Just booked July 4th weekend trip

[w8ting4pooh]

We are staying onsite at the Royal Pacific. How long are the waits on a holiday weekend like July 4th if you have FOTL access? Should I still go with the ride order listed in the Unofficial Guidebook or can I just wing it with FOTL?

Are there fireworks or any other special things going on during the weekend?

Are three days enough to see most everything?

Thanks for your help!

 

[BarryHom]

July 4th is pretty crowded, but if you stay onsite and use your room key, crowds will be managable. You can see Universal is 3 days. July 4th usually brings on fireworks. Fireworks shows go on until mid-August usually.

 

[Aisling]

We stayed at HR for July 4th week in 2001 and with FOTL, the crowds didn't affect us at all. There were never any waits at all, we just walked right on everything. Meanwhile, the regular non-express lines were extremely long, like 90 minutes in many cases. The parks were so crowded on the night of the 4th, that we decided to go to CityWalk instead, but it was worse! So we went back to the hotel, where they were having a barbeque beach party, swam in the pool, and watched the fireworks from there. It was wonderful to be staying onsite.
We'll be there again THIS 4th of July, too, at RP this time!!

 

[USO2003]

How long are the waits on a holiday weekend like July 4th if you have FOTL access?

Well the general rule for that is no wait, but you might have to wait 5 minutes which is better then the 120 you'll find outside.

Should I still go with the ride order listed in the Unofficial Guidebook or can I just wing it with FOTL?

No, you can wing it if you want, ****NOTE**** for the past 3 years it has stormed on July 4th so if you are at IOA you might want to do the outside rides first because in a storm 75% of the park will shut down. But with FOTL you don't need to follow the guide.

Are there fireworks or any other special things going on during the weekend?

Yeah, they have a daily firework show called "Shooting Stars" which starts at 9pm. It runs until the 1st week of August.

Are three days enough to see most everything?

With FOTL yes, I have done both parks during this time with my annual pass which is useless, (1-Express Pass PER Hour) and I still did both parks in 1 day. So if I can do both parks in 1 day with 45-120 minute waits you can do it in 3 easily.

 

[w8ting4pooh]

I'm so excited about this trip now. I have a feeling that I'll be doing the Day in the Park with Barney over and over with my 3 year old while the older kids ride the roller coasters again and again but that's ok. I'll just bring earplugs and a smile.

Aisling - we are staying at the Royal Pacific too. We check in the 3rd and check out the 6th. We have two water view rooms. I can't wait!!!

 

[robvia]

What you wanna do is get to the park early each day, because around noon, the crowd hits, and it's hot. That's when you wanna go back to your hotel room, eat, swim, take a nap, then come back around 4pm as the tired are leaving.
From noon to 4pm, that's when the GP is using their express passes and the lines can be 20 minutes. You can still get on the rides during this time, but the park is hectic with so many people.

There is a water playground next to Barney that kids spend hours in. Wear a bathing suit under your cloths for you and 3yr old. Bring sunscreen, and a good book to read. You'll be there for a while.