What should I do?

[BigDopeyMom]

My DS8 and I will be in Disney from 8/22 - 9/2. We have never been to US/IOA but have been to Disney 3 times already.

I purchased the 7 day tickets to US/IOA and planned on driving over from Disney. We are going to Disney for Free Dining, so we actually don't have Disney park tickets until 8/24. We arrive on 8/22 around noon and will rent a car. I was planning on hitting Walmart, checking in and just winging it for Friday afternoon/evening (mini golf, downtown disney, etc). We would then get to Universal at opening on Saturday and spend the day there. We would also go back several times during the week.

I have read about staying onsite and the FOTL perk and I'm wondering if I should try to stay onsite at Universal on Fri and Sat nights. If we did that I think we would go directly to Universal and check in on Friday and spend Fri afternoon/evening, all day Saturday and probably leave sunday around 3pm and head over to disney and check in to our hotel there. We could then go back to Universal anytime from mon-thurs without the FOTL perk if we desired to.

I am stressing over this....is it worth the extra money and changing our room only ressies at Disney for fri/sat to stay onsite during this time of the year. I know we would be going on the weekend but we could also go several days during the week. We like to get to parks at opening so I'm wondering if we can save the $$$ of staying onsite and get there at opening and do a lot of the popular attractions without having to wait on long lines.

I am sure that my son is going to love Universal, so my thought is that next year we could stay onsite and make it a Universal trip. I know the resorts are beautiful, but for this trip I'd like your opinions based strictly on whether it is worth the extra money to stay onsite just for the FOTL, considering the time of year we are going as well. I am pretty sure that schools are in session during the week of 8/25 so I'm hoping we can get in some time during the week with managable crowd levels at the parks.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions!!!!

 

[phamton]

Judging by the park hours. I would expect it to be moderately busy. The weekends are busier than the weekdays. If you are there at opening, you should be able to hit the highlights.

If you get there and it is busier than you expect, you could just buy express pass. The hotels are very nice and I'd recommend them anytime but you can enjoy the parks without staying onsite.

 

[Detailor]

. We would then get to Universal at opening on Saturday and spend the day there. We would also go back several times during the week.

That's Labor Day weekend so I'd think that there'd be a lot of locals there as the day goes on. However, you're planning to be there at opening. I'd suggest that you get there a half hour or so before opening time so you can get into the park(s) at 'rope drop' whenever you go. First thing in the mornings you should be able to get right onto the most popular rides without having to resort to FOTL. You just need to have a plan about which rides you want to do first and bee-line it right to your first choice right away. As the crowds build you may well find that FOTL would be more helpful.

Dick Taylor

 

[BigDopeyMom]

That's Labor Day weekend so I'd think that there'd be a lot of locals there as the day goes on. However, you're planning to be there at opening. I'd suggest that you get there a half hour or so before opening time so you can get into the park(s) at 'rope drop' whenever you go. First thing in the mornings you should be able to get right onto the most popular rides without having to resort to FOTL. You just need to have a plan about which rides you want to do first and bee-line it right to your first choice right away. As the crowds build you may well find that FOTL would be more helpful.

Dick Taylor

Actually we will be there the weekend before Labor Day Weekend...we will be there 8/23.

We will definitely get there 30-45 mins before opening.

Which rides in each park should we hit first - which are the most popular?
We both love the big thrill rides!