Pre-Trip Report ~ 2 adults going to Orlando for the 1st time!

[yakadi]

Hello! I'm new to this board and this is my first pre-trip report ~ or any report on here for that matter. Hubby & I leave in two weeks for a week trip to Orlando and 2 days at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure plus a few nights at City Walk.

A bit about us...
We are both in our mid-30s and we love to travel. Met almost 2 1/2 years ago, married 7 months ago. Neither of us had ever been married let alone had kids so we are just big kids on the inside, loving life. We bought a house and got married last year and took an amazing honeymoon ~ not expecting to do too much traveling this year. Orlando was an inexpensive getaway I chose to book back in January when it was freezing cold and dreary here in the Midwest. It's almost May now and I'm excited for our first trip to Florida and hubby can't wait to ride every roller coaster he sees which slightly terrifies me inside! We initially chose Orlando because flights are super-cheap from this area... and then I did some research between Sea World, Disney & Universal ~ being that we decided we are on a budget and would be visiting only one park. Hubby immediately chose Universal Studios since he visited Universal in California when he was 11 and decided he MUST return as an adult! He's a big kid inside so I think it's sweet! Universal it is!

I'm getting 10 days off work and hubby is getting 7 days off. I have exactly 9 days left to work. Is it sad that I am already counting down? Anyway, we won't be in Florida for long ~ only 5 days ~ but we are going to make the most of it.

Tentative Plans:
Monday, May 10th ~ flight arrives MCO, check-in at the Hilton Orlando, and probably visit CityWalk for dinner (Bubba Gump ??)
Tuesday, May 11th ~ Universal Studios
Wednesday, May 12th ~ Hotel lazy river/pool, IMAX for Ironman 3 (we hope), this n' that around I-drive
Thursday, May 13th ~ Islands of Adventure
Friday, May 14th ~ fly home

We are planning some small pre-trip things here around home but that's the extent of our first jaunt to Florida. Hubby cannot wait to ride every roller coaster he sees, hopefully eat a big turkey leg (he's been talking about carrying around a big turkey leg forever now it seems), and hubby loves to walk and see new sites on vacation. I can't wait to get our pictures taken with characters, find a 7-Eleven and buy a Big Gulp, and have five straight days of adventure with my husband!! (We normally work odd hours so seeing each other daily isn't always something that happens)

Anyway, feel free to send tips along and such. I haven't purchased our two-day tickets yet but I probably will this week ~ I'm planning to print them here at home. I think I want to go ahead and pay the $19.99 and get the Express/Fast passes also however, from everything I've read so far, it sounds like we are going at an extremely slow time for the parks ~ which is fine by us! We even agreed to ride some rides as single riders if it means a short wait!! At the same time, we are patient in our "older" age so waiting won't hurt us ~ but the Florida heat may ~ I read on someone's recent trip report where it was 87 every morning ~ yikes!

Well, not much else to say. Send me any suggestions ~ I'd love them. Overall, our plans are to eat great places ~ Margaritaville, Bubba Gumps, maybe Cheesecake Factory, and even Denny's as we don't have one anywhere near where we live, take the I Ride Trolley up and down I-drive to anywhere we want to go, walk here and there and see the sights, and just go with the flow ~ all very typical touristy stuff but we don't care ~ that's what we are on vacation for!!

Also, we have a blog I started back in January and posted our trip report from our honeymoon last year and some latest yard/gardening info. I am taking my tiny laptop and planning to post a daily trip report on that blog every day ~ along with pictures, if anyone wants to read it. If I have time, I will post on here daily, too!

Kay

 

[Claire-Bear]

Sounds like you've got a great trip planned! Give the roller coasters a chance if you can - I remember being petrified going on my first one (which happened to be the Hulk!). I'd probably recommend Dueling Dragons/Dragon Challenge as your first coaster since they are the mildest. The take-off launch on Hulk may put you off if its your first coaster there! Although I see you've got US first, which means Rip Ride Rockit coaster? Are you buying 2-park tickets? In which case you can walk between the parks during the day

With the express pass, remember it's only valid once per ride. You can buy it from the shops in the parks so it would be a good idea to wait, see how busy the parks are on the day, and buy whilst you're there if the wait times shoot up

US and IOA are my favourite parks, you'll have such a good time!

I've had a countdown ticker on my desktop for the last couple of months, 1 month 3 weeks and 2 days left before we go!

 

[yakadi]

Thank you for the reply!! I don't know if we are going to buy 2-day base tickets or 2-day park-to-park tickets ~ I really haven't decided yet ~ I'm actually waiting until we see the weather forecast. We should be at US two weeks from today so the weather will start showing here in a bit. The only thing that would ruin a long day at either place is if it started raining at 9am and didn't quit until 6pm ~ which is doubtful, I hope!

As for the Express Pass... well, I just read on another board where a lady was at IOA all day today and there were NO LINES. It seems we are going to be there at one of the slowest times so maybe I will wait. However, is it true that they are $19.99 online but $30 if you buy them in a store there?? Just wondering. That isn't a big difference but I am curious. So far, I am not sure we will buy them ~ hopefully, there won't be a need!

Again, thank you for your reply! We are getting really excited!!

 

[Claire-Bear]

Just a tip: http://66.77.171.132/MobileWeb/ParkMenu.aspx this website shows live wait times, so you can judge how busy the parks are over the next few days, and if you have mobile internet you can check them whilst you're in the park. That's where it would come in handy if you have 2-park tickets since you may see some rides are very quiet in the other park and wander over there, although you're right it has been quite quiet recently. I've been watching the wait times myself even though I'm not going for another 7 weeks

The price of the Express Pass Plus changes, but not from online to park. It changes by season. 19.99 in cheapest season, 29.99 in moderate season and 39.99 during a peak season. There's even a 49.99 for a select very busy days. So the price won't be different when you buy online to when you buy in the park for your specific days Like when we go we're going during the 29.99 season, so will make a decision on the day whether we'll need to buy them.

Very excited for you can't wait for ours! Although it'll be absolutely packed since it's the week after HP opening!

 

[gypsygirl2]

Hope both of you write a trip report when you get back, even if it's brief. Not enough of those on here.We took our 3 girls to Orlando 5 times or more when they were younger(now in their 20s).As soon as we heard about HP wizarding opening up we began to plan in theory but now I'm in obsessive mode We've finalized our house off-site , recruited bfs and their son to come along, and I've started my lists. I'm trying not to get on anyone's nerves but I can hardly wait to start pinning the plans down with them. We will go to Dis-MK the day after IOA, and relax the next day at UNiversal. I never go to Florida without visiting the Mouse. Just can't do it. Uni has changed a lot since we last went so I'm looking forward to it. Can't wait till we get some feed-back on HP, We're going in October!!!

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

My tip is if you can in any way possible stay onsite, DO. I know u say u have reservations at the Hilton but if this can be changed in any way possible, I really would try as hard as I could. Everything is within walking distance, u don't even need a car, and the hotels on your down day are just incredible. Also, the front of the line pass staying onsite totally and completely changes the whole entire experience at Universal. Seriously, it is incredible, especially as you are only going the 2 days there and are planning down days, going to Citiwalk, etc., it is so worth the price.

 

[Claire-Bear]

Hope both of you write a trip report when you get back, even if it's brief. Not enough of those on here.We took our 3 girls to Orlando 5 times or more when they were younger(now in their 20s).As soon as we heard about HP wizarding opening up we began to plan in theory but now I'm in obsessive mode We've finalized our house off-site , recruited bfs and their son to come along, and I've started my lists. I'm trying not to get on anyone's nerves but I can hardly wait to start pinning the plans down with them. We will go to Dis-MK the day after IOA, and relax the next day at UNiversal. I never go to Florida without visiting the Mouse. Just can't do it. Uni has changed a lot since we last went so I'm looking forward to it. Can't wait till we get some feed-back on HP, We're going in October!!!

That's the way things started for me too! I haven't been to IOA and US for 5 years and was looking forward to going again. Early last year we decided we would go this year, then I saw that HP would be open and thought "that's quite nice"...but now I'm borderline OCD about our trip
A few months ago I already bought the Universal tickets, ordered all our dollars and drew up a schedule for our trip! Now when something minor changes, I obsess over what changes need to be made also obsessed with my countdown tickers! BF thinks I'm getting slightly carried away!

 

[mjohnson96]

That's the way things started for me too! I haven't been to IOA and US for 5 years and was looking forward to going again. Early last year we decided we would go this year, then I saw that HP would be open and thought "that's quite nice"...but now I'm borderline OCD about our trip
A few months ago I already bought the Universal tickets, ordered all our dollars and drew up a schedule for our trip! Now when something minor changes, I obsess over what changes need to be made also obsessed with my countdown tickers! BF thinks I'm getting slightly carried away!

I understand about the OCD part, I love to plan vacations. I like to post and then look at my countdown ticker so I can see how much time I have left before we go. We get into town on June 19th and then check into RPR on the 20th for 5 nights. Can't wait

 

[Claire-Bear]

I understand about the OCD part, I love to plan vacations. I like to post and then look at my countdown ticker so I can see how much time I have left before we go. We get into town on June 19th and then check into RPR on the 20th for 5 nights. Can't wait

Very nice we get in on June 18th, borrowing a house, which is great but means loooong queues but I guess I'm used to 30-60 min queues from when I went a few years back. Going to UO for likely 3 days (and maybe an evening if we can fit it in!)

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

How exciting!! You are going to have an amazing vacation! I just got back a little over a week a go and we had the time of our life!!

Margaritaville is fantastic place to eat and the atmosphere is wonderful! I will definately be reading your report!!

I want to go back so bad...................

 

[yakadi]

Hi!!!! I'm so excited about everyone else's excitement!! HA!!

Just a couple of comments..

*I definitely am taking the advice and buying the express/fast passes in-park, if we need them at all. So far, I'm following another DIS user on Twitter and she was in US yesterday and the lines were non-existent ~ awesome!! It looks like we may not need it but we'll see. I did see from the US website that we are going during a slow time ~ $19.99. That's nice.

*As for switching our reservations ~ thanks for the idea but nooooooo way!! Hubby & I are more than willing to pay for taxis and/or take the I Ride Trolley to get to CityWalk and other areas up and down I-Drive. Even though this is our first Orlando vacation, we think we'll be good at getting around. We are both the type to wake-up early on vacation and go-go-go all day! We like to get the most out of our days and I think we'll be fine. Also, we are Hilton Honors members so we are getting points and upgrades for staying there. PLUS... The Hilton Orlando is new ~ just opened last year ~ and it has a HUGE waterpark (lazy river, three pools, outdoor bar, etc) all included in the price of the room. We know the hotel is next to the convention center and more focused on adults traveling for work but it will be our sanctuary and it's close to the Icebar Orlando and some restaurants we like. So, we are good ~ but thank you for the advice!


*As for the OCD planning ~ ladies, I am with you!! I love to pre-plan, organize, etc. It gets me excited about the trip, always helps me learn lots more than I would have known otherwise, and frankly, it's just tons of fun! Last weekend I wrote down everywhere we want to eat, everywhere we want to visit, and etc ~ and then made out a day-by-day "what we might do" list. I am going to revise it ~ again. It's tons of fun and hubby and I, as I said earlier, need a full list of things to do because on vacation we like to go~go~go!!

And, yes, I plan to write a daily trip report with pictures!!! I'm taking this tiny laptop with me!!

Kay

 

[Claire-Bear]

Looking forward to seeing your trip report :

 

[yakadi]

Looking forward to seeing your trip report :

Thank You! In the meantime, you are more than welcome to read my slimmed-down trip report from our honeymoon last year ~ Italy, France & Spain. There is more information about us on that blog and that is where I plan to put my Orlando trip report (with many, many more pics), also. I may copy/paste it over here, too ~ depends on how much time I have. Here is the link: http://thelangstonjourneys.blogspot.com/

 

[TokyoDina]

Looking forward to your Trip report! I've never been to either US. So I want to see what the parks look like. I think DH and I are going to go to it next year and WDW again. For our Anniversary maybe.