What to do our first evening?

[ekatiel]

We should get to Orlando around 3 or 4 pm and check into Royal Pacific. We will have two full days in the parks, but I'm struggling with what we should do that first evening. I'd like to go check out the parks, but we probably won't get to the parks until around 5pm, which doesn't leave us much time. Any suggestions on what to check out those first few hours? We are big HP fans, but I'm guessing we'll try to do HP stuff each morning since our hotel express pass won't work on HP rides. Thanks for any ideas!

 

[disney world dreamer]

why not just check out citywalk?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

What about getting the meal and mini golf passes for CityWalk? At $23.95 per adult, its a good value and the mini golf courses are very well themed.

https://www.universalorlando.com/Nightlife/CityWalk-Mini-Golf.aspx

 

[ekatiel]

The third day on the Universal Park-to-Park ticket is free right now at Undercover Tourist, so I thought we could entertain ourselves at one (or both) of the parks, just not sure where to start. We will have express pass because we are staying onsite. Any rides or shows that we should "start" with? We're not huge thrill ride people.

 

[lazer]

The third day on the Universal Park-to-Park ticket is free right now at Undercover Tourist, so I thought we could entertain ourselves at one (or both) of the parks, just not sure where to start. We will have express pass because we are staying onsite. Any rides or shows that we should "start" with? We're not huge thrill ride people.

Nothing special or a real plan, but for our first short day there we plan to check the wait times at Universal and head to the short ones first We're doing IOA our first full day (meeting family there).

 

[agavegirl1]

You haven't mentioned your length of stay and tickets yet. This will make all the difference.

 

[KorbensMomma]

To me it kinda depends on the time of year, when are you going?

I can't see anyone's signatures or tickers, so if it is listed sorry.

 

[bumbershoot]

We are big HP fans, but I'm guessing we'll try to do HP stuff each morning since our hotel express pass won't work on HP rides.

It does work for Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge. So you can experience those!

I don't know when the park closes for your trip, but if you'll have a couple hours I would do that, then go back to the resort for some pool time, or go play minigolf, etc. But get sleep that night so you can get up nice and early for Early Entrance!

 

[TunaSled]

What about getting the meal and mini golf passes for CityWalk? At $23.95 per adult, its a good value and the mini golf courses are very well themed.

https://www.universalorlando.com/Nightlife/CityWalk-Mini-Golf.aspx

Please tell me more about this

Edit: Nevermind, clicky linky duhh

I am so doing this on our first night. Thanks!

 

[ekatiel]

We're arriving on Thursday, 11/20, and leaving early Sunday morning 11/23 to head to Ft. Lauderdale for a cruise on the Allure of the Seas over Thanksgiving week. We are buying one PowerPass to get the APH rate at RPR and buying everyone else 3 day tickets (the tickets on Undercover Tourist seem to be the best deal right now-- 3 days for the price of 2). We are staying at RPR on 11/20 and 11/21, and then switching to the Four Points by Sheraton (Hotwire deal) for the night of the 22nd. We will have all day Friday and Saturday in the parks. The parks are open until 7pm on the nights that we are there. Maybe we could do Ollivanders and get interactive wands during that first evening? How long are the waits for Ollivanders in the evenings? And which Ollivander's location will have the shortest wait?

 

[nkereina]

We're arriving around the same time of day and plan to go in the pool at RPR and then go to City Walk. We'll get to bed early to be up early for our first day in the parks the next day. I struggle with trying to find pool time during our park days so hitting the pool on our first day will be a good way for me to fit it in

 

[marylandteachergirl]

We're arriving on Thursday, 11/20, and leaving early Sunday morning 11/23 to head to Ft. Lauderdale for a cruise on the Allure of the Seas over Thanksgiving week. We are buying one PowerPass to get the APH rate at RPR and buying everyone else 3 day tickets (the tickets on Undercover Tourist seem to be the best deal right now-- 3 days for the price of 2). We are staying at RPR on 11/20 and 11/21, and then switching to the Four Points by Sheraton (Hotwire deal) for the night of the 22nd. We will have all day Friday and Saturday in the parks. The parks are open until 7pm on the nights that we are there. Maybe we could do Ollivanders and get interactive wands during that first evening? How long are the waits for Ollivanders in the evenings? And which Ollivander's location will have the shortest wait?

Hi ekatiel!

We have almost the same schedule the first week of Nov. Arriving at 4pm. I think I will check out the lines at Diagon and maybe try to ride Hogwart's Express. Then Citywalk! We bought the mini golf meal deal, too.

I am curious about your Ft Lauderdale portion. We are RCI cruisers too, and I just booked Allure for 2016. NOT a typo! How do you plan to get from Orlando to Port Everglades? I'd like to consider a few days at Uni before our cruise too, but not sure about the logistics. I think some car rentals can be rented one place and dropped off at the Port, but not sure. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[ekatiel]

Hi ekatiel!

We have almost the same schedule the first week of Nov. Arriving at 4pm. I think I will check out the lines at Diagon and maybe try to ride Hogwart's Express. Then Citywalk! We bought the mini golf meal deal, too.

I am curious about your Ft Lauderdale portion. We are RCI cruisers too, and I just booked Allure for 2016. NOT a typo! How do you plan to get from Orlando to Port Everglades? I'd like to consider a few days at Uni before our cruise too, but not sure about the logistics. I think some car rentals can be rented one place and dropped off at the Port, but not sure. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

We are driving from Houston . I'm pretty sure we're insane. My parents (who also live in Houston) are doing the trip with us, but they are flying. They used miles to get a "multiple destination" ticket-- they will fly into MCO and then leave from FLL. At MCO, they will take a shuttle to our hotel. Then, on Saturday night, they will drive our car back to the airport and pick up a one-way 24 hour rental to take them to FLL. (You could just take the shuttle back to the airport-- it is probably cheaper than trying to rent from Universal property). Then, they'll take a short shuttle from FLL to the port. The logistics of it all with 2 kids in tow, convinced me to drive instead, plus Thanksgiving week flights are ridiculous. Anyhow, I hope this gives you some ideas of how the transfers can be made.

 

[bumbershoot]

I am curious about your Ft Lauderdale portion. We are RCI cruisers too, and I just booked Allure for 2016. NOT a typo! How do you plan to get from Orlando to Port Everglades? I'd like to consider a few days at Uni before our cruise too, but not sure about the logistics. I think some car rentals can be rented one place and dropped off at the Port, but not sure. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

As long as one rental place needs more cars, it's generally simple to book a car to pick up in one place and drop it in another place. We are doing a pseudo-back-to-back next week, with a Royal cruise out of Fort Lauderdale then a Disney cruise leaving out of Canaveral. We have a car booked from FLL airport to be dropped at Cape Canaveral. DH has a free day with National so we're using that, but otherwise a coupon code he has it would have been under $50. BUT that was our date at the time we booked. It could be cheaper, could be lower. Depends on your dates, your combo of cities, and when you book.

 

[marylandteachergirl]

Thank you to you both! I have heard horror stories about drop fees being astronomically high, but also heard this doesn't always apply in FL. When it gets closer I will decide.

Hope you both have great cruises!!!!