Welcome, Foolish Muggles! IoA/US/MK/SW *July 2013 Trip Report Link*

[bubba's mom]

This is one of my favorite (non-family) photos of the trip.

havta agree

Good score on the locker return too

 

[Queila]

WHAT A DAY! Good job you guys! So glad things worked out the way they did and you made the most out of your day. Jungle Cruise is a lot more about the skipper than about the time of day you ride it. I rode it at night once and our skipper sucked (and it was raining a bit) so I did not think it was anything special either.

And I just have to say your pictures of Kona convinced me for once and for all that we will have to make it there on our next trip. Thank you!

Have a great week.

Q

 

[natebenma]

Your fast pass work is inspirational!

Thank you!!! We really enjoyed the strategy involved in collecting the FPs we wanted.

Love the photo of BTMRR!!! I can see why it is your fave non-family. I can't wait to see the Winnie Pooh line...I'm just a little nervous leaving th ekids to explore while waiting in line...Are you close by?
No exploring around at the HM que? I wondered about the interactive que there? Were people enjoying it?

We didn't pay much attention to the Winnie the Pooh play area. Maybe someone else with younger kids can explain how it works. We could certainly see the area from the FP line. Maybe it is designed for one parent to be there with the kids, and one to be in line. Or I think Disney has also tested systems where you get a number, like a deli line, and they call you when it is your turn. I'm not sure if that has been implemented anywhere yet.

I know, I'm a little bummed I didn't explore the new HM stuff. There was no line at the attraction when we went in, and we never made it back there that day. A few people were over in the interactive area, but we weren't around long enough to see what they were doing.

Thanks for the nice compliment on the BTM photo. I love the yellows in it.

Sounds like a great evening at MK! I love all of the photos- especially the one of BTMRR with the sun in the background.

Thanks! We did have a fantastic evening. I was so pleased with how well the boys did. They never whined or complained once that they were tired, which is pretty impressive considering how busy we were that day.

Glad you like the photos!

havta agree

Good score on the locker return too

I was totally in the right place at the right time for that picture. I'm glad I looked back when I did and saw how beautiful it was.

The locker sale was win-win for everyone! Well, except Mickey. He is out $7. But I don't think it will break him!

I'm so glad Mark paid cash when he rented it. No trace!

 

[natebenma]

WHAT A DAY! Good job you guys! So glad things worked out the way they did and you made the most out of your day. Jungle Cruise is a lot more about the skipper than about the time of day you ride it. I rode it at night once and our skipper sucked (and it was raining a bit) so I did not think it was anything special either.

And I just have to say your pictures of Kona convinced me for once and for all that we will have to make it there on our next trip. Thank you!

Have a great week.

Q

You posted while I was replying to everyone!

This was such a fun day for us. I loved seeing Mark with a smile on his face all day long!

I totally agree about the Jungle Cruise skipper. Last year we had two excellent skippers. In fact, in a letter I sent to Guest Services after our trip, I complimented them both by name and day/time they worked. This year, the ones we had were mezza-mezza.

Love Kona!!! Love the breakfast! Love the dinner! Gonna have to try the lunch sometime!

 

[DrMomof3]

Winnie the Pooh is on Zachary's must-do list (he and I saw the movie together and it's all he talks about now) so I may get to see the new interactive queue 1st hand next week. I'll let you know! I think my kids are also (finally) ready for HM so we'll see what that new queue is like.

Amanda

 

[LovintheLodge]

Love that picture of BTMRR! Wow...what a full day at MK! I look forward to hearing more. How did you get up the next morning?!? I am guessing the later opening at SeaWorld helped.

Kerry

 

[Marlton Mom]

Is there anything in the middle of the Tonga toast, like gold or diamonds or other treasure?

Signed,
Toasted in Marlton

 

[natebenma]

Is there anything in the middle of the Tonga toast, like gold or diamonds or other treasure?

Signed,
Toasted in Marlton

Yes, there is treasure inside of Tonga Toast- it is stuffed with a banana filling

Photos from 2009

Honestly, the Tonga Toast is way too sweet for my taste, but as long as I can get the Macadamia Pineapple pancakes, I am a happy camper!

 

[natebenma]

Winnie the Pooh is on Zachary's must-do list (he and I saw the movie together and it's all he talks about now) so I may get to see the new interactive queue 1st hand next week. I'll let you know! I think my kids are also (finally) ready for HM so we'll see what that new queue is like.

Amanda

Oh, good, that would be great if you could let us know about the WTP area and the new HM stuff! I'm sure I will be "talking" to you before then, but have a fantastic trip!

Love that picture of BTMRR! Wow...what a full day at MK! I look forward to hearing more. How did you get up the next morning?!? I am guessing the later opening at SeaWorld helped.

Kerry

I'm so glad we added the MK day to our schedule!

No problems getting up the next morning. I am up between 4:30 and 5 am every morning- school days, weekends, vacation. Doesn't matter! My internal wake up alarm is pretty consistent.

The rest of our family are early risers too. We had plenty of time to get ready, have breakfast in the lounge and then catch a cab to SW around 8:30 for the 9 am opening.

 

[ocalla]

Just stumbled across your trip-report, and I'm LOVING it!!!

We are going to do Universal/Disney next May, and I know nothing about how to plan it. Universal first? How many nights there? Which resort? then transfers to Disney? Which days are better for low crowds at Universal?? I'm overwhelmed.

Reading your report makes me want to get there fast!!!

 

[natebenma]

Just stumbled across your trip-report, and I'm LOVING it!!!

We are going to do Universal/Disney next May, and I know nothing about how to plan it. Universal first? How many nights there? Which resort? then transfers to Disney? Which days are better for low crowds at Universal?? I'm overwhelmed.

Reading your report makes me want to get there fast!!!

So glad you are here!

Sounds like a great trip! The good news is, a visit to Universal requires much less planning than a Disney trip. The better news is, if you stay on site at Universal for a couple of days, you don't have to worry about which days are less crowded because you will have early entry to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Front of the Line access.

Which resort?
I would stay at any of the Universal resorts. We stayed at the Portofino and it was beautiful and had great pools, but I think my family would be happier at either Hard Rock or the Royal Pacific because they are more our style. I think the Portofino is probably most expensive, then Hard Rock, then Royal Pacific. AAA may have some decent booking deals.

How many nights?
1 or 2, with 2-3 days touring the Universal parks. You get the early entry privileges on your checkin and checkout day, so on your first day, go to Universal, Day 2: IoA (early entry to Harry Potter) and Day 3, early entry to Harry Potter again, then visit any of the attractions you want to do again before you checkout to go home/go to Disney. We had the park to park tickets ("hoppers") so we could go to both parks on the same day.

Disney or Universal first?
Personally, I lean slightly to doing Disney first and get the Magical Express luggage delivery service on the way to Orlando, but I think my husband would prefer Universal first and end the trip with Disney to avoid a let down since he prefers the Disney parks.

We did pick up our luggage in Orlando for this trip and it was really simple, so my reasoning may not be all that important.

There are a lot of options for transfering between the two parks- Mears, taxi, private towncar. There is a really good sticky on the Universal boards:

Transportation: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2494908

I will be posting a summary of the best tips/info for touring Universal at the end of my report, so that will be ready long before your trip.

I'll be glad to answer any questions you have as they come up.

 

[bubba's mom]

^ just to clarify re: onsite hotels...

Portofino is most expensive of the 3, with Hard Rock cheaper and Royal Pacific even a little cheaper than Hard Rock.

It sounded a bit confusing...

 

[LovintheLodge]

No problems getting up the next morning. I am up between 4:30 and 5 am every morning- school days, weekends, vacation. Doesn't matter! My internal wake up alarm is pretty consistent.

The rest of our family are early risers too. We had plenty of time to get ready, have breakfast in the lounge and then catch a cab to SW around 8:30 for the 9 am opening.

I noticed you post really early sometimes. My internal clock will never be that early...haha. I am guessing you go to bed much earlier than me though!

Kerry

 

[natebenma]

^ just to clarify re: onsite hotels...

Portofino is most expensive of the 3, with Hard Rock cheaper and Royal Pacific even a little cheaper than Hard Rock.

It sounded a bit confusing...

Thanks!

I noticed you post really early sometimes. My internal clock will never be that early...haha. I am guessing you go to bed much earlier than me though!

Kerry

Still up now, but not much longer! I'm usually toast by 9:30 PM!

See you in the morning!

 

[SimplyGoofy]

I'm thrilled to have found a report with so much information about Universal and IoA! I'm REALLY excited about visiting the Wizarding World in February, and love all of your tidbits and good ideas about making the experience easier. I look foward to your top ten list!

Also, I am SUPER impressed with your Fastpass skills. Although it may not be necessary for early February, it would be pretty exciting to have a similar collection!

 

[natebenma]

I'm thrilled to have found a report with so much information about Universal and IoA! I'm REALLY excited about visiting the Wizarding World in February, and love all of your tidbits and good ideas about making the experience easier. I look foward to your top ten list!

Also, I am SUPER impressed with your Fastpass skills. Although it may not be necessary for early February, it would be pretty exciting to have a similar collection!

I'm so glad you are finding this report helpful! I'll have more coming up on IoA and US. Are you visiting those parks for just the day or a couple?

Thanks for the compliment about our FP gathering. I suspect we would still follow a similar strategy even during a slower time of year. It's a bit addicting!

 

[SimplyGoofy]

Are you visiting those parks for just the day or a couple?

I've planned just one, but plan to stay all day (which in February, appears to be from 9-7).

I actually visited the Universal section about five years ago, and I have to admit that I didn't totally love it. I thought a few of the attractions were fun (I LOVED the Mummy, and thought Shrek 4-D was pretty cute), but overall, I really missed Disney. The pull of Harry Potter is just too great, though, so off we go to IoA!

I'm thinking of getting just the one-day, one-park pass before I go, and then upgrading to the two-park pass if we run out of things to do at IoA. (Or if my sister, who has never been to Universal, really wants to see some of the attractions there.) I think I remember being able to do that five years ago... is that still an option to upgrade at the gate?

 

[natebenma]

I've planned just one, but plan to stay all day (which in February, appears to be from 9-7).

I actually visited the Universal section about five years ago, and I have to admit that I didn't totally love it. I thought a few of the attractions were fun (I LOVED the Mummy, and thought Shrek 4-D was pretty cute), but overall, I really missed Disney. The pull of Harry Potter is just too great, though, so off we go to IoA!

I'm thinking of getting just the one-day, one-park pass before I go, and then upgrading to the two-park pass if we run out of things to do at IoA. (Or if my sister, who has never been to Universal, really wants to see some of the attractions there.) I think I remember being able to do that five years ago... is that still an option to upgrade at the gate?

Sounds like a great plan! I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure you can upgrade your tickets at the gate. You can always post over on the Universal side of the DIS if you want to know for sure, but sounds like you are planning to have a go-with-the-flow trip.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm trying to get all caught up on my subscribed threads after being away for the wedding. Wouldn't you know it.....I totally forgot what I wanted to comment on other than you were super smart to "resale" your locker. Sounds like you (and the other family) would have been in line for quite a while.

 

[natebenma]

I'm trying to get all caught up on my subscribed threads after being away for the wedding. Wouldn't you know it.....I totally forgot what I wanted to comment on other than you were super smart to "resale" your locker. Sounds like you (and the other family) would have been in line for quite a while.

I was so happy when that opportunity presented itself!!! I suppose I could have just bailed and lost out on the $5 deposit (time is money, after all) but I am a major cheapie, so this worked out great for us!