Visiting June 7-14th...Am I in trouble??

[codygirl5150]

This will be my first trip to US/IOA and my 2nd trip to WDW. We're planning to spend 1 day in Sea World, 3 days in UO/IOA and 3 in WDW, and will be staying off property (no FOTL ). I've been warned about the heat and I know most schools will be letting out at that time. Any words of wisdom from you enlightened DIS'ers?

We learned from our last WDW marathon that we should take afternoon swim breaks (we're staying in a vacation home with a pool!). What I'm more worried about are the crowds!

Thanks!

 

[Metro West]

This will be my first trip to US/IOA and my 2nd trip to WDW. We're planning to spend 4 days in UO/IOA and 3 in WDW, and will be staying off property (no FOTL ). I've been warned about the heat and I know most schools will be letting out at that time. Any words of wisdom from you enlightened DIS'ers?

We learned from our last WDW marathon that we should take afternoon swim breaks (we're staying in a vacation home with a pool!). What I'm more worried about are the crowds!

Thanks!

If you get there early, you should be able to do some of the bigger attractions before the crowds arrive. Four days will be plenty of time to do everything...even with the crowds.

 

[swilshire]

Southern schools will be out, but not the northerners. The earlier in June we've gone, the lighter the crowds have been. The heat shouldn't be too bad yet either.

Sheila

 

[macraven]

many northern schools do get out the end of may as they return back to school in mid august.

 

[donaldduck352]

It starts to get pretty warm down here in June..

 

[swilshire]

many northern schools do get out the end of may as they return back to school in mid august.

I stand corrected. Most of my northern friends have kids in school right until the end of June. I've always felt sorry for them.

Sheila

 

[macraven]

same here.
most schools in northern midwest get out May.

 

[minniejack]

same here.
most schools in northern midwest get out May.

WV schools get out June 5

 

[tampabrat22]

In a lot of Florida counties, school ends around the 1st week of June. So yes the parks will be probably be crowded and the average temps here in June are in the low to mid 90's with rain every. single. day. in the late afternoon or early evening. Once it rains the humidity is awful, so try to plan your park visits around the weather.

Sorry to be a downer, but our summers are HOT and if you're not prepared you will be miserable. So be sure to take all the essentials (sunblock, water, etc) and most importantly....have a great time!

 

[codygirl5150]

Thanks everyone for the great info. I'm also wondering when the lines start to become 90 min waits. How many rides can I get in before lunch? I'm looking for a nice mix of family and thrill.

Thanks!

 

[macraven]

Thanks everyone for the great info. I'm also wondering when the lines start to become 90 min waits. How many rides can I get in before lunch? I'm looking for a nice mix of family and thrill.

Thanks!

since you are staying off property, be at the parking garage around 7:30ish.
there won't be much of a line until 7:45 for parking.

the garage opens at 8:00, you'll be quicky parked.
be at the turn stile around 8:20 and wait til they open.


there are occasions that the parks open around 8:30ish.
IOA will have enough rides open at that time.
studios side has less open

crowds begin around 11ish and you will see the longer line waits around noontime.

go early at opening time and you will be able to do a lot of rides before you break for lunch.

hth

 

[minniejack]

If you're not used to humidity. Don't turn on your A/C in the summer and drive with the windows down in the car. That's how my kids' coach got our family ready for tournaments. Once you get used to it, its okay and look at the $ you'll save in electricity.

 

[Metro West]

If you're not used to humidity. Don't turn on your A/C in the summer and drive with the windows down in the car. That's how my kids' coach got our family ready for tournaments. Once you get used to it, its okay and look at the $ you'll save in electricity.

Very true...I don't run the A/C on my way over...just to prepare for the shock of another Florida summer day.

 

[swilshire]

I have this argument with my DH all the time. I want to stay cool in the A/C until the last possible moment. Less time in the heat is less draining to me. He wants to leave the A/C off if we're going to be outside.

Sheila

 

[codygirl5150]

We're coming from NW Arkansas, so humidity is no stranger to us! Also, we'll be in Panama City for a couple days before we head down to Orlando, so hopefully we be a little acclimated by the time we get to the parks. I do love my air conditioner tho! My mother will be coming along (68 yrs old but very able) so we'll probably hit the parks early and late with a nice cool down in between.

Are there any not so well known things to do at US/IOA that would make the trip a little extra memorable? For example, at WDW, DD got to "wake up Tinkerbell" because she was the first one in the shop that day who asked (yes, she and DH politely ran to Tinkerbells' Treasures at rope drop while I got the stroller).

Besides Mom, we will be traveling with my sis, her DH, and her DS8 and DD1. She is our WDW guru , but has volunteered me to come up with the "ride plan" for US/IOA so any tips on ride order/park order would be greatly appreciated too! (By the end of this trip I hope to know US/IOA as she does WDW!)

Thanks for all of your responses and tips!

 

[Metro West]

Are there any not so well known things to do at US/IOA that would make the trip a little extra memorable? For example, at WDW, DD got to "wake up Tinkerbell" because she was the first one in the shop that day who asked (yes, she and DH politely ran to Tinkerbells' Treasures at rope drop while I got the stroller).

Besides Mom, we will be traveling with my sis, her DH, and her DS8 and DD1. She is our WDW guru , but has volunteered me to come up with the "ride plan" for US/IOA so any tips on ride order/park order would be greatly appreciated too! (By the end of this trip I hope to know US/IOA as she does WDW!)

Thanks for all of your responses and tips!

Make sure to stop by The Mystic Fountain in The Lost Continent area of IOA. The kids will enjoy the commentary he provides to people standing around talking to him.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the laid back feeling at Universal. You really don't have to spend a lot of time planning the routes...you can relax and enjoy yourselves without having to run all over the place.

 

[Cindy B]

many northern schools do get out the end of may as they return back to school in mid august.

Not around here. Most districts in my area don't get out until June 19 or 22nd. We also don't go back until after Labor Day.

 

[codygirl5150]

Make sure to stop by The Mystic Fountain in The Lost Continent area of IOA. The kids will enjoy the commentary he provides to people standing around talking to him.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the laid back feeling at Universal. You really don't have to spend a lot of time planning the routes...you can relax and enjoy yourselves without having to run all over the place.

Thanks...I love these kind of things! It's all in the details!

I keep forgetting that Universal is not going to be the marathon that WDW was for us last time (we did 9 days at WDW...all day everyday, no breaks during the day besides eating. I still remember the blisters and the sore muscles).
Since this is my first trip to US/IOA I don't want to miss anything, so that leads to overplanning. Not to mention I have nothing to do BUT obsess for the next 4 months. And with WDW as my only comparison, I feel like I have to have a minute by minute agenda. So, even tho I've read it a hundred times on the DIS, Universal is not WDW so I can take it easy, relax and go with the flow!

 

[KirstenB]

We were there that week last year, and will be again this year. IMHO, a lot of folks must still have been finishing up school. It wasn't that busy. We waited probably 30 minutes for most rides, even ET. I think we went Tues-Thurs, and maybe those days are slower than others. The rides with long wait times were Men in Black, Simpsons, The Mummy and most coasters. Our oldest is only 10, so we tended to go on things we could all do.