What Can You Get Done at Islands of Adventure Early Admission?

Early Park Admission at Islands of Adventure

I am not typically a resort guest, so early park admission is typically off the table for me. During my staycation at Terra Luna, I finally got to experience EPA at Islands of Adventure. No Epic ticket right now…. I am also not the type to be the FIRST person in the park. To show up to the toll booth at five in the morning to be first in line. Perhaps they have a difference experience, but they are also waiting for two and a half hours in their car and at the front of the gate without movement. I personally like moving through queues and sometimes they have great air conditioning. Something that the front turnstiles don’t have.

I left my hotel at about 7:30. I got through the turnstiles at 8:03, I hit it perfect… All of the lines were gone, and I just walked effortlessly in. I went straight to Hagrid. I wanted to see if I could still get on it even if I wasn’t one of the first people in the gate. The answer to that question? No. I got to the back of the park, and it was already 90 minutes. I figured there was no way, it was actually 90 minutes, so I stuck my bag in the lockers, and I got in line. The express line was almost to the entrance. And it was longer than the standby.  In my park experience, that is a horrible sign, so I turned around, walked back out. I wasted about ten minutes, going through the locker experience, walking, and then walking back.

I walked immediately to Velocicoaster and the wait time was ten minutes. It was a walk on and it was one of my first times on Velocicoaster where I walked onto the attraction. It was awesome.

 Already happy with my day, I noticed there was about 15 minutes for the rest of the park opening so I went to Forbidden Journey. This has never been my favorite ride, the screens have never been my favorite thing but after getting on Monsters:Unchained I had to give it another try. It wasn’t nearly as good. I love the queue though. I walked by most of it but had a small wait of about 8 minutes in the last few rooms.

I really wanted to ride the water rides, and I figured when the park opening would be the best opportunity. Sadly, one was delayed, and one opened at 10. The staggered openings and closing to save some money are very Seaworld like.

The final land to walk through was Marvel and I have only gone on Spiderman in this land in the last year. I went on Doctor Doom, and Hulk which led to a massive headache. I did plan to say my goodbyes to Rockit but my head was hurting so badly that I wasn’t going to risk it.

This was my trip to Islands of Adventure. Enjoying the best theme park day in the Summer. Wake up early, get on as many rides as you can, go to hotel, get lunch, get into the pool, take a nap, and then come back later in the evening. With how the sun is, that is one of the best ways to do it. I was able to ride Hulk, Doom, Velocicoaster, and Forbidden Journey. If I went back in the evening, which I didn’t, I was at pool and then I drove home. But if I did go back, I could have hit the water rides, Kong, Spiderman, all rides in Seuss, and then hit Hagrid before closing for a shorter wait. It was a fun hour and a half and the only way to survive the heat while still enjoying your experience.