Staying on-site?

[doclegler]

We have been to US/IoA many times before WWoHP, but we've decided to take a day out of our vacation in October and finally see WWoHP (we would stay 2 nights on site).
Are the benefits of staying on-site worth the cost? And do they chose the date/park for you to have early entry to? Also, how does the perferred seating at restaurants work at IoA....do you call ahead or just book it while at the park? Since you can't use the express pass to go on FJ, I'm assuming purchasing the express pass wouldn't really be worth it if we stayed off-site. Any information or links to others discussions would be great!
*I also noticed you can't purchase the package deal online during my dates. Is that available at all times, and how do you go about booking it?
Thanks so much!

 

[DumGuestTricks]

We have been to US/IoA many times before WWoHP, but we've decided to take a day out of our vacation in October and finally see WWoHP (we would stay 2 nights on site).
Are the benefits of staying on-site worth the cost? And do they chose the date/park for you to have early entry to? Also, how does the perferred seating at restaurants work at IoA....do you call ahead or just book it while at the park? Since you can't use the express pass to go on FJ, I'm assuming purchasing the express pass wouldn't really be worth it if we stayed off-site. Any information or links to others discussions would be great!
*I also noticed you can't purchase the package deal online during my dates. Is that available at all times, and how do you go about booking it?
Thanks so much!

I'm not sure what package deal you're talking about.

As far as the other questions:

It's worth the cost if these things matter to you:
Being close to the parks, as in walking distance to two of the hotels; getting UNLIMITED Express Line access; and getting into IOA an hour before official park opening.
If all of those things don't matter much, it wouldn't be worth it as those hotels can be very pricey. But depending on when you go, Express Passes (which, BTW, only get you access to the Express Line ONCE) can be anywhere from $20 to $60 per person, per day.

For early park entry:
You can go to either or both parks if your heart desires. There is no need to pre-assign what park and when you go. IOA opens one hour before the park officially opens. Depending on the time of year, you can have anywhere from just the WWoHP available, to also having Marvel Island, and some of Suess Landing open. Universal Studios opens 15 mins early for those staying on site, and only Shrek 4D, and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit are open (that is IF HRRR is working that morning). Jimmy Neutron will only be open on select days, so I wouldn't plan on having early access to that.

For preferred seating at park dining locations:
All this gets for you is the next available seating at Mythos and the Confisico Grill in Islands of Adventure, and Finnegan's, and Lombard's at Universal. If you have reservations, then it doesn't matter. If you have no reservations and you decide on a whim to eat at a sit down restaurant, it can be nice during the busy season as waits can be up to 45 mins for a table. Wasting precious park time.

FJ doesn't use Express Pass whether you're staying onsite or just bought for the day. But having early access in the morning can get you on the ride with the shortest waits of the day.

Hope this helps!!! Have a great trip!

 

[DumGuestTricks]

OH! And another thing:
Your room key gets you Express Line Access on the days you check in AND out as well. Some people don't know that.

 

[mesaboy2]

For early park entry:
You can go to either or both parks if your heart desires. There is no need to pre-assign what park and when you go. IOA opens one hour before the park officially opens. Depending on the time of year, you can have anywhere from just the WWoHP available, to also having Marvel Island, and some of Suess Landing open. Universal Studios opens 15 mins early for those staying on site, and only Shrek 4D, and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit are open (that is IF HRRR is working that morning). Jimmy Neutron will only be open on select days, so I wouldn't plan on having early access to that.

Much of this is news to me. I've been going quite a bit lately (though granted last July was my first trip), and following these boards way too much, but I've only heard that WWoHP is the only thing open early for on-site guests. I had no idea that other parts of IoA or any of US opened early to them exclusively. Are you sure it's not just these areas opening earlier on-the-fly to everyone during peak seasons?

 

[ky07]

when ever its say early park entry is true but be warned everything will not be open cause I have been to the IOA early entry and the only thing open was WWOHP and they will have people directing you to there and same with US side only certain rides open and have been directed to the parts that were open and by the way partner hotels also get early entry just not the unlimited express cause that is reserved for onsite guests only

 

[Pembo]

We just stayed onsite and I think it was worth it. We were at RPR and the walk to the parks was quick. We also used the water taxi a couple times.

We used our express passes alot, even on the less-thrill rides. That was very convenient.

And since our purpose for going to US was WWoHP, we definitely used our 1 hour early entry.

 

[heidijanesmith]

Staying on site was totally worth it for us, touring in July. The unlimited use of the Express Pass was a HUGE time saver. We never waited more than 10 minutes for any of the rides that were Express rides. We could tour at our leisure, no real plan in mind except for WWoHP and Rip Ride Rocket. Do those 1st thing in the AM.

The hour early entry to WWoHP was a big advantage for us. We were able to ride FJ x3, DD x3, butter beer, and a couple shops before the public was let in. After that WWoHP was packed for the rest of the day and night-90 to 120 min waits for the shops and FJ

We did not make any reservations at the City walk eateries, just chose one and showed our hotel card. We were given a table very quickly.

We did not like to use the boat transportation from PHB, as it was slow and crowded. There is a walking path, but we were always too hot and tired to use it. We liked the rick-shaw bikes, not part of US transportation, but worked for tips. Even though it cost us extra, it was fast and quick.

So many positives for us to stay on site, very few negatives. Totally worth it for us.

 

[Metro West]

We have been to US/IoA many times before WWoHP, but we've decided to take a day out of our vacation in October and finally see WWoHP (we would stay 2 nights on site).
Are the benefits of staying on-site worth the cost? And do they chose the date/park for you to have early entry to? Also, how does the perferred seating at restaurants work at IoA....do you call ahead or just book it while at the park? Since you can't use the express pass to go on FJ, I'm assuming purchasing the express pass wouldn't really be worth it if we stayed off-site. Any information or links to others discussions would be great!
*I also noticed you can't purchase the package deal online during my dates. Is that available at all times, and how do you go about booking it?
Thanks so much!

Not quite sure why the HP package isn't available during your dates except for something to do with HHN maybe? They sell a lot of the Gory Getaways during October so that may be it.

I think the others have covered your questions.

 

[Princess Sleepy]

We booked at the Doubletree for October and also got the early entry for WWoHP. It was significantly less than staying on site and is also within walking distance. The only thing we don't have is unlimited FotL. We could buy the express passes (I think they were $20/person the week we are there) but since we can't use them for the rides we most need them for, we probably won't bother. I am hoping late October will be calm enough to not need them.

 

[Ohiodislover]

We booked at the Doubletree for October and also got the early entry for WWoHP. It was significantly less than staying on site and is also within walking distance. The only thing we don't have is unlimited FotL. We could buy the express passes (I think they were $20/person the week we are there) but since we can't use them for the rides we most need them for, we probably won't bother. I am hoping late October will be calm enough to not need them.

Late October might be busy with the Halloween stuff going on?

 

[uncw89]

I'm not sure what package deal you're talking about.

As far as the other questions:

It's worth the cost if these things matter to you:
Being close to the parks, as in walking distance to two of the hotels; getting UNLIMITED Express Line access; and getting into IOA an hour before official park opening.
If all of those things don't matter much, it wouldn't be worth it as those hotels can be very pricey. But depending on when you go, Express Passes (which, BTW, only get you access to the Express Line ONCE) can be anywhere from $20 to $60 per person, per day.

For early park entry:
You can go to either or both parks if your heart desires. There is no need to pre-assign what park and when you go. IOA opens one hour before the park officially opens. Depending on the time of year, you can have anywhere from just the WWoHP available, to also having Marvel Island, and some of Suess Landing open. Universal Studios opens 15 mins early for those staying on site, and only Shrek 4D, and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit are open (that is IF HRRR is working that morning). Jimmy Neutron will only be open on select days, so I wouldn't plan on having early access to that.

For preferred seating at park dining locations:
All this gets for you is the next available seating at Mythos and the Confisico Grill in Islands of Adventure, and Finnegan's, and Lombard's at Universal. If you have reservations, then it doesn't matter. If you have no reservations and you decide on a whim to eat at a sit down restaurant, it can be nice during the busy season as waits can be up to 45 mins for a table. Wasting precious park time.

FJ doesn't use Express Pass whether you're staying onsite or just bought for the day. But having early access in the morning can get you on the ride with the shortest waits of the day.

Hope this helps!!! Have a great trip!

Thanks for the info!

 

[Metro West]

Late October might be busy with the Halloween stuff going on?

HHN is only at the Studios...IOA is unaffected.

We booked at the Doubletree for October and also got the early entry for WWoHP. It was significantly less than staying on site and is also within walking distance. The only thing we don't have is unlimited FotL. We could buy the express passes (I think they were $20/person the week we are there) but since we can't use them for the rides we most need them for, we probably won't bother. I am hoping late October will be calm enough to not need them.

You won't need Express passes in October.

 

[macraven]

I'm not sure what package deal you're talking about.

As far as the other questions:



For early park entry:
You can go to either or both parks if your heart desires. There is no need to pre-assign what park and when you go. IOA opens one hour before the park officially opens. Depending on the time of year, you can have anywhere from just the WWoHP available, to also having Marvel Island, and some of Suess Landing open. Universal Studios opens 15 mins early for those staying on site, and only Shrek 4D, and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit are open (that is IF HRRR is working that morning). Jimmy Neutron will only be open on select days, so I wouldn't plan on having early access to that.





Hope this helps!!! Have a great trip!

before the parry hotter section opened, many times the parks would open prior to the official 9:00 opening time.
and when that happened, certain sections in IOA, such as marvel land, would accomodate that early group entering.

same for the studios side.
if the lines were long and heavy, it typically opened early also but, very few sections were open before 9:00 for the guests.

now that parry hotter is there, i have not experienced any earlier opening for the sections you mentioned above.
i have seen off site guests enter at 8:50, but not all the time.
(depends on the crowds.)

on site guests and off site packages have the one hour early entry for parry hotter.
the other sections will not be opened at the same time harry is.