An Orlando Universal Vacation Odyssey: 4 Trips. 9 Weeks. 15 months

[Mad Dog]

After reading countless comments on Epic, it seems like the biggest negatives about a visitors' trip are standing in too long lines for rides, especially Ministry and DK Minecart. So, I go into a visit crossing those two problem rides off my planning list, and only do them if conditions are favorable. And, I try to stay away from rides and/or the park in the afternoon when lines are long for most everything except Monsters Unchained. If you insist on being in the park from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM, then do the two shows and Monsters during that time. Keeping that in mind, utilizing early entry and staying in the park in the evening can result in a fairly stress free, and mostly short line experience. Nintendo is best during early entry and evening. Doing it any other time of day is just asking for a troubled experience. I've been to Epic three times now and never stood in a significantly long line. In fact, most of them have been very short. It's all about 'when' you line up for an attraction. I've rode everything except for the three rides I have no interest in (Dragons flat ride, Dragons water ride, Carousel). and.....a bonus is that Monsters Unchained is one of the very best, if not the best, theme park rides....and the line is always short. Twelve rides so far and it just gets better with each ride.

 

[Mad Dog]

Monday, the day after Epic.

We slept in, then hit the Cabana Bay pool. Around 3:30 PM we took the bus over to USF. Sunny day, temps in the low 90's, June 22nd, the week that almost all the touring plans said was going to be busy at Universal. Well, I never bought that, and watching all the economic red flags, gas prices, and super hotel discount deals, I was guessing low crowds.

Like wow, low crowd. We 'walked on' most every ride, except Gringotts. Not just a walk on but like no other guests even near us in some of the lines. It was like the park is during it's last half hour. So we had a helluva good time even without Express passes. And then we finished up the day with our second viewing of the Mega Parade and CineSational. Keep in mind that except for Saturday, Monday is generally the busiest park day since Sunday is the main arrival day for vacationing guests.

The girls just love CityWalk, so we stopped there for a while before going back to Cabana on the Sapphire boat. Great easy going day.

 

[Mad Dog]

Nice extra at Cabana Bay. I don't like to bowl, so I went to the pool. But Alene took the girls bowling and they loved it. This is not something usually available at resort hotels.