several questions for first timer

[schoolmarm]

I've spent about 8 hours on this forum today and can't seem to get enough of all this great info. from you experienced people. My family is going to US and IOA for the first time on the 3oth. We have the 5 days....DD(9) loves to ride everything and DS(8) and myself are scaredy cats. We all love BTMRR and splash mountain...also the Nile one at SW....but Space Mountain is too much for me. Will we be able to find a compromise that will suite all 4 of us without having to spend the whole time sitting and waiting at exits? Also, I've read so much about the FOTL issue...so much that it caused me to try and make a resi at one of the US hotels, but the cheapest rate I could find was 285 a night! About 4 times what we're paying off site. Will the lines just be unbearable? I can't see being able to pull off that expense! Thanks for any info.

 

[supersaver]

Hi, I posted somewhere on this board, I believe, about our "great trip" at Royal Pacific resort. We just got back this Sunday, were there for a week. You will LOVE Universal and Islands of Adventure!!!! We have an 11 yr old son and 6 yr old boy/girl twins - everyone just had the best time ever!!! Your 9 yr old will be in heaven, if he/she is tall enough to ride the Hulk and Dueling Dragons (two amazing coasters at IOA), and there are enough other rides/attractions to satisfy you and your other child. My 11 yr old went crazy (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) for Revenge of the Mummy at Universal - it's an indoor roller coaster in the dark, a bit like Space Mountain, only about 1,000 times better!

If you can possibly swing it, stay onsite - you absolutely cannot put a price on what an incredible benefit "Front of the Line" access is (express access, actually). It was fairly busy when we were there last week - but since we had the magic ticket, LOL, it didn't matter one bit. It is SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET to bypass an hour long line (or more) when it's like 95 degrees with 95% humidity! We would totally stay onsite again, JUST for that benefit, but the other thing is, we just couldn't stop gushing about our hotel - it was fabulous. Great service, etc.

I'm sure that other old timers on this board could give you even more advice - they were very helpful to me. I hope you and your family have an awesome vacation!

Suzanne

 

[schoolmarm]

Thanks for the input, Suzanne. My 9 year doesn't make the height requirements for the 2 big ones...but I think she'll be pretty happy as long as DH can hang with her on the rides. That's questionable in and of itself. We can't stay on property...2 of the 3 are totally booked and I just can't imagine that FOTL could be worth almost $300. It just seems like sooo much. DH would never go for it. Were all the lines an hour or more last week?
School

 

[JLTraveling]

With 5 days to do everything, you really don't need express. What you do need is a touring plan. As for sitting and waiting and exits, that shouldn't be too much of a problem if the DD isn't big enough for Hulk and Dragons. The Mummy is the only other coaster in the parks. Everything else you guys should be able to do together...and be sure to give things a try, don't just decide from the description that a ride is too scary.
Anyway, for your touring plan...figure out how much time you want at each park. IMHO, you should book one whole day at US around the shows. You'll still have time for some rides, but definitely get a show schedule and plan the day around them. For all of your other days, get there early and start in the BACK of the park. Everybody and their brother will stop at Shrek first because it's the first thing they see. So you do the opposite. Eat at off hours. Do NOT take time out in the middle of the day to go back to the hotel, instead take that time when it's hot and crowded and everybody's cranky to eat lunch, do some shopping, catch a show.
You can do the parks at any time of year, even on a holiday, and stand in line no longer than 20-30 minutes, without express. You just have to know how to do it.

 

[schoolmarm]

Awesome information!!! Thanks for your advice....you've really put my mind at ease about the whole FOTL issue. Everyone just seems so intent on having it no matter what the expense. However, expense is important to some of us. Can you suggest any restaurants around the plan you've suggested?

 

[JLTraveling]

If you can fit it into your budget, Mythos at IOA is a definite must!! Fairly pricey, but the theming, food, atmosphere, service...just amazing. If you decide not to eat there, at least go inside and look around, I promise you won't be disappointed!
Other than that, I'd say just go for the Meal Deal. $20 per person (or two people, or three people ) and you can eat all day from counter services places. Can't beat the price, and that gives you the opportunity to feed whoever's hungry, whenever they're hungry, without having to take time out of your day. Then again, if you want to sit and rest and cool off for awhile, those same places tend to be fun, and themed, and a nice place to hang out.