NicholeB630
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2014
Hi were going to Universal and IOA on July 20 and 21. Saturday and Sunday. I know weekends probably are not ideal BUT were stopping in Orlando for a quick stay 4 nights at the Loews Portofino (in a minion suite) and doing Hollywood studios early morning in Toy Story land on Monday before flying to the Bahamas on Tuesday!
I took my kids for the first time ever to Universal and IOA last June for just 1 day. I flew in to meet my mom and her husband and we spend the day there before driving to another area in FL. We arrived at the park around 9ish and stayed till about 5, we didn't ride everything but got a lot done and used express pass, although most rides it wasn't needed. We would have done more but the kids were up at 4am for a super early flight! I found that early June the crowds were so manageable except Harry Potter land. That was insane. But everywhere else was great, nothing like Disney which Im so used to.
Now I think it had to do with it being a Monday and it was still pretty early June I wanna say like the second week maybe so I know not all schools everywhere are out. Should I prepare for a HUGE increase in crowds going in July? We will have the unlimited express passes for each day. I did not do park hoppers though, I just figured we'd do each park a different day. Stay from Open to as long as we can make it. We will get there before it opens and use the early entry with staying on site, Im not sure how that works if its certain days or what?
Do I need to plan out what rides to go to first like we do at Disney? I know with EP its so much easier because you're not locked into times. There are a few rides we wont do, the hulk, the drop one and the rip rocket one. But pretty much everything else thats 48" and under. Last time we just went in order kinda of how the park was set up which was easier. We did more at IOA then Universal as my 6 year old was falling asleep walking by then haha...
Any tips would be great!! Thanks!
I took my kids for the first time ever to Universal and IOA last June for just 1 day. I flew in to meet my mom and her husband and we spend the day there before driving to another area in FL. We arrived at the park around 9ish and stayed till about 5, we didn't ride everything but got a lot done and used express pass, although most rides it wasn't needed. We would have done more but the kids were up at 4am for a super early flight! I found that early June the crowds were so manageable except Harry Potter land. That was insane. But everywhere else was great, nothing like Disney which Im so used to.
Now I think it had to do with it being a Monday and it was still pretty early June I wanna say like the second week maybe so I know not all schools everywhere are out. Should I prepare for a HUGE increase in crowds going in July? We will have the unlimited express passes for each day. I did not do park hoppers though, I just figured we'd do each park a different day. Stay from Open to as long as we can make it. We will get there before it opens and use the early entry with staying on site, Im not sure how that works if its certain days or what?
Do I need to plan out what rides to go to first like we do at Disney? I know with EP its so much easier because you're not locked into times. There are a few rides we wont do, the hulk, the drop one and the rip rocket one. But pretty much everything else thats 48" and under. Last time we just went in order kinda of how the park was set up which was easier. We did more at IOA then Universal as my 6 year old was falling asleep walking by then haha...
Any tips would be great!! Thanks!