brad smith
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2010
- Messages
- 1
Back a week now still wishing we where there. Family of 4 and here is the report. 
1. Stay on site! We stayed on site at RPH. AP rate of 159 night plus 15 for parking! Benefit besides a great rate was that early entry deal for HP and Rip Rock! If you enjoy waiting in line for 3-4 hours for a 2 min ride. Then stay off site! We walked from RPH to Island ( 15 min) and got to the gate by 7:30 each day. On Mon and Tue we where with the first 200 to enter the park. Be careful there is a freaking rush to get to Potter! You will see all of these folks running full on to be the first! We took or time and enjoyed watching all the Bulls run! While we where not the first in line each time we where able to have a resting heart rate and normal rhythm of breath to enjoy the world of potter and the FJ. Each day we where able to walk right onto the ride. Never had to wait and those sprinters where 4-5 people ahead of us. FJ is worth it they did a great job, Yet if you have to wait 3-4 hours to ride ( it you are not staying on site) No ride is worth that.
2. Rip Rock is unreal! Gates for this open at 8 and each time we waited about 20 min to ride! Regular wait will be 2-3 hours. This move a lot slower than FJ.
3. Soon as you get off FJ go to the wand shoppe. Be sure to stand never the stair case and look the master in the eyes. This will increase your chance of being picked!
4. Debated on the AP but found it to be worth it. Not just for the room rate but for all the other benefits. You do get a little better service. Discounts at restuarants are great but you have to show your AP to get them.
5. Try not to take any bags into the park. Most rides will make you locker them which means those without bags get in line way ahead of you! Take a fanny pack and out you stuff in it!
6. We got 2 refill bottles instead of taking drinks into the park. Well worth it.
7. My 13 year old boy eats like a horse! Yet we where able to save money one each meal by sharing. My wife and I would share one entrée while my son and 19 year old daughter would share another. We also ordered water with very meal. The son would bring in a bottle soft drink with him and get a glass of Ice. Drinks cost $3 a pop! Do the math family of 4 that is $12 per meal or $36 a day WOW! Breakfast was in room cereal, muffin, fruit that we got at PUBLIX. Lunch was lite in the parks and dinner was at City Walk. Avg. dinner cost was $55 including tips and desserts. Impressed with all eating at City Walk with the exception of Pats.
8. Wife as an issue with knee and we debated on renting a motorized scooter. Glad we did she would not have made it. Cost of the rental $35 daily well worth it since son was her driver. They have these for rent at each onsite hotel.
9. Missing a place for late night snacks at RPH.
Had a great time left there and spent 2 nights at Fort Walton on the way home. No OIL but lots of June Grass. Beaches where great! Great time had by all.
1. Stay on site! We stayed on site at RPH. AP rate of 159 night plus 15 for parking! Benefit besides a great rate was that early entry deal for HP and Rip Rock! If you enjoy waiting in line for 3-4 hours for a 2 min ride. Then stay off site! We walked from RPH to Island ( 15 min) and got to the gate by 7:30 each day. On Mon and Tue we where with the first 200 to enter the park. Be careful there is a freaking rush to get to Potter! You will see all of these folks running full on to be the first! We took or time and enjoyed watching all the Bulls run! While we where not the first in line each time we where able to have a resting heart rate and normal rhythm of breath to enjoy the world of potter and the FJ. Each day we where able to walk right onto the ride. Never had to wait and those sprinters where 4-5 people ahead of us. FJ is worth it they did a great job, Yet if you have to wait 3-4 hours to ride ( it you are not staying on site) No ride is worth that.
2. Rip Rock is unreal! Gates for this open at 8 and each time we waited about 20 min to ride! Regular wait will be 2-3 hours. This move a lot slower than FJ.
3. Soon as you get off FJ go to the wand shoppe. Be sure to stand never the stair case and look the master in the eyes. This will increase your chance of being picked!
4. Debated on the AP but found it to be worth it. Not just for the room rate but for all the other benefits. You do get a little better service. Discounts at restuarants are great but you have to show your AP to get them.
5. Try not to take any bags into the park. Most rides will make you locker them which means those without bags get in line way ahead of you! Take a fanny pack and out you stuff in it!
6. We got 2 refill bottles instead of taking drinks into the park. Well worth it.
7. My 13 year old boy eats like a horse! Yet we where able to save money one each meal by sharing. My wife and I would share one entrée while my son and 19 year old daughter would share another. We also ordered water with very meal. The son would bring in a bottle soft drink with him and get a glass of Ice. Drinks cost $3 a pop! Do the math family of 4 that is $12 per meal or $36 a day WOW! Breakfast was in room cereal, muffin, fruit that we got at PUBLIX. Lunch was lite in the parks and dinner was at City Walk. Avg. dinner cost was $55 including tips and desserts. Impressed with all eating at City Walk with the exception of Pats.
8. Wife as an issue with knee and we debated on renting a motorized scooter. Glad we did she would not have made it. Cost of the rental $35 daily well worth it since son was her driver. They have these for rent at each onsite hotel.
9. Missing a place for late night snacks at RPH.
Had a great time left there and spent 2 nights at Fort Walton on the way home. No OIL but lots of June Grass. Beaches where great! Great time had by all.
