Both parks in 1 day?

[starhitter21]

How easy would it be to experience both parks in one day with the 1 day/2 park pass? I will be there on Friday, March 27 and Islands of Adventure is open until 7:00 P.M. and Universal Studios is open until 8:00. I want to experience the highlights of both parks and possibly Mardi Gras. I believe a concert is also in Universal Studios that night (Boys Like Girls Band). Any suggestions and tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[macraven]

i think it would be really tough to do both parks that day and the concert.

 

[Metro West]

i think it would be really tough to do both parks that day and the concert.

 

[Darcy03231]

I really don't think you can do both parks in one day and fully see/do everything. If you just wanted to hit a few rides/attractions in each one, that could be done. We were in Orlando for 16 days and spent 7 of them between US/IOA and I still don't think we did/saw everything.

 

[AdventureLover67]

If you can pull off at least 2 days, that would be best. Otherwise, I don't think there is any way possible to see/do everything. I know 2 years ago (for a premium) you could purchse the equivilant to a "fast pass", but this isn't always feasable, and you have to get there early as only a certain number of those are sold. Have a great trip!

 

[macraven]

If you can pull off at least 2 days, that would be best. Otherwise, I don't think there is any way possible to see/do everything. I know 2 years ago (for a premium) you could purchse the equivilant to a "fast pass", but this isn't always feasable, and you have to get there early as only a certain number of those are sold. Have a great trip!

they still have that VIP express pass.
it is not worth it.

very expensive and you still have to buy a park ticket

 

[swacer]

Was there last week with 4 people and had asked this same question on a couple of boards before we went...most of the answers seemed to say 1 day was no good for both parks, but as it was all the time we had (couldn't extend for another day), still tried it anyway. It worked out great for us and we got on every ride we wanted (skipped only 2 water rides) and saw the shows we wanted (skipped T2 'cause I'm just not a big fan of it)...even did Hulk three times and Spider Man twice. Maybe it was just the luck of a rather slow day, and I don't know how the concert affects attendance and all, but it worked out great for us.

 

[JackandSally79]

In Jan. we did both parks in one day. It was the first time doing it in one day...most of the time we go four days in March. Because Jan. was slower we were able to do everything we wanted.

 

[seadd67]

2007 we did US/IOA,and did the two parks one day.Did we see everything nope,did we see most of It and the things we wanted to see the most yep. Just depends on your expectations

 

[Mamiamjo]

Was there last week with 4 people and had asked this same question on a couple of boards before we went...most of the answers seemed to say 1 day was no good for both parks, but as it was all the time we had (couldn't extend for another day), still tried it anyway. It worked out great for us and we got on every ride we wanted (skipped only 2 water rides) and saw the shows we wanted (skipped T2 'cause I'm just not a big fan of it)...even did Hulk three times and Spider Man twice. Maybe it was just the luck of a rather slow day, and I don't know how the concert affects attendance and all, but it worked out great for us.

Did you use the express pass?

 

[fanoforlando]

IMO 1 day 2 parks is tough. unless you bring comfy shoes, can eat on the run and get there open to close.

most of us don't have that kind of energy, although i have tried and failed LOL

 

[cam1]

I did both parks in one day with my 11 year old & 3 year old. WE had early admission tickets to IOA which let us in 1 or 2hours before the park opened to the general public. I must say that at first I was totally againist getting up that early to do the parks while on vacation but it worked out great.
We arrived before the garage open and was the first one in. Hit IOA they allow you to ride certain rides during the early hours. Hulk, Spiderman and one other I think( my son rode the hulk a good 4-5 times) then the park open and we hit the others that would have long lines and for the most part my son did the single ride lines and we were done with that park. Went through Seus landing with the toddler and she was happy and headed over to the studios and again he did the single rider line and was happy rode everything he wanted including Mummy, simpson, MIA and some others and then we hit the toddler area to see barney and we were out of that park. Dont get me wrong the next day I was tried but was glad we had did that then we spent that day at the pool resting and it was so hot that day near 100. We were there in June. It can be done~

 

[ky07]

It can be done but I just don't see the sense in running around like a mad person to see and do as much as you can in 1 day.
Universal has such great themeing and great rides and being on vacation I want to relax and do things at my own pace and not have to rush since I have only 1 day cause just doesn't seem like fun to me

 

[damo]

Personally, I don't believe you can do all the attractions in both parks in one day. For those of you who say you did most of the rides, perhaps you can tell us what you did out of these attractions, to better give the OP an idea.

IOA

Hulk
Storm Force
Dr. Doom
Spiderman
Dudley DoRight
Popeye
Pteranadon Flyers
Jurassic Park
Flying Unicorn
Fire
Ice
Poseidan's Fury
Sinbad Show
High in the Sky Trolley
One Fish Two Fish
Cat in the Hat
Carosuessel

Universal Studios

Terminator
Horror Make-up Show
ET
Barney
Animal Actors Show
Simpsons
Men in Black
Jaws
Disaster
Mummy
Twister
Shrek
Jimmy Neutron
Beetlejuice

 

[macraven]

psst damo, you forgot the mystic fountain.....one of my faves......

 

[AuntMinnie12]

Personally, I don't believe you can do all the attractions in both parks in one day. For those of you who say you did most of the rides, perhaps you can tell us what you did out of these attractions, to better give the OP an idea.

IOA

Hulk--three times
Storm Force
Dr. Doom
Spiderman--twice
Dudley DoRight
Popeye
Pteranadon Flyers
Jurassic Park
Flying Unicorn
Fire--twice
Ice
Poseidan's Fury
Sinbad Show
High in the Sky Trolley
One Fish Two Fish
Cat in the Hat
Carosuessel

Universal Studios

Terminator
Horror Make-up Show
ET
Barney
Animal Actors Show
Simpsons
Men in Black---twice
Jaws
Disaster
Mummy
Twister
Shrek
Jimmy Neutron
Beetlejuice

In June 07, we had only one day and did the above in RED. We stayed at PBH so had FOTL. Arrived at 9am and left at 7pm. Had a huge rain storm mid-day. We were exhausted but had a blast.

 

[swacer]

Personally, I don't believe you can do all the attractions in both parks in one day. For those of you who say you did most of the rides, perhaps you can tell us what you did out of these attractions, to better give the OP an idea.

IOA

Hulk - tree times
Storm Force
Dr. Doom
Spiderman - twice
Dudley DoRight
Popeye
Pteranadon Flyers
Jurassic Park
Flying Unicorn (closed at the moment)
Fire
Ice
Poseidan's Fury
Sinbad Show[/I]
High in the Sky Trolley
One Fish Two Fish
Cat in the Hat - twice
Carosuessel

Universal Studios

Terminator
Horror Make-up Show
ET
Barney
Animal Actors Show
Simpsons
Men in Black
Jaws
Disaster
Mummy
Twister - closed when we were there
Shrek
Jimmy Neutron
Beetlejuice

Those in italics -- edit: purple, the italics thing didn't work since the whole quote was done that way -- are the ones we did in one day. Luckily it was a slow day.

 

[Mamiamjo]

Those in italics -- edit: purple, the italics thing didn't work since the whole quote was done that way -- are the ones we did in one day. Luckily it was a slow day.

Did you use the Express Pass?

 

[Heatmiser]

Personally, I don't believe you can do all the attractions in both parks in one day. For those of you who say you did most of the rides, perhaps you can tell us what you did out of these attractions, to better give the OP an idea.

IOA

Hulk - walked on no wait
Storm Force
Dr. Doom
Spiderman - walked on no wait
Dudley DoRight - walked on no wait
Popeye
Pteranadon Flyers
Jurassic Park - walked on no wait
Flying Unicorn - Kind of hard to ride
Fire - walked on, only front row had a wait
Ice
Poseidan's Fury
Sinbad Show
High in the Sky Trolley - walked on, no wait
One Fish Two Fish
Cat in the Hat - would have rode but it was closed when we went by first thing in the morning, anytime we go we hit this first and its always a walkon ride for us
Carosuessel

Universal Studios

Terminator
Horror Make-up Show
ET - Doors closed as we were walking up so had to wait 5 - 10 minutes before we got to see the preshow. We were the first in line to get our cards with our names and my girlfriend and I actually had a whole car to ourselves. Which was pretty cool, I thought they were going to make us wait for more people to get on
Barney
Animal Actors Show
Simpsons
Men in Black - pretty much walked on, waited maybe 5 minutes to get on our car
Jaws - maybe 5 minute wait, line went fast
Disaster
Mummy - 10 minute wait maybe, it had just reopened after being down

Twister - walked right into the first screening room, was one of the last ones so the show started. Normal 5 - 10 minutes, however long the two preshows last
Shrek
Jimmy Neutron
Beetlejuice

I went this last Saturday and did all of the bolded, except the Horror Make Up Show, by 11:45. This was without express passes, I believe we were let into IOA a little before 9:00. The key is getting to the parks right when they open and start at IOA and hit all the rides that usually have major waits later in the day first. I was really suprised to see the parks so dead in the morning.
I always get there when the parks first open and don't remember seeing it that dead before. If we would have planned it out I think we could have done every ride and show at both parks in the one day, even without express passes but its not Disney so there is no need to plan I think its all about getting lucky on the day you go.

 

[Mamiamjo]

I went this last Saturday and did all of the bolded, except the Horror Make Up Show, by 11:45. This was without express passes, I believe we were let into IOA a little before 9:00. The key is getting to the parks right when they open and start at IOA and hit all the rides that usually have major waits later in the day first. I was really suprised to see the parks so dead in the morning.
I always get there when the parks first open and don't remember seeing it that dead before. If we would have planned it out I think we could have done every ride and show at both parks in the one day, even without express passes but its not Disney so there is no need to plan I think its all about getting lucky on the day you go.

Do you remember in which order you rode the rides? We plan on trying the same thing this June (we have a Tuesday open so i hope that's a good day). i'd like to know what the best order would be to ride.