Think I'm ready!

[lisatx04]

Heading to WDW on Saturday for our trip to WDW. This trip, we are checking out of WDW and heading over to US for a stay at the Royal Pacific. Then returning to WDW to finish out our vacation.

Have my park tickets printed, will be using express pass courtesy of the hotel, which I am excited about!! Did not make any dinner reservations, which I am rethinking as I type this, so that may change. If not, we will just go with it.

Weather is not looking so good. Looks like rain-the type that comes and stays. Will have to make the make the best of it.

Any last minute suggestions or thoughts? Since we have never been to either US or IOA, we have no idea what to expect. The only thing I do know is that on Thursday morning, with early entry, we will be going to Hogsmeade.

Have learned a lot by reading this forum! Thank you all!!

 

[Krista in MA]

Have an awesome trip! My only suggestion is to relax and have loads of fun

 

[KorbensMomma]

Don't worry about the rain. We went last June and got hit by a Tropical Storm. We had a great trip, the first day we got wet, really wet. But bought ponchos on the way out. The second day we were dry under our ponchos. The rain seemed to clear out the crowds.

It was great, we stayed cool, didn't get sunburned and didn't have crowds. So don't worry about the rain just be prepared for it. Everyone talks about buying the cheap ponchos before you go but we liked the thick expensive ones from the park. We didn't get hot in them and they didn't stick to us.

 

[rcraw45425]

Heading to WDW on Saturday for our trip to WDW. This trip, we are checking out of WDW and heading over to US for a stay at the Royal Pacific. Then returning to WDW to finish out our vacation.

Have my park tickets printed, will be using express pass courtesy of the hotel, which I am excited about!! Did not make any dinner reservations, which I am rethinking as I type this, so that may change. If not, we will just go with it.

Weather is not looking so good. Looks like rain-the type that comes and stays. Will have to make the make the best of it.

Any last minute suggestions or thoughts? Since we have never been to either US or IOA, we have no idea what to expect. The only thing I do know is that on Thursday morning, with early entry, we will be going to Hogsmeade.

Have learned a lot by reading this forum! Thank you all!!

Don't need to really worry about the dinner reservation thing, thankfully it's not crazy like WDW where you have to book six months out. Plus, for table service, your hotel room card will often work to get you seated quicker at CityWalk. Also, if you have AAA most places (even counter service) give a AAA discount with your card. Same with shops in the parks and City Walk, just ask.

You'll find that US/IOA even during the crazy times is a lot less stressful than WDW, especially now with the FastPass+ hoopla. Just sit back and enjoy

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

We just got back from our first visit. We loved it!! We had rain pretty much straight through on our first afternoon - we just purchased ponchos and made the best of it! Much better weather for our other two days - just very hot so we had to duck in and out of shops at times to cool down. Express Pass is, IMHO, the best thing since sliced bread! Really made the whole experience relaxing and stress-free.

I'll echo the previous tip about AAA food discounts. I knew about the 10% discount for using Amex at counter service, but I was kicking myself at Margaritaville because I'd left my AAA card in the room and they don't honor the Amex discount. We used the AAA discount at Mythos and Tchoup Chop though. I made ressies through OpenTable, it was easy enough to switch around our Mythos time when it turned out we wanted to eat earlier than planned. I loved that flexibility!

If you're looking for a nice breakfast when you're there for early opening, we really enjoyed Three Broomsticks. It was fixed price, so a little more expensive than I was used to for a CS breakfast, but the food was very good and high quality.

Have a great time!

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

due to the probability I will be undergoing a kidney transplant in a few months, I am going to Disney/Universal for the first time in the summer. July 19-27 to be exact. Normally I go in early December (to avoid the crowds and the excess heat now I get both! ) I will just see as much as I can. Reason I am doing this is after a transplant, no rides that require a seat bar for one year which pretty much rules out most of the good rides.

 

[lisatx04]

Had no idea about AAA or AMEX discounts-I have both! Thanks for the tip!
Three Broomsticks-what is that and where is it located?

DD17 and DD BFF 18 do not really eat much. Neither do I. DS, 15, now he is another story! He eats like he has never seen food before and it is continuous!! I like to do at least one sit down meal per day just so I know DS won't "starve", although he does eat continuously through the day.

We have been to Margaritaville several times, so there is no need to go back. I would like to eat in the park, since that is where we will be spending our time. Guess I will go back and look at the park website and see what they have listed.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Had no idea about AAA or AMEX discounts-I have both! Thanks for the tip!
Three Broomsticks-what is that and where is it located?

Three Broomsticks isn't too far from Forbidden Journey in Hogsmeade -it's a counter service. We asked the man helping us in the gift shop after the ride for a breakfast suggestion and he said it was very good so we headed over. It wasn't too crowded although at lunch there was a line outside. In looking at the description on the website I don't see breakfast mentioned so maybe it's new. https://www.universalorlando.com/Restaurants/Islands-of-Adventure/Three-Broomsticks.aspx

 

[lisatx04]

Thanks Little! I looked at the website and did not see anything about breakfast at The Three Broomsticks either. We will do early entry on Thursday at WWOHP Hogsmeade and then try breakfast there.
Thank you so much for the suggestion!!

Although we are not huge HP fans, DS does want butter beer, whatever that is.
He is not much of a thrill ride fan, but I think we will all really enjoy US/IOA.

Can't wait to let you all know what we think of it!

 

[Lynne G]

In the Studios, Finnegans is a nice table service. Mythos in Islands is a great table place for a lunch. In city walk, NBA is a good food place, and some like Nascar. Check out the restaurants in the on site hotels, they are all good too.


I hope you have a great time!

 

[rcraw45425]

Had no idea about AAA or AMEX discounts-I have both! Thanks for the tip!
Three Broomsticks-what is that and where is it located?

DD17 and DD BFF 18 do not really eat much. Neither do I. DS, 15, now he is another story! He eats like he has never seen food before and it is continuous!! I like to do at least one sit down meal per day just so I know DS won't "starve", although he does eat continuously through the day.

We have been to Margaritaville several times, so there is no need to go back. I would like to eat in the park, since that is where we will be spending our time. Guess I will go back and look at the park website and see what they have listed.

Our girls are 17 & 19 so I understand what you mean about not eating much. We have had good meals through the years at Bubba Gump and Hard Rock Cafe in City Walk. In IOA I remember Confisco's being decent, Thunder Falls Terrace was not bad either. We had a so so meal at Mythos which was disappointing as I'd heard so much about it.

At USO Finnigans is good, Richters is your basic burgers and fries. I really wanted to try the stuff in Springfield but no indoor seating to be found made it a NO from my husband. I did have a decent corn dog back in what was still the old Amity area close to Men In Black.

At the resorts we have had good pizza at Sals at Portofino Bay, and a so so dinner at the Trattoria. Had pretty good late night dinner at the Island dining room at Royal Pacific and also good meals at The Kitchen at the Hard Rock Hotel.

 

[agavegirl1]

When I was last there in 2010, the resorts were my best bet for eating light. All have casual restaurant options with great atmosphere and I ordered an appetizer as my meal. Worked great! I really like Jake's at Royal Pacific. Check out the menus (sticky). Almost everywhere in City Walk also had an appetizer option and nobody cares if you order it for dinner.

 

[rcraw45425]

Another option is to split an entree. Frequently I'll share with one of my girls or they will share with each other. Appetizer platters are great to share as a meal too. The one at Hard Rock Cafe can easily be shared between two or even three.