USF/IoA Weekend for DD's 10th birthday

[myxdvz]

For my DD's 10th birthday, I promised her a trip to a destination of her choice and we ended up with USF/IOA in Orlando.

She's been here once when she was 6 and before she watched/read any of the HP movies/books. This visit will be mainly for WWoHP.

We'll arrive Thursday night -- maybe stay at a Marriott nearby on points for the night. After that I need some opinions:

Option 1: Continue staying offsite (Marriott/Hilton or Wyndham) as I have points on all these and book a non-private VIP tour for the two of us on 2/28. Cost will be be ~ $700 + tickets which is prob another $350.

Option 2: Stay onsite (LPR) for one night getting Express Pass for 2/27. Cost for this with tickets is going to be about $750 as well with a 2 day park to park (3rd day free).

Then I'm thinking we spend Sunday at Kennedy Space Center or somewhere else.

I like the VIP tour because it is special and something we've never done. I'm a bit worried about the non-disclosure of what exactly are the rides and attractions that will be done but all reports I've read say it's worth it.

Does it still make sense to stay onsite AND do the VIP tour?

Thoughts?

 

[damo]

I'd stay longer onsite and not do the tour. When are you going?

Remember that if you stay onsite at one of the three deluxe hotels, you don't have to buy express passes, they are included for the day you arrive and the day you leave.

 

[myxdvz]

I'd stay longer onsite and not do the tour. When are you going?

Remember that if you stay onsite at one of the three deluxe hotels, you don't have to buy express passes, they are included for the day you arrive and the day you leave.

Thanks for replying! We'll be there from 2/27 to 3/1. We arrive the evening of 2/26 but that will be too late for anything.

My Option 2 is a stay at an onsite hotel for LRR for 1 night, getting the included express passes for 2/27 and 2/28. But express passes is still a line and not available on some of the HP attractions is what I've heard. The tour is a true Front of the Line pass.

The savings between option 1 and option 2 is about $300 give or take.

I just checked the price of Express Pass for 2/28 (the day of our scheduled tour) and it is $89.99 which means its a pretty crowded day. The day before, 2/27 is $55.99. I am hoping we won't need an express pass that day.

 

[damo]

The only HP ride with a very long line these days (during non peak times) is Gringotts. Just go there during early admission and be one of the first in line and you'll be fine.

Express pass is good for Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge. Forbidden Journey is very high capacity and the line these days is pretty short. Ollivander's doesn't usually have a wait in Diagon Alley. So the only thing you may have to wait for is Gringotts. Just do that smartly, and you shouldn't need the VIP tour.

 

[christophfam]

I'd stay onsite too. It's more than just the express pass. It's not having to deal with parking in the garage each day. It's being able to walk to your room in the afternoon for a break if you feel like it. It's being able to go on the water rides then head to your hotel pool for a swim and change and go back to the parks. The benefits of staying onsite go way beyond the express pass which is amazing in itself.

Last I looked the 3rd day was free with two days for tickets. Use the extra $300 you were going to spend for the VIP and book another night onsite. Skip Kennedy and just park and relax, tour the parks and enjoy a vacation instead of running around the entire time.

 

[myxdvz]

Thanks for all the responses. I have decided to keep the VIP Experience for the following reasons:

• This is a short trip. We are flying specifically for WWoHP for DDs 10th birthday. Specifically Hogwarts Express, Diagon Ally, Escape and Forbidden Journey -- most of which are NOT eligible for Express Pass

• The VIP tour gives TRUE Front of the Line access to the rides. The express pass from what I hear will still have a line and will cut your time to almost half on the Standy lines, but that will still be about 20-30 minutes for the main attractions (Minions).

• We were really only planning for 2 days. The 3rd extra park day ticket is a nice bonus but so far the plan is to go to KSC on our last day.

• The day we have the tour booked is a Mardi Gras Saturday and the crowd level says Moderate. Our VIP lanyard should give us access to exclusive viewing area for the Cinema Spectacular without booking a dinner

• The VIP lanyard also gives us Express Unlimited for the rest of the day after the tour. For that Saturday, it will be from 5pm to 8pm.

• The VIP tour includes FREE Valet parking so we don't have to pay parking on the Saturday

• The cost of parking on Friday/Sunday (our 2nd park day) will be offset by the parking charge at the hotel.

• I own at Bonnet Creek and DVC and have various points at hotels so that expense is really not counted. Staying free is better than paying at a hotel Plus, I have to pay for parking at these hotels for the whole stay!

• But mainly, I really wanted this trip to be special for her and this will be something that we'll probably do once and not again. When the whole family comes back, we are going to stay on-site. Having used points for hotel and airfare meant that we really only needed to spend money on the tickets and tour.

Everyone that I've read who had taken the tour before (private or non-private) said it was worth it. I would love to hear from someone who has done the tour/VIP and came out thinking, wow I could have just done that myself with an onsite stay and Express Passes.

I'd stay onsite too. It's more than just the express pass. It's not having to deal with parking in the garage each day. It's being able to walk to your room in the afternoon for a break if you feel like it. It's being able to go on the water rides then head to your hotel pool for a swim and change and go back to the parks. The benefits of staying onsite go way beyond the express pass which is amazing in itself.

And I would totally agree with you, if this was a longer trip or summer. This is why we are DVC members and would also stay on-site for USO. But this is a 2 day trip at the parks. We will be spending it all at the park and I doubt we will be taking a break. It's not like the pools and water rides are our target in February