Does IOA violate traffic patterns?

If you want to avoid the crowds, the conventional wisdom is to go to the back of a theme park upon entering. That way, everyone else is doing all the stuff at the front of the park. By the time you make your way to the front of the park, the attractions you bypassed are much less crowded. I've followed this pattern for years and have been pleased.

However, the pattern doesn't work with IOA. Can you offer any tips to avoid the crowds for this park? Thanks.

Usually the best way to avoid the crowd at IOA is to head to the right after leaving the Port of Entry. The tendency of most of the crowd is to head straight to Marvel Superhero Island on the left to grab a seat on the Hulk coaster or Spiderman. Very few people start at Seuss Landing unless they are laden with little ones. So by moving counter-clockwise around the islands, you avoid a great majority of the crowd and can usually get to Jurassic Park and the Lost Continent a lot faster.

When we went to IOA on a hot August day, this worked well for us as far as the rides in the back were concerned. We were able to get several rides on Dudley and Bilge Rat Barges followed by a near walk on for Jurassic Park. However, when we got to the front it was still crowded. This meant a long wait for Spiderman. In retrospect, I would probably sprint to Spiderman, then catach the rides in the back..

*** This post was edited by Jim Fisher on 5/8/2002. ***

Dueling Dragons is a people-eater, so you can pretty much ride it at any time of day. In my three visits to the park, I've found that if you dont hit Spidey early, you'll wait for it all day. That's really the only attraction at IOA that doesn't have great capacity. I would hit Spidey, then Dr. Doom, the other poor capacity attraction, and then Hulk.

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Proud CB club member

Here was our plan of attack last week.

Into the park by 10:45 am. Things look crazy near Hulk and Spidey so we hoofed it back to Dragons. It would have been 10 minutes or less but they were adding 2nd trains.

After Dragons we shot over to Jurassic Park...no wait. Then we went over to Dudley's Falls and some kid gave us a Fastpass (or whatever they call it) and we were on in 20 minutes.

We then went over and got a Fastpass for Spiderman and jumped in a 45 minute line for Hulk. After Hulk we still had 1 and a half hours to kill so we were heading over to Posiedon and then back to Hulk.

All in all we made some good decisions.

The best way I have found is to get there before the park open. As soon as the park opens go either to Hulk or Spiderman. Most of the time we go on the Hulk first then Spiderman. Then go to Dr. Doom. If you get there after the park opens forget that plan because within 30min. both lines will be packed. After you hit those rides go straight back to Dueling Dragons. If its still early and that part of the park isnt open yet ride Cat in the Hat to waste some time. You will pretty much have the Dragons to yourself due to the fact that everyone else is waiting in line for Hulk and Spiderman. After the Dragons head towards the Jurassic Park ride. Then hit the water rides in Toon Lagoon. With this plan you should be done before 11am with no problem. This gives you time to see the shows and re-ride anything if you want to.

Hockey's right. The ideal plan works only if you're there when the park opens. Marvel is walk-on the first fifteen minutes of the day -- and packed until closing from that point on.

If you're there at the open you can hit Spidey first and Hulk second, basically walking on each time. Doom too. Now that Spider-Man the movie is out, I can see that line getting even worse this summer.

An alternate plan is to just do Hulk and Doom -- and grab a Universal Express for Spider-Man (pick the later of the two time slots given). That will let you go ahead of the crowd into Toon Lagoon, which will be empty, Jurassic Park, which will be empty (save for Pteranodon Flyers -- but that's another story), Lost Continent, which will be empty, and you won't hit a crowd until you're down to Seuss. So grab an Express pass for Cat in the Hat (or One Fish, Two Fish -- if you don't want to stand under the heat) and head on over to Spidey since it will probably be your Express Pass window on that one.

One thing to remember is don't Express Pass the wrong attractions. When I was there last month, the Hulk passes ran out early in the afternoon. It's the same machine that hands out Storm Force passes. The overhead sign clearly said that Hulk passes were done for the day, yet folks were lining up ten deep to get a pass for a ride that is ALWAYS a walk-on. I mean, c'mon, Caro-Seuss-el Passes? For what?

Consider length of lines and the condition of the line (indoor where it's cool, outdoor where it's not) and the eventual ride time. I mean, at 10am Dudley and Popeye should be very short waits, you might not consider a Pass -- but if you want to hit the ride in the early afternoon, grab the pass right then and there.

FYI, this Saturday, 8-9 am, annual passholders get SuperHero island for 1 hour before park opening....we're going, but hoping for a little time with a few "shirts"....ridden all the stuff countless times - not that Fire Dragon won't get a few spins right after opening...:)

Also, Caro-seuss-el got a try tonite, with additional knowledge we got some of the animals to "work"...also, first trip on One Fish, Two Fish...it's operated by the riders who determine the height....cool. Also noticed a plaque honoring the Geisels (sp?)....you'd think I'd have remembered the spelling....arrggh!

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....teachin' people about towel safety and proper towel usage...it's important!