Pointers for a newbie staying OFFSITE

[englishteacha]

We're leaving Saturday for our big vacation. We're belatedly celebrating our 5th anniversary. We have the 7 day passes to UO/IOA, and we're staying offsite. We couldn't swing the cost of staying onsite (we're getting a condo for a week for less than 2 nights at any onsite resort!), so I need pointers on how to make the most of this trip without FOTL. To make things interesting, DH broke his foot 2.5 weeks ago and it's still healing. It can be pretty painful walking for any long amount. We're doing one day at Busch Gardens and one at Sea World, leaving 4 days to enjoy Universal. We're tentatively planning to take a break in the afternoons so DH can rest and we can cool off, then go back in the evening. Other than that we have no specific plans besides drinking A LOT of water!

Will you Universals Gurus please give me some advice on how to make this a good trip, despite 90+ degree temps and a limping husband?

 

[macraven]

leave the condo early and beat the traffic on the highway.

try to be in line for the parking garage by 7:45.
the garage opens at 8 but the line behind you will be so long you will be glad you got there early.

go directly to the turnstyle after you park your car.

be in that line around 8:15ish.

many times you will be at the head of that line to enter. the line behind you will surprise you how long it is.

the official opening time for the park is 9:00. in most cases, the TM's will let the guests in around 8:30ish. not everything will be open but enough will that you can enjoy.

for ioa, start with the hulk, then spiderman, doom if you choose, then move to the back of the park for dueling dragons. you will get on without a wait.

for universal studios, you can go to the back and work forward for the major rides such at mummy, shrek, MIB.


if you are in the park at 8:30, you can accomplish a lot before the rest of the ones in line enter.

eat at off times. when it starts to be around 11ish, the parks will be starting to have crowds.

eat while others are riding, less people in line for the rides and attractions then.

 

[Soprano]

Agreed.

The most important piece of advice I can give anyone is GET TO THE PARKS EARLY! The hits the major rides first, after than you can start to relax and enjoy the day

 

[Spidey7]

Yep was just going to suggest the early early early thing, that's the key.

Also, I think Universal has some regular type express passes you can get as well I would look into that. I'm not sure how it works because I've always stayed on site and never have needed to check into it. But Mcraven and the others on here will know all about it.

Early you won't need fast passes, but you may look into it by late morning, getting ready for the afternoon.

As for limping, you may check into the personal electric vehicles, I"m pretty sure they have those for rent there. Again little sketchy cause I've never needed one, but I'm pretty sure they're available, they're available at my local zoo, so I can't imagine them not being there at U.