Can we do it all

[Sweets156]

Hello everyone. I have a few questions about my upcoming visit to Universal and Islands. This is not the first time I've visited, but it's been a long time since I've been, so I feel like this will somewhat be like a first-time experience for me. DP has never been, so this is a true first time experience for DP. We have a one day two park ticket. Our main trip is Disney, but I wanted to experience Universal and IOA again, and also going so DP can experience it. For anyone who has just spent one day at both park (without kiddos), were you able to see most if not all of the attractions? The reason I say without kiddos is because we obviously won't be visiting the kiddie land section of either park. I definitely want to see the WWoHP and am afraid this will take up a lot of time. I'd like to do everything, but I'm just not sure if that's possible with limited time. I don't know which park to visit first, I was thinking Universal because IOA closes later than Universal that day. Any suggestions? Anything you would skip? Also, I wanted to bring my camcorder to both parks but was reading on here and apparently you can't take bags on rides, but they have lockers? DP doesn't plan on bringing anything but I definitely wanted to record some of Universal and IOA, but if getting a locker is going to cut into hours at the park, I may just do without. Any help or suggestions is appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[Sweets156]

Wow...60 views and not one reply! lol

 

[edamethyst]

well thats gonna be really hard and alot will depend on when you are going...right now its still crowded so your wait times will be longer. if your going in mid september you would have a better chance. if you are staying onsite the nite before you go to the parks and getting the front of the line pass you'd have an even better chance. You can do single rider lines to save on time too. You definetly don't want to miss any rides, there are to many to list, i think they're all good. if you eat at the counter services and no sit downs that will give you more time. there are a number of rides you're not going to want to lug a video camera on or not be allowed to but there are lockers both at the entrance of some rides and within the park...not real sure where they are i never take much into the parks so i never used the lockers. try to hit some of the shows too. the Horror makeup show is great and we love Bettlejuice. good luck

 

[damo]

Your vacation dates will make a huge difference. I suggest going to the website and deciding exactly what rides are absolute musts. Get those done and then just see what else you can fit it. As long as you are flexible and know you won't get to see and do everything, you should still be fine. You can definitely do the highlights of both parks.

 

[macraven]

what are your dates for the universal day trip?



i can answer one of your questions.

go early, real early.
be in line behind the early entry guests.

you will be let in right before 9:00, depending on date.
(summer hours open at 8:00)

go directly to parry hotter section of the park.
TM's will direct you if you need help.

do what you can there and then switch over to the studios side.

return to ioa to finish the rest of the park.

try to hit potterville an hour or 90 minutes prior to park closing.

ollivanders will close prior to park closing in most cases.

 

[macraven]

Wow...60 views and not one reply! lol

now if you had posted, Bueller, Bueller........where are you, i would have been here sooner........

 

[Sweets156]

what are your dates for the universal day trip?



i can answer one of your questions.

go early, real early.
be in line behind the early entry guests.

you will be let in right before 9:00, depending on date.
(summer hours open at 8:00)

go directly to parry hotter section of the park.
TM's will direct you if you need help.

do what you can there and then switch over to the studios side.

return to ioa to finish the rest of the park.

try to hit potterville an hour or 90 minutes prior to park closing.

ollivanders will close prior to park closing in most cases.

I suppose I should've given a bit more info! Our date is August 22nd. We will not be guests of the Universal Hotels, we are coming from Disney World. We got a package through AAA with transportation (Mears) and they are picking us up at Pop Century at 7:25am. Our tickets are will call. According to the calendar, both parks open at 9:00am so we should get there I'm guessing around 8:00am depending on traffic, getting our tickets, and then basically opening the park! Have you ever been there in late August?

 

[damo]

Late August is still very busy. Follow macraven's plan...it's a good one.

 

[macraven]

I suppose I should've given a bit more info! Our date is August 22nd. We will not be guests of the Universal Hotels, we are coming from Disney World. We got a package through AAA with transportation (Mears) and they are picking us up at Pop Century at 7:25am. Our tickets are will call. According to the calendar, both parks open at 9:00am so we should get there I'm guessing around 8:00am depending on traffic, getting our tickets, and then basically opening the park! Have you ever been there in late August?

yes i have.

mears will make stops at the motherland resorts based on who signed up for transportation that date.

if pop is the last stop, you should be able to be dropped off at UO around 8ish.


picking up tickets might take some time.
depends if there is a line ahead of you for will call.

you'll be there on the second to last monday of august.
there will still be lines, but hopefully not lengthy waits for rides.
use the single rider line for rides when the lines are 20-25 minutes waits.
(some of the major rides have single line rider)

the last week in august has lower attendance and cut back park hours, but there can be unexpected crowds on mondays.


ioa will close at 9 and the studios at 7 when you are there.
when the studios start to close up, you can finish your day back at ioa.
if you bought 1 day 2 park tickets so you can hop.


hopefully you will be able to spend the entire day there and close up the parks before you get back on the mears shuttle.

you will have a fun day!

 

[luv2sew]

We just came back....it is very ambitious of a plan....get there early...make sure you do it on a slow week day and make sure you get to the Potter section first. Use single rider line as much as you can

We were there yesterday, entered at 7:30 early entry and FJ was already an hour long wait. Olivanders also had a 30 minute line for the show part. The rest of the park was little to NO wait lines. Harry Potter section closed to overcrowding about 10 in the morning.

We did go over to Universal from IOA and there too was little to no wait lines.

Probably could have done alot yesterday (Had to leave by 2:30 to catch a flight) but not everything in both parks.

 

[Sweets156]

We just came back....it is very ambitious of a plan....get there early...make sure you do it on a slow week day and make sure you get to the Potter section first. Use single rider line as much as you can

We were there yesterday, entered at 7:30 early entry and FJ was already an hour long wait. Olivanders also had a 30 minute line for the show part. The rest of the park was little to NO wait lines. Harry Potter section closed to overcrowding about 10 in the morning.

We did go over to Universal from IOA and there too was little to no wait lines.

Probably could have done alot yesterday (Had to leave by 2:30 to catch a flight) but not everything in both parks.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is this Olivanders you speak of?

 

[damo]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is this Olivanders you speak of?

Ollivander's is a small show where 20 people or so go into Ollivander's wand shop and one person is chosen to have the "wand choose you". It is cute but the lines are very long.

 

[Planogirl]

You mentioned not visiting kiddie sections of the parks but I strongly suggest checking out Seuss Landing if you never have. I'm way older than a kid but I adore this area.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

You mentioned not visiting kiddie sections of the parks but I strongly suggest checking out Seuss Landing if you never have. I'm way older than a kid but I adore this area.

Agree - this is my favourite area in any of the theme parks - and I am 37!!!!

 

[damo]

You mentioned not visiting kiddie sections of the parks but I strongly suggest checking out Seuss Landing if you never have. I'm way older than a kid but I adore this area.

I totally agree. We do Cat in the Hat every day we are there. Also, the Trolley is very cute and we will do that if the lines are not too long. It is a nice little break.

 

[macraven]

I totally agree. We do Cat in the Hat every day we are there. Also, the Trolley is very cute and we will do that if the lines are not too long. It is a nice little break.

me too.


i have never heard seuss area called the kiddie section.


teens and adults are there on the rides everytime i have gone.
families with children too.




if you are a suess fan, then you would love this area.