1 Day Total?

[Zife]

I've read on some other sites that Universal and IoA can be done in a day, total.

I've been to IoA twice and did Universal one of those times. The first time we went to IoA, I think we spent a bit less than a day. The time we did both, we did them together in about a day. But, that week was dead everywhere we went (in late Feb 2008)

I'm not sure if we got lucky and had ridiculously short wait times that trip, or if that's generally the rule, but my wife and I are going back Oct 2011, and I'm not sure if we should budget 1 or 2 days for the two parks (if we only budget 1, we can throw something like Discovery Cove or Busch Gardens in the mix).

 

[Mtnman44]

With a front of the line pass, you can do most of the "major" stuff at both parks in one day, but I do not think you can completely do both parks in a day. I've always needed at least two days, in the off season, to do both parks fully. This was all before Harry Potter.

 

[Metro West]

I've read on some other sites that Universal and IoA can be done in a day, total.

I've been to IoA twice and did Universal one of those times. The first time we went to IoA, I think we spent a bit less than a day. The time we did both, we did them together in about a day. But, that week was dead everywhere we went (in late Feb 2008)

I'm not sure if we got lucky and had ridiculously short wait times that trip, or if that's generally the rule, but my wife and I are going back Oct 2011, and I'm not sure if we should budget 1 or 2 days for the two parks (if we only budget 1, we can throw something like Discovery Cove or Busch Gardens in the mix).

October is generally not that busy at the Studios or IOA execept for WWoHP. The days of doing everything in both parks in a single day are gone despite what you might hear. If you only want to do the major attractions and not concentrate on doing everything, one day would be fine. But if you're trying to see as much as you can in both parks, you should plan for two days. Also remember October means HHN at the Studios and the crowds will show up in the afternoons on the evenings when HHN is staged.

You can purchase the Express Plus passes (also incorrectly known as Front of the Line passes on here) but I doubt you would need them. Those could be purchased at either park and cost depends on the anticipated crowd level for that day.

 

[Magpie]

Maybe we're just pokey people, but we've been touring the two parks since Sunday, and we're still stumbling across things we haven't seen yet. Not rides, so much as shows, interesting little corners of the parks, character interactions, etc...

I think, if I was very organized about it and made up a touring plan before hand, and stayed all day (no naps, open to close), I'd still need two FULL days to see everything. And we'd probably still miss a show or two, since some of them only run a couple times a day. (ie. Beetlejuice is currently only at 12:30 and 4pm.)

Three days, it'd be comfortably doable. One day for each park and then use the third to catch the things you missed the first two days.

Six days, imo, is turning out just perfect. I like my naps. And the occasional movie at Citywalk. And getting to ride my favorite rides again. And dodging the crowds (we favour early morning and late evening visits).

 

[Zife]

Sounds good. Completely forgot about WWoHP (don't tell my wife, she'll kill me), which we definitely want to experience.

Looks like we'll plan for 2 days. Probably better, it'll keep us from spending ludacris amounts of money to do DC.

 

[mesaboy2]

Sounds good. Completely forgot about WWoHP (don't tell my wife, she'll kill me), which we definitely want to experience.

Looks like we'll plan for 2 days. Probably better, it'll keep us from spending ludacris amounts of money to do DC.

Don't underestimate the potential to spend ludacris amounts of money for the merch in WWoHP. I've taken to calling the wands by another name: $30 sticks.

 

[Zife]

Don't underestimate the potential to spend ludacris amounts of money for the merch in WWoHP. I've taken to calling the wands by another name: $30 sticks.

$30? That's better than they were here when the HP Exhibition came around

 

[fairyprincess88]

$30? That's better than they were here when the HP Exhibition came around

The wands are cheaper than they were at the Exhibition and there is a larger selection with cooler boxes. However, as Mesaboy2 said, don't underestimate the cash you can spend on merch in the WWoHP. I easily blew through over a thousand bucks without even getting half of what I wanted. The amount of original merch available is mind boggling and most of it is far from cheap.

 

[phamton]

Yes, you can do 1 day but it would be like doing two days total at WDW. You will miss a lot.

 

[Zife]

I easily blew through over a thousand bucks without even getting half of what I wanted. The amount of original merch available is mind boggling and most of it is far from cheap.

So, I need to make sure to keep my wife away from the souvenir stands

 

[Planogirl]

So, I need to make sure to keep my wife away from the souvenir stands

Good luck with that. I thought that I would avoid the merchandise when we went because the stores were so jammed but then I discovered a lot of it in the regular bigger gift stores. One hippogriff and several odds and ends later - I was broke.

 

[fairyprincess88]

So, I need to make sure to keep my wife away from the souvenir stands

If she is a Potter fan, forget that plan. The Forbidden Journey ride dumps you into Potter merch heaven aka Filche's. That was the shop I spent the most cash in as it was the easiest to navigate into and throughout. The minute I got off the ride and down the steps and into the shop my eye's pretty much did this . Let's just say, the TM's in the shop had to get me a shopping basket.

 

[allonte]

OMG, My husband is going to KILL me then. I am a HUGE HP geek. I will have to have a wand, lmao. And I'm sure I'll have to have other stuff too. We're bringing DD to Disney and I told him that I would be going to Universal if it killed all of us in the process, lol.