Can you help me with a plan of attack?

[Narnia_girl]

We want to maximize our times in the park and thanks to the great advice on here, we dumped our free hotel and are staying at RPR.

We will probably arrive between 10-11 a.m. on a Sunday. We have to leave at about 5 p.m. on Monday. So two short days to see/do everything.

Our kids are okay with some rollercoasters but probably not the massive drop ones. I know our daughter will also want to spend some time at the pool.

Also, considering eating at Margaritaville, Burger King bar (read on trip report) and possibly ordering pizza in the first night.

What's the best plan of attack?

thanks for any help you can give!

[Metro West]

Since you're staying onsite and will have unlimited Express access, you should be fine to do what you want. I don't think it's going to matter which park you do first but you might want to get there a little earlier...say around 9am instead of 10-11am...that's when the crowds arrive.

Do you have any specific questions about any of the attractions?

[Narnia_girl]

thanks, unfortunately, that will probably be the earliest we can arrive. We are disembarking from our cruise (Port Canaveral) that morning, and then we have to make the drive to Orlando, and check in at RPR to get our FOTL.

[Planogirl]

If you have time (in the evening) you might want to check out the Hard Rock pool too. It's really nice.

It's a great idea to eat outside of the parks, at least some of the time. I feel recharged when I do so.

You will likely be fine since you're staying onsite. That alone makes a world of difference.

[Purseval]

Originally Posted by Narnia_girl

We want to maximize our times in the park and thanks to the great advice on here, we dumped our free hotel and are staying at RPR.

We will probably arrive between 10-11 a.m. on a Sunday. We have to leave at about 5 p.m. on Monday. So two short days to see/do everything.

What's the best plan of attack?

Both parks are open 9am-9pm during your visit. With FOTL you'll manage quite nicely.

RPR is closest to IOA. Check in, get your passes and head to IOA. Go to Hulk if they can handle it. As long as you don't wait extra to be in the first row (that is a separate line that FOTL won't help you with) you can get through that quickly. If you think it's too rough, skip it.

Head to Spiderman next. Don't skip that, it's not nearly as rough as the coasters and it's one of the best rides in Orlando.

Next go to the Popeye and Bluto Bilge Rat barges. Prepare to get soaked. Not a little wet, drenched. If you don't want to get drenched skip it.

Go to Ripsaw Falls. You may get wet there but not nearly as wet as the last ride unless you catch it just right.

Exit Ripsaw Falls and head left into Jurassic Park. Ride the Jurassic Park ride. Again, you may get wet. Most people don't, depends where you sit. There is another ride in Jurassic Park called the Flying Pteradactyls or something like that. You have to be 70 pounds or less to ride it. If your kids are that small they may enjoy it but if the line is too long it's not worth the wait.

Go to Dueling Dragons if you think you're up to it. Pay attention to the exits, you can ride both coasters without having to go back down. Ask one of the attendants if you aren't sure how. This is another set of coasters, if you think they are too rough bypass them and go to the Dr. Seuss playland.

Ride Cat In The Hat. Ride the Trolley, it's cute. The Merry-Go-Round if you have time to kill.

That would almost complete your circle. If you have time and are interested in it go back and do Poseidon's Adventure. Take a minute to look at the talking fountain, it's cute. If you hit it right you can catch the show, I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

That will take you completely around the park. You have some choices, depending on what time it is.

1. Go back and revisit the ones you liked or the 2nd-tier rides like Dr. Doom
2. Head back to RPR for a breather
3. Grab a quick bite in City Walk and head over to Universal Studios

Which option depends entirely upon your stamina. Let's pretend you choose option 3 since you
can always refresh in the RPR pool after the parks close.

Enter Universal Studios. Go right on Rodeo Drive. Make a note of the next time Terminator starts. If it's soon, go there. If it isn't, head to the Simpsons Ride (as an alternative if your kids are younger you can head to ET, then the Simpsons)

Exit the Simpsons and go to Men In Black. Don't forget to stow your things in the locker first.
Since you have FOTL passes, if the kids really like MIB they can ride it again without going through the line, show the attendant your passes when you get off the ride and he will show you how. Otherwise, exit MIB, get your stuff out of the locker and go right, to Jaws.

After Jaws go right again and go to the Mummy ride (another locker, btw). Pass Disaster, remember this is still Day 1 and you can hit it tomorrow.

Exit the Mummy and go to Twister.

Exit Twister and go to Jimmy Neutron. That will take care of the rides. Now you have Terminator, Shrek, Disaster and the shows. My favorite show is Beetlejuice, you may prefer the Animal Actors. Do what time allows.

I know this sounds like a lot but if you go in before noon you can do all of it on your first day. Trust me, I've done this before.

After the parks close head back for a bite to eat, a swim and a good night's sleep. Get up early enough to be at the parks for opening time. Depending on how you handled day 1 you can plan day 2. You've already hit each major ride so you can relax and enjoy the scenery, take in the shows or revisit your favorites.

Might I suggest that if you aren't already in shape you start walking now to get ready. Remember, it will be hot and you will be moving quickly. Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes.

That's my easy plan of attack. Not only have I done both parks in less time than you have, I've done all 4 WDW parks in the same amount of time. An experienced local trying to show off can do all 4 WDW parks and both Universal ones in a day, so it may sound like a lot but you'll be surprised at how much you can do if you have a good plan.

[Narnia_girl]

Purseval!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I'm printing this out!!!

[Purseval]

BTW, it's faster to walk from RPR to IOA. They have a boat ride but it actually takes you further away from where you want to go. If you want to say you rode the boat wait until you are leaving Universal Studios then ride it back to the hotel.

[macraven]

why do people omit Dr Doom......

the story line in the regular line is a not to be missed one.

i use the fotl perk and do the regular line early morning for Hulk, Dr Doom, Spiderman, DD, Mummy, MIB


somethings you just can't miss.

of course when there are lines, i go back and use the express line.



also, don't miss spending time around the Mystic Fountain.


we all have our touring plans.

check out the interactive map on the universal website.
you will see the layout of the park and gain information on each ride.

you can use it as a guide for going around the park.
when you are a newbie, it is easy to get turned around.


almost forgot to say, catch the Horror Makeup Show at the studios. Disaster is a hoot, especially for the first section of the attraction.
try to get in for ET.......it is a calming effect and lovely inside.

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

We've done US/IoA in a day every time....and seen everything we wanted to...

PP's have given good advice...but here's my 2 cents....

IMHO - from the sounds of it your kids will want to skip HULK, Dueling Dragons and Doom....

We don't miss Disaster... but skip Jaws pretty regularly...

We usually do IoA the opposite way around the "doughnut shaped park" so that the soaking rides will be next to last....last being... Spiderman....

GOOD IDEA to do Simpsons first....but we did Mummy first on our way there last visit....Mummy will fill up...however early morning, you'll find NO wait on most rides....we walked straight into Mummy after entering the park in May...

Horror Make up show is fun....Animal show is really cute if the kids like animals

Mythos is a REALLY cool place for lunch in IoA near Poseidons Fury...it's a bit more expensive than other places but a really cool place to eat

As mentioned...we've done everything in a day WITHOUT FOTL passes....and had a great time!

So you should have a wonderful visit!

[Purseval]

Originally Posted by macraven

why do people omit Dr Doom......

the story line in the regular line is a not to be missed one.

The lines and their different stories are entertaining, informative and a waste of valuable time for a family with a limited amount of it, that is why I suggested a plan that gets them on the most and best in the time they have. If they stick with it odds are they will be through everything before the end of the first day, then the 2nd day will give them time to smell the roses and drink in the atmosphere. Her key word was "maximize"

[JohnsPrincess]

Purseval - I noticed you mentioned that on MIB you can just show the room key to the attendents and ride again without having to go back through any line. Is that just this ride? We've been to the parks a billion times, but it's our first time staying on property and having the pass!

Narnia Girl - Good luck!! I think you can def maximize your time and get a ton out of both parks in a couple days. Just remember to have fun!!

[Believing is Seeing.]

Purseval wins for the best attack here. Haha.

I went at the beginning of this month and did both parks in a day. We were in serious commando mode. I got there very early and did everything in two hours because nobody was there at the time in IoA.

But like Purseval said, its best to start in IoA.

Start on your left and go counterclock wise around the park. Don't miss spiderman! Ripsaw falls is one of my favorites. It's a lot of fun.

And if your family is up to it, if you did get on Hulk.. Go for Dueling Dragons in the back of the park, they re did the entrance and everything for Harry Potter next year so not many people know its back there, or they cant find it.. And thats a benefit to you. I timed how long it takes to walk through the queue (without a wait) and its longer than the ride! Haha. But its so worth it. If your children are scared but curious to ride, go for the middle seats. Its the smoothest you will get on this ride. The back is the best but very rough..

Mummy is so much fun! Probably a long wait in the mainstream line but with the room card it would be worth it, its a roller coaster inside, you dont go upside down but it is pretty fast. The effects are incredible.

Dont miss Disaster, its halarious! And ET is nice. I loved that.

Good luck! And Bon Voyage!

[wdw&sonny]

While Perceval's advice is great and he is clearly very familiar with the parks, I noticed you mentioned your kids might not tolerate the big coaster very well. I would skip Hulk as the first ride. If your kids are like mine, they need to warm up to the big stuff. One bad coaster experience right off the bat and the rest of the day is spent coaxing them onto the slow rides and nursing a headache.

Do you want to MAXIMIZE the number of attractions you complete or MAXIMIZE your pleasure...these are often not the same. Go at a comfortable pace and give yourself some time inbetween each attraction to reflect and enjoy the experience. If you run from one attraction to the next, your kids won't remember half of what they experienced and they may be too sick to make it through the second day.

Don't worry about what you haven't done...enjoy what you're doing.
Be where you are.

[Narnia_girl]

thanks for all the great advice! I am taking notes so I appreciate it!

A couple people mentioned a horror makeup show? What's that exactly? I am not a horror movie fan and DD isn't allowed to see them (and would be sleeping in our bed for a month if she did).

[Purseval]

The Horror Makeup Show is across from Mel's Drivein on your way to The Simpson's ride, it looks like a movie theatre. It's a lot of fun, a funny demonstration of how they do special effects in the movies. It takes up a good bit of time so I would catch it after you've gone on every ride you wanted to see. It's not so scary your kids would probably enjoy it.