Is staying onsite REALLY necessary to avoid lines?

[JoyG]

Hi!
I just got back from 7 days at Disney (late August) where I arrived at the parks before opening and walked on to all the rides we really wanted to do. We obtained fastpasses for a few attractions that we wanted to come back to and we didn't wait for anything longer than 10 min. tops.

Now, I'm planning a trip to Universal Orlando for next summer, mid to late august. I'm wondering if it is REALLY necessary to stay onsite.

If I arrived at the parks when they opened would I be able to walk on rides like I did at Disney? I have very young children, so getting up early will not be a problem. We would only stay for half days anyway and leave for afternoon naps.

Does this type of touring plan work for Universal? Does anyone know anywhere we can buy touring plans for universal? I invested in tour guide mike for Disney and touringplans.com but what should I do for Universal?

Thanks
Joy

 

[Jamesbyr]

Universal, Sunday of Presidents' Weekend in February last year, I dropped my kids off at IOA 20 minutes before opening. By 2 PM, they had been on everything.

 

[robvia]

Yes, your plan is exactly what I preach to everyone here over and over.
Parking garage opens at 8am, roll up at 07:45am. Park your car, put on sun tan lotion, and walk to the gate. Stand near the front of a line.

The first two weeks of August are packed, it's a very busy time. But the kids go back to school, and the place becomes a ghost town after that. If you can come the 3rd or 4th week of August, you'll have no problem. School has been starting earlier and earlier. Parents are not happy about it, but the schools are all for it.

The crowds show up at 11am. Most people sleep in and get a late start.
If you are at the gate early, you can take a lap around the park getting walk on rides, then go back to your hotel and take a nap.

The only thing is the Universal parks don't stay open late near the end of August. They cut back the hours to 7 or 8am. That's ok, most kids are wiped out and happy to stay in the room, watch a kid movie, and go to bed early.

As for Touring Plans, Kelly Morghan has a book, and I've got web pages. Here's my attack plan, and at the bottom you can surf to my other Orlando pages for more info.
http://www.nogodforme.com/AttackPlan.htm

 

[JenniferW]

Thank you for sharing your plan, I was looking for something along those lines : )

Jenn