if u have the 5 day pass and are staying off-site

[simonfam76]

would you still get the express pass or is it possible to see all within the 5 days? i'm still in debate over this . we were kind of tired of disney after the third day and we had the park hopper pass with that for four days. so if it is possible and we are there at opening everyday can we wing it?

 

[robvia]

Yes, if you are there at opening each day, you can wing it and still see everything. As we head into the summer season, people show up to the gates early. By 08:30am, the line goes to the ticket booths. Be there early, and watch for an extra lane that will open up. Most of the time, people form a line in 1 or 2 lanes, yet all of them will usually open on one side. So you can walk right up to the front of one and be first.
Going into the park early, you'll have 2 hours of walk on rides before the crowds arrive at 11am. At noon, the place will be packed and you'll want to leave, eat lunch, go back to your room, rest, then come back at 4pm.

But yeah, you will easily see everything with 5 days. I'd even throw in a morning visit to SWF if you need more to do.

 

[simonfam76]

thank you we are staying at the best western movieland so I figure if we get up at 6:30 and go have breakfast somewhere we could easily make it to the park at 8:30 to wait for opening. I will get my tickets the day before we even attempt to go into the parks so that we don't have to wait in line to get those.
hope these last weeks fly by

 

[robvia]

You will be directly across from Wet N Wild (WnW) so you could hit that park one morning and do all the slides with no wait, then crash in the wave pool, and they have a beer stand to the side.
Look at this page, this is what you will see when you pull in. You hotel is behind the Black Angus.
http://www.nogodforme.com/directionstownw.htm
Tons of fast food places down the street. The largest McDonalds is right there if you want to try it out. Early in the morning, it might be ok to visit. During the day, it's a zoo.

The parking garage opens at 8am, and believe it or not, cars are waiting at 07:45. You have the right idea waking up at 06:30am, you'll be fine.

The lines at the ticket booths are not long first thing in the morning, but it still helps to get your tickets in advance.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Its very doable in 5 days. Last week was what I would call peak and as an example on Weds. we were at IOA turnstiles at opening which was 20 minutes before 9. The kids did Hulk (front row), we went to Spidey, Pteranadon Flyers, JPRA twice, DD twice, One Fish 2 Fish, Cat in The Hat and the kids re-rode Hulk. We went to lunch at NBA City and was seated at 11:15. At Universal you would hit Shrek first one day then maybe Jimmy Nuetron the next. Don't be afraid to skip an attraction that has an unreasonable queue. We went to ET about 10 one morning and the lines were way too long. A couple days later at the same time it was a walk on.
Staying at BW Movieland there is an IHOP at Universal Blvd and I-Drive or a Denny's a little farther north on I-Drive. Traffic on I-Drive can get bad at night between Universal Blvd and BWM. It has taken us 20 minutes to drive that half mile.
Try to be at the parking gates at 8.