Trip planning questions

[LuvMickey36]

Hi everyone!!! I am new here & have LOTS!!! of questions. Over 100 so far. I am going to try to figure most out on my own.

My first & most important question is what do you use to plan??

I prefer a binder type thing. I stopped @ staples this am to get supplies. Dividers & page protectors & the clip in accordion(sp??) folder. All different sections.

Can anyone help me out with this?? Either with pics or section categories?? Any info will be appreciated. Anything that I can type out/keep a running list of then add when we go???

Will I need an ADR spreadsheet to keep my info???

We decided to go on Fri. I haven't slept well since. The binder anxiety is keeping me up.

I never need one for disney, I just note my adr conf. #'s & print out park hrs. This is all new to me & I am thinking I am in over my head.

I did go thru a lot of the US/IOA threads over the weekend. Some ??'s were answered & some just led to more ??'s.

It will be me, dh, & ds6. DH & I haven't been since our honeymoon in 2000. DS has never been. I am totally at a loss.

I am hoping that the experts can help me out. TIA

 

[Metro West]

The first thing you should do check out the interactive map on the website to get an idea of the park layouts. You can decide which park you might want to do first and which attractions hold particular interest. http://www.universalorlando.com/amusement-parks/map.html

Next thing would be to check You Tube and see what ride videos are posted and many of them are. You can get a first hand view of the attractions and will know what to expect.

Depending on when you're going, you may not need to worry about making ADR's much more than a few days out...it's nothing like Disney.

Check out these recommendations and come back with questions...we would be glad to help you!

 

[ky07]

Hi everyone!!! I am new here & have LOTS!!! of questions. Over 100 so far. I am going to try to figure most out on my own.

My first & most important question is what do you use to plan??

I prefer a binder type thing. I stopped @ stapled this am to get supplies. Dividers & page protectors & the clip in accordion(sp??) folder. All different sections.

Can anyone help me out with this?? Either with pics or section categories?? Any info will be appreciated. Anything that I can type out/keep a running list of then add when we go???

Will I need an ADR spreadsheet to keep my info???

We decided to go on Fri. I haven't slept well since. The binder anxiety is keeping me up.

I never need one for disney, I just note my adr conf. #'s & print out park hrs. This is all new to me & I am thinking I am in over my head.

I did go thru a lot of the US/IOA threads over the weekend. Some ??'s were answered & some just led to more ??'s.

It will be me, dh, & ds6. DH & I haven't been since our honeymoon in 2000. DS has never been. I am totally at a loss.

I am hoping that the experts can help me out. TIA

Thats what is what I like about universal is you don't have to do alot of planning
The only planning I do is hotel ressies , airline tickets and park tickets.
As far as ressies for restaurants as most will tell you can make them the day of at kiosk at citywalk and I have never found the need to make any cause our longest wait was Margarittaville and it was only 20 mins and that was in july last year.
Hope this helps

 

[Darcy03231]

I use a small three ring binder with plastic pocket dividers. I use a separate pocket for airline reservations, hotel, car rental, park tickets, coupons, etc.

 

[LuvMickey36]

Thanks everyone!!! I will check out the universal site more. I rec'd my US/IOA packet from AAA today. It will be helpful.

So I really won't need to plan like newbies do for disney?? Really?????

I just want my son to have the best time he can. I don't want to miss something or find something on the last day & not have time to ride/see it.

I will check back when I have learned a bit & know what I need to ask.

 

[macraven]

there's really nothing to plan unless you stay off site and would then need to be at the parking garage around 7:45 am.

 

[Niki Andiokno]

Mac, is that 7:45 time assuming an 8:00 opening?

 

[geffric]

I don't think so... it takes really long to get to US/IOA from the parking garage and a really really lloonnnggg time to get into the garage..

 

[Darcy03231]

Mac, is that 7:45 time assuming an 8:00 opening?

That's 7:45 for a 9 am opening.

 

[macraven]

Mac, is that 7:45 time assuming an 8:00 opening?

no.

on a regular park day, be at the parking garage around 7:40 am
you will be about the 4th or 5th car in line.

if you are going during a holiday time period or on a day that is considered to be a high crowd day, you don't want to wait in a long line to park the car.
that's time taken away from the coasters.....

the parking garage opens at 8:00 when the park opens at 9:00.
on days the parks open at 8:00, just adjust your time around for the parking.

you will be in and parked by 8:03 if you are that far up in line.
then hop to IOA to start your day.
you should be there around 8:17.

if the line is long at the turnstile, it has been known that the TM's will open
around 8:30ish. the gates before the official time of 9:00

if you go in the summer or on a weekend, and don't arrive to the parking garage until 8 or after, you will have a long wait to get in and parked.

 

[macraven]

you have to ask yourself, do i want to sit in my car in a short line to enter the garage, or do i want to sit in my car in a long line when i could be in the parks at this time.


when i did stay off site, i chose to go early and be cranky and sit in a parked car in the parking lot line for 20 minutes.

i would have been very cranky and ansy if i sat in a parking lot line for 40 minutes and lost park time especially if the guests were allowed in early.


my preference always was go early, park right at the garage opening.

then head to ioa and wait there in line instead of a car.


picture taking time is fantastic if you are in the park early.
very few guests in your way for taking pictures of the park.
no lines for rides.
you cover a lot of ground when the park is not full of people.

you will think the park is dead if you enter early and have no lines.
when 11:00 rolls around, the park crowds will start forming.

 

[ky07]

no.

on a regular park day, be at the parking garage around 7:40 am
you will be about the 4th or 5th car in line.

if you are going during a holiday time period or on a day that is considered to be a high crowd day, you don't want to wait in a long line to park the car.
that's time taken away from the coasters.....

the parking garage opens at 8:00 when the park opens at 9:00.
on days the parks open at 8:00, just adjust your time around for the parking.

you will be in and parked by 8:03 if you are that far up in line.
then hop to IOA to start your day.
you should be there around 8:17.

if the line is long at the turnstile, it has been known that the TM's will open
around 8:30ish. the gates before the official time of 9:00

if you go in the summer or on a weekend, and don't arrive to the parking garage until 8 or after, you will have a long wait to get in and parked.

So right cause our very first trip to Universal we got in line to park at 8:30 and it was summertime and it took us forever to park and by the time we got into the parks it was packed.
Made for some long waits to ride the coasters.