One-day visit (pre-cruise) in late August to US only...

[mcd2745]

Okay, first a little background before the questions. We (family of 4, 2A2C - DS 12 & DD 9) are looking into going to US for one day prior to a cruise. We are scheduled to arrive at MCO around 9:30am on Aug 22 - cruise leaves Aug 23. We are considering heading over to US for the day as the kids have not been there yet (DW and I only have been once, pre-kids, back in 1997!). Neither of them are into HP and we really would not even be attempting to go near that area, and would actually completely avoid it. The #1 priority probably would be Despicible Me, and then some of the other stuff (Shrek/Transformers/MIB etc.) Also, if we were to go ahead with this, we would probably stay at a Universal hotel, to take advantage of the express pass, and then drive over to Port Canaveral the next day.

So the questions I have are:

1. Do they really not have park hours available beyond June yet? Is this normal, or are they waiting to have an opening date for the new HP section to schedule the hours?
2. If the park overall has very high attendence because of the new HP section, will the rest of the park really be insane or just HP? I would hope that is where the express pass will really make a huge difference then. Or will it still not matter?

TIA for any and all input.

 

[rowan555]

I'd strongly suggest you get 2 day park passes and spend the morning of your cruise at IoA - you get early entry and with express passes could easily do the major attractions in plenty of time to get to the cruise terminal.

 

[RMulieri]

Universal releases park hours about 3 months in advance.It is pretty normal for them, however I wouldnt be surprised if it takes longer than usual till they see when HP will be up and running.August is busy at Universal regardless of HP, HP will just make it busier.Staying onsite will give you the best advantage.Express pass will be your friend..Hit despicable me first, even with express pass it has longer lines than other things.We waited 20 mins WITH the express pass last August.The standby line was 90 mins pretty much all day

 

[mcd2745]

Thanks. I'm not sure we can try IOA the morning of the cruise. That may give DW a panic attack as she worries about us not getting to the ship on time. Although, I'm sure DS would love to check out Spiderman (he wouldn't dare try the Hulk coaster though).

Can't believe they don't normally have park hours available for more than 3 months out. That makes planning awfully difiicult. Can you imagine the uproar if WDW did that?

 

[bumbershoot]

Disneyland has the same timeframe for park hours, and it only bothers wdw regulars.

I get your wife's feelings but if you are all ready and awake, keep it in mind if you didn't do enough the day before. Pre cruise buttbeer?

 

[schumigirl]

Thanks. I'm not sure we can try IOA the morning of the cruise. That may give DW a panic attack as she worries about us not getting to the ship on time. Although, I'm sure DS would love to check out Spiderman (he wouldn't dare try the Hulk coaster though).

Can't believe they don't normally have park hours available for more than 3 months out. That makes planning awfully difiicult. Can you imagine the uproar if WDW did that?

Yep I'm with your DW.......No way I would be doing IOA in the morning heading for a cruise.......I would be worried about delays or traffic or something!!

Your plan sounds good......have a lovely day at The Studios, it will be busy but if you are not interested in HP that will be good for you especially having EP for other stuff then enjoy the resort or Citywalk at night, then set off for your cruise.

There's nowhere near the planning involved for a Universal trip so I don't think they need the hours out so far ahead. They may extend them with DA opening but if you look up last years they will basically be the same. We went a couple of months after HP opened in IOA and HP was still mobbed but rest of the park was ok......busy at times over the time we were there but fine with EP.

Hope you have a great trip

 

[mcd2745]

I just would like to see the hours because the one time we did go to US (albeit back in 1997), they must have had a private event because they closed at like 5pm. I've read here that they still have early closings for private events often, and since we probably won't get into the park until maybe around 11:30am, I'm worried if they close early we'll have very little time.

Anyone have thoughts on the US resorts? After an inital glance, I think we're probably leaning towards the Hard Rock. It will only be one night and that looks to be the closest to US & City Walk (although I understand they are all very close).

 

[RMulieri]

I just would like to see the hours because the one time we did go to US (albeit back in 1997), they must have had a private event because they closed at like 5pm. I've read here that they still have early closings for private events often, and since we probably won't get into the park until maybe around 11:30am, I'm worried if they close early we'll have very little time.

Anyone have thoughts on the US resorts? After an inital glance, I think we're probably leaning towards the Hard Rock. It will only be one night and that looks to be the closest to US & City Walk (although I understand they are all very close).

You cant go wrong with any of the onsite resorts.They are all pretty close and are walking distance or dedicated boat ride ( they all have their own boat).The only resort that does not is the new one Cabana Bay.It is the cheapest resort ,but no express pass privelages for guests and no boat.Only early entry ,walking distance or bus ride

 

[mcd2745]

You cant go wrong with any of the onsite resorts.They are all pretty close and are walking distance or dedicated boat ride ( they all have their own boat).The only resort that does not is the new one Cabana Bay.It is the cheapest resort ,but no express pass privelages for guests and no boat.Only early entry ,walking distance or bus ride

Yeah, Cabana Bay would be out because of no express pass.

From what I read on their site, the early entry only applies to WWHP. IS that correct? Or does it apply to the whole park? Obviously, you get to enter the park early, but is anything besides HP open befoer regualr park opening?

 

[RMulieri]

Yeah, Cabana Bay would be out because of no express pass.

From what I read on their site, the early entry only applies to WWHP. IS that correct? Or does it apply to the whole park? Obviously, you get to enter the park early, but is anything besides HP open befoer regualr park opening?

only Harry Potter( sometimes in busy times they may have a few things in Seuss land open too) but mostly no.I would suspect when the HP expansion opens , it too will have early entry

 

[mcd2745]

only Harry Potter( sometimes in busy times they may have a few things in Seuss land open too) but mostly no.I would suspect when the HP expansion opens , it too will have early entry

Thanks for your help. If we could get in to IOA early and do a few attractions like Spiderman before regular park opening, that would make it more likely we would attempt it the morning of the cruise. Otherwise, probably not. Maybe I'll just book the hotel room, and then wait to see the park hours before deciding on what ticket to get. If they are open late enough, maybe we'll get the 1-day park-to-park.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for your help. If we could get in to IOA early and do a few attractions like Spiderman before regular park opening, that would make it more likely we would attempt it the morning of the cruise. Otherwise, probably not. Maybe I'll just book the hotel room, and then wait to see the park hours before deciding on what ticket to get. If they are open late enough, maybe we'll get the 1-day park-to-park.

That's a great idea. Or if you get to the end of one day and think "we're not done, we gotta come back for 2 hours tomorrow morning", before you leave the park upgrade it to a 2 day.

Cruise...are you driving yourselves? You'll be going out on 528? It's a pretty straight shot, and since it's a toll road it's kept up nicely. That said, IF there were an accident on the road it would be hard to clear it quickly. That's why I totally understand the feeling of not doing anything and just GOING.

We were there in January and had the option of running into IOA at opening and grab a special-offer WARM butterbeer for the HP event they had in Jan, but I just couldn't get my rear in gear enough to do it and feel "safe". Plus we had a driver booked so he was going to be there and if I had been late in getting in and out with the drinks we would have had to pay extra.


In my first reading of your post I didn't catch that HP wasn't a draw. Well, butterbeer is still tasty. I still haven't seen Beauty and the Beast but tried La Fou's Brew and went to Be Our Guest at WDW.

Especially since the things that might draw you in are more towards the front of IOA it makes it even easier to bop in and out. HP is allll the way at the back of IOA so it's a hike! Marvel island is closer to the entrance. So is Seuss but it's the opposite direction as Marvel.

 

[mcd2745]

That's a great idea. Or if you get to the end of one day and think "we're not done, we gotta come back for 2 hours tomorrow morning", before you leave the park upgrade it to a 2 day.

Cruise...are you driving yourselves? You'll be going out on 528? It's a pretty straight shot, and since it's a toll road it's kept up nicely. That said, IF there were an accident on the road it would be hard to clear it quickly. That's why I totally understand the feeling of not doing anything and just GOING.

We were there in January and had the option of running into IOA at opening and grab a special-offer WARM butterbeer for the HP event they had in Jan, but I just couldn't get my rear in gear enough to do it and feel "safe". Plus we had a driver booked so he was going to be there and if I had been late in getting in and out with the drinks we would have had to pay extra.


In my first reading of your post I didn't catch that HP wasn't a draw. Well, butterbeer is still tasty. I still haven't seen Beauty and the Beast but tried La Fou's Brew and went to Be Our Guest at WDW.

Especially since the things that might draw you in are more towards the front of IOA it makes it even easier to bop in and out. HP is allll the way at the back of IOA so it's a hike! Marvel island is closer to the entrance. So is Seuss but it's the opposite direction as Marvel.

Yes, we're driving over to Port Canaveral. Renting a car would work out cheaper than having transfers frisrt from MCO to US and then from US to the Port. I haven't mapped out the driving yet, but 528 sounds right from what I remember from a couple of year ago when when we drove from Port Canaveral over to the Renaissance by Sea World for a few days after a cruise. Hopefully the parks will be open late enough for us to "hop". If not, we'll just have to plan another vacation .