Can US and IOA be done in one day?

[GiJohnsGirl]

We are planning to go back to FL sometime around 2013/14 and would like to take a day to go back to Universal (i'd like to do 2 but I don't think I could get hubby to agree). Can you hit all the major things and HP in that time?

 

[mesaboy2]

On a slow crowd day, yes, but you'll still be pretty rushed. On a moderate-to-busy crowd day, not without Express passes. I don't recommend it either way, but it's your party.

 

[RMulieri]

If it is a slow day, maybe.You will be able to hit the hilights, but will miss ALOT..Universal is harder since alot is shows and they run on a schedule.Harry Potter takes time because even on slow days, the crowds can be huge and waits longer

 

[Metro West]

If it is a slow day, maybe.You will be able to hit the hilights, but will miss ALOT..Universal is harder since alot is shows and they run on a schedule.Harry Potter takes time because even on slow days, the crowds can be huge and waits longer

Agreed and don't forget...the crowds at the Studios will be quite a bit larger once Despicable Me opens this summer.

 

[DancingBear]

Okay, I've got one day at Universal with 3 11 yo boys on the Friday before Labor Day Weekend. We're staying at the Royal Pacific so will have early entry and Express passes. Last year on the same day IOA was open 9-7 and Studio 9-6. Give me your best touring plan! Do we use the early entry for Harry Potter or Despicable Me?

My son and I have done IOA (including Potter) before but the other two boys haven't been at all.

 

[Metro West]

Okay, I've got one day at Universal with 3 11 yo boys on the Friday before Labor Day Weekend. We're staying at the Royal Pacific so will have early entry and Express passes. Last year on the same day IOA was open 9-7 and Studio 9-6. Give me your best touring plan! Do we use the early entry for Harry Potter or Despicable Me?

My son and I have done IOA (including Potter) before but the other two boys haven't been at all.

No announcement has been made that Despicable Me will be included in early entry for hotel guests...that's only for WWoHP...at least at this point in the game.

You should take advantage of early entry for WWoHP since you will be staying onsite and since you will have unlimited Express for the eligible attractions at both parks, you don't really need a touring plan. Just go at own pace on your own schedule.

 

[RMulieri]

I am with Metro..Early entry is ONLY for IOA and ONLY for Harry Potter.Despicable Me is in the studios.Now things could change,but I doubt it.

 

[macraven]

We are planning to go back to FL sometime around 2013/14 and would like to take a day to go back to Universal (i'd like to do 2 but I don't think I could get hubby to agree). Can you hit all the major things and HP in that time?

when 2013/2014 comes around, i have no idea if our strategies will be the same as they are now in touring the parks.
peeps are still flocking into ph section.

if parry hotter invades the studio side, i'm sure both parks will have their crowds.

 

[SharonS]

I do both parks in 1 day all the time. I do usually get the express plus pass. with that I have been able to hit all the major attractions in both parks. It is definitely not a 'leisurely' day. I move quickly. I start at IOA and do Harry Potter first thing....then leave IOA and go to US. Do Rip Ride Rockit and then hit everything in US that I want to do. After that, I go back to IOA and do anything I want there. Granted, I don't do a lot of the stuff at IOA..usually HP, Spiderman, Hulk, and the Atlantis walkthru and Jurassic Park. I am usually able to get on HP about 5 or 6 times in that day.

so...it can be done, but you will be tired.

 

[Harry Potter]

I could do it easily. I went solo in 2010 and 2011 and arrived for early entry (stayed at RPR) and was basically finished with IOA by lunchtime. For me, USF is only a half day park anyway, ride HRRR, do MIB, and spend the rest of the time on ROTM. Multiple times.

Then head back to IOA and WWoHP again in the evening, when the crowds are likely to disperse.

As an onsite guest, I would hardly ever be in my hotel. But apart from my first ever day at IOA on June 14 2010 (my lifelong dream had arrived...I stayed there for 12hrs just walking around getting sunburnt), I wouldn't stay in the same park for more than a few hours. It would get boring unless you're stuck in Hogwarts, or something.

 

[2girlsmom]

Yeah, we always do both parks on one day. We don't ride everything, but we do seem to hit all or most of the majors. 2 weeks ago we went for a short day, didn't get there until 10:30am, here's what we did:
IOA start
Cat in the Hat
Sky trolley in Seuss
Dragons (hubby rode 2x, once in the front row seat)
FJ
Hippogriffs (kids love this, dd13 rode it 3 times)
(Also had a frozen butter beer and looked at the wands, but not the show)
Hulk
Spiderman
Ate lunch in Hero Island at the pizza shop
Doom Tower

US
ET
Woody Woodpecker coaster
Simpsons ride
MIB
Disaster

We wanted to do Mummy but the park was closing by that time (6pm closing) so we headed out. But against this is a short day since we got there late and the parks were cllosing early.

 

[macraven]

We are planning to go back to FL sometime around 2013/14 and would like to take a day to go back to Universal (i'd like to do 2 but I don't think I could get hubby to agree). Can you hit all the major things and HP in that time?

we all have different ways to tour the parks and do what is interesting to us.
i'm not one that would do the parks in a day only.

you have quite a few replies which i hope helps you in your decision.

try to leave the option open of adding a day to your ticket in case you need more time in the parks.

 

[wendyt_ca]

We usually only do one day when we go. I think it's very possible as long as it isn't the busy season. We always just go on the stuff most important to us first. Also constantly check wait times and jump on ones with short wait times first as well. If you see Simpsons or HP with short waits jump on them. For HP 30 mins is a short wait btw lol.