Waiting lines in Universal & IOA

[onslow]

What are the waiting lines in Universal & IOA if you don't stay onsite, in general. (we allready booked hotels outside the parks)

onslow

 

[the Dark Marauder]

When are you going?

 

[onslow]

7/10-7/12, Arriving on sunday morning and leaving on tuesday night

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Expect LOOOOONG lines. At least 45 minutes for most attractions.

The parks will be open until 10p, and there should be fireworks around 950-955p.
There is an express option, but the more popular rides (Spider-Man, Hulk, MIB, Mummy) will run out faster than others.

 

[onslow]

ok, thanks, thought that we were the only tourists to visit universal....

onslow

 

[onslow]

Is there somekind of entertainment in the waiting lines or do we have to entertain ourselves?

 

[Metro West]

Is there some kind of entertainment in the waiting lines or do we have to entertain ourselves?

Unless there's a group of Brazilian teens singing and clapping in line with you, you are on own own. Of course, you could always start a sing-a-long too.

 

[phamton]

Many queues have tv monitors playing entertaining things about the ride to get you in the mood. For instance Jaws has Amity tv station playing with funny newsclips, ads, and and shows. Shrek also has a cute tv show as does the Mummy and others. Other lines in the summer have entertainers like stilt walkers or characters interacting with guests. The queues are elaboratedly themed and some are even interactive. Plus there are fans blowing misted air for the outdoor rides.

 

[ms.ojo]

So w/ FOTL access, I basically have no waits anywhere anytime??? Our first day we're not arriving until noontime. Still worth it to visit one of the parks w/ our FOTL access even mid afternoon w/ the highest crowds?? We will be there an early weekend in Dec. for touring on Fri afternoon and Sat.

Thanks

 

[CPM]

Just returned from going on Sunday until Wednesday. With Express we hardly waited for any attractions. Maybe 10 minutes at the most.
The regular lines were VERY long!! I felt so bad for people that were in long, long lines for things like Woody's coaster & Jaws. Can't imagine.

It seemd that after 6:00 PM the lines became shorter, vertually no lines for express either.

 

[phamton]

Your wait time should be 15 minutes or less for most rides with FOTL.

 

[MouseGirl]

You probably won't find the lines as bad if you get to the turnstiles about 30 minutes before the park opens. Things seem to really get congested around 10:30 - 11:00. We were there for park opening and got to ride everything we wanted to, then headed back to City Walk about 11:30 for an early lunch because it was a mob scene in the parks. By that time, the number of people streaming in was absolutely insane. So if you're staying off-site I would recommend getting an early start. Have a great trip!

 

[robvia]

ok, thanks, thought that we were the only tourists to visit universal....
onslow

Ahhhhh, that was funny. Actually it's the opposite, over 20k people visit each park, and most of them show up around 11am. They think the park needs to "open" before them and wake up. This is not the case. In the summer time, the parks usually open at 08:30am. Leave your hotel at 07:30am, arrive the parking garage at 07:45am (a line of cars will be waiting), put on sun tan lotion, walk thru city walk, and get to the gate first.
Take a lap, lines will be short, stay till about noon, then leave. You'll pass the mob scene of people coming in on the moving walkways. Go back to your hotel and take a nap. Then come back around 4pm and stay for the evening. All those people you saw earlier at noon, will be leaving.