Need advice, day trip to IOA this Good Friday? Just back with pics.

[jade1]

Finally planning to see WWOHP Friday April 6-staying at WDW for 10 days so will cab over.

What is the best time to arrive since we need to purchase tix first and will obviously not be onsite. It shows 8AM, so I assume hotel guests can get in at 7AM-can we hope to get in b4 8AM at all if in line and ready?

We will head directly to the ride in Hogwarts correct? Or should we stop and do that wand thing I hear about?

Any other tips appreciated-such as tix that may get us in sooner, or have a fotl ability. But really we are in no hurry and plan to wait in lines that we havent seen 100 times already. TIA.

PS-would we gain anything by purchasing tix from AAA at home b4 we leave? Or do you still have to go to CS to activate them?

 

[macraven]

Finally planning to see WWOHP Friday April 6-staying at WDW for 10 days so will cab over.

What is the best time to arrive since we need to purchase tix first and will obviously not be onsite. It shows 8AM, so I assume hotel guests can get in at 7AM-can we hope to get in b4 8AM at all if in line and ready?

you would be let in at 8:00.
there have been times the offsite guests have been allowed into the park around 7:50 due to less crowds in the back of the park.
arrive at the park at 7:30ish and you should be closer up to the front gate.


We will head directly to the ride in Hogwarts correct? Or should we stop and do that wand thing I hear about?

if you are more into rides, do FJ first.
if you have a desire to take in the show due to the love of the movie, do ollivanders first then. that show will have very long waits as the day grows.
if you go to youtube, you will find some peeps have taped the show. watch it and see if it is something you want to do. i believe they allow about 20 people in the building per show.

but, remember that people are already in the park and there will be longs by the time you do enter.

Any other tips appreciated-such as tix that may get us in sooner, or have a fotl ability. But really we are in no hurry and plan to wait in lines that we havent seen 100 times already. TIA.

don't wait until you get to the park to buy tickets.
think of all the others that are doing a one day only visit with the same plan.
it will eat away out of your park time.

buy them online at UO and use the kiosk pick up.
or buy them at UT and have them mailed out.
it takes UT about 4 days.
or buy them from AAA in advance.

nobody sells discounted one day tickets for UO.

you can buy the express pass plus but it does not include FJ.
onsite hotel guests have the perk of using the express lines without charge.
day guests can buy them but they are only valid one time per ride/show.

wait until you are in the park to decide if you need to purchase them as there are no refunds on them.
and they can be costly.

use the single rider lines when available.
it will speed up your time in line.
that is the one tip you could take advantage of, SLR....



PS-would we gain anything by purchasing tix from AAA at home b4 we leave? Or do you still have to go to CS to activate them?

if they sell the tickets, all you have to do is take the aaa purchased ticket to the gate and enter with it.



you will see crowds in the park the day you are going.

but, go early and stay until closing.

you will have fun!

don't miss Spiderman since it has been improved recently.

 

[jade1]

Wow thanks so much for the great tips-can't wait.

 

[macraven]

you'll have fun at the darkside!!

 

[macraven]

if you buy the set up from Dreams Unlimited, you get a good deal.

you buy your uo ticket from them and get rt transportation from your disney resort.

i have never used Dreams Unlimited but they are a very good company with no complaints.
i read a lot of threads where peeps have used them and were satisfied.

 

[jade1]

Whoa-thats a great tip, I will check into that.

Also-Friday April 6 is our best day, but if you could pick any day that week (mon April 2 thru Fri April 6) which would you pick?

 

[macraven]

all those dates will be busy at IOA.
the week prior and after Easter is always busy at UO.


i pulled up the express plus pass chart and all show that pass will cost $79.99 for each day you have listed.


suggest you go early and be prepared for crowds in the park.


if you will be there all day, try the parry hotter section at the end of the evening.
some state that 2 hours or so prior to park closing is a good time to be there with lesser crowds.

 

[jade1]

Had a great day. 6 of us used the "van style" cab from Swan/Dolphin, oddly $45 plus tip over and only $36 plus tip that eve. Worked great though, very easy.

Got IOA day passes about 7:00, let us in at 7:50ish-went straight to F Journey and it was 35 min, after it was already 120 min so very good advice on here. That is a great ride but only did it once of course. Did dragon next and that is always great as well-did that a bunch of times throughout the day as hardly any wait.

Skipped the wand deal but did purchase 3. Kids (now adults) really liked the wands and shopping in general.

Butter beer was very good, had reg and frozen, also some actual drinks here and there.

Anyway, headed to Hulk after Dragons and it was only at 20 min, then Spiderman which was only at 35. Both were great and SMAN did seem to have some nice improvements in clarity and more in the ending.

Left the park for lunch and some shopping on City Walk-just a quick bite at noon at the foor court 2nd level. Had a 15 minute downpour just as we sat down for lunch (the only rain the 10 days we were there).

Back ti IOA and did Bluto with about 15 min wait-mostly the walk through, but then whimped out on a 50 min wait for J Park-did Dragons, shopping and more beers before hitting Magaritaville for dinner.

Actually well worth the $650 plus food/shopping, wasn't sure we would be able to say that. But still cant do that very often, maybe when US get some H Potter additions we will make a H Rock stay.

Will post some pics soon. Thanks for the advice.

 

[macraven]

thx jade for letting us know how that day went!

sounds like a winning day except for the rain.


i'm looking forward to your pictures.

 

[jade1]

 

[Planogirl]

Ooh, nice pics!

 

[macraven]

those pictures are totally neat!

they look like they are postcards.
(that's a compliment)

the colors in the pictures are awesome!

 

[jeepgirl30]

Wow, great pictures! Thanks for sharing

 

[Mikkimús]

glad you had a good time, those are amazing photos do you mind sharing what kind of camera you are using and what setting you use ?

 

[jade1]

glad you had a good time, those are amazing photos do you mind sharing what kind of camera you are using and what setting you use ?

Sure, Nikon D5000, night shot was a long trial and error-but eventually Manual setting with a 5 to 9 second shutter and F5 to F15, ISO was 200 so I'm still working on what that does. Just a small change in the lighting made a big difference, pretty sure these were about 8 seconds on F10-F14 or so.

 

[Brit_Jude]

Love the pics!