Jurassic Park Discovery Center Queue at busy times

[kathy884]

Hi. We'll be doing a one day visit to Universal/IOA on a busy spring break Sunday (park to park ticket). We'll be staying at one of the deluxe hotels the night before our day to get the early entry and FOL passes.

I have a subscription to touringplans.com too to see ride wait predictions. That's actually what got me to decide to do the onsite deluxe one night stay.

With the early entry to Diagon Alley it looks like it will just be e 20 minute or so wait for Gringotts and then we'll want to do some exploring there too before things get too packed with people. And with FOL most of the other attractions are practically walk on with two exceptions:

-- Forbidden Journey which we'll be dong after lunch has an estimated wait of about 45 minutes, which makes total sense to me, as, of course, FOL doesn't include this HP ride. And we can live with one longer wait, and besides the queue is reasonably interesting with the castle.

-- The other predicted longer wait (which was a surprise to me) was the Jurassic Park Discovery Center. Touring plans is predicting a 27 minute wait for this. We're big Jurassic Park fans and have even visited films locations in Kauai, HI so despite the wait definitely want to go here as well as doing the water ride. But I'm puzzled as to why so long a wait for the Discovery Center? I guess this gets backed up and people have to wait in line at busy times like spring break?? If anyone has more information and can tell me more about how this works that would be much appreciated.

Oh and FYI -- We were at Universal / IOA last week for a day and did really enjoy it. Hence the reason we're going to do a day here again on our next trip. DS 19 wants to show his dad who is a big fan of the HP books the parks, and DH wasn't with us on last week's trip. Also, by the time we got to the Discovery Center last week, though, it was already closed. DS was at this is 2008, but I've never been.

 

[damo]

No clue. I've never, ever seen a line. Usually there are about 10 people down there. Maybe that's how long they expect you to spend in there?

 

[johde]

I can't imagine Jurassic Park Discovery Center having a wait. But, I also can't imagine My Ship, Me Olive having a wait but yesterday on the App, it was showing a 15 minute wait. I did some playing with the Personalized touring plan on my arrival day, January 2nd. It's showing a 50 minute wait for the Discovery Center midday. My only plans for that afternoon are to see Seuss Holiday, Blues Brothers Christmas show and Macy's parade. If I remember I'll try to make a loop around to that area and see if there's a line.

 

[kathy884]

Thank you both for your feedback. Much appreciated // The touring predictions for my spring break day indicate a 27 minute wait and the average person then spending about 15 minutes there. // On a June trip in 2008 my son said it was just sort of a little interactive area that you could walk up to and there was no wait at all.

Johde, If you have a chance to take a look that would be wonderful. I'd love to see if that place really gets that busy.

 

[bumbershoot]

Spending 15 minutes in the Center means all you did was walk around and look from afar. You can spend an hour and a half easily in there, if not more.

 

[kathy884]

Spending 15 minutes in the Center means all you did was walk around and look from afar. You can spend an hour and a half easily in there, if not more.

We don't have all that many must dos, so will be able to take our time here. Do you think it's geared for all ages? Our party will be DH and me in our 50s, our 19 year old son, and maybe my 20 year old nephew too. // Don't know how much time DS spent here back in 2008 when we was 13, but I know that it was a favorite of his (in his top five of the attractions in both parks). He was able to spend an extra week in Orlando that year with other relatives (two weeks for him on that trip) when DH and I were only down for one.

 

[PulsarIII]

OBTW: Chances of catching one of the “Dino Eggs” hatching in a 15 minute visit are not too great.

G’day
I I I

 

[bumbershoot]

It might be interesting to all, or it might not be; letting yourselves explore will tell you the answer for your group.

Part of me wondered if their wait time was actually for the counter service restaurant in the building. (tasty veggie burger there, by the way)