1 Day at Universal Studios

[mitchsfan]

If you are not a Harry Potter fan (and have no interest in seeing that part of the park), could you do Universal Studios in one day? Obviously it will be rushed but will we leave the park feeling that we missed a lot? Thank you

 

[macraven]

I think some have posted in the past they covered all rides (excluding Potter) in both parks in a 12 hour day at UO.

For me, there is a lot more to enjoy than to rush from one ride to the next on the list.

 

[DisneyMom93]

You can. It’s not as fun and relaxing but definitely doable.

Except that the train ride that connects the two parks is in Harry Potter section... so technically you’d be doing HP section and a HP ride unless you want to leave the park and walk all the way to the other one.

We always do five days with two days at each park and split the last day between the two parks.

 

[The Pho]

If you simply want to do all of the rides in both parks, that’s easily doable on a slow day or just about any day if you have an Express pass, including the Potter rides. I do that just about every day I visit, with repeats.

 

[cfoxga]

My first trip to Universal was a one day trip in Hollywood. We got there just before lunch and it was packed soon after. We only got to do a few rides because of the long waits. Given all that plus the cost of the tickets for one day being so high, I expected that to be our last trip to Universal ever. It just wasn't fun.

As the kids got older (8 and 10), they had outgrown Disney and really loved the Harry Potter movies. So we decided to go for 4 nights at CB over Spring Break. The crowds were heavy in the afternoons, so we went early, took a break mid-day, and then went back at night. We had a blast and have made two additional trips back.

So my advice for a 1 day trip would be to get to the park 30 minutes before it opens and purchase the Express Pass if it will be a crowded day. If there are more than two in your party, it might be cheaper to rent a room at a Deluxe Hotel to get Express Passes. That would give you a place to park your car and have an afternoon break as a bonus.

 

[nkereina]

Yes its doable. But I would suggest visiting the Harry Potter areas even if you aren't a fan. It would not take long to visit, especially if you're not concerned with the stores or details. But the theming is worth seeing and the rides are some of the best in each park. My parents are in their 70s and don't even know who Harry Potter is, but they were both blown away by each area.

But, yes, even incorporating the Potter area, I think its doable to do the Universal side in one day. But not IOA too. IOA generally takes us less time, but I don't think you can fully appreciate both parks if you wanted to do both in one day.

 

[jacksdadcan]

Not sure why you'd want to skip the HP areas they contain the best rides.

 

[bchbetha]

You’ll leave feeling like you missed a lot if you skip Harry Potter!

 

[RamblingMad]

It’s two days minimum.

 

[WelshMorgan92]

last year I was able to do both parks in a day with stopping for a sit down meal in Hard Rock..
We used Express + rope dropped IOA.
The only rides we skipped were Shrek and Transformers..

If I were to go back I think I could do both parks even quicker as would skip doing Jimmy Fallon

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

Most of the replies on here have assumed that you meant doing both parks, but you only say Universal Studios in your original post. If you are just doing US, then no problem at all. If you plan to include Islands of Adventure, then it would clearly depend on the day going and whether you plan to get Express Pass.