Need help planning for a short, last minute trip.

[debraW76]

I need some advise from the dis/US experts. We will be arriving in Orlando around lunchtime on a Thursday and was thinking of going to IOA before checking into our hotel (offsite) since it is open until 7pm and US is only open until 5pm.

Friday - going to USF

Saturday going to IOA and maybe a waterpark in the afternoon.

Sunday - driving home

So my questions are:

1. Is arriving at IOA around lunchtime a bad idea?
2. What are some rides that usually have shorter lines around this time?
3. Is there a difference in typical crowd levels in the two parks on Fridays and Saturdays (should I switch USF and IOA)?
4. None of our kids can ride the big coasters with 54" height requirements, do you recommend us taking turns in the single rider line or doing a child swap (Hulk, DD)?
5. Do we need dining reservations like you do at Disney (We were thinking of eating at one of the citywalk rests on Friday evening)?
6. We may be going to Disney next year (just shy of 12 months from this trip), so we are considering buying an AP. What is the best (and when I say best, I mean cheapest) way of doing this?


thanks in advance!

 

[SNylund]

Going this time of year you should have 0 problems with crowds. I don't think crowds will be a factor at all this time of year and there will probably be little to no waits on the rides, barring some unforseen thing I don't know about like a small third world country convention on site or something but I doubt that will happen.

Yes child swap works well, or the single rider line, probably no need to do SRL this time of year though, regular lines should be short waits. One of the Orlando residents on here though will know more than me. I've been in the offseason but it wasn't in September.

Now if you're talking about Halloween nights, that is a different story. HHN will be packed on most nights, but days shouldn't be too bad.

BTW you're right to do IOA most of the time, that is what I do mainly because IOA is my favorite park in general.

 

[debraW76]

Going this time of year you should have 0 problems with crowds. I don't think crowds will be a factor at all this time of year and there will probably be little to no waits on the rides, barring some unforseen thing I don't know about like a small third world country convention on site or something but I doubt that will happen.

Yes child swap works well, or the single rider line, probably no need to do SRL this time of year though, regular lines should be short waits. One of the Orlando residents on here though will know more than me. I've been in the offseason but it wasn't in September.

Now if you're talking about Halloween nights, that is a different story. HHN will be packed on most nights, but days shouldn't be too bad.

BTW you're right to do IOA most of the time, that is what I do mainly because IOA is my favorite park in general.

Thanks! No we are not doing HHR as our kids are ages 3-9 and that is just too young IMO. Our dates are actually in October (2 weeks from now). I am so excited. Its been 4 years since I've been to US. 3 of our kids and my husband have never been.

 

[SNylund]

Thanks! No we are not doing HHR as our kids are ages 3-9 and that is just too young IMO. Our dates are actually in October (2 weeks from now). I am so excited. Its been 4 years since I've been to US. 3 of our kids and my husband have never been.

This is just me, but I would probably skip the water park with these few of days, you'll have plenty to do at IOA and U on that limited amount of time, plus there are cool water activity play areas inside the parks, not like a water park exactly but I would only do a water park when you have at least a week stay. Using just 2 or 3 days, I would focus on IOA U and City walk. Also, I'm not sure how cool it will be in October but its liable to be a little too cool to swim (at least for me I really only like to swim when its at least in the 90s and up, and I don't know if it will be that hot.)