just so you know- three days last week will be quite different then the first week of June. If the Hogwarts express is up and running for softs, you will need a park to park ticket for that.

 

[mjohnson96]

Both my kids have been going since before birth and they just love it. DD now 11 loved the mystic fountain and was her favorite place to go and interact with him. when youngest DD now 4 was 2 and already 38 inches so could ride many things and I still remember the first ride was FOTH and she sat down and immediately put her hands up in the air

My oldest DD lost her first tooth on one fish two fish and I took it to one of the vendors on citywalk while she was napping and they put it in a vial with her name on rice. She still talks about the tooth fairy leaving it for her and it is in my jewelry cabinet now as a great reminder. I really hope my youngest one loses her tooth during a trip but at least near one so I can do the same thing.

DH is also one that will go with us to Universal every year but refuses to go to WDW. He went once and that was good for him But he enjoys staying onsite at US and relaxing and having fun with the kids. To him WDW is just to much planning (I also have the big binder).