Any tips?

I could help out, what do you wanna know?

Also I just noticed Ronny's trip report from his ACE event, I read through it and it is a great rundown of the rides and attractions at IOA and US so it could be helpful to you too.

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If there are any specific questions you have about the parks, just let us know Mark.

Two tips I would definitely recommend:

If you can, stay on property. The early entry to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (they should still be doing this), along with the fact your hotel key can be used as an unlimited express pass (line skipping system a la Flash Pass) make it more than worth the upcharge. We've stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel as well as the Royal Pacific and both are fantastic resorts. Both offer great restaurants with breakfast buffets (for an additional upcharge) in the hotel, as well as middle and upscale dining options. Unfortunately, you cannot use your hotel key for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, but the early entry makes up for this. The ability to skip the long lines ensures you can do everything in a day.

At the Studios, make sure to ride Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit early. Express was not available on it last October when we were there last, so lines add up quickly. As a larger rider, I found Rockit uncomfortable even in the more accommodating row. Make sure to see the Horror Makeup Show as it's a classic. Also try to volunteer for one of the "extra" positions at Disaster in the preshow. I've done it twice and it really makes the attraction.

If you have any other questions, or are planning to go during Halloween Horror Nights, don't hesitate to ask!

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Yes, like Chris said.

However, we did The Portifino Resort. Probably the higher end resort.

But staying on property, you can break the day up. When it's afternoon and super hot, you can get back to the resort and cool off. Either by water taxi or walking.

Then go back later, which is usually less crowded. And then stay right til closing at the park.
You get what you pay for this way. And doesn't have you trapped all day at the park.

The resort has a few resturants. This resort is based like French- Italian. The shops and eateries are all together and modeled like old a European town. Food is pricey though.

During Halloween we were the only people in one place. The dinner was all you could eat, and then some. Ran about $100.00 for 4. But when the first spaggetti bowls came out, their size was like a serving bowl. We couldn't believe it. We also got to take some back to the room.
We ate the next day too.

The first night we ate next door, I can look the places up if you want. That night an Italian lady crooned at our table, almost the entire time while we ate. Another guy played the violin. We also sat in back by ourselves. That night was about $80.00 for 4.

Both places actually share the same kitchen too, we noticed. There is also a daily Deli. Cool salady stuff with cheeze, mostly Italian based. But exotic and good, each plate was about $8.00.

You can sit outside and watch the boats on the waterway. You can approach the water, but can't swim there. But they have a great water pool on otherside of the rooms.Get a room that faces the waterway too, if you stay there.

First class stuff, but you will pay. 4 Nights ran about $2500.00 for family of 4. However we had fast pass to the haunted houses and fast pass to open night attractions. Not everything is open at night during Halloween. And of course the key pass allows you in the parks during the day. This included both parks too. BuT at least THE HEAT, IS NOT THERE IN oCTOBER.

WE prefer the special times of the year there. Xmas and Halloween. Less crowds. Except Xmas. But we rode the Jurrassic boat ride 4 times in a row. And didn't get wet, in the early part of the day during Halloween, as example.

Anything else just let me know.

If you can't do potter in the morning my best advise is go to studios or CHILL OUT in IOA. We are getting to the time of the year when crowds are getting to the point when stand by and return times will be the only way to get into potter for the first half of the day. Wait until after 6, have a great dinner at broomsticks and enjoy the evening in potter. People seem to have the urge to get it done early, and if you don't have the early admission, stay away and get your moneys worth else where. In my personal opinion much of that section is better at night.

Studios wise:
Don't worry about hitting the back of the park first, many high capacity rides are delayed opening anyway. Ride rockit, mummy and don't forget to get a final jimmy ride(if available). Then hit the back of the park as jaws and disaster open. Plan on a break around one when the lines get long and if you don't like lines then don't let them bug you! That's when you should eat at the FULL SERVICE resturant with refills and free bread, fennigans. You can event get a drink themed to your favorite ride! And the prices are not that bad either. Then hit up twister (never a wait generally) and plan on horror make up and terminator. Sticking to this plan helps you avoid the big waits and the shows a fun as well!

Last thought: HORROR MAKE UP SHOW is a MUST! One of the best things on property!

Enjoy the destination!
Agent K

We are going in July. We will be down there for 7 days. We have park to park passes. We were going to stay at the Hard Rock but the wife wanted a smoking room so I had to change to a not on site hotel. We won't be there everyday all day. Maybe 3 or 4 long days.

Well on Day one, we went to Universal Studios. Pretty much did everything. The wife is not into coasters but she loves the simulator rides. She loved The Simpson. Multiple rides on Simpsons, MIB and Mummy. Daughter and I rode Rip Ride Rockit.

Day 2, we spend the day outside Universal at Ripleys, and Fun Spot. Daughter loved the multiple level go kart tracks. That evening we stopped by Islands of Adventure. We rode the Hulk and Spiderman twice. We ended up in Harry Potter. All of us rode Flight of Hippogriff. Waited one hour for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Wife loved it!

The best part on HPatFJ was it ended, but we did not go back the normal unload area. We stopped and a girl there asked if we wanted to ride again. Of course, we said yes. We had to change seats and off we went again. Ended the night with that.

Today back to IOA for the rest of the park.

Awesome. You got to go to the special handicapped station. I hear the twist back over into that station from the last floo network screen is quite a doozy!

Sounds like you are having fun. Keep us posted.

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Well our last night there, we rode Harry Potter again. It was a 15 minute wait the first time. We immediately walked back around and walked all the way through (no wait) it was a few minutes before closing. It had rained earlier that day so the park had cleared out.

Okay, I will never complain about the walk from SFoG parking lot again. I did like how they used head sets to find riders to fill the seats. All the rides moved quickly.

I loved the theming of the parks. Very well done. I liked the free lockers at rides that did not allow loose items. They had plenty of cooling stations or fans in the queues.