What time to be at parks

[dustygirl]

Bare with me -- some newbie questions here!!

What time to be at parks? A lot of talk here about being at the parking garage by certain times. We are staying at Doubletree, so no parking, either hotel shuttle or walking - if this is possible??

What are slowest days? Going July 28-Aug.2 (if slow days occur during that tine of year!)
me, DH, DD 18, DD 9
Would love to stay onsite for FOTL, but out of our budget Trying to convince DD to buy Fast Access passes, but probably wont happen

Here is my temporary schedule for this busy time of year! Any suggestions or changes for best times appreciated!

Sat., July 28 arrive late afternoon, check in, go to kiosk, pick up tickets, walk around just check things out
Sun., July 29 - US or IOA
Mon., July 30 - Wet n Wild - must do for DDs
Tues., July 31 - US or IOA
Wed., Aug. 1 - US or IOA
Thurs., Aug. 2 - check out, revisit faves, drive home


Would love to accomplish - dinner at Margarittaville, Bubba Gump - other than that - no must dos for us - unless you suggest one!

Thanks up front! You guys are so helpful

 

[bubba's mom]

First suggestion is to be at the gate by 8:30am.....you can do alot before 11am when the "onsite" crowd starts arriving. It will be crowded, but if you go early, you will be better off. I would say the "slower days" will be during the week....it usually seems busier on weekends (locals? ) I really don't have much personal experience w/ "plan of attack" cuz we stay onsite (yes, we are the 11am arrivers ), but most will tell you to go early if staying offsite. More advice will follow...I'm sure

 

[rodkenrich]

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[robvia]

Actually, you're going at the most busy time of the year, which is July 4th to August 20th. You can still have a good time, the arrive early advice is the key.

Here's the secret most don't know about. During peak times, the parks open at 08:30am but they don't tell anyone, it just happens. That means you want to be at the gate at 8am. So if you really ask me when to start walking from the Double Tree, I'd say 07:30am. It will take you about 15 minutes to walk from the hotel, cross Kirkman road, and get to the moving sidewalks on the 3rd floor of the parking garage. If you want to see what it's going to look like, go here.
Offsite

If you're near the front of the line before the park opens, you can do the major attractions with no wait. At 11am, the "heard" arrives and the place becomes packed. Go to Mythos at that time and have lunch, they open at 11:30am. Then go back to your hotel room to rest, it will be burning hot out and the walk ways will be crowded. If you want to stay you could see the Sinbad show and go thru Posidens Fury. At 5pm the tired leave and the lines for some attractions are shorter.

The same advice is true for Wet N Wild. They'll be open at 9am during the summer. You want to head over there around 8am so you can go in first. Put your towels on a chair near the wave pool, and do the newest slides before the crowd shows up.

The arrive early thing can be done any day of the year. You can get a lot done before the "heard" arrives. Waiting at the gate early is actually fun. I like showing up when no one is there, then watching the line grow, yet I'm at the front. When the park opens, I have it all to myself for a few minutes. It's funny how people will do a bunch of planning, fly to Orlando, stay in a hotel, then sleep in when it comes time to visit the park. What are these people thinking?

 

[Flyin2MCO]

If you haven't done so already, I'd really suggest that you consider a few alternate scenarios that could result in a much better experience for your family while not stretching your budget too much:

1. run the numbers for switching to RPH versus staying at the Doubletree, while shortening your trip by one night. Can you share some basic info?....did you book via a package, have you already bought your tix? Depending on those variables and what your rate at the DT is, you may find it to be not that much more to stay on site. If you stay on-site for 4+ nights you get two park tix included...

2. consider buying express passes for one day and try to shave other costs out of the trip...one option would be to drive down early Sun instead of getting there Sat night...(about a 7 hr drive from Atlanta??...that seems reasonable to do in one chunk). The money you save by eliminating one night's stay could go towards the express passes...

Anyway, if you are willing to run the numbers in option 1, there are plenty of folks on this board that can help with the details and I know would feel the same way about trying to find a way to stay on-site.

Either way you'll have a great time...!!

 

[dustygirl]

If you haven't done so already, I'd really suggest that you consider a few alternate scenarios that could result in a much better experience for your family while not stretching your budget too much:

1. run the numbers for switching to RPH versus staying at the Doubletree, while shortening your trip by one night. Can you share some basic info?....did you book via a package, have you already bought your tix? Depending on those variables and what your rate at the DT is, you may find it to be not that much more to stay on site. If you stay on-site for 4+ nights you get two park tix included...

2. consider buying express passes for one day and try to shave other costs out of the trip...one option would be to drive down early Sun instead of getting there Sat night...(about a 7 hr drive from Atlanta??...that seems reasonable to do in one chunk). The money you save by eliminating one night's stay could go towards the express passes...

Anyway, if you are willing to run the numbers in option 1, there are plenty of folks on this board that can help with the details and I know would feel the same way about trying to find a way to stay on-site.

Either way you'll have a great time...!!

We booked through Universal site. Package deal - tickets, WnW tickets, hotel, all in one package. Got a good deal. Was quoted for same deal at HRH and PBH and they were ALOT higher - and for a smaller room! I would love too stay onsite, we would rather spend the extra money on food and souvies for girls! We will plan on just arriving early each day! Thanks for all advice! Any other words of wisdom greatly appreciated!

 

[Flyin2MCO]

ok, sounds like you guys are good to go...early arrivals should help you maximize your park time before it gets too crowded.

i stay in DoubleTree's many nights each year and they are certainly comfortable and roomy, which is a good thing with a family of four. we typically do DT or Homewood when we bring a fourth on our Orlando trips.

the only other advice i'd give if you are planning future trips to UO is to run all the scenarios b4 going the package route...you'll often, but not always, find that you can save $$ by research and creative structuring of your trip.

anyway, it's better to be in UO when it's crowded and hot than not to be in UO at all, so enjoy!!