Need hints for first time at IOA!

[Planning fanatic mom]

We are headed to IOA for the first time in June. We are only spending one day at Universal and chose IOA to see the WWoHP. We will spend the entire day there. No breaks for us!

I would love to have any hints, ideas, must sees, don't forgets, and general advice.

We are not staying at a Universal Hotel as of now. I don't know if this will change. Can someone here convince me either way?

How about where to eat??

TIA

 

[damo]

There are menus for all the Universal restaurants here with suggestions.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2681315

Probably a good place to start.

 

[-Hope-]

If I only had one day I'd stay onsite the night before. You'll get into WWoHP an hour early so you can do FJ and the show at Ollivander's before the crowds get thick. And you'll have the unlimited FOTL privileges so you won't have to spend your entire day waiting in line. June is going to be busy, no matter what day you choose and staying on site seems very worth it IMHO.

 

[AJA]

Stay on site! It's so worth it. The Universal City Walk is really nice, and the front of the line pass is very much worth it.

 

[lions1995]

1) Make sure you are at the gate 30 minutes before opening (takes about 10 minutes once you are parked to get to the gate) When we were there in late Novemeber, they left us in 15 minutes early.
2) If you go to WWoHP at opening, make the right into Suess Land and then make the left and walk along the outerside (along the water). It will shave a minute or two off your walk.
3) shoot for FJ first (any bags need to be stored in lockers just inside the castle)

We skipped Olivanders. I watched it online and it seems like there is a good chance you will stand in line for ab hour and not be very impressed.

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

Stay on site! It's so worth it. The Universal City Walk is really nice, and the front of the line pass is very much worth it.

Thank you,

Isn't it true that the Harry Potter attractions are not included in the "front of the line" pass?

I guess it would be helpful for the other rides though.

Keep those hints coming!!

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

1) Make sure you are at the gate 30 minutes before opening (takes about 10 minutes once you are parked to get to the gate) When we were there in late Novemeber, they left us in 15 minutes early.
2) If you go to WWoHP at opening, make the right into Suess Land and then make the left and walk along the outerside (along the water). It will shave a minute or two off your walk.
3) shoot for FJ first (any bags need to be stored in lockers just inside the castle)

We skipped Olivanders. I watched it online and it seems like there is a good chance you will stand in line for ab hour and not be very impressed.

Thank you very much! I'll give the husband the hint about how to get into WWoHP. He is our GPS.

We probably won't do the Olivanders thing either. My daughters are older and don't need the wand experience.

Keep the ideas coming.

 

[macraven]

We are headed to IOA for the first time in June. We are only spending one day at Universal and chose IOA to see the WWoHP. We will spend the entire day there. No breaks for us!

I would love to have any hints, ideas, must sees, don't forgets, and general advice.

We are not staying at a Universal Hotel as of now. I don't know if this will change. Can someone here convince me either way?

How about where to eat??

TIA

If it is affordable, i also agree with staying onsite.
the benefits will help you and your family since you only have one day to do the park.

what i consider a decent hotel price, others may not.
many plan their one day adventures at the darkside being as thrifty as they possible can.

if you are going in the first week of june, don't be concerned on crowds.
crowds will tend to build from mid june to the end of the month.

if you go early june, you can do the entire park in one day.
be at the gate 30 minutes prior to opening.
onsite guests will be allowed in the park for potterville an hour before opening.

to avoid crowds, do the front of the park first then potter at the end of the day.
usually the best times to do potter is at the opening of the park or near the closing of the park.


you can rent a family locker in the front of the park and reuse it until you leave.
if you plan to do the water rides, have change of clothing stored there.
if you plan on bringing in water, snacks, store that also.

how many in your party?
strollers?
have you read thru the UO website to see what rides/attractions your group is interested in doing?

 

[Metro West]

Isn't it true that the Harry Potter attractions are not included in the "front of the line" pass?

Only Forbidden Journey is excluded from Express access in WWoHP. Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge offer Express as well as all other attractions at IOA except Pteranodon Flyers. And remember...there is no "front of the line" pass at Universal Orlando...they are called Express Plus passes.

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

if you are going in the first week of june, don't be concerned on crowds.
crowds will tend to build from mid june to the end of the month.

if you go early june, you can do the entire park in one day.
be at the gate 30 minutes prior to opening.
onsite guests will be allowed in the park for potterville an hour before opening.

to avoid crowds, do the front of the park first then potter at the end of the day.
usually the best times to do potter is at the opening of the park or near the closing of the park.


you can rent a family locker in the front of the park and reuse it until you leave.
if you plan to do the water rides, have change of clothing stored there.
if you plan on bringing in water, snacks, store that also.

how many in your party?
strollers?
have you read thru the UO website to see what rides/attractions your group is interested in doing?

We are going on June 14th. I have teenagers. 16 and 19, so no need for strollers. We can move pretty quickly if we need to. We will do all of the thrill rides.

Thank you for your input. You gave me lots to think about.

Only Forbidden Journey is excluded from Express access in WWoHP. Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge offer Express as well as all other attractions at IOA except Pteranodon Flyers. And remember...there is no "front of the line" pass at Universal Orlando...they are called Express Plus passes.

Thank you for clarifying the vocabulary. This is all new to me, and I want to learn as much as I can.

 

[Metro West]

Thank you for clarifying the vocabulary. This is all new to me, and I want to learn as much as I can.

No problem...just ask any question you have...we are here to help.

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

I know that FJ will be mobbed and a very long wait. How about the other big rides in the park, Dueling Dragons, Hulk, Spiderman, and Cat in the Hat? Are we talking 45 minutes or 2 hour waits? Do some of these rides have single rider lines??

I know it is hard to predict, but we really need a good reason to spend all that extra money for one night in the Royal Pacific Hotel. If we won't get to see most of the park because of the line waits, then it might be worth it.

 

[Metro West]

I know that FJ will be mobbed and a very long wait. How about the other big rides in the park, Dueling Dragons, Hulk, Spiderman, and Cat in the Hat? Are we talking 45 minutes or 2 hour waits? Do some of these rides have single rider lines??

I know it is hard to predict, but we really need a good reason to spend all that extra money for one night in the Royal Pacific Hotel. If we won't get to see most of the park because of the line waits, then it might be worth it.

The other attractions in the park should have reasonable wait times of under 30 minutes. The water rides might have longer waits since it will be hot in June. Dragon Challenge (Dueling Dragons is only accessible via WWoHP) but the wait shouldn't be bad at all. Hulk and Spiderman have single rider lines but they aren't always open...it depends on the standby wait times. If the lines for WWoHP are very long at the beginning of the day, wait until evening and do the rest of the park in the meantime.