Opinions wanted

[gduvall]

We're going to do a 7 night Disney cruise next May and were thinking about going the Saturday of May 26, 2012, which is Memorial Day weekend, getting off the ship as early as possible and renting a van and driving to IOA for the day. We would be staying at RPR for the night. Since we wouldn't get to the park until sometime around 10:00am. Are we going to be able to do much not being there for the early park admission. Staying on site, we would have express pass. We haven't been to Univerisal since late '90's, but would like to see the Harry Potter World. Is it worth the cost of a one day ticket to try to squeeze this in.

 

[Marquibiri]

We're going to do a 7 night Disney cruise next May and were thinking about going the Saturday of May 27, 2011, which is Memorial Day weekend, getting off the ship as early as possible and renting a van and driving to IOA for the day. We would be staying at RPR for the night. Since we wouldn't get to the park until sometime around 10:00am. Are we going to be able to do much not being there for the early park admission. Staying on site, we would have express pass. We haven't been to Univerisal since late '90's, but would like to see the Harry Potter World. Is it worth the cost of a one day ticket to try to squeeze this in.

I'd say.... no...

Well, if everything goes smoothly and you do reach the park by 10:00 am, keep in mind it's a Saturday. Also, the time spent checking in at RPR and getting to the park via the water taxi. If after all this, you reach the park by 10 am, you can spend the +hour for Forbidden Journey and dedicate the afternoon to use the express pass for all other rides, or vice versa. Use express for rides and do Forbidden Journey late in the afternoon....

but since you haven't been since the 90's you would be doing everything so rushed... Don't know, IMHO.

Wait,your trip has all ready happened! May 27, 2011???

Marquibiri

 

[gduvall]

Sorry, I meant May 26, 2012.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

My opinion is that seems like a rushed and stressful way to end a relaxing vacation. Could you extend it one more day and take your time getting to the hotel and start out at Universal early the next morning.

 

[Marquibiri]

What time will you be checking out on Sunday?... you could take advantage of the express pass that day as well....

Marquibiri

 

[gduvall]

not really, we have a 10:00am flight

 

[Marquibiri]

Then, I wouldn't even think it'd be worth staying onsite. How many are you?

Marquibiri

 

[gduvall]

2 adults and 2 kids, but our kids will be 22 and 20

 

[Marquibiri]

On the positive side of things (I believe that's what you want to hear), the park will most likely close late that day (around 9 or 10 pm)...

You might be able to squeeze everything, but you will be worn out!

Marquibiri

 

[gduvall]

On the positive side of things (I believe that's what you want to hear), the park will most likely close late that day (around 9 or 10 pm)...

You might be able to squeeze everything, but you will be worn out!

Marquibiri

I'm not sure what I want to hear, I'm just looking for opinions about if you think I'm crazy to even try, might just book the night at the Swan or Dolphin and just go to a Disney park that we're very familiar with. Was thinking about trying something different.

 

[gduvall]

There are just a lot of what if, park attendance on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, not sure of the exact time we could actually get there, because of traffic from Port Canaveral and the time we can actually get off ship.

 

[macraven]

well, the parry hotter section is awesome.

if it were me, and i'm not a fan like others are, i would still attempt to go that day.

you might be enticed by what you do see to make plans for another trip in the future.

you never know what you are missing until it is later.

if you can stay 3 nights on site, you will be able to enjoy the amenities of the hotel in a greater way.

also be able to take advantage of the free epp for the day you check out of the hotel.

 

[Metro West]

I would wait until you can give Universal the time it needs to see everything instead of trying to squeeze it in. You're going on a holiday weekend which will make it worse. Just wait and come back when you have time to enjoy the parks.

 

[teachingmyown]

We're going to do a 7 night Disney cruise next May and were thinking about going the Saturday of May 26, 2012, which is Memorial Day weekend, getting off the ship as early as possible and renting a van and driving to IOA for the day. We would be staying at RPR for the night. Since we wouldn't get to the park until sometime around 10:00am. Are we going to be able to do much not being there for the early park admission. Staying on site, we would have express pass. We haven't been to Univerisal since late '90's, but would like to see the Harry Potter World. Is it worth the cost of a one day ticket to try to squeeze this in.

Is this your first Disney cruise? I ask because I haven't been on a Disney cruise and it might be a different de-boarding experience but on the cruises I have experienced the only ways to "get off early" are medical issues or tickets for e a r l y plane flights. Otherwise passengers had to wait for their group's scheduled time. (Not "group" as in touring group but rather by category such as alphabetical last name, cabin assignment, etc) Since we are "S" we were near the end of the list on our last cruise and spent a couple of hours between the time we were to be out of our room and when we were allowed to get off the ship.

There is also the consideration of ALL the luggage being picked up and taken ashore, categorized, sorted and available for pick up. Since we waited so long on the ship we didn't have to wait for luggage but if you get off early you might. Even once we were off the ship it was probably at least a half hour before we were able to get to the car to leave the port.

So...my suggestion is to plan a separate trip for IOA.

However, buying tickets for IOA before your trip and having them with you is a possibility. That way you can make a game time decision on whether or not you want to go for it. If you don't activate the tickets by entering the park they will stay good for your next trip and will encourage you to actually come back for that trip.

 

[gduvall]

Is this your first Disney cruise? I ask because I haven't been on a Disney cruise and it might be a different de-boarding experience but on the cruises I have experienced the only ways to "get off early" are medical issues or tickets for e a r l y plane flights. Otherwise passengers had to wait for their group's scheduled time. (Not "group" as in touring group but rather by category such as alphabetical last name, cabin assignment, etc) Since we are "S" we were near the end of the list on our last cruise and spent a couple of hours between the time we were to be out of our room and when we were allowed to get off the ship.

There is also the consideration of ALL the luggage being picked up and taken ashore, categorized, sorted and available for pick up. Since we waited so long on the ship we didn't have to wait for luggage but if you get off early you might. Even once we were off the ship it was probably at least a half hour before we were able to get to the car to leave the port.

So...my suggestion is to plan a separate trip for IOA.

However, buying tickets for IOA before your trip and having them with you is a possibility. That way you can make a game time decision on whether or not you want to go for it. If you don't activate the tickets by entering the park they will stay good for your next trip and will encourage you to actually come back for that trip.

We have been on several Disney cruises, and there debarkation process is one of the easiest we have every been thru, plus you don't have to carry your luggage off to get off early. Should be no problem being off the ship and in a rental car by 8:30am. Now there is always the possibility of customs not clearing the ship on time, doesn't happen often, but can happen. That would put us at HRH by 9:30 to check in, and to IOA by 10:00am at the latest.
BUT, we have decided to not even try to sqeeze in IOA on last day. So I guess the above schedule is a mute point. We will just have to schedule a seperate trip for 3 or 4 days to go to Univerisal.

 

[quadaunt]

I'd say.... no...

Also, the time spent checking in at RPR and getting to the park via the water taxi.

Was just there a few weeks ago. Much quicker to walk to IOA than to use the water taxi. Or, for a $5 tip, sometimes the bike taxi is there waiting and gets you there even faster

.