My FOTL experience

[kmc]

USF
- Minion Mayhem - 15 min
- Shrek - 10 Min (we got right into the next show, but we had to wait for it to begin)
- Mummy - 10 Min
- Simpsons - 15 Min
- Disaster - 5 min
- ET - 0 mins (but the normal line was the same)
- MIB - 15 mins
- Twister - 5 mins

IOA
- Hulk - 5 mins
- Spiderman - 10 mins
- Dr Doom - 5 mins
- Bilgerat Barges - 5 mins
- Ripsaw Falls - 10 mins
- Jurassic Park - 5 mins
- Flight of the Hipogriff - 40 minutes
- Dragon Challenge - 5 mins
- Cat in the Hat - 0 Mins (make sure you ride this...better than a water ride in the heat of the day)
- Trolley Train Ride - 20 Mins

......those are fantastic wait times for the middle of summer. My son went to IOA with a group a few weeks ago and it was his first experience without staying on-site. He only got on 4 rides as the lines were so long---he said he would never go again without express pass

 

[macraven]

Its not the time involved, but it is just one MORE thing to carry! passes, room key, club key, express pass with pic ID, money, etc...

for me, not an issue.
i'm talking about a few cards that can be put in a lanyard, pocket or bra.


you only get a club key if you are not on the club floor, which could be at pbh.

 

[damo]

Its not the time involved, but it is just one MORE thing to carry! passes, room key, club key, express pass with pic ID, money, etc...

Really? It isn't any different than having an extra dollar bill in your wallet.

 

[Cindy B]

for me, not an issue.
i'm talking about a few cards that can be put in a lanyard, pocket or bra.


you only get a club key if you are not on the club floor, which could be at pbh.

Didn't know that. I just like to go with as little as possible so I don't have to deal with bag check and all that junk! I know its only a card, but it is one more card that is necessary. Room key may not be necessary if other people have them- but it is just a thing to remember as you are walking out the door to early entry

 

[phamton]

Its not the time involved, but it is just one MORE thing to carry! passes, room key, club key, express pass with pic ID, money, etc...

It's no like it is bulky. It is the same size as a ticket. A dollar bill is bulkier to carry. I wouldn't think that everyone would need to carry their hotel key or even their club key to the parks with them each day. One person can take the room key and let everyone else in the room.

If the express pass does get wet or destroyed, you can have another made at either park for free, no need to go back to the hotel.

 

[Cindy B]

Really? It isn't any different than having an extra dollar bill in your wallet.

Money in my wallet! HAHAHA! I haven't carried cash in so long- I forget what it looks like.

I just want to be down to absolute bare necessities for entry. I w asn't even planning to bring wallet in with me. park pass, key is all I need.. (well now with express ID)

 

[macraven]

if you are staying onsite, you can use the special gate for hotel guests.
it opens at 6:00 and closes at 8:00.
not all go to sns prior to hhn.

you do have to have your own hotel key card to use that line besides the hhn tix.

wear cargo pants.
they will hold 3 cards and money easily.

 

[damo]

Money in my wallet! HAHAHA! I haven't carried cash in so long- I forget what it looks like.

I just want to be down to absolute bare necessities for entry. I w asn't even planning to bring wallet in with me. park pass, key is all I need.. (well now with express ID)

Just think of it as an extra special fastpass.

 

[minniebeth]

We stayed at HRH the week after 4th of July specifically to get to use the Express Pass. It was a lifesaver and as much fun as we had, I would have completely given up on the parks if we had to wait in the standby lines between the heat and the crowds (and the tour groups)! Some of our wait times we much longer than 5 or 10 minutes and we were still very happy.

We all agreed we wouldn't do it any other way during any peak time (which is pretty much the only time we can travel anymore.)

When we were there, the photo machines were not working, so we were told to just use our room keys. They told us they were having a lot of problems with them on and off still.

Since we pretty much stayed together as a family, we only purchased one lanyard and one person took care of the passes. If we didn't all go on a specific attraction, we just handed the lanyard off to someone who was going. Saved money and we didn't see any reason for us to each have our own. If your party is going separate ways a lot, it would be worth it, but if you are sticking together for the most part, just a little tip that worked for us.

 

[JessicaR]

All this talk about cards to carry reminded me of something. A few trips ago we had an emergency in the park. Right from First Aid they took my son by ambulance to the medical center. Of course my husband had to run back to the hotel to grab the medical card and license. So now we carry a CC, license, Hotel key card, AP, some cash and a medical card. So if I have to add another card for EP so be it. I carry it all in my lanyard easily.

 

[Bluer101]

I thought it was going to be a pain with the extra card but it was not. We just put the hotel express on one side of the lanyard pouch and our AP on the other side. Then pit the room key and some cash in between the two. It worked out perfect.

 

[Cindy B]

They don't make cargo shorts for women! (at least the three stores I went to today showed that)

I'm sure it isn't a big deal, it is just one thing that is necessary. We have teens so they will go on their own way so its one more thing for THEM to remember (or lose!) And you know teens won't wear lanyards!

I liked the room key better!

 

[JessicaR]

They don't make cargo shorts for women! (at least the three stores I went to today showed that)

I'm sure it isn't a big deal, it is just one thing that is necessary. We have teens so they will go on their own way so its one more thing for THEM to remember (or lose!) And you know teens won't wear lanyards!

I liked the room key better!

I have a few pairs:

Columbia
Eddie Bauer
Calvin Klein

 

[Cindy B]

I have a few pairs:

Columbia
Eddie Bauer
Calvin Klein

The three stores I went to today had NO womens cargo shorts. I'll have to look in other stores. All Eddie Bauers in my area closed about 5-10 years ago.

 

[JessicaR]

The three stores I went to today had NO womens cargo shorts. I'll have to look in other stores. All Eddie Bauers in my area closed about 5-10 years ago.

I get my park stuff online. Quick dry clothes and cargo pants and shorts. Dicks and Sports Authority usually has them if you have those stores.

 

[macraven]

cindy b, i see a lot of women and girls wear cargo shorts!
buying online is a snap.

even if you wore jean shorts, you have two pockets in them to carry what you need plus more.
carrying around 3 cards plus money is easy to do in the parks.

i have seen teens wear lanyards at both the motherland and the darkside.
very common for the most part.

why would you think your teens would be losing important cards in the park?
if they are old enough to be allowed to do the park alone without you, i'm sure they would be responsible in taking care of their money, hotel cards, cell phones, etc.

in our part of the country, a 15 y/o can get a learner permit and then get their drivers license on the 16th bd. they carry their d.l., car insurance card and anything else required for driving a car.
i see a lot more responsible teens than not.

i teach teenagers. each year i am impressed on how mature and responsible they become.
when you are on vacation, look around and see how many teenagers are working in the stores, shops, etc in orlando.

 

[aubriee]

They don't make cargo shorts for women! (at least the three stores I went to today showed that)

I'm sure it isn't a big deal, it is just one thing that is necessary. We have teens so they will go on their own way so its one more thing for THEM to remember (or lose!) And you know teens won't wear lanyards!

I liked the room key better!

I wouldn't wear cargo shorts/capris around here, but love them for vacation. I have 10-12 pairs that I save just for vacation. I hate bag check lines and carrying things in the parks. Dick's Sporting Goods and Old Navy sells women's cargo shorts. I got most of mine on ebay though and in fact just got three new pairs off ebay last week. They are really cute and made out of thin quick dry material (Columbia, Carribean Joe, and Dockers in pink, yellow, and tan). You can also find them online on Amazon, Zappos, Backcountry, Rei Outlet, and Sierra Trading Post. I also have a really cute kacki cargo skort that I got off ebay a few years ago, if you feel like wearing something that looks more like a skirt. Looks sort of like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Lane-W...F8&qid=1343457195&sr=1-6&keywords=caRGO+SKORT

When going to the parks, I usually put my room key, a cc, AP, ID, and a few dollars into a little plastic divider thingy like you use for a wallet and then put that in a Vera Bradley Zip ID, along with a small lip balm. That's all I need for a day in the parks and it fits easily into a cargo pocket. If I want to take my phone or my small Cannon Elph camera, they'll fit in two of the other pockets. This is the VB zip ID I use. I sometimes snap it to the matching lanyard and wear it around my neck, but usually go without the lanyard and just slip the zip ID into a cargo pocket. My camera is small enough that it will also fit in the VB zip ID, but then it feels too heavy around my neck, so would definitely go in a pocket.
http://www.verabradley.com/product/...Paisley+Meets+Plaid/p/154781.uts?fromSearch=1
Here's the matching lanyard: http://www.verabradley.com/product/Lanyard/154945.uts

 

[Cindy B]

cindy b, i see a lot of women and girls wear cargo shorts!
buying online is a snap.

even if you wore jean shorts, you have two pockets in them to carry what you need plus more.
carrying around 3 cards plus money is easy to do in the parks.

i have seen teens wear lanyards at both the motherland and the darkside.
very common for the most part.

why would you think your teens would be losing important cards in the park?
if they are old enough to be allowed to do the park alone without you, i'm sure they would be responsible in taking care of their money, hotel cards, cell phones, etc.

in our part of the country, a 15 y/o can get a learner permit and then get their drivers license on the 16th bd. they carry their d.l., car insurance card and anything else required for driving a car.
i see a lot more responsible teens than not.

i teach teenagers. each year i am impressed on how mature and responsible they become.
when you are on vacation, look around and see how many teenagers are working in the stores, shops, etc in orlando.

I teach teenagers too! In this area, you only get a full drivers license after age 18. Most teens don't have jobs, and a large majority don't drive even if they are able to. -it is a bit of special snowflake mentality here. My oldest I'm not so worried about (high school senior and summer college student, has job, drives), but my youngest is a bit ditzy.

I know it is a if you want to use to perk, bring the card- and sometimes you have to learn a hard lesson. yourgot the Express ID- too bad, so sad, guess you are going back to the room to get it.

Its just an item for them to remember. My daughter would say no to a lanyard- it isn't fashionable. My son would just do what he needed to do- by stuffing it in his jeans pocket(he's the oldest).

I'm just whining because I liked the old way better. It seemed easier.

 

[Cindy B]

I wouldn't wear cargo shorts/capris around here, but love them for vacation. I have 10-12 pairs that I save just for vacation. I hate bag check lines and carrying things in the parks. Dick's Sporting Goods and Old Navy sells women's cargo shorts. I got most of mine on ebay though and in fact just got three new pairs off ebay last week. They are really cute and made out of thin quick dry material (Columbia, Carribean Joe, and Dockers in pink, yellow, and tan). You can also find them online on Amazon, Zappos, Backcountry, Rei Outlet, and Sierra Trading Post. I also have a really cute kacki cargo skort that I got off ebay a few years ago, if you feel like wearing something that looks more like a skirt. Looks sort of like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Lane-W...F8&qid=1343457195&sr=1-6&keywords=caRGO+SKORT

When going to the parks, I usually put my room key, a cc, AP, ID, and a few dollars into a little plastic divider thingy like you use for a wallet and then put that in a Vera Bradley Zip ID, along with a small lip balm. That's all I need for a day in the parks and it fits easily into a cargo pocket. If I want to take my phone or my small Cannon Elph camera, they'll fit in two of the other pockets. This is the VB zip ID I use. I sometimes snap it to the matching lanyard and wear it around my neck, but usually go without the lanyard and just slip the zip ID into a cargo pocket. My camera is small enough that it will also fit in the VB zip ID, but then it feels too heavy around my neck, so would definitely go in a pocket.
http://www.verabradley.com/product/...Paisley+Meets+Plaid/p/154781.uts?fromSearch=1
Here's the matching lanyard: http://www.verabradley.com/product/Lanyard/154945.uts

I didn't try Old Navy yesterday. I can't tell you the last time I went into a sports store.. we aren't sporty types. Guess I will have to go in.

I'm a minimilist to begin with, so I try to be very bare when I go into the parks. If I can get by with only two -ok 3 cards now- I will. I hate hate hate the bag lines. Some people pack stuff like they are scaling Mt. Everest! It's only an Orlando theme park- not some outer limit area.

 

[damo]

I have a few pairs:

Columbia
Eddie Bauer
Calvin Klein

I have a few pair of Columbia cargo shorts. They really don't look like cargo shorts in the sense of pockets all over but just an extra side pocket. They are nice!

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p...d=12582509&cp=4406646.4413874.4413879.4414445