US / IOA in july 2011...

[trixie1822]

Hi everyone,

Usually we are only Disney's park when we go to Orlando, but this time, as we go with my brother and new SIL, we would like to take the opportunity to see and show them WDW of course but US/IOA and seaworld too ( 3 weeks vacation-1 week in "orlando" and two weeks at Disney).

So, my question is : how mad is the USs parks in july ? very crowded ? We planned to do 2 days in US and 2 days in IOA. Do you think that we should by the express line ticket or with a total of 4 days we should be able to manage to do everything ?

And second question : any advice regarding hotel in Orlando area with free shuttle to the parks (no disney as we will stay onsite after.)

Sorry for the long post

 

[Metro West]

So, my question is : how mad is the USs parks in july ? very crowded ? We planned to do 2 days in US and 2 days in IOA. Do you think that we should by the express line ticket or with a total of 4 days we should be able to manage to do everything ?

And second question : any advice regarding hotel in Orlando area with free shuttle to the parks (no disney as we will stay onsite after.)

Sorry for the long post

July is very busy and buying Express is definitely a strong recommendation. You should be good to spend four days and see everything you want. You might want to consider staying onsite for one night because you would get unlimited Express for both days and early entry into WWoHP...assuming they will still offer it. You don't have to use the room but it might be cheaper than buying EPs for your whole party.

There are plenty of hotels that offer shuttles to the theme parks. I'll let someone who has more experience with the local hotels address that question.

 

[Darcy03231]

We went in August one year (before Harry Potter opened) and it did get really busy. We found the best thing to do was to get to the parks at opening and do the headliner rides first. Lines didn't start to form until about 11 am. By noon they were starting to get long and by 1 they were really long. We usually left about then and went back to our rental home for a swim/rest/something to eat. We'd go back a night and while there were lines, they didn't seem to be as long as they were mid-day. We spent 7 days between the two parks and were able to see/do everything more than once, so 4 days should give you enough time.

I haven't stayed there, but there is a Doubletree right across the street from US/IOA that seems to be recommended quite a bit. I've stayed at the Sheraton Studio City. Its about half a mile away and really nice.

During our stay we did get a room for one night to get the express passes for 5 of us for 2 days (check in day and check out day). It worked out really well for us. It was also nice to have a place for my mom and 3 y.o. niece to go back to for a rest.

 

[ky07]

We were at Universal this past July and as Metro said it was extremely busy but doable and We have satyed at Doubletree at entrance to Universal on some past trips and it is a nice clean hotel within walking distance of universal and they have a shuttle service that is shared with other hotels but they are the first hotel to be picked up and we used it a couple of times and it was ok.
Hope this helps

 

[hpfan100]

Hi everyone,

Usually we are only Disney's park when we go to Orlando, but this time, as we go with my brother and new SIL, we would like to take the opportunity to see and show them WDW of course but US/IOA and seaworld too ( 3 weeks vacation-1 week in "orlando" and two weeks at Disney).

So, my question is : how mad is the USs parks in july ? very crowded ? We planned to do 2 days in US and 2 days in IOA. Do you think that we should by the express line ticket or with a total of 4 days we should be able to manage to do everything ?

And second question : any advice regarding hotel in Orlando area with free shuttle to the parks (no disney as we will stay onsite after.)

Sorry for the long post

Agree with all other posters...July is busy. I would either stay one night onsite for free express passes or buy them for one day and see all the goodies that day.I bought the express pass for one day in June and was able to ride pretty much everything in one day including WWoHP. There are also tons of single rider lines if you don't mind splitting up. Even without the passes you can probably see everything in 4 days. Maybe even have time for redos. Just an FYI there is a HP conference scheduled from July 13-17 and the hotels have already booked over 1000 rooms for it. You might want to go to Disney that week unless you want to join the wizarding fun!

I stayed at the Hampton Inn on Windhover in June and it was acceptable. It has, fridge, microwave, small safe, free breakfast and free shuttle to universal, seaworld and disney. It's close enough that you could walk it if you really wanted to. (I didn't but saw that some did). Also there is a trolley stop right in front of hotel so you could take that to sea world and universal if needed.
Doubletree and Holiday Inn are right across the street from Universal entrance. Those are good options too. Next to the Hampton on Windhover there was a couple other hotels (windhaven and comfort inn..I think).

 

[trixie1822]

Thank you so much everybody !!!!

I will follow your advice as always