Can Universal and Islands of Adventure be done in one day? With an express pass?

[Octoberbaby]

We will probably be going on a Tues or Wed in June if that makes any difference. Hitting IofA first, then Universal. My son will be 10, almost 11, so he isn't going to be interested in many shows or kiddie rides. He's pretty much all about the roller coasters, and 3-D attractions. He isn't a fan of Harry Potter either, which is why I'm thinking we can do both parks in a day if I purchased the express pass. Thoughts? TIA!

 

[Patch'sD]

Possible, However both Harry Potter rides are very good. My tour would start at Hulk, Dr Doom, Spiderman, King Kong, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter FJ, Dragon Challanger Hogwarts Express. Escape from Gringots, Men in Black, Simpsons, Terminator, Shrek, Minions, Mummy, Transformers, if time is remaining head back to IOA, to do a couple of re-rides. I don't know when Jimmy Fallon or Fast and Furious rides will open that could change things.

 

[Octoberbaby]

Possible, However both Harry Potter rides are very good. My tour would start at Hulk, Dr Doom, Spiderman, King Kong, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter FJ, Dragon Challanger Hogwarts Express. Escape from Gringots, Men in Black, Simpsons, Terminator, Shrek, Minions, Mummy, Transformers, if time is remaining head back to IOA, to do a couple of re-rides. I don't know when Jimmy Fallon or Fast and Furious rides will open that could change things.

Thank you!
And, what tha? I had NO IDEA they were doing a Jimmy Fallon and Fast and furious ride!! That's awesome! If they are open, those will be must dos!

 

[wookiebeck]

Patch has a good list there. It goes in order around the parks for you to use as a touring plan. Leave out Terminator as it will eat up much time. It is easily a 30 minute 3-D show. Choose Terminator or Shrek, might not have time for both. And having Minions on the back end of the day, you might encounter a wait, even with the EP. If you like roller coasters, add the Rip Ride Rocket to the end of the plan.

 

[Octoberbaby]

Patch has a good list there. It goes in order around the parks for you to use as a touring plan. Leave out Terminator as it will eat up much time. It is easily a 30 minute 3-D show. Choose Terminator or Shrek, might not have time for both. And having Minions on the back end of the day, you might encounter a wait, even with the EP. If you like roller coasters, add the Rip Ride Rocket to the end of the plan.

Thank you!
How long are the lines usually with an express pass?

 

[TommyJK]

I agree with wookiebeck. Personally based on what your son is looking for I would chop Terminator and Shrek and add Rip Ride Rockit after Minions in that touring plan list.

 

[Patch'sD]

Forgot about Ripride Rocket. Went on it once and vowed never again. My 60 year old body can't take it anymore. Express lines can be no wait or 15 Minutes. Remember Harry Potter rides are not express, so timing is everything. My last three trips to the park those rides were never more than 20 minutes. Hogwarts is the exception which can be long. Just remember it will take about 20 to 30 minutes to exit one park and enter the other. Sometimes there is a back-up at the gate.

 

[Octoberbaby]

Forgot about Ripride Rocket. Went on it once and vowed never again. My 60 year old body can't take it anymore. Express lines can be no wait or 15 Minutes. Remember Harry Potter rides are not express, so timing is everything. My last three trips to the park those rides were never more than 20 minutes. Hogwarts is the exception which can be long. Just remember it will take about 20 to 30 minutes to exit one park and enter the other. Sometimes there is a back-up at the gate.

Thank you for your help! I'm a newby as far as the IofA and US parks go.
I went to HHN though last year with my husband, and we had a great time! My son is anxious to try HHN as well, but I'll hold off on taking him to that a few more years.

 

[Patch'sD]

Thank you for your help! I'm a newby as far as the IofA and US parks go.
I went to HHN though last year with my husband, and we had a great time! My son is anxious to try HHN as well, but I'll hold off on taking him to that a few more years.

Have a great trip

 

[Octoberbaby]

Have a great trip

Thank you!

 

[macraven]

Less crowds and lines if you go the first or second week in June
crowds are building the 3 rd week and last week of June will have crowds

 

[kathy884]

Just commenting that we think one day for both parks is great. And with all the great things to do in Orlando, allocating one day for these two parks is perfect for us. We know what we enjoy at these two parks and can easily get all that in, in one day. In fact my husband has a seminar coming up, so we will be staying onsite at Universal for three nights (staying four nights in Orlando total) and we opted to do Universal/IOA just one of the days. This will be our first time ever to have the express pass, due to the onsite stay as well as early entry. We have never had any of these perks in the past and still had a great one day experience and got in everything we wanted (moderate crowd times, though, not a super busy time). I can see that some big Harry Potter fans might like to do more days, as those areas are pretty cool, but for us wandering around for about an hour and going on the limited number of attractions that we think are worth repeating fits the bill.

The only downside of one day, of course, is that the tickets cost per day is quite pricey -- $155 pp as ticket pricing is set up to encourage people to go more days.

 

[Octoberbaby]

Less crowds and lines if you go the first or second week in June
crowds are building the 3 rd week and last week of June will have crowds

I was thinking we will probably go May 30, which is on a Tues I believe, but our trip runs into the first few days of June. I'm hoping we dodge the big summer crowds by going end of May/early June.