WonderKid
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2016
Hello to the Universal DISboards family! I've been reading many, many posts over the past several months as I plan my family's September outing to Universal Orlando. Having been indoctrinated in Disney-style planning, it has been of great relief to learn that Universal does not require nearly the same planning intensity. However, this has not satiated my planning appetite nor assuaged my discomfort at not being thoroughly prepared for all contingencies.
My family is excited to embark upon our first trip to Universal Orlando. Our crew of four consists of me, DW, DD14, and DD12. Our lodging will be at Royal Pacific Resort. Trip dates are Thursday, September 21 through Monday, September 25. We are planning to have 5-day 3-park park-to-park tickets. I have settled upon a relatively firm plan, but welcome any feedback.
Thursday
We'll arrive at MCO around 8:30a.m. Tony Hinds will be our transportation with a stop for groceries, then to Royal Pacific Resort. I am hoping we can make it to Universal Studios by 10:30 a.m. What do you think? Today's touring plan is all Wizarding World of Harry Potter starting in USF, then to IOA, then USF, then IOA attempting to follow the story as if in Harry's shoes and accomplish Hogwarts Express in both directions before USF closes for HHN. My DD12 and I are nuts for HP. We've read all the books (including the extras like quidditch, beedle, Cursed Child, beast, etc.), and have seen all the movies multiple times. My DD14 and DW are fans of the early movies (years 1-4). Planning to do an early lunch at Leaky Cauldron and dinner at Three Broomsticks with some butterbeer from Hogs Head and ice cream from Florean Fortescue's mixed in. Today will be our most grueling given an extra early start and air travel stress. I am reluctantly prepared to shuffle around the touring plan in case the crew starts to peter out. We should have plenty of time over the following four days to enjoy anything we miss today.
Friday
Today will be Volcano Bay from early park admission until close. I am hoping a strategy of a "late" 9 a.m. EPA start will let us rest up from the previous day's possibly exhausting itinerary. Based on VB reviews, I am contemplating breaking it into two days using early park admission until about noon each day or until the park gets too crowded. However, I really like the idea of premium seating or a cabana, but won't pay those premiums for anything less than a full day. Fingers are crossed that VB will be running more efficiently and effectively by now. We are a big pool-loving family, so enjoying the wave pool, lazy, and "not so lazy" rivers are usually sufficient to pass time while waiting for a ride. A few years back, we visited Aquatica and fell in love with Roa's Rapids. I am hoping TeAwa the Fearless River can rival Roa's Rapids. We'll do lunch at VB. Dinner will be Cowfish.
Saturday
Today will be our IOA non-WWoHP day. We plan to start the day with headliners, lunch (shakes) at Toothsome, afternoon lounging at the RPR pool, then return to IOA in late afternoon for the remaining non-WWoHP rides finishing with the water rides. Dinner TBD @ City Walk. If USF has EPA, which I am expecting, we might hit Diagon Alley before IOA.
Sunday
Today will be our USF non-WWoHP day. We plan to start halfway through early park admission, hit Minions, then all the non-WWoHP rides and shows finishing up in early afternoon. Afternoon will be for repeat rides or pool hopping. I would like to make it to HRH and PBH pools at some point. Lunch will be at Fast Food Boulevard. We might try to hit Hogsmeade during the last hour at IOA before dinner at Toothsome.
Monday
Today is departure day, but our flight is not until 9:00 p.m. We are planning to check luggage with bell services, then start at USF, mid-day at IOA, then finish at USF. By today, we should have ridden all attractions and seen all shows that we wanted, so the plan will be to take it all in at a leisurely pace riding whatever attractions, seeing whatever shows, and exploring whatever looks worthy. I suspect we'll be spending significant time in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade trying to soak up as much Harry Potter as we can before departing. Breakfast will be at Leaky Cauldron and lunch at Three Broomsticks.
My family is excited to embark upon our first trip to Universal Orlando. Our crew of four consists of me, DW, DD14, and DD12. Our lodging will be at Royal Pacific Resort. Trip dates are Thursday, September 21 through Monday, September 25. We are planning to have 5-day 3-park park-to-park tickets. I have settled upon a relatively firm plan, but welcome any feedback.
Thursday
We'll arrive at MCO around 8:30a.m. Tony Hinds will be our transportation with a stop for groceries, then to Royal Pacific Resort. I am hoping we can make it to Universal Studios by 10:30 a.m. What do you think? Today's touring plan is all Wizarding World of Harry Potter starting in USF, then to IOA, then USF, then IOA attempting to follow the story as if in Harry's shoes and accomplish Hogwarts Express in both directions before USF closes for HHN. My DD12 and I are nuts for HP. We've read all the books (including the extras like quidditch, beedle, Cursed Child, beast, etc.), and have seen all the movies multiple times. My DD14 and DW are fans of the early movies (years 1-4). Planning to do an early lunch at Leaky Cauldron and dinner at Three Broomsticks with some butterbeer from Hogs Head and ice cream from Florean Fortescue's mixed in. Today will be our most grueling given an extra early start and air travel stress. I am reluctantly prepared to shuffle around the touring plan in case the crew starts to peter out. We should have plenty of time over the following four days to enjoy anything we miss today.
Friday
Today will be Volcano Bay from early park admission until close. I am hoping a strategy of a "late" 9 a.m. EPA start will let us rest up from the previous day's possibly exhausting itinerary. Based on VB reviews, I am contemplating breaking it into two days using early park admission until about noon each day or until the park gets too crowded. However, I really like the idea of premium seating or a cabana, but won't pay those premiums for anything less than a full day. Fingers are crossed that VB will be running more efficiently and effectively by now. We are a big pool-loving family, so enjoying the wave pool, lazy, and "not so lazy" rivers are usually sufficient to pass time while waiting for a ride. A few years back, we visited Aquatica and fell in love with Roa's Rapids. I am hoping TeAwa the Fearless River can rival Roa's Rapids. We'll do lunch at VB. Dinner will be Cowfish.
Saturday
Today will be our IOA non-WWoHP day. We plan to start the day with headliners, lunch (shakes) at Toothsome, afternoon lounging at the RPR pool, then return to IOA in late afternoon for the remaining non-WWoHP rides finishing with the water rides. Dinner TBD @ City Walk. If USF has EPA, which I am expecting, we might hit Diagon Alley before IOA.
Sunday
Today will be our USF non-WWoHP day. We plan to start halfway through early park admission, hit Minions, then all the non-WWoHP rides and shows finishing up in early afternoon. Afternoon will be for repeat rides or pool hopping. I would like to make it to HRH and PBH pools at some point. Lunch will be at Fast Food Boulevard. We might try to hit Hogsmeade during the last hour at IOA before dinner at Toothsome.
Monday
Today is departure day, but our flight is not until 9:00 p.m. We are planning to check luggage with bell services, then start at USF, mid-day at IOA, then finish at USF. By today, we should have ridden all attractions and seen all shows that we wanted, so the plan will be to take it all in at a leisurely pace riding whatever attractions, seeing whatever shows, and exploring whatever looks worthy. I suspect we'll be spending significant time in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade trying to soak up as much Harry Potter as we can before departing. Breakfast will be at Leaky Cauldron and lunch at Three Broomsticks.