Saturday 12/30 mid-day arrival

[The 6 J's]

WDW veteran and we know it will be crazy crowded. We should be arriving to the Hard Rock around 11am on Saturday. Assuming we're getting into the park sometime between noon and 1pm, with the express pass, what would your plan be? We are a family of 6. Kids are 17, 15, 11 & 9. Know our way around WDW pretty well but first time to Universal. Huge HP fans. We'll be there from mid-day 12/30 until mid-day 1/1 when we head over to WDW. Staying at Hard Rock. So we will have two mornings to hit a lot of the attractions. Since we are entering the parks at a crazy busy time would you give up on doing anything and just wander and see the place? Or even just chill in the rooms for a while given our early start (3am wake up in Chicago area) and head over in the late afternoon? That's probably unlikely given our excitement about being there. I guess the real question is: when arriving to massive crowds in the middle of the day which rides is the EP most effective for to beat the lines? Maybe we can do a few of those while getting a feel for the place. The rest of the attractions and especially the ones that EP are least effective for we can hit over the next two mornings.

What's your advice?

TIA

 

[Metro West]

Since you will have the two remaining mornings to do park stuff and you are staying onsite, I thought you could check in to the hotel and get a feel for CityWalk and the layout of the resort. Maybe play some mini-golf that night or a movie or a nice dinner at one of the restaurants. I don't know if I would waste a ticket getting in there late in the day...just take a break and enjoy the atmosphere a bit. Then hit the parks hard and heavy the next day.

 

[bchbetha]

I’d go to the parks if you have tickets! It’ll bring great to get the lay of the land so you’re ready to roll the next day. Grab a Duff or a Butterbeer. Early dinner/ heavy snack in the park, late dinner in CityWalk (flash your hotel key at some of the restaurants to get bumped up to priority seating). I’d probably just explore the parks and ride only if something looks great.

 

[The 6 J's]

I guess I should have mentioned that tix are not an issue. We have 3 day passes so we can wander the parks. I'm not sure we'll be able to resist going to the parks even if its just to wander and explore. I was hoping to get some guidance along the lines of which rides to avoid in heavy crowds because even with EP the waits are long(ish) or which rides EP really gets you into quickly even in heavy crowds.

 

[Metro West]

I guess I should have mentioned that tix are not an issue. We have 3 day passes so we can wander the parks. I'm not sure we'll be able to resist going to the parks even if its just to wander and explore. I was hoping to get some guidance along the lines of which rides to avoid in heavy crowds because even with EP the waits are long(ish) or which rides EP really gets you into quickly even in heavy crowds.

Honestly...it's not going to matter which rides have long lines...they all will...HP and Despicable Me especially. Just walk around and explore...if something seems available with a decent wait, jump in the line.

 

[bumbershoot]

With such a short trip at such a busy time I would jump right in. All lines will be long. All EP lines will be longer than they were a couple weeks ago. Know it, embrace it, be ready for it.

Ride what you want to ride.

Maybe let the Wizarding World rides go until the two early mornings, but be there early for those early entrances.

Have FUN.

 

[damo]

I second the popular opinion that you should just go and do what looks appealing. No real plans needed at Universal with the express pass.