The first evening in the parks---what would you do?

[jewell]

Okay you US/IOA experts, we will be arriving at RPR on Sunday afternoon in the summer, we thought after we check-in we'd hit the pool for a few hours and then head over to either US or IOA. We will be spending Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the parks (with breaks at the hotel in the afternoon of course!). But we know we will be too excited not to go to the parks on Sunday evening (we have the $86 seven day tickets). We thought we'd go to a park around 4:00 or 4:30 eat somewhere (suggestions anyone--maybe Finnegans or Lombards or somewhere in IOA???) eat an early dinner. Then ride what??? And which park would be the least crowded on a Sunday night and the following Monday? Just trying to come up with a plan here.

After eating I was thinking about riding The mummy (we haven't been to US/IOA since 2000!) then maybe doing shrek, then maybe jaws. The park stays open until 10:00 when we are there. BUT if you would say that US would be less crowded on a Monday maybe we will do some rides at IOA on Sunday evening because I don't want to go to the same park Sunday evening as I will do on Monday.

We will have kids with us, ages 9, 11 and 13, but they are all talk enough to ride everything and they love all rides, including roller coasters--yes even the 9 year old---she is braver than me!

 

[rpbert1]

Do not think it really matters what park you go to , you will have the FOTL so basically take your pick which one you would like to go to first.
Last year myself and DD would walk over to IOA in the afternoon for a couple of hours do the water rides which she loves and a few others ,then back to pool and then back out for dinner in the evening and go to US and do the rides she wants there, with the FOTL i found i did not need any planning ,unlike Disney.

 

[jewell]

I just love to plan! And I HATE crowds, although I know there will be crowds in the summer (but it's the only time I could go). I realize that FOTL will help so much and I'm so excited about it. Just wondered what US regulars would do.

Another question about FOTL, although I'm sure this helps a lot, you can't tell me with as many people staying on site in the summer that the express lines aren't somewhat of a line??? What kind of wait should I expect 15 minutes or longer? 15 minutes is okay, but anything over 30 minutes is just too much for me. I have no patience, it one of my many downfalls!!!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Since you have kids that will be anxious to ride the coasters, this would be my suggestion:

If you want to eat 1st, I'd plan to have dinner at Mythos in IOA. When you exit the restaurant, go to the left & ride Dueling Dragons, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Spiderman, Doctor Doom's Fearfull, & The Hulk. You should pass these in order. If you have time left, check out Seuss Landing. You will have plenty of time to see the other things at IOA another day. We like to ride the water rides, during the daytime right before heading back to the hotel for some R&R. I can't stand walking around in wet clothes.

As far as the lines go, we almost always go in July & I don't ever remember waiting more than 15 min. or so. The only time I can think of that we may have waited a little longer is when we got in line right as they closed the doors at a show (i.e. Shrek), & it takes a while for another one to start.

 

[NashvilleTrio]

When we went last Aug there were still crowds, but not too bad. Anyway, we got off the plane around 12:30p, check in around 1:30 and ate some lunch. We entered IOA around 3:30p did an entire lap of that park and then went over and did the major attractions at US. You're gonna love the Express! We got to pack all that fun into one evening and then spend the next 3 days taking it easy and really enjoying the parks.

 

[robvia]

It won't matter what you do. Play it by ear and visit a park. Happy hour is 3-5pm at most bars in the park. Grab a few happy hour drinks to celebrate. Rush hour at the restaurants is 8pm. Your room key will move you up on the list. If you want to avoid the crowds, eat at 6pm.
There is the 360 show at Universal at 09:55pm to end the evening. You could walk over there and watch it.

Best touring plan is to arrive early each morning so you can ride the coasters in the front, leave in the afternoon when it's hot out, then come back for the evening.

I don't know how you are getting to the parks, but it would be a good idea to stock a cooler before you check in. Most limo services will make a grocery stop, that way you'll have drinks when you get back to the room after touring.

 

[jewell]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the tips, we will be driving in so I will definitely stock a cooler with some water and other drinks, that is a great idea! I thought I'd also buy some stuff for breakfast so we could just eat in the room, that will save us a least $20 plus a day, not a lot, but I'd rather use that money for lunch or dinner.

Maybe after I get there and see how FOTL works, I'll chill out a bit, but I'm such a planner that it's hard for me not to plan every minute! I love Disney but I can see where this trip will be much more relaxing than my last Disney trip~~and that is a very good thing!

 

[robvia]

We plan everything too. Breakfast in the room is a great idea. Buy doughnuts and milk.
The best idea is to hit the parks early, then relax in the afternoon. Some people like to sleep in. If that's the case and you wake up early, leave the sleepy heads in the room and visit the parks early, then go back when they wake up. You can stay in touch with cell phones if you have pants with velcro pockets or a fanny pack.

In the afternoon, we usually watch a movie in the room and hit the pool along with taking a nap. Then it's another park visit at night along with dinner at a restaurant.