Strategy for 2 Days in August?

[Elias1901]

Hey there,

I've been a little bit out of the Universal loop as far as hitting the parks at opening goes and what the best CURRENT strategy is for working through the parks. I will be taking two days during my next WDW vacation in August to hit the parks at Universal Orlando. I will be visiting on a Friday and Saturday from open till close each day.

I am looking for the best advice for what time to show up prior to the parks opening and what the best morning strategy for maximizing time would be. Is the Potter stuff / Kong still among the first things to hit up? Or has it changed and Fast and the Furious / Jimmy Fallon are now the things that should take priority?

I will have a park-to-park ticket for both days (naturally) but I will be there WITHOUT Express pass... so I am really wanting not to screw up my time there by hitting massive lines that could have been avoided with more careful planning.

If anybody could share their best estimated strategies for August 2018, that would be fantastic!

Thanks!

 

[bobbie68]

Hi August is one of those months where the beginning can be busy then it trails off as the month goes on. We usually go the first week in August and the summer crowds are still around.

I assume you are not staying on-site so you will not have early entry either. If you do have early entry I would still do the same thing for the studios as I mention below. I would probably plan to do each park at opening one day. I would be there at least 45 minutes before opening to be towards the front of the line.

For the the studios I would hit Minion Mayhem first on your way in ( if your interested in it) then go over to Diagon Alley. Since you can pass Jimmy Fallon and Fast and Furious on your way over so you might want to pop in and get a virtual line time to return if you want to ride them. These virtual queue times could run out fast and by late morning or early afternoon they are could be gone. I would go over to Diagon Alley do everything there then if your Fast and Furious and or Fallon time is around the time when your done you can do that. If you want to finish anything in the studios I would. Since you have Park to Park I would ride the Hogwarts Express both ways. However, I would suggest doing this in the earlier morning times or later in the evening. This line will be long like the Potter lands are crowded.

When we go over to IOA we start with Hulk then work our way around the lagoon if we don't do early entry. Yes Kong can still have the long queues as well as Hogsmeade being crowded. If you do have early entry I would do Hogsmeade first then head back through Jurassic and hit Kong. If you go in opening time Spider-man and Kong that early will have less wait time. We do not do the water rides so not sure for wait times for them. Once we make our way to Hogsmeade we will walk around and go on Forbidden Journey. If it is to busy we usually turn around and head back through Jurassic area if we want to re ride the same ones. Once in awhile we continue through Lost Continent. We usually will go back to Hogsmeade in the evening when it has lower crowds. However, we have not done this since the light show at night so I am not sure how this is affecting the crowds in Hogsmeade at night. I am sure someone who has gone can give input.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Elias1901]

Hi August is one of those months where the beginning can be busy then it trails off as the month goes on. We usually go the first week in August and the summer crowds are still around.

I assume you are not staying on-site so you will not have early entry either. If you do have early entry I would still do the same thing for the studios as I mention below. I would probably plan to do each park at opening one day. I would be there at least 45 minutes before opening to be towards the front of the line.

For the the studios I would hit Minion Mayhem first on your way in ( if your interested in it) then go over to Diagon Alley. Since you can pass Jimmy Fallon and Fast and Furious on your way over so you might want to pop in and get a virtual line time to return if you want to ride them. These virtual queue times could run out fast and by late morning or early afternoon they are could be gone. I would go over to Diagon Alley do everything there then if your Fast and Furious and or Fallon time is around the time when your done you can do that. If you want to finish anything in the studios I would. Since you have Park to Park I would ride the Hogwarts Express both ways. However, I would suggest doing this in the earlier morning times or later in the evening. This line will be long like the Potter lands are crowded.

When we go over to IOA we start with Hulk then work our way around the lagoon if we don't do early entry. Yes Kong can still have the long queues as well as Hogsmeade being crowded. If you do have early entry I would do Hogsmeade first then head back through Jurassic and hit Kong. If you go in opening time Spider-man and Kong that early will have less wait time. We do not do the water rides so not sure for wait times for them. Once we make our way to Hogsmeade we will walk around and go on Forbidden Journey. If it is to busy we usually turn around and head back through Jurassic area if we want to re ride the same ones. Once in awhile we continue through Lost Continent. We usually will go back to Hogsmeade in the evening when it has lower crowds. However, we have not done this since the light show at night so I am not sure how this is affecting the crowds in Hogsmeade at night. I am sure someone who has gone can give input.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for your tips!

I'll be staying onsite at WDW and usually get the two day ticket with transfers package that Dreams offers. Funnily enough on the topic of early morning entry, there has been times they've let me in during the early morning admission time period with this ticket option (without being in a Universal hotel). Apparently it had the marking on it they were looking for to let people in. Is this a common occurrence or a fluke or an untrained team member?

OH! Also...

I have a Coke Freestyle mug I bought at the parks back in 2015 or 2016. I can't quite remember. Either way... if I bring this mug along with me on this trip, will I still be able to get them to activate it for the cheaper refill price? Or would I have to buy a brand new cup all over again? I'm not sure what their policy on that was or if the design of the cups had changed or some other reason for it not to be allowed...

 

[Elias1901]

Hmm... I'm not quite sure why this got posted in the resorts and hotels section and not the parks section. My apologies there!

 

[bobbie68]

Thanks for your tips!

I'll be staying onsite at WDW and usually get the two day ticket with transfers package that Dreams offers. Funnily enough on the topic of early morning entry, there has been times they've let me in during the early morning admission time period with this ticket option (without being in a Universal hotel). Apparently it had the marking on it they were looking for to let people in. Is this a common occurrence or a fluke or an untrained team member?

OH! Also...

I have a Coke Freestyle mug I bought at the parks back in 2015 or 2016. I can't quite remember. Either way... if I bring this mug along with me on this trip, will I still be able to get them to activate it for the cheaper refill price? Or would I have to buy a brand new cup all over again? I'm not sure what their policy on that was or if the design of the cups had changed or some other reason for it not to be allowed...

Hi I have my coke free-style from last year and was told that I can bring it and just pay for the day refill. I am sure as long as there is a chip for reactivating it would be fine. I would take it and try.

I don't know about that ticket and how it was marked. We always stay on-site and always showed our room key. That's interesting though.

 

[Elias1901]

Hi I have my coke free-style from last year and was told that I can bring it and just pay for the day refill. I am sure as long as there is a chip for reactivating it would be fine. I would take it and try.

I don't know about that ticket and how it was marked. We always stay on-site and always showed our room key. That's interesting though.

Ah, okay.

You mentioned something about getting virtual line passes. Does this work like FastPass return times? Also... where exactly do you go to get them?

 

[bobbie68]

Hi yes the two virtual line queue rides work exactly like FP return times.
When you go up to Jimmy Fallon entrance to the right is the area where the machines are to get your ticket for the return time. I don't know where the Fast and Furious one is but I will try and find out. I would think it will be off to the right or left of the queue entrance.

 

[TommyJK]

When without Express Passes, I find the best strategy is to continually check the app for wait times.

The two parks can see big shifts/swings in crowds throughout the day so while one area or park could be really busy with long wait times, other areas could be a lot less busy. It's about finding the flow of what everyone else is doing and trying to do the opposite.

 

[Elias1901]

I feel I should mention that I will be travelling to UOR solo for these days and I will be able to take advantage of single rider lines where available. How would this factor change the ideal touring plan? Should I hit the attractions without single ride queues first thing in the day? I'm thinking about mainly Minions as this is an attraction that I will under no circumstances wait any large length of time for. Would it be wise to make this my first stop when I walk into the park that day? What about for Islands of Adventure??

 

[damo]

Many of the rides have single rider lines. Definitely take advantage of them as it will save you a ton of time.

 

[pattyw]

Ah, okay.

You mentioned something about getting virtual line passes. Does this work like FastPass return times? Also... where exactly do you go to get them?

You can get them on your phone or at the attraction. Yes- it will give you a return time that you can enter the attraction.

I'm thinking about mainly Minions as this is an attraction that I will under no circumstances wait any large length of time for. Would it be wise to make this my first stop when I walk into the park that day? What about for Islands of Adventure??

The Despicable Me ride always has a long line. Yes- try it first thing or if you're there near park close that will probably be the time of the day with the shortest line.

At IOA, go to King Kong first. That line is usually pretty long. Then, either the Harry Potter rides or Spiderman.

 

[macraven]

Many do minions first when they enter the park hit the first ride they see

So minions can have lines at anytime

I’m about to give up on finishing this post
I have had it freeze up on me 6 times now while trying to post on it
Lol

Website errors getting frustrating

To answer your other question, you started this thread in the hotel section but I am moving it now to the main general section

 

[Elias1901]

Thanks everyone!!

One thing I want to ask is about Universal making you lock up loose articles in lockers. I don't plan on bringing many loose articles if I can help it due to this locker policy eating up a decent portion of time each time you ride... so... if I were to have just my iPhone and my wallet in each of my pant pockets, would they make me take these out? Or could I ride. I mean, I could wear cargo shorts perhaps with zip up pockets if stuff falling out is the concern. My main desire is to skip the hooplah of doing lockers every single time before and after an attraction!

The only problem I can see with this is if I bring my RFID Coke Freestyle cup and my interactive wand... I assume both of these are definitely not allowed to be carried loose onto certain attractions.

Could anybody provide me a list of which attractions DO and DO NOT permit carry-on articles / ones you can just keep stuff in your pockets and be permitted on?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[macraven]

RRR does not allow cell phones on a person doing the ride.
There are other rides where the cell would not be an issue

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Hulk and RRR are the only ones you must take everything out of pockets (metal detectors). All others you can skip lockers as long as loose articles are stashed in pockets.

Obviously there are also non-"thrill" rides that you can bring bags and whatnot right on with you.

 

[Elias1901]

Thanks guys!

But say I brought my wand and Coke Freestyle cup along with me... if I can hold these in my hands, would I be able to bring these on things such as Forbidden Journey or Escape from Gringotts?? I hear the wizarding robes have special pockets on the inside for wands... is this the case? I just am not sure if I'd want to be wearing them around in August in Florida. Are they especially hot to have on or are they cooler than they appear??

 

[Elias1901]

Update.

 

[Lynne G]

I would think those robes would be hot, but I have never worn one. August is very warm and can have rain, so up to you, and if you want to take it off, then have to carry around or put in a paid for locker.

Forbidden only has a pocket area in your back, like enough for sunglasses or flip flops. I would put both wand and cup in a ride locker. Gringott, I guess you could try to put between your feet, but I am pretty sure they would send you to the ride lockers as you entered the line. I know for Men in Black, cannot bring loose cup, and no loose articles. The ride lockers are easy, and if you head to the back of them, not usually as crowded.

I cannot remember which rides, but wherever you see ride lockers, know nothing loose, like cups and wands, can be brought on the ride. Like above, phone and wallet in pocket fine, except RRR and Hulk.

I hope you have a great time. I will be there last 2 weeks of August.

 

[TommyJK]

I really wouldn't worry too much about the lockers. They are super easy and quick to deal with. Like literally a couple of minutes. Aside from Dragon Challenge lockers (which is gone now anyways) most of the locker areas spacious and fairly easy to navigate.

My wife would always have her purse with her so she was the designated locker person to put all of our stuff in and take it out. It probably took her on average 1-2 minutes per drop off or pick up.

 

[goofy4wdw2]

I really wouldn't worry too much about the lockers. They are super easy and quick to deal with. Like literally a couple of minutes. Aside from Dragon Challenge lockers (which is gone now anyways) most of the locker areas spacious and fairly easy to navigate.

My wife would always have her purse with her so she was the designated locker person to put all of our stuff in and take it out. It probably took her on average 1-2 minutes per drop off or pick up.

Would a backpack fit in the lockers or just a purse? What is the fee? Thanks!