1 day touring plan for both US and IOA

[CarrieKurtz]

We are planning our first trip to Universal, and can only fit in one day. We'd like to do both parks, one day. We will be staying at Disney's Beach Club, so will rent a car from Alamo at Dolphin. There are 2 adults, 3 kids ages 8 - 15, all thrill seekers.

Can someone recommend a touring plan which starts at park opening, hits all the hi-lights of both parks, and enables us to return to Disney for a 7 pm dinner?

 

[macraven]

a lot depends on the date you will be at the darkside if you can get both park's highlights done.


when are you going?

 

[momabaarjo]

Here are my thoughts...Thrill Seeking Only...depending on when you are going I might think about purchasing the Express Pass...but then you miss the theming of the ride lines which is pretty cool.

Start with IOA and Head Directly to WWOHP
1. Forbidden Journey
2. Dueling Dragons
3. Spend some time walking around and experiencing the Wizarding World...if you are fans of Harry Potter.
4. Grab a ButterBeer

Cross the Bridge into Jurassic Park
5. Jurassic Park Ride

Go through gates to ToonLagoon-Enjoy the theming but walk through...both rides get you WET WET WET and really not that great

Cross Bridge to SuperHero Island
6. Spiderman
7. Dr. Doom
8. Hulk

I would then exit IOA (skipping Suessville) and head over to USO

1. Check Wait Time for RipRocket...if reasonable go ahead
2. Transformers
3. Minons Ride
4. Mummy
5. Men in Black
6. Simpsons

 

[Metro West]

I think...for the money you're going to be spending for tickets alone, you should wait until you can spend more time at the parks. Sure you can do the highlights but if you've never been to Universal, that's not giving the parks their due. If you weren't having to head back to Disney for dinner, you could do more but a lot depends on when you're going. The parks close early in slower travel times so that might be a factor but then if you're going during busier travel times, you will have longer lines to deal with.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Here are my thoughts...Thrill Seeking Only...depending on when you are going I might think about purchasing the Express Pass...but then you miss the theming of the ride lines which is pretty cool.

Start with IOA and Head Directly to WWOHP
1. Forbidden Journey
2. Dueling Dragons
3. Spend some time walking around and experiencing the Wizarding World...if you are fans of Harry Potter.
4. Grab a ButterBeer

Cross the Bridge into Jurassic Park
5. Jurassic Park Ride

Go through gates to ToonLagoon-Enjoy the theming but walk through...both rides get you WET WET WET and really not that great

Cross Bridge to SuperHero Island
6. Spiderman
7. Dr. Doom
8. Hulk

I would then exit IOA (skipping Suessville) and head over to USO

1. Check Wait Time for RipRocket...if reasonable go ahead
2. Transformers
3. Minons Ride
4. Mummy
5. Men in Black
6. Simpsons

This is the plan I would do as well. However, I've been going for years now and have my plan memorized. If I hadn't gone down I wouldn't know if I'd be missing out on a ride/attraction. Other rides I like are the ET ride and the Terminator show in USO.

 

[CarrieKurtz]

a lot depends on the date you will be at the darkside if you can get both park's highlights done.


when are you going?

We are planning to go end of August 2014 (I know...I'm a bit of a planner )

 

[CarrieKurtz]

I think...for the money you're going to be spending for tickets alone, you should wait until you can spend more time at the parks. Sure you can do the highlights but if you've never been to Universal, that's not giving the parks their due. If you weren't having to head back to Disney for dinner, you could do more but a lot depends on when you're going. The parks close early in slower travel times so that might be a factor but then if you're going during busier travel times, you will have longer lines to deal with.

I'm thinking we may just skip rushing back for dinner, and enjoy the day while we're there. We're hearding there end of August so I guess we'll have lower crowds, but fewer hours to enjoy.

 

[CarrieKurtz]

This is the plan I would do as well. However, I've been going for years now and have my plan memorized. If I hadn't gone down I wouldn't know if I'd be missing out on a ride/attraction. Other rides I like are the ET ride and the Terminator show in USO.

Thank you!

 

[CarrieKurtz]

Here are my thoughts...Thrill Seeking Only...depending on when you are going I might think about purchasing the Express Pass...but then you miss the theming of the ride lines which is pretty cool.

Start with IOA and Head Directly to WWOHP
1. Forbidden Journey
2. Dueling Dragons
3. Spend some time walking around and experiencing the Wizarding World...if you are fans of Harry Potter.
4. Grab a ButterBeer

Cross the Bridge into Jurassic Park
5. Jurassic Park Ride

Go through gates to ToonLagoon-Enjoy the theming but walk through...both rides get you WET WET WET and really not that great

Cross Bridge to SuperHero Island
6. Spiderman
7. Dr. Doom
8. Hulk

I would then exit IOA (skipping Suessville) and head over to USO

1. Check Wait Time for RipRocket...if reasonable go ahead
2. Transformers
3. Minons Ride
4. Mummy
5. Men in Black
6. Simpsons

Perfect....thanks Tammy!

 

[Lynne G]

While I agree the end of August is a great time to visit, it's when we go every year (due to school calendar) and we like it hot in tempature.

However, be warned, the new Harry Potter area is supposed to be opening in the summer of 2014. If that does happen, even the end of August will be crazy. Ask anyone who was there when HP 1 was opened in June 2010.

I agree, start with IOA then go to the Studios. When we were there last year, the park closed at 7pm. Slower times are generally nice, easy touring.

I would not hurry back to dinner in WDW. There are many restaurants in CityWalk, and if I only had one day, I'd be there until park close. Sometimes IOA closes later than the Studios.

We love all the thrill rides at HP, and the shows. We like the horror make up and the pet show.

I hope you have a great time.

We are Universal fans. We also always stay onsite, as we like the unlimited express pass, and the ease of so close to the parks in deluxe hotels. When we stay at Universal, we take one evening and go to DTD for dinner and some shopping. It is not that far from USO. My kids are a tween and teen, and are ride junkies. Disney is not as thrilling for them anymore. Thus, we will be spending more time outside the WDW bubble.

 

[RMulieri]

End of August 2014? It is going to be PACKED..Harry Potter expansion is going to be open by then.It is going to bring HUGE crowds and change park dynamics for months after it does.I would not try to jam both parks into one day .

 

[tchip827]

We are thinking of going to Universal for 2 days, however, I was thinking if we buy the Express Pass for one park we might be able to squeeze both parks in one day. Any suggestions? I am taking my 2 boys ages 6 & 8 so I think we will be skipping the major coasters. Not sure what to do, since we are going next July in the height of the season.

 

[Metro West]

I'm thinking we may just skip rushing back for dinner, and enjoy the day while we're there. We're hearding there end of August so I guess we'll have lower crowds, but fewer hours to enjoy.

 

[hydrotony]

I wonder why no one ever asks for a 1-day touring plan to see all the highlights of Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios?

 

[macraven]

i wonder why no one ever asks for a 1-day touring plan to see all the highlights of magic kingdom and disney's hollywood studios?

+1

 

[flfun]

We are thinking of going to Universal for 2 days, however, I was thinking if we buy the Express Pass for one park we might be able to squeeze both parks in one day. Any suggestions? I am taking my 2 boys ages 6 & 8 so I think we will be skipping the major coasters. Not sure what to do, since we are going next July in the height of the season.

Plz reconsider your dates. Because of the HP expansion opening, it will be so crowded it will be miserable for your kids. Google photos from the opening summer of HP to see what I mean. AND you're going in July, already the busiest month. Folks had to wait in line just to get "in" the HP area. Sorry, I just feel bad for anyone who may not realize how insanely crowded it will be.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I wonder why no one ever asks for a 1-day touring plan to see all the highlights of Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios?

I think it all depends on how much of each park one likes. In IOA as a single adult traveler, Seussville holds zero interest to me. I also skip Toonland which for me leaves Marvel, Jurassic Park (for me just the water ride) and Harry Potter. So I ride Hulk, Spiderman, Jurassic Park River Adventure, and Forbidden Journey. Most times I'll repeat Spiderman and Forbidden Journey. That takes me to around 11:30-12. I then make my way to Universal and eat lunch and then on to the rides (Terminator, ET, Simpsons, MIB, Disaster, Twister, sometimes Mummy, Shrek, Despicable Me and this year Transformers) and by that time it's 4:30-5 and I'm done. Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are full day parks (and for MK sometimes more). I also don't spend any time on shows or character greets.

 

[flfun]

We are thinking of going to Universal for 2 days, however, I was thinking if we buy the Express Pass for one park we might be able to squeeze both parks in one day. Any suggestions? I am taking my 2 boys ages 6 & 8 so I think we will be skipping the major coasters. Not sure what to do, since we are going next July in the height of the season.

Not only is it the height of the season, HP expansion will have opened, it will be insanely crowded, I don't think you will get to do much even with one day of express passes.

 

[CarrieKurtz]

While I agree the end of August is a great time to visit, it's when we go every year (due to school calendar) and we like it hot in tempature.

However, be warned, the new Harry Potter area is supposed to be opening in the summer of 2014. If that does happen, even the end of August will be crazy. Ask anyone who was there when HP 1 was opened in June 2010.

I agree, start with IOA then go to the Studios. When we were there last year, the park closed at 7pm. Slower times are generally nice, easy touring.

I would not hurry back to dinner in WDW. There are many restaurants in CityWalk, and if I only had one day, I'd be there until park close. Sometimes IOA closes later than the Studios.

We love all the thrill rides at HP, and the shows. We like the horror make up and the pet show.

I hope you have a great time.

We are Universal fans. We also always stay onsite, as we like the unlimited express pass, and the ease of so close to the parks in deluxe hotels. When we stay at Universal, we take one evening and go to DTD for dinner and some shopping. It is not that far from USO. My kids are a tween and teen, and are ride junkies. Disney is not as thrilling for them anymore. Thus, we will be spending more time outside the WDW bubble.

Great advice - thank you!

 

[tinkrbell1437]

We are goin the first week of December and only have 1 day at UO and IOA... I got the unlimited express tickets to maximize our time, but I am thinking it may have been overkill