Really scared of weather and other questions: arriving in mco on Jul 02

[mikeinseattle]

I am arriving with my family on July 02 (evening time) and am concerned about the weather in Orlando. We are staying at the Portifino Bay Hotel the first 2 nights and at the Marriott Vacation Villas for the next 7 nights. I had a whole bunch of questions that I would really appreciate your input on. So here it goes:

1. Heat: Will we be baking in the sun the whole time. What time does it start cooling off in Orlando? Is it hot in the morning as well (8-10am)? We have taken other peoples advice and purchased portable misting fans from Walmart. Are there other tips for coping with the heat?

2. Lineups: I have read lots of threads for the Harry Potter strategies. Simply if we have FOTL passes, how is the best way to get from the Portifino Bay hotel to IOA? We intend on using the one hour early entry. What is the exact time that the park will open? Can we take the boat to IOA and does it run early in the morning (7 or 8am)?

3. Just about to purchase the Universal Passes online. We are thinking of doing a 3 day park hopper pass off the website. Is there a special link that might be cheaper (ie. AAA members, costco members or similar)

4. Is there a grocery store within walking distance to the Portifino Bay hotel so that we can buy water and other supplies. We are arriving late at night and plan on waking up early for the WWOHP and may not get a chance to do a major supermarket run prior to our park arrival?

5. Is there a Costco closeby Universal Studios or Disneyworld?

6. Is the Wet and Wild waterpark better than Aquatica?

Thanks in advance for your answers. This is basically my first post and looking forward to many more.

 

[Mom2PrincessK]

We are going the week of the 11th. I can't answer most of your questions, but found the cheapest ticket prices at undercovertourist.

 

[francie57]

From what I have been reading on here, the hotel guests are starting to line up by 7:00 to get into WWOHP. If you enter the park after 9:00 it doesn't matter if you are on-site or not, you will be directed to the same line as everyone else. Don't know what time the boats start running to the park with the early entrance. We usually stay at the HRH and walk to both parks. I know you can walk from the PBH if the boats aren't running. As far as the heat (we go every Aug.), just keep the suntan lotion on, bring your misting fans and drink lots of water. There is not a lot of shade while We usually take a break during the afternoon from the parks and then head back for dinner and then finish in the parks. We purchased our tickets from our local AAA office and got their discount. Not sure if there are cheaper ones on line or not. There are no food stores within walking distance. If you have a car, if you go out of Universal to Kirkman Road and turn left there is a Publix food store a mile or so down Kirkman on the left. There are probably mini-marts that you could stop at to pick up water and a few snacks to hold you over until you can get to the food store. Can't help you with the difference in the water parks. We have been to Wet n Wild and it is a really fun park, have not been to the other one.

 

[xApril]

It has been really hot here.

I go to the parks multiple times a week and it just seems to be getting worse. We haven't had any substantial amount of rain here in the past week or so, so the temperature hasn't really dropped.

Definitely make sure to drink enough water and take advantage of the AC when you can.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[dalownerx3]

Bring cheap ponchos for those afternoon thunderstorms. This will allow you to travel relatively easy while others are scurrying to the exits.

 

[Purseval]

Really scared of heat? If heat gets you that worked up I can't wait to see you try Revenge of the Mummy Well you can take comfort in the fact that not only will you be surrounded by air conditioned rooms, swimming pools and free water but, over the years, untold millions of people have come down to Orlando in July and August and survived to tell the tale.

1. Heat: Will we be baking in the sun the whole time. What time does it start cooling off in Orlando?

It doesn't. But, since heat is a relative thing the 80's at night will feel downright cool compared to the 90's during the day. There are water fountains throughout the parks plus the vendors will give you free ice water, just ask for it.

2. Lineups: I have read lots of threads for the Harry Potter strategies. Simply if we have FOTL passes, how is the best way to get from the Portifino Bay hotel to IOA? We intend on using the one hour early entry. What is the exact time that the park will open? Can we take the boat to IOA and does it run early in the morning (7 or 8am)?

Early opening for hotel guests is 8am. The people who work the boats know that and will adjust their schedules accordingly. If by some chance they aren't running it's a short walk that anyone can handle. If you can't handle the walk from Portofino to IOA I don't see how you would expect to spend the rest of the day walking around the parks.

3. Just about to purchase the Universal Passes online. We are thinking of doing a 3 day park hopper pass off the website. Is there a special link that might be cheaper (ie. AAA members, costco members or similar)

AAA members save but not very much. AAA is set up by regions so the prices in your area may not be the same as the prices in mine. You have to go to AAA.com, get directed to your local branch and compare their prices to the Universal site.

4. Is there a grocery store within walking distance to the Portifino Bay hotel so that we can buy water and other supplies. We are arriving late at night and plan on waking up early for the WWOHP and may not get a chance to do a major supermarket run prior to our park arrival?

No, there isn't. If you are arriving by cab or town car the driver will know of places along the way to stop for supplies. Most will do it as a courtesy. If you are renting a car there are Walmart SuperCenters between the airport and Universal.

5. Is there a Costco closeby Universal Studios or Disneyworld?

2101 Water Bridge Blvd
Orlando FL 32837
(407) 393-1003

About 10 miles from Universal

6. Is the Wet and Wild waterpark better than Aquatica?

Better? That's a matter of opinion. It's definitely closer to the hotel than Aquatica. There is a forum for Sea World, you would probably get a better comparison of the 2 parks if you pose your question there.

Thanks in advance for your answers. This is basically my first post and looking forward to many more.

You'll have a great time. I'll be going there myself the week of July 16 so don't use up all of the icewater on me.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

3. Just about to purchase the Universal Passes online. We are thinking of doing a 3 day park hopper pass off the website. Is there a special link that might be cheaper (ie. AAA members, costco members or similar)

Maple leaf tickets is currently selling 7 day Stay and Play tickets for less than a 2 day parkhopper pass costs. These tickets allow you to parkhop between the 2 parks so even if you don't use all the days they are a better deal than buying the regular tickets. There is a limited quantity and there is no way of knowing when they will sell out.

As an added bonus some of us have got our tickets and they say they are 14 day tickets rather than the 7 days advertised.

http://www.mapleleaftickets.com/orderform.htm (third one down from the top)

 

[Skuba2]

It is going to be hot. Start hydrating yourself the day or so before. Drink BEFORE you get thristy. Remember that your wrists are a great place to cool down the rest of your body. Run them under colder water.

The nice thing is there are so many shows and rides inside that it does give you a chance to cool off.

As a PBH guest for two nights, your key card will be a FOTL pass for the day you check in and check out. So, you will actually have access for 4 days but you are thinking about purchasing only a 3 day ticket. The ticket day starts the first day you go into the park. So, if you stick with a 3 day park ticket be aware of which day you will start it.

If you get an afternoon shower, just after is a great time to head to the busier areas like HP. Don't wear the rubber flip flops with the wet pavement. I saw more people go down wearing those.

Have fun.

 

[Skuldy]

How often does it rain in july? I havn't been to orlando since I was little and don't recall having any problem with showers in the summer. Don't really want to carry a poncho around at the park :/

 

[Purseval]

How often does it rain in july? I havn't been to orlando since I was little and don't recall having any problem with showers in the summer. Don't really want to carry a poncho around at the park :/

Ponchos don't take up much room but if you don't mind getting soaked then don't carry one. Showers are usually brief but intense and, since it's so hot, also refreshing and you dry off quickly.

Ponchos are a good item to look for at yard sales and outdoor events like art shows or food festivals. We have enough for ourselves and a small army of guests, all purchased for 25 to 50 cents each with character logos on them or free with an ad for a radio station. The worst possible place to buy them is in the parks.

As a PBH guest for two nights, your key card will be a FOTL pass for the day you check in and check out. So, you will actually have access for 4 days but you are thinking about purchasing only a 3 day ticket.

No, they will actually have access for 3 days so a 3 day ticket will be perfect.

 

[ckay87]

By visiting during the summertime, you have much, much longer park hours to work with. This is no minor point. We always visit FL in the midst of the summer and we WORK those late nights, either at US/IOA or Disney.

If the heat really bothers you, perhaps visit US during the day or the hot afternoons. There are far more indoor, AC rides at that park. Or plan to do a marathon of water rides at IOA during the afternoons (I only recommend this because you have Express Pass. Otherwise, the lines would be too long for this strategy).

All else do in the dark where possible. I absolutely LOVE summer nights in Florida! Last week WWOHP was perfectly do-able from 8-10 pm. No lines for the shops after 10pm (they stay open well after closing time).

A lot of people are hyped on getting there early. That's fine, but it's also a popular opinion, so the crowds will be present anyway. And if you are sensitive to sun and heat, know that Florida sunshine starts scorching the minute it appears in the sky. Mornings last week were just slightly cooler than the rest of the day.

Have a blast!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

How often does it rain in july? I havn't been to orlando since I was little and don't recall having any problem with showers in the summer. Don't really want to carry a poncho around at the park :/

You can't be serious, are you? Florida has a tropical climate, and in the summers it it notorious for rain. Not just rain but sometimes down right nasty thunderstorms. We are also in hurricane season from June 1st-Nov 1st. You must have had some luck of the Irish if you didn't encounter rain at any time during your summer visits.. If you were truly in Orlando every summer since you were little, maybe your memory is slipping

It is a standard joke in Fl with the weather. Every day has the same forecast, 90's hot, humid and a chance or rain or thunderstorms...

 

[Skuba2]

No, they will actually have access for 3 days so a 3 day ticket will be perfect.

Yes--you are right. Duh---i need a nap. lol

 

[mjohnson96]

6. Is the Wet and Wild waterpark better than Aquatica?

We went to Aquatica a couple of weeks ago on our first day. The park is themed really nice but we went on a Saturday so it was busy busy busy. It is further away than Wet N Wild and the parking cost is $12 if you are driving.

I really enjoyed it, I did not do the water slides but my brother and DD (7) did and they loved them. Both the younger kids area and the older kids area is really nice, the kids area is really large so you can easily lose sight of a kid in there if your not careful.

I would go again, but try for a weekday when it might not be as busy.

 

[Metro West]

You can't be serious, are you? Florida has a tropical climate, and in the summers it it notorious for rain. Not just rain but sometimes down right nasty thunderstorms. We are also in hurricane season from June 1st-Nov 1st. You must have had some luck of the Irish if you didn't encounter rain at any time during your summer visits.. If you were truly in Orlando every summer since you were little, maybe your memory is slipping

It is a standard joke in Fl with the weather. Every day has the same forecast, 90's hot, humid and a chance or rain or thunderstorms...

Yup...except it doesn't seem to want to rain around my neighborhood.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Yup...except it doesn't seem to want to rain around my neighborhood.

that is the odd rains here.. I know it can be pouring at my house, yet the block over.. isn't. My street when thru a time where we didn't get any rains.. yet all the blocks around us did

 

[Metro West]

that is the odd rains here.. I know it can be pouring at my house, yet the block over.. isn't. My street when thru a time where we didn't get any rains.. yet all the blocks around us did

I got a GOOD rain tonight!

 

[xApril]

I got a GOOD rain tonight!

Yup, rained at Universal for quite a few hours. Started at around 3:45PM and went on for a few more hours. It was nice that it wasn't scorching, but it was really raining HARD!

I hope it continues to be like this. Rainy weather is nice.

 

[donaldduck352]

Yup, rained at Universal for quite a few hours. Started at around 3:45PM and went on for a few more hours. It was nice that it wasn't scorching, but it was really raining HARD!

I hope it continues to be like this. Rainy weather is nice.

How was the crowds during the rain?