What To Expect During a Busy Weekend?

[pokee99]

I've already figured out from a bunch of great regulars here that the Express Passes work well and can ensure we don't spend an hour in line for each attraction. That really takes a lot of pressure off when getting stressed about travelling during a busy time!

I would like to set my expectations (and perhaps direct some research and planning) for other things within the two parks that will be extremely busy.

Obviously getting there early is a good idea, but wondering if anyone has any other tips to avoid bottlenecks when walking around, crowds at restaurants, play areas, shows, crowds at the non-Express Pass rides, and ways to deal with July weather (expecting extreme humidity and periodic rain showers; maybe even thunderstorms?).

I am still trying to decide if I should stay on-site for one or two days. Two days would mean we could have Express Passes for three days, relax in the parks a bit more and not be so rushed, and have more time to enjoy the on-site hotel. That seems like sort of a no-brainer, in a way, but also only going to the park for 2 days and 'getting it over with' would probably give grumpy DH less to b*+ch and moan about (why are some men so grumpy!!!? No offense to the non-grumpies out there!). What do you think?

 

[LoveToTravel2001]

Alot depends on what type of rides you plan to do. If you want to do Rip Ride Rocket? Do that as soon as you enter the park since its not Express Pass and the line gets really long.

 

[jmamom]

Have you priced out the onsite option? A lot of times, if you are planning on buying the express pass, it can be less expensive to just stay onsite. I priced it out for a friend of mine last April vacation, and for their family of 5, it was definitely less money. And they thanked me profusely when they got back - they saw the regular lines and were thrilled to be able to bypass them with their unlimited express passes!

 

[macraven]

stay on site and have grumpy spend a lot of time at the hotel pool with a beer.


he might enjoy just relaxing.



i tried that but it didn't work.
reason i go solo to the darkside and motherland.


it is difficult to do a family vacation when one in the group does not want to do what the others plan on.

but, it is upsetting for you and the kids that you have to rush through the parks to keep the peace on the trip.

i really don't have any answers, but can suggest that maybe grumpy might enjoy exploring city walk alone so you all can play in the parks longer.

 

[pokee99]

stay on site and have grumpy spend a lot of time at the hotel pool with a beer.

That option is definitely looking like the best one. Although, he does get even more grumpy when he has to shell out cash, too...

So, it has to be a balance between affordable and easy...honestly, he's usually a good sport once he's there. It's just getting him on-board with everything that can be challenging.

One night on sight is looking to be the most efficient and cheapest way to do what we want. I am just wondering if a 3rd day without the Express Passes will be a waste or a disappointment. Can most families do both parks in two days rather comfortably with Express Passes both days?

 

[flfun]

Just wondering when you are going. Nothing makes a grumpy person grumpier than a hot day in an insanely crowded park! Do you know for sure this will be a very crowded time? For example, the week before Christmas is nothing compared to the week after Christmas. Just wondering if you could change your days around a bit. June is better than July, etc...,

If its a "normal" crowded day during a high attendance period (and not Christmas, a holiday weekend, or the 4th of July for example), two days with an express pass will let you have a good time but I'd recommend 3 days if you're going during any insanely crowded times. And yes, definitely stay onsite if you can, it makes the grumpy "happy".

 

[pokee99]

Just wondering when you are going. Nothing makes a grumpy person grumpier than a hot day in an insanely crowded park! Do you know for sure this will be a very crowded time? For example, the week before Christmas is nothing compared to the week after Christmas. Just wondering if you could change your days around a bit. June is better than July, etc...,

If its a "normal" crowded day during a high attendance period (and not Christmas, a holiday weekend, or the 4th of July for example), two days with an express pass will let you have a good time but I'd recommend 3 days if you're going during any insanely crowded times. And yes, definitely stay onsite if you can, it makes the grumpy "happy".

It will be Sat, Sun, Mon, July 6,7,8 - the weekend directly following July 4.

That's why I am a little concerned. We could potentially shift our Universal visit to the beginning of our trip - the weekend prior to the 4th (since we're flying in on June 28th), but I have a feeling it will be almost as busy...and we really wanted to relax and spend a week on Clearwater Beach after our long day of travelling to FL from BC. Get nice and rested up before embarking on some Universal fun! And that will help with making 'grumpy' not so grumpy. If I shove a theme park down his throat as soon as we land in FL, there's no telling what could happen!

The idea of the Express Passes appear to make the crowd levels of the two parks rather inconsequential - that is, if we're not getting pushed and shoved around in wall-to-wall crowds just trying to move from ride to ride. Or if there's risk of not being able to re-enter the park after an afternoon rest, due to crowd levels. I really have no idea what to expect. I've seen wall-to-wall crowds at DL...where it is literally hard to move, so just curious if it would be the same there.

 

[macraven]

for the dates you have planned for next year, stay on site.

it will cost more than offsite hotels but well worth it for grumpy and your peace of mind.

do the parks early before huge crowds.
do a 6-7 mnute walk back to the hotel in the afternoon and spend it at the pool.

return to the parks late afternoon, early evening.
could be less crowds and less direct sunshine then.

it is hard to do parks in the heat and crowds.
taking a good size break from that in the day time by returning to your hotel, makes peeps less grumpy.

staying onsite means you don't have to deal with walking to the parking garage, driving back to the offsite hotel and later in the evening repeating that process to return to the parks.

there are some holidays where restrictions are placed on the number of peeps in the park.
once peeps start to leave a park, others can go into the park.


i wish you the best in figuring out which way you want to plan this trip.
off site or on.

i vote for onsite.
it makes the vacation a lot easier even though it will cost you more.

express line unlimited usage will be appreciated by your family if you stay onsite.

 

[pokee99]

Yeah, I think it's a no brainer to stay on-site. Now just wondering 1 night on site (for a 2 day/2 park pass + express pass) or 2 nights (for a 3 day/2 park pass + express pass all 3 days).

Thanks for all the input! It's really appreciated!

 

[macraven]

Yeah, I think it's a no brainer to stay on-site. Now just wondering 1 night on site (for a 2 day/2 park pass + express pass) or 2 nights (for a 3 day/2 park pass + express pass all 3 days).

Thanks for all the input! It's really appreciated!

if you stay onsite, early entry and unlimited usage of the express lines in the parks are a perk for all hotel guests.

there is no additional charge for express line usage then.

all you pay is your nightly hotel stay and purchase regular park tickets.

if you stay offsite and want to use express lines, you pay for it for each person.
but, you are only allowed to use the express pass one time only per ride/show.
if you do both parks, that means you would buy the ep for both parks if you stayed offsite.

 

[pokee99]

Yeah, I think the question now isn't IF I stay onsite, it is HOW LONG I should stay onsite for - 1 night or 2 nights (to facilitate a 2 day visit to both parks with early entry/express pass perks, or 3 day visit to both parks with early entry/express pass perks, respectively).

If we could manage 2 full days, with one night onsite, during a busy time, I'll do the one night. If we should get a 3 day pass to play it safe, I will book 2 nights.

I suppose I could just book the 2 nights, and then change to one night later on if I change my mind (since there is no penalty up to a week before or whatever). The deposit will be the same, correct? And then it would give me more time to decide if I want to do 2 days or 3 days at the parks...??? I am not sure if there's risk of paying a rate increase difference if you were to drop one night? I think normally if your day of arrival is the same, you're safe, right?

 

[MilitaryMouse]

The idea of the Express Passes appear to make the crowd levels of the two parks rather inconsequential - that is, if we're not getting pushed and shoved around in wall-to-wall crowds just trying to move from ride to ride. Or if there's risk of not being able to re-enter the park after an afternoon rest, due to crowd levels. I really have no idea what to expect. I've seen wall-to-wall crowds at DL...where it is literally hard to move, so just curious if it would be the same there.

We were there July 4-6th last year. Just from our experience, it wasn't very crowded as far as walking around the parks - except for WWoHP, which is almost always packed. We stayed onsite and took breaks in the afternoon to cool off. We're originally from Seattle, so we don't do well in the heat/humidity! We never had a problem re-entering the park. I've heard sometimes WWoHP has a standby line and is difficult to re-enter, but we only went there during the morning, so I don't know.

I would definitely stay onsite the whole time. The express passes were amazing and being able to walk back to our resort and cool off definitely made our trip more enjoyable.

 

[macraven]

the new ride, transformers is to open sometime next summer.
thinking summer might mean month of july........

that will bring in more crowds to the studios when that ride opens.


stay on site.

after all it is your vacation so make it stress free.


there are many that book a one night only and do two park days.
the hotel check in day and check out day for doing the parks.

 

[pokee99]

Thanks guys, I'll go ahead and book two nights and plan to spend 3 days at the parks. We don't take the heat well either, so a slow pace with afternoon breaks will probably be better for us. I am actually really excited about the hotel now, too!