Tips for a newbie

[SarBear]

Hello,

We are WDW regulars, however my 6 year old daughter recently saw a commercial that featured the Minions and now has her heart set on US/IOA. We're going to be at the beach for a week this summer and are talking about driving over for a day to spend at the parks. Now, it will be July so I know it will be crowded and hot and lots of lines. I LOVE Harry Potter, however the priority on this trip will be the things that appeal to the little one. The Minion ride will be a priority, and probably everything else after that will be a bonus. If we aren't planning on spending a huge amount of time in HP land, are both parks doable in one day? If we're planning on focusing on the more kid-friendly attractions? She isn't a thrill seeker, just Minion obsessed at the moment.

Anyone have any tips on a plan of attack? Rides to prioritize? I would love to ride Gringotts (have been on Forbidden Journey and it was amazing) but won't be devastated to miss it this go around.

Thanks in advance for your help! I really have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to US/IOA.

 

[macraven]

hey, i know where collinsville is !!!

brooks catsup bottle.....



back to your question, July is high crowds in the parks.

go early prior to park opening and hit the minions first thing since this is your main reason for going to the darkside.
do gringotts also.
you'll love it.


stay away from 4th of july and weekends.

buy the park to park pass and take HE from the studio side to ioa.


do check out the rides and info about everything in the parks at www.universalorlando.com

get an idea of the layout of both parks so you can plan the highlights of your day for rides.

read thru a few of the trip reports to get an idea of ways others have toured.
some of the reports include pictures of their park days.


it's always fun planning for a new adventure!

 

[ladybugx]

I agree with getting there before the park opens and heading straight to Minions. If you don't, you're pretty much guaranteed a LONG wait time. If you download the wait times app, you can see that the attraction has hour+ long waits pretty consistently throughout even slow days, often more like 1.5+ hour waits.

I think both parks are doable in July as long as your goal truly is to hit the kid-friendly stuff.

 

[RMulieri]

Get there EARLY and do Despicable ME EARLY...We just got back and even in low times, DM waits were 90 mins.We have waited over 20 and we have the express pass when we go

 

[SarBear]

Awesome! Thanks for the tips! We'll be on the beach for the 4th of July, then will be spending the following week down there too so I was thinking of going to Universal maybe Wednesday or Thursday of that week. We'll be in the St Pete/Clearwater area so it'll be easy to get there before park opening. We will for sure hit up Minions first. Definitely will get the two park tickets because I know she wants to ride the train also (HE). I'll check out their website and sketch out a rough plan of the rides we want to hit up.

And yes, the catsup bottle!!! We drive past it on our way to the mall. That thing is actually for sale right now!

 

[johde]

If you can swing it, I would consider spending the night onsite (even Cabana Bay). Maybe driving up the night before or driving up real early and staying onsite the night after. You can check in even if your rooms not ready. Staying onsite gets you Early Entry and in the Summer I assume it will be to both parks. I was able to walk onto Despicable Me twice (on different days) during that first hour. Gringotts is the other ride open during that first hour at USF. You could hit both your Daughter and Your's #1 must do (or at least get in line for Gringotts) while day guests are still out in City Walk. From there you could move on to E.T., Kudo and Kang (Dumbo) etc while you feel out how thrilling of rides your Daughter likes.

 

[SarBear]

Thanks for the tip, I'll check out pricing on that hotel.

She is not a thrill seeker at all. 7DMT terrified her in October. But she likes the simulator rides. She loved Soarin' and Star Tours and Dinosaur.

 

[johde]

That's an interesting combination. But given that, I think she'll adore Despicable Me. If she can handle the jerkiness of Dinosaur, I can see her possibly liking the Simpsons although several parts of the movie involve simulating a roller coaster. If she's OK with spinning, you can throw in Men in Black (Buzz Light Year on Steroids), and Transformers/Spiderman.

Give the fact 7DMT was too intense of a roller coaster, the big ones are obviously out, Revenge of the Mummy is also probably out. Gringotts is a big question mark in my book. It is bigger than 7DMT but it is less roller coaster than 7DMT. It is more simulator on roller coaster track.

If you wanted to try stretching your daughters coaster limits a little. Flight of the Hippogryph and Woody Woodpecker Nuthouse coaster are just slightly bigger than Barnstormer. Pteranodon Flyers is slightly smaller than Barnstormers but your feet dangle.

If your daughter likes Kali River Rapids, I think she'd really like Popeye and Bluto's. It is a more thrilling and 10x wetter so be prepared.

 

[SarBear]

It's an interesting combination for sure, and kind of makes it hard to predict what she may or may not like. I was shocked she liked Dinosaur honestly. Something about a roller coaster just really freaks her out though so I doubt we even suggest them to her this time around, lol. I think if she can ride the Minion ride and meet Spongebob it will make her life complete.

 

[SarBear]

Cabana Bay prices are super reasonable! That might be worth it to drive in the evening before, stay there, having dinner at City Walk, and then get the early entry the next day. Definitely something to consider. Thanks for the tip!!

 

[hydrotony]

A hint to see the Minions...You can enter the Despicable Me gift shop and walk into the post-ride dance party and see the minions and get photos with them.

 

[SarBear]

A hint to see the Minions...You can enter the Despicable Me gift shop and walk into the post-ride dance party and see the minions and get photos with them.

OMG. Thank you so much. This will make her day!

 

[johde]

It's an interesting combination for sure, and kind of makes it hard to predict what she may or may not like. I was shocked she liked Dinosaur honestly. Something about a roller coaster just really freaks her out though so I doubt we even suggest them to her this time around, lol. I think if she can ride the Minion ride and meet Spongebob it will make her life complete.

If she get's lucky, she might be able to meet Spongebob and Patrick. They do their meet and greet in the store. I got my picture with Patrick but one time when I was walking by both of them were together for pictures. But, that was once over the course of 5 days.

With the meet and greets, you can do a temporary Star Card then at the end of the day decide if you've done enough pictures to purchase a package. A 1 day package is only available online for $39.95 at https://presale.amazingpictures.com/PhotoConnect.aspx . At the parks they only do 3 day and Annual Pass. It needs to be Prepurchased but unlike Disney, you can buy it on your smartphone just prior to redeeming it.

You can download all your pictures from the day plus you get a free 4x6 and 5x7 and a "special" price if you want to print out more.

Here's a couple from my solo trip a the beginning of this month.




By the way, this is the size of the downloaded pictures.

 

[SarBear]

Awesome! Thanks!! They'll allow me to take my own pictures though correct?

 

[pcstang]

Awesome! Thanks!! They'll allow me to take my own pictures though correct?

Yes

 

[SarBear]

You guys are the best. I really love this message board. Thanks for all the help.

 

[macraven]

since your trip will be after july 4th, push the numbers together and try to stay onsite at one of the deluxe hotels.

i'll tell you why.


mid july brings in crowds and you will want to see it all.
it will cost more money to stay at RPR but it is worth it.
if you don't like the hotel where you are staying you might never what to return to UO to visit.

hrh is very close to the studios and rpr is a 6 minute walk to ioa.
you be able to utilize the exress lines for the day you are there


vacation time is to let you relax and no responsibility .
you are there to destress and to be entertained.

the extra charges for switching hotels may make this vacation go soother and be more of what yo like.

many guests prfer one hotel over another won for personal reasons

if the front desk person at Cbay tells you they can't help you, ask to speak to the manager.


again, good luck.

 

[SarBear]

I haven't actually booked anything yet. Just doing preliminary budgeting and fact gathering for now. I'll look into the deluxe hotels, but I don't think we want to add that much onto our budget for one night. I think if we drive down the night before, stay at Cabana Bay and get early entry we'll be able to hit up the Minion ride with little issues.

Those hotels look sooo nice though. Maybe someday.

 

[Grumpy92]

I would definitely stay at a US hotel for one night so you can get the early entry. Love Cabana Bay, the rates and the resort are great. If you can swing at Portofino they have Despicable Me/Minion Rooms she would probably adore. Deluxe hotel guests also get Express passes.

https://www.universalorlando.com/Hotels/Loews-Portofino-Bay-Hotel/Accommodations/Luxury-Suites.aspx